11 Electric Scooter Accessories Every Rider Must Own

Electric scooters offer a great way to get around. They’re eco-friendly, portable, and fun. Some can even take you on off-road adventures. When you've chosen an e-scooter, you may be eager to start riding right away. Before you hop on, think about the accessories that can make your ride safer and better. There are tons of choices out there. Which ones should every rider own? Here are ten of the most essential e-scooter accessories:

Never ridden an e-scooter before? Then read our quick guide on how to safely ride an electric scooter.

1. Helmet

After buying your electric scooter, the first thing you need to do is get a helmet. Have it on your head before you step on the scooter for the first time. During a bad crash, a good helmet could save your life. The stats are there to prove it:

How do you choose the right one? Not all helmets are of high quality. Don’t cheap out on this accessory. If your e-scooter is slower than 20 mph and you’re riding on smooth, safe pavement most of the time, a standard bicycle helmet is probably fine. These are light, small, and usually pretty comfortable.

If you want more protection, you’ll need something more robust. A downhill helmet is the better option here. They’ve passed more impact tests, but in general, they aren’t too different than a regular bicycle helmet.

If you’re going faster than 20 mph or over bumpy terrain, you should consider an e-bike or even a motorcycle helmet. These are heavier than the other two helmet types. They give you the best protection, especially if they are full-face helmets. These have a chin bar, so your whole face is protected from crashes.

With regular, open-face helmets, you’re still vulnerable to serious injuries on your nose, chin, and teeth. Full-face ones protect your head and face. If you have one of those really fast e-scooters or you’re riding in a risky area, the more protection the better.

Not sure how fast you’re legally allowed to go in your area? Make sure to check out local regulations. Many states, like New York, have only recently legalized e-bikes and e-scooters.

What features should you look for when purchasing a helmet? The right fit is essential. Helmets are usually measured in cm, so use a tape measure to get your head’s circumference. Standard helmets (not full-face) should sit level on your head, so the front part is no more than 1-inch about your eyebrows. The chin strap should be snug against your chin, but not digging into it.

For more info, read our electric scooter helmet selection guide.

2. Eye protection

If you have a helmet, you may not think about eye protection. Unless your helmet is full-face, however, it won’t protect your eyes. Bright sunlight affects your vision and therefore the safety of your ride. Wind, bugs, and rain can also make it harder to see. An accessory like cycling sunglasses will help. I can't even count how many times I've gotten bugs in my eyes which has forced be to come to a full stop and get them out before being able to continue.

When choosing glasses, the lens is the first thing to consider. Their tint determines what conditions they work best for. As an example, a yellow tint is good for cloudy days. It filters out blue light and enhances contrast. For bright sun, green, gray, black, or brown lenses work better.

More expensive glasses tend to work for all types of weather. You can also find glasses where you swap out the lenses. If rain is your biggest concern, look for hydrophobic coating. The frame fit is also important. If they’re too loose, they might fly off. If they’re too tight, you’ll get uncomfortable very quickly.

Do you wear regular glasses? If you aren’t planning on switching to contact lenses when you ride, consider getting sunglasses with prescription lenses. Not convinced that you should put down the money on this one accessory? Think about how important your vision is. If you’re riding fast and suddenly get a bug or a bright ray of sunlight right in your eye, things can go very bad very quickly.

3. Lock

Many people take their e-scooters to run errands or go to work. At some point, you’ll need to leave your scooter outside since most businesses won’t let you bring it in. A lock is a must-have as scooters are often stolen.

Our recommendation: Kryptonite New York U Lock

There are three main types to choose from:

Cable lock

A cable lock is the most common lock type. They’re light and easy to carry around. Because they’re flexible, it’s also easy to secure your scooter at different angles.

You set a combination to secure it or use a key, but they are pretty easy to cut, so they’re not great in high-risk areas where thieves may go to extra lengths to get what they want.

Chain lock

These are often a step up from cable locks. They’re made from metal links, so they’re harder to cut. The heavier they are, the more security they have.

At the end of the chain, there’s a padlock. While chain locks offer slightly more security than cable locks, they’re more awkward to carry around.

U-Lock/D-Lock

This type of lock is basically a big padlock. You wrap it around the wheel and secure the scooter to a solid, heavy object like a pole. They are the most secure lock you can get and more affordable than chain locks. The downside is you won’t always find a place to use the U-lock because of how it works.

What about brands? Instead of relying on a brand’s name, look at its rating on the Sold Secure Rating System. A lock can be rated as Bronze (the least secure), Silver, or Gold.

For more information on the security of different lock types and how to lock your scooter, check out our guide on the best e-scooter lock types.

4. Bell

When riding your e-scooter, you should have a bell to let pedestrians, bikers, and other electric scooter riders know when you’re approaching them. There aren’t bells just made for e-scooters, so you’ll buy a bike bell. There are a few types, like modern bells, horns, and electric bells. What matters most is how the bell sounds. Each one sounds a little different, so it’s up to you what tone you like best. No matter what you choose, the bell should be clear and loud, so people actually hear it. Louder isn’t always better. Very loud bells can startle people.

The other feature you might need to consider is your handlebar diameter. Some bells are one-size-fits-all, but others are meant for specific kinds of bikes. If you buy one that doesn’t match your scooter, it won’t mount correctly. Measure your scooter’s handlebar diameter before buying a bell if there are multiple size options.

