Poweriser: Alternative Commuting by Pogo-Stilts
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 04.29.06
Surely this is the coolest alternative to walking since... well, since bicycles. If you could cover 5 meters (16 feet) at a single bound, well you could cover the distance to work (with a short-cut over that fence) before you could stop-and-go your auto across town. With a 2 meter (6 feet) vertical jump, your back flips and slam dunks would rock! Okay, that is the Olympic athlete level of performance, but the Poweriser stilts were tech-checked by the German television program Galileo, and a 3.5 meters (12 feet) stride was demonstrated. The Galileo tech-checker needed about four minutes to get the hang of the springy stilts and was able to master gravel, grass and hills with ease. These gadgets have been around now for about two years (and through a full cycle of re-engineering: if you were the first in your neighborhood to own a pair, check out the upgrade kit being offered free to current owners--right after you leave your comments letting us know if these live up to the imagination). Why is TreeHugger predicting a boom in Powerising? Check out the adverts Zurich drummed up after getting permission from the patent holder to feature their pogo-stilts:
Zurich Commercial: This clip is all Powerisers. It is in German but the gist is: what if your product caught on so fast it changed the world (how would you insure your business?)?
For the English version, with only a small poweriser scene, try Change Happenz.
Galileo got a sports medicine specialist hopping too. The verdict: Powerisers require a good level of health--muscle power and aerobic fitness--to use for long. In particular, a constant rocking motion is necessary to maintain balance when standing in place, so there is no real "resting" phase without a lamp post or buddy to lean on. But the Doc compared the stress on the body to riding a bicycle, finding no reason for the average person to fear joint or muscle problems from using the Poweriser. Another bit of good news: unlike skateboards and inline skates, the Powerisers are easy to stop by slightly changing the center of balance, simply allowing the spring to absorb the forward momentum. One note of caution: Although videos on several of the internet sales sites for these gadgets show stunts on steps, the tech-check (and the inventors) do advise that stairs should be avoided by anyone adverse to extreme-sport risks.
A pair of adult Powerisers will set you back about US$500 (€399), cheaper for kids. Yeah, it's a lot, but look at it from the green side: if you make that kind of investment it is less likely that these will take the route to the landfill via a long pause in the back of the garage or the cellar. FYI, Powerskip seems to be a similar product if you are in the market, but about twice as pricy.
Photo ::Superdairyboy, US importer
Via ::Poweriser Germany
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This article is one reason I love TH. Because it enables me to find awesome environmental products that I can use in my personal life. Thank you Christine for locating this product and letting us know about it. I am definitely going to buy this. Now the walk/run to town or to the bus stop won't be as long or as boring. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Were they called "Powerskip" before?
If they don't mess up the bike trail, like put holes in it, I'd consider it. I've got a rails-to-trails thing right by my house, and the material (crushed limestone?) is kinda soft. A bit expensive though, just to look even more silly than the folks on those low "lay back" bikes. I would so dress up like a robot or godzilla, RArarRrW!!!
Shouldn't she be wearing a helmet for this activity? Also, how sweaty would you be after a 20 jaunt, I wonder?
Cool stuff. What I'd like to know is what happens when you stop, and how easy is it to get down.
Probably depends how much "spring" there is.
check out this link to a video on the poweriser site-
http://www.powerisers.de/videos/freestyle2.wmv
Thanks for the link, Edward. Seems that you can almost walk normally with it if you want.
Can go for tiny steps to backflips - good amount of control!
Hey folks,
Powerskips and Powerisers are a blast, but I don't think they're terribly "green".
Powerskips are the original product, made in Germany and used in a number of theatre productions (The Lion King comes to mind). There a company in Las Vegas that tricks them out specifically for performance.
Powerisers are made in Korea and from what I've been told are essentially knock-offs.
Given that the spring mechanism is quite tech, I think it's the equivalent of Powerskips using carbon fibre and Powerisers using fibreglass, but I'm not certain about that.
I've had the pleasure of using Powerisers at the circus school I train at in Toronto.
Suffice it to say, they're good fun for a few minutes, but get pretty stale soon therafter. The learning curve on them is indeed quick, but unless you've got a background in gymnastics, you can pretty much forget about the flips and what not. When you fall on these things, you fall HARD. Having spent the better part of two decades on skateboards, bikes, snowboards and skates I can comfortably say these things are the most dangerous by far.
I hate to burst a lovely green bubble, but with all the plastic, metal and composites in these things, I have a really tough time believing they could be the least bit green.
If you want to add another mode of eco-tranportation to your roster, I'd suggest picking up a bamboo longboard deck from Sector 9 and giving it a whirl.
http://tinyurl.com/m7adm
I've seen same kind of shoes invented by Dr. Nakamatsu. He is a Japanese guy and already had the invention more than 10 years ago.
http://dr.nakamats.com/shop/FS/FS.html
I saw him wearing the shoes and jumping around in a major train station in Japan..
