Hypershell Introduces the World’s Best Outdoor Exoskeleton to Date: The Hypershell X Ultra

We’ve previously covered some of Hypershell’s pro-level exoskeleton suits, and been impressed by them. Now the brand new Hypershell X Ultra is here, upping the specs and appeal in almost every department, ready to claim the title of the best outdoor exoskeleton on the market.

These exoskeletons are designed to fit comfortably and snugly around your frame, enabling you to travel farther for longer, and attempt hikes and challenges that might otherwise be beyond you. Even better, they adapt and adjust to your movements and the effort you’re putting in, to feel like a natural extension of your body.

See X Ultra at Hypershell

It’s a futuristic bit of kit that can transform your outdoor adventures, pushing your walks and your cycles to greater heights and farther distances, and unlocking a new level of human capabilities. With the addition of the X Ultra to the existing Hypershell range, the bar has been raised once again.

Some of the headline improvements here are a brand new M-One Ultra motor system—with one motor fitted to each hip—that provides 1000W of peak output (up from a maximum of 800W on previous models): That’s 1.3 horsepower attached directly to your body. Range on the X Ultra is extended to 30 kilometers or 18.6 miles, up from 17.5 km (10.9 miles) on the X Pro and X Carbon.

Those improvements are in part down to the improved motor efficiency, which now stands at more than 90 percent, and the AI algorithms that analyze your movements in real time, ready to adjust the enhancements provided by the exoskeleton as you cross terrain. At times, it almost feels like you’re flying.

So how can that be quantified out in the real world? Based on Hypershell testing, the new X Ultra can reduce physical exertion by up to 22 percent for walking and 39 percent for cycling, while heart rate can be lowered by up to 40 percent during exercise.

Do the calculations on your own outdoor expeditions, and you’ll realize the kind of difference the Hypershell X Ultra is able to make. It can operate from -20°C to 60°C (that’s -4°F to 140°F), it weighs a mere 1.8 kilograms (just under 4 pounds), and the aerospace-grade materials that the exoskeleton is made from—including carbon fiber—come with an IP54 rating to guard against dust, rain, and snow.

These figures and claims don’t just come from Hypershell either. The performance of the exoskeleton has been meticulously audited and independently verified by the SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) SA in Switzerland, one of the global leaders in testing, inspection, and certification.

Moving farther, stronger, and smarter

There are more upgrades to talk about here as well. There’s a new enhanced knee protection feature, which adjusts the assistance mode automatically when the exoskeleton senses you’re going downhill—another example of how the technology works intelligently in the background to best help you, without you needing to dig through settings or open up an app.

With knee protection enabled, buffering is deployed that reduces impact on the descending leg while also increasing support on the stance leg. In addition, knee joint rigidity is enhanced, which means the wear and tear on your knees is minimized even on the most challenging of downhill descents.

You’ve also got smarter assistance and smarter movement in the new Hypershell X Ultra: The design and engineering of the exoskeleton has been further refined to offer extra assistance when you’re accelerating or just getting started during runs and cycles, and there are new modes for getting across snow and dunes.

That brings the total number of modes available to you to 12, really showcasing the versatility and flexibility of the device. Those 12 modes are: Cycling, Down Stairs, Up Stairs, Downhill, Uphill, Mountain, Walking, Speed Walking, Running, Gravel, and the new Snow and Dune options.

The modes that the exoskeleton puts you in, as well as the other settings that control how the Hypershell X Ultra operates, can be adjusted through the companion Hypershell+ app for Android and iOS. It’s also now available on watchOS for the first time, meaning instant control from your wrist even without your phone.

From camping expeditions to mountain biking, you don’t need to worry about where you take the Hypershell X Ultra. It’s lightweight, ultra-strong, and scratch-resistant, so you’re not going to have to replace it after your first couple of trips: It’s been put together to be as demanding as you are.

Now with four years of experience in the business, Hypershell has rolled all of its expertise into the new X Ultra exoskeleton, and it shows. Whether you’re training for an Ironman, trying to keep pace with your kids on hiking vacations, or wanting to get to places that would otherwise be off limits, it’s perfectly placed.

The mission of the Hypershell X Ultra is to get you moving farther, stronger, and smarter, giving you access to an even better, augmented version of yourself for your outdoor activities. The price for this cutting edge piece of technology is less than you might think as well: The exoskeleton can be yours for $1,999.

See X Ultra at Hypershell