5. Tire slime / sealant

Tire slime (also known as tire sealant) prevents and repairs flat tires. If you have pneumatic tires on your e-scooter, tire slime is a must-have. Before riding your scooter for the first time, buy some slime and apply it to your tires. Most of the time, it’s very easy to squeeze it in. You pump it through the same valve used to inflate the tire. The brand name Slime recommends leaving their sealant in the tires for no longer than 2 years.

How does tire sealant work? When something sharp pokes your tire, the air pressure forces the slime out from the inside of the tire and into the puncture hole. Once the slime fills up the hole and reaches the air, the slime actually “cures” and seals the puncture.

Always read the instructions carefully. There will likely be specific recommendations for what to do when re-inflating a tire with slime in it. When choosing a brand, think about things like toxicity. If possible, look for manufacturers that use non-toxic ingredients. Some slimes are also formulated for specific purposes, like off-road riding or emergencies.

We recommend using Slime 10004 as it is both cheap and effective as it instantly seals flats and lasts for two years. It is safe to use (non-toxic, non-flammable etc.) and it is easy to bring on the go in your backpack.

6. Front light

Many e-scooters come with headlights, but they are usually not great especially if your e-scooter isn’t high-end. Getting an extra front light is a very smart move. They are made for bikes, but they work for scooters, too.

Brightness, which is measured in lumens, is very important. Front light lumens start as low as 30, but between 300-600 works for most riders. If you’re on unlit paths, a stronger 800 lumens is a better choice. If your lumens are high and you’re on a road, be sure to tilt the light a little downwards. This way, it won't blind drivers coming toward you. Other factors to consider when choosing a front light include battery life, weight, and features like flashing modes.

Our recommendation: NiteRider Lumina 1100 Boost

7. Taillight

While the purpose of a front light is to help you see, you need a tail light so others can see you. Taillights don’t need to be as bright as a front light, but they need to make you visible.

They aren’t only useful when it’s dark out, so you’ll need one even if you never ride your scooter at night. 20 lumens is a common brightness, but the brighter the better. In the daylight, you'll need your light to compete with the sun. You can find taillights with different settings so you aren’t stuck with just one brightness all the time.

Battery life is also an important feature, as well as price, weight, and settings like flash mode. You can also choose a tail light that attaches to your clothing or a backpack. The benefit of these is that they’re more visible than a light mounted under the seat.

Our recommendation: The USB- chargeable 2W CYGOLITE Hotshot

8. Reflective clothing

While not the coolest-looking accessory out there, a reflective safety vest is one of the best ways to stay safe on your e-scooter. Just slip it on over whatever you’re wearing. You are now more visible to cars and anyone else on the road. If you’re riding in a busy area, a safety vest could save your life.

There are more fashionable options, like reflective cycling jackets, but these will cost more. Pricing can also vary based on features like if the vest changes color or flashes. For additional visibility, an LED armband is an effective and affordable accessory. LED bands come in all colors and sizes.

9. Gloves

Gloves are great for chillier rides in the mornings, autumn, and wintertime. They’re also useful at all times because they protect you if you crash. You can do serious damage to your hands if you fall at high speeds. Ideally, arm protection like wrist guards should be worn, but those can be awkward on a scooter. If a wrist guard is uncomfortable and makes it harder to control your scooter, they’re not really serving their purpose that well. Gloves that are flexible and lightweight are better for e-scooter riders.

The right glove thickness depends on how fast your scooter is. If you keep your speed fairly low at less than 10 mph, a standard biking glove should provide decent protection. If you fall a lot, gloves designed for electric skateboarding are a bit sturdier.

If your electric scooter is really fast, you’ll want to consider thicker mountain biking or motorcycle gloves. The fit is important. You want good snugness, so you can move your fingers easily. Leather is probably the best material you can get - it works in all weather conditions - but it’s expensive. Synthetic materials are more affordable. There’s a variety of high-quality options. In terms of glove price across the board, you can expect to pay as little as $15 or up to $100.

10. Phone holder

Even if you don’t plan on looking at it when you’re riding, it’s a good idea to have your phone with you. If there’s an emergency, you’ll want your phone to call for help. A lot of people also use their phones for directions or music, so a holder is very useful.

The holders are mounted on the scooter handlebar and keep your phone in place. When choosing a holder, consider factors like the sizing. Not every holder will work for your phone, so make sure you’re getting the right size. The handlebar sizing also matters. What if it rains? Waterproof phone holders keep the phone protected, but still usable.

11. Seat

Some electric scooter models are compatible with seats that can be purchased as an upgrade. This gives added comfort, particularly on long rides. Do make sure to check with your local laws if there are any restrictions against electric scooters with seats beforehand though. One of the most popular optionally seated models is the EMOVE Cruiser which has an extraordinarily long range. Therefore, it's nice to be able to sit down on longer rides.

Wrapping Up

These ten essential accessories for electric scooters are bound to make your adventures safer, more convenient and more enjoyable. Some make life easier for you and others provide you with safety that may save you from serious injury.

You don't have to get everything at once, but if you ever stumble upon a good deal on any of these things, we recommend you seriously consider it.

We recommend you check out these 7 electric scooter safety tips to stay safe on the road before riding.