----
Ed. note: try googling "Kangoo" or "Kangoo Jumps"...I hope your Japanese friend got the patent!
Another reason I love TH: the additional useful information that readers provide. Thanks for the Kangoo Jumps link.
Well- as a short response to Garth Breaks relating to their relative green-ness- I think you're right in considering perhaps the sector9 bamboo deck to have a green edge on them, but I think the comparison is drawn between using Powerisers/Powerskips vs. automobiles. . . which are clearly more resource intensive.
Powerskips/powerisers might even be greener than bicycles. . . it's all relative.
Especially when you consider that the actual ecological material destruction that results from building a car is generally less than the ecological destruction that results from the aquisition and combustion of that vehicle's fuel over years time. . .
It's the same consideration that makes Compact Flourescent lightbulbs a superior choice than incandescent bulbs even though they contain small amounts of toxic mercury--> there is mercury in them, but less mercury than is released into the air by powering an incandescent bulb with a coal power plant. The two bulbs at the end of their lifetime have a mercury footprint, and the CF mercury footprint is smaller.
The energy a device uses is critical and often dwarfs its embodied energy.
Bottom line: if you don't have to fuel them other than with corn-flakes and stale pizza, that's often pretty green.
Maybe the carbon/fiberglass spring could be replaced with bamboo?
Here's my talking points:
1. Are we to run down the sidewalk, scaring the bajezus out of "normal" pedestrians, or in the street, as skaters and cyclists are? Is this really a feasible way of moving through a dense city, like, say, San Francisco?
2. How do you dismount such a contraption? Do you need a landing platform?
3.How akward is it to carry this stuff? I imagine it would be like carrying skis, difficult but doable.
4. I remember reading that hydraulic version of powered stilts have a terrifyingly high rate of serious bonebraking injury, while the spring rebound variety, like these, tend to be far less clippling. I would like to know just what happens when you do fall, and how it compares to riding a bicycle.
I HAVE A PAIR OF POWERISERS THEY ARE EASY TO WALK AROUND IN AND JUMP BUT STANDING STILL IS ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO YOU HAVE TO ALWAYS BE HOPPING OR TAKING SMALL STEPS. I HAVE HAD ONE BAD FALL ON THEM I LANDED ON MY HIP ON ASPHALT SO IT HURT. COMPARED TO A BICYCLE FALL IT WOULD BE LIKE TRYING TO RIDE A BIKE ON A SAWHORSE AND FALLING OFF WITH YOUR FEET STRAPPED TO THE PEDALS. ONCE YOU START TO GO DOWN THERE IS NO STOPPING YOURSELF.
I've actually had two pairs of these things for about 4 years now... I first learned about them on an MTV awards show (music or movies... I can't remember). Puff Daddy did a dumb song and dance thing, but there were a bunch of awesome stunt dancers with PoweRisers doing flips and things. I had to have them. Of course, then they sat in the basement for a long time. I WOULD love to know where to get that upgrade kit, though, because mine are early sets and the plastic fastening straps went bad really quick.
With something like this you definitely don't want to take lightly. Even with protective equipment something that raises you nearly an extra foot off the ground at standstill, not to mention the speed/height/distances you reach in these things.
Still, stuff like this, kiteboarding, or whatever your neck-breaking fancy may be, is a ton-o-fun. :)
why isn't she wearing a helmet?
If I had prosethetic limbs that enabled me to jump many meters in the air...I'd wear a helmet
where can I get one of those, honestly I really want to buy one of these.
i really realy want one after seeing them in action please could you tell me were i could purchess one in the uk
Hia guys! Just in case you're wondering, I'm the girl in the photo!
I've had my rizers for almost 4 years now. My max is a 5 1/2 ft vertical jump, and a 12 foot stride! These things are awesome!
I saw someone on them at the Texas State Fair and I got a job just so I could by a pair.
I use them mostly for running around on my college campus. The looks I get from people are the greatest!
They're fairly easy to pick up as long as you are semi-athletic. The key is to keep shifting your weight or moving... Think of it like a bicyle, can you say still on that? no? well not on these either!
And as to why I wasn't wearing a helmet. This was for a photo shoot for a friend of mine. And I wasn't going to do any extreme tricks, just running and jumping, so I left my helmet off so my hair would look cooler.
And just so you know, I've fallen a cumulative 13 times in the 4 years I've had these (all of which were minor falls... 5 of the falls were a direct result of someone pushing me to see if I would fall over... aaa smart americans.....) Which proves that as long as you take things slow and dont get reckless, you won't hurt yourself
===Author's note follows===
We are honored at TreeHugger to have the addition of your personal experiences. Thanks for sharing.
Does anyone know where I can order these? Please email me!
wixdaddy--------@-------yahoo--.--com
===Author's note follows===
Depends on where you're at. Try googling "powerisers" and you'll see quite a few options.
I WANT THESE i have been looking for them forever 500 is alot but they are so cool i want them and will have them.....
