Makes Tackling Hard Hikes Almost Too Easy

I took the hike with two compatriots, and those friends were keen to make jokes at my expense. I was the tutorial NPC in a video game with a walk speed slightly faster than the player character, which in turn forced me to continuously stop and wait for them at their slower pace. I made a quiet-but-noticeable whirring sound on every step, and when a machine is literally pulling your leg for miles it can detract from the peace of nature. People I passed on the trail tried and failed to not stare at me.

It made the experience of hiking more awkward than it should. I rarely have a day free to drive out for such an experience, so when I do I want to relish the scenery as well as the burn in my legs. But there are plenty of people who can benefit from this device. If you want to tackle heights and don’t have the body to do it, the Hypershell may do the trick—even if it means your friends will quote RoboCop behind your back every five minutes.

The Hypershell Pro X Makes Hiking Almost Too Easy

Wearing the exoskeleton felt more invasive than I initially expected. You wrap the battery and rear support around your back and clamp it around your waist so the weight rests on your hips. Then, you strap to the leg bands around each thigh. You have to draw each clasp tighter than you might expect, especially if you want to avoid the device rubbing on you through your pants. There’s enough give on the straps and armature to support multiple waist sizes, but I don’t imagine it will fit every body type.

Through its sensors, the Hypershell detects your leg movement and then offers 125 W motors to assist with propulsion at a max 32 Newton-meters of torque. You won’t have the device on max settings all the time, but the feeling of your legs being outside your control takes getting used to. On higher torque settings, your leg will shoot up from the ground with little impetus on your part. Dropping your leg will signal the Hypershell to descend as well, at speed. It feels much weirder on a flat plane than it does on a hill. Even minimal torque will emphasize lifting your leg for each step, rather than the usual strolling gait.

My small hiking party took to the Anthony’s Nose trail close to Fort Montgomery, NY. We started at a trailhead that promised a 3-hour hike with a total elevation gain of 888 feet. This is a hike along the same mountain range bordering Hudson River as Breakneck Ridge, a climb with a much steeper slope and a demanding rock scramble. I’ve done that hike on two separate occasions over the past two years, so Anthony’s Nose was tame by comparison.

The device makes it easy to switch between more or less torque with just a few strikes of the power button. On the trail’s steepest incline full of loose rocks, I found I didn’t have any burn in my thighs after close to 10 minutes of continuous climbing. I felt more effort from my calves, but that feeling slowly dissipated. The device was comfortable the entire time, with no riding or chafing to speak of thanks to its effective rear and side padding. The only issue was finding a comfortable position to sit after I reached the trail peak overlooking the winding Hudson. The battery pack sticks out in such a way it leans against the tailbone and rides up into the spine if you put your weight on it. Sitting down may also scuff up the pucks on each side of Hypershell, if you’re not careful.

I normally hike up steep trails by spreading my legs wide and centering my weight forward. With Hypershell, I was limited to a more straightforward gait. At one point, I moved onto my haunches to check out a small pond and heard something in the mechanism catch. I found the power indicator light rapidly blinking red. Unseating then reattaching the battery fixed the issue, and I didn’t experience any mechanical issues after that.

The device had very minimal latency, so much that I got used to the speed of its operation. What most surprised me about Hypershell Pro X was its battery life. After a 3-hour hike continuously using the motorized assist, my battery was down by around 30 to 40%, judging by the indicator light. I even had a backup 72 Whr battery in my backpack that was superfluous. Still, this was in 60 degree Fahrenheit weather, and I did not test the battery life in hotter or cooler temps. The company claims it has an operating temperature from -4 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but I imagine that going out into freezing temperatures will impact the exoskeleton’s battery.

Hypershell claims its device offsets 30 kilograms, or 66 pounds of weight.  Walking around with the device off reminded me of the actual weight of the Hypershell. It clocks in at just under 4 pounds, so the motorized assist is carrying itself and you. Experienced hikers will tell you the old adage, “ounces become pounds” when you’re considering how much you should pack before hitting the trail. It’s a good thing the battery lasts as long as it does, as it would be bad news to be caught out on the trail lugging around four extra pounds of weight if you’re trying to go long-distance.

Who is the Hypershell Pro X Actually For?

There are three versions of the Hypershell. The $900 Hypershell Go has a more-limited 400 W output with a 15 kilometer (9.3-mile) battery range on a full charge. The $1,000 Pro X has a 800W output and 17.5 kilometer (10.8-mile) range. The more-expensive device is also built with stairs, mountaineering, and cycling in mind. The Carbon X trades the Pro’s carbon fiber polymer frame for a 3D-formed titanium alloy. That last version will set you back $1,500. Unless you’re really planning to take the Hypershell on hard peaks that could damage your exoskeleton, you can likely make due with the cheaper options. A $1,000 price point seems steep, but the Hypershell is cheap compared to similar kinds of hiking exoskeleton like the Arc’teryx Mo/Go exoskeleton hiking pants that start at $5,000. And it actually ships, unlike the $1,200 Dnsys X1. That device was first previewed in 2024 but is still listed as up for preorder.

Based on its promo materials and website, Hypershell wants to grab the young audience who has cash to burn. In reality, this device is geared toward those who don’t—or can’t—get out to exercise in the great outdoors. I imagine the real use cases are from those who want to enjoy nature despite inability, injury, or age.

This exoskeleton can’t be for everyone. It may not help those with particular knee injuries, as it still requires you to extend your thigh and project your lower leg even when the exoskeleton is assisting your movement. It also restricts you from taking a larger hiking backpack, especially those designed to rest on your hips (they’ll be occupied by the Hypershell’s battery pack). For those who physically can’t enjoy the serenity of the outdoors, the Hypershell is a way to get outside. I won’t use it, but I already know of some parents getting on in years who could desperately use some quality time with nature.