Episode 28: Not a Sales Pitch An Exoskeleton Engineer Puts Consumer Exos to the Test

Powered exoskeletons for under $1,000 are finally here - but are they useful technology, expensive toys, clever gimmicks, or something in between? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tom Sugar after a day and a half of hands-on testing with several consumer hip exoskeletons, including the Hypershell base model, the Dnsys Pro, and the Hypershell Ultra. Tom is not just a curious first-time user; he is a wearable robotics researcher and engineer who has built multiple powered exoskeletons and prosthetic systems himself. We talk through the full experience: putting the devices on, acclimating over thousands of steps, testing them on ramps, stairs, an incline treadmill, and a bike, and then comparing what we felt against Tom’s own engineering background. My hope is that this episode gives listeners a more realistic sense of what consumer exoskeletons can do right now, what they cannot do yet, and why they may be evolving into “e-bikes for your legs” -  a tool that does not replace exercise, but helps people move farther, climb more, and stay active.

Topic Markers:
00:00 Intro and why this test is different
01:59 Fast onboarding and first impressions
04:01 Acclimation and the 7,000-step outdoor walk
06:23 Incline treadmill, heart-rate checks, and cycling tests
10:37 Tom’s engineering perspective on consumer exoskeletons
16:47 Fit, feel, features, limitations, and best use cases
31:12 “E-bikes for your legs,” 2026 predictions, and wrap-up

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