If you want to buy a pair of powerizsers and you live in the uk you should check out www.powerizer.co.uk
that's the best place to buy them.
Hi i have just been given a piar of powerisers as a birthday pressent
(Very lucky i now).
They are absolutley mental verry dangerous butit's all good.
more fun that a mini moto and most modern "boys toys" and as of yet there not banned anywhere.
P.S.
I feel i must add that they are extreemly dangerous if you are not agile, as within 20 min of playing with mine a friend fell and broke both wrists and elbows landing.
Well powerisers powerizers and fly jumpers are all knock offs of the powerskips but all have the same build quality, also they can be easily modded to get rid of all those cheap parts like the foot straps knee straps but all in all the metal and actual spring are the same.
the patents are a complete joke at the moment but they will be sorted out
the stament is that any company selling official power skips have to pay rolatlys to the german inventor all others like powerisers powerizers and fly jumpers dont thus they are cheaper but they are the same product just none of the retailers pay roalyties
streetjumpers.com has lots of info on these, and great prices for those in the US
Hi guys I am trying to get hold of a pair of Powerskips but can't seem to find them. If anyone knows where in Germany I can purchase one please tell me.
pls e-mail me at amrlotfy82@yahoo.com
---author's note---
There is a link to Powerizers in Germany at the end of the article.
has anyone bought powerisers from http://www.poweriserstilts.com
If so, do you have any feedback?
Thanks
I bought a pair from www.powerjumperz.com. They are fantastic. $349 delivered to my door. :)
Check out the poweriser videos on www.swebounce.com
Hi All,
I want to buy myself a poweriser, but want it shipped to Malta (EU not US). Any clue where? Also are there fake/cheap versions of the poweriser i should watch out for?
Average going price is of 200GBP...
Alan
PS maybe you could email me on alanattard at hotmail dot com?
In the UK the stilts have many names including ProJump, Poweriser, Powerizer, Fly Jumper etc however the ProJump stilts are one of the few suppliers that provide genuine stilts at an unbeatable price. At the momment they are the cheapest in the UK.
See http://www.ghostracingseries.com/projump.htm for full details.
I plumbed for the Korean version 'Original Poweriser' as they seemed to have better build quality and springs from what I read on the internet.
I bought them from a site named Jumppoweriser.co.uk and they arrived after two days.
They also supply information on getting started and general maintenance.
I bought mine on www.jumpinguy.com, it cost less and provide me a pair of endurable poweriser.What cool is, they provide free delivery service in U.S.
We have been useing the stilts for 7 years and I still have my first pair so I think they are pretty goodout of an enviromental perspective.
www.swebounce.com
I've used PowerJumperz.com to buy two pair already.... the foot broke off on one of the feet within a few weeks. I can't get anyone at the company to honor their warranty. I would suggest not using these guys even though their prices are very competitive.
I've had ProJump Jumping stilts for about a year now and think they are brilliant. The stilts were just £135 inc UK shipping from http://www.Pro-Jump.co.uk and have been worth every penny.
I don't think that they are suitable for long distance walking as by the time you reach your destination you would be sweating however in terms of health benefits I have never been so toned in my life and have lost a lot of excess fat and feel younger and fitter than when I was a teen.
Alot of the info here with regards to the stilts is incorrect I would suggest visting www.ProJumpForum.co.uk for more infomation however the basics are below:
The stilts were invented by a German man called Alexander Boeck who eventually patented the product in various countries. The inventors jumping stilts are called PowerSkips.
Now any company who wished to sell them must pay a royalty fee to him to sell the stilts legally in the countries where the patent is so far this includes the USA and the UK and some EU countries.
There are various brands including Pro-Jump, Fly Jumper, PoweriZer, PowerStrider, Jolly Jumper, SpeedJumper which are all the same and manufatured by Flying Locusts in China. These stilts originally had fibreglass springs but now come with better and more responsive carbon/glassfibre mix springs. In the UK Pro-Jump sell these at the lowest price by about £50 compared to the other companies. These stilts are ideal to newcommers to the sport.
The other brands include PoweriSer which are manufactured in Korea and 7mileboots which are Austrian Jumping Stilts. These stilts cost About £200 - £240 with 7MS costing more. These stilts come with fibreglass springs.
Powerskips are the stilts made by the inventors company in Germany, they cost a staggering £700-£750, however these made to order and not mass produced and the overall quality is better than the cheaper models. Velocity Motion Stilts are the most expensive and are modified powerskips. Powerskips also use fibreglass springs and these springs are the most responsive.
The sport of using these spring loaded jumping stilts is called PowerBocking and the stilts themselves known as PowerBocks.
I want to have my DNA taken to the far ends of the Milkyway. Someone should order small plastic vials from the manufacturer using the green Thomas industrial catolog at the public library, look up vials /plastic. Next have someone make a kids rubber helium party baloon that is 1 inch bigger when its inflated