After waiting for nearly two years, fortunately to receive my Hypershell Exoskeleton on December 2 and became one of its users.
I’ve been testing it for three days now. Before this, I had only seen it on YouTube, so I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to wear it. I also hadn’t specifically thought about which part of walking it would assist with.
Now that I finally have it in hand, I’ve tried it out and clearly understood which areas it helps with and what its limitations are.
Day 1 and Day 2 Testing
On the first day, I only tested it on flat ground, trying out different modes.
On the second day, I wore it to work, took the subway, walked uphill. Additionally, I carried a load — an 8kg backpack and the device itself (2kg) — so I was walking with around 10kg.
Day three, I bring this to entrance of the mountain, walk on the stairs and hiking a little bit.
Design and Weight
- Appearance
The device’s low-profile design is a highlight. I wore black pants while testing it, and it was barely noticeable on the streets. Even on the crowded subway during rush hour on Day 2, people around me hardly noticed it. It doesn’t generate much noise either, and in outdoor settings, it’s almost completely silent. - Weight
The device weighs 2kg. I didn’t think much about its weight beforehand, only that it was lighter than my 2.5kg laptop. When I first held it, it felt heavier than expected but manageable. Since I exercise regularly, walking with it didn’t feel too strenuous. However, my family members (one younger, one older), who don’t exercise, felt it was somewhat heavy. I’m unsure how long they could wear it without discomfort, and further testing is needed.
Fit and Sizing
I don’t know is it provide multiple sizes or uniform size?
But the hypershell have adjustable lengths.
The thing I received, At 175cm tall, I was able to wear it comfortably, and it also fit someone 160cm tall. However, for a family member who is 155cm, it didn’t fit well unless the waist strap was positioned much higher.
How It Works
Before wearing it, I could only imagine its function. After trying it, I more understand the feeling and which part of my walk this things can assists. I know the motors are located near the hip joints, not the knees. So, essentially, it assists with lifting and lowering the thighs at the hip joints, but it does not provide support for movements below the knees.
When walking:
First Half of the Step: The thigh is lifted, which is where the device reduces the effort needed.
Second Half of the Step: When your foot touches the ground and the knee extends to straighten the leg, this movement requires the same effort as usual since the knee joint receives no assistance.
For individuals purchasing this device for medical reasons, such as alleviating knee pain or supporting weakened knees, it likely won’t help. The design aligns with its marketed purpose: athletic support rather than medical use.
But if you walking problem is not enough energy to lifting and lowering the thighs too long, I think this things can assists. But of course I don’t have this problem, so I waiting other people review too.
Effectiveness
The device’s thigh-lifting assistance is particularly helpful for activities like long walks, hiking, or carrying heavy loads. Over extended periods, it reduces fatigue and soreness in the thighs. However, its usefulness depends on proper fit and optimal output settings:
Tight Fit: The straps need to be securely adjusted to maximize assistance. A loose fit diminishes its effectiveness.
Output Levels: Setting the output to 100% made my leg movements unnaturally exaggerated, throwing off my balance and causing additional strain on the lower leg muscles. Conversely, setting it too low provides little to no assistance.
So you need to setting the correct power output to match the leg move, when I setting 50%, I think more match the move of my step.
AI and Automatic Mode Switching
The AI-driven automatic mode switching is impressive and almost instantaneous. For example, when descending stairs, it quickly adjusted to help push my thighs downward, reducing the effort required.
However, in scenarios like stopping abruptly or slowing down while running, there was a noticeable delay. This delay caused the device to briefly continue pushing my leg when I had already stopped moving. While this wasn’t an issue on flat surfaces, I’m uncertain how it would perform on uneven terrain, such as mountain trails.
Additionally, if the device enables faster running, the lack of knee joint assistance might increase the strain on the knees, which could pose a risk. This requires further investigation.
When I give my girl friend to try, original her balance is not so good, but don’t have any medical problem. she is not quite get use of it, because have a external force push her leg, I see her when using this things, walking more unbalance then usual, maybe she need more time to get use of it. But I don’t know is it the AI model will get use of my step, so when she use, the power to push her is not match her step? this I don’t know , need to try more later…
I tested eco, hyper, and fitness modes. On Day 2, carrying a 10kg load uphill, my walking speed didn’t improve, which was expected as I maintained a steady pace. However, when switching to “transparent” or off mode after extended use, walking felt heavier than usual, indicating its effectiveness in reducing thigh strain.
Regarding opinion of the app:
- Multi-User Access: It would be convenient to allow multiple user profiles or connections to different phones. When I disconnected the app from my phone to let a friend try it, they couldn’t connect the app in their phone.
- Bluetooth Stability: The app frequently disconnected when I exited to the home screen and required manual reconnection.
- t would also be helpful if the app displayed the currently active mode during automatic adjustments.
In summary, the Hypershell Exoskeleton is a useful device for reducing thigh strain during long walks, hiking, or heavy-load carrying. However, it has limitations in assisting with movements below the knee and requires careful adjustment to fit and output levels. Improvements in usability, app functionality, and responsiveness would enhance its value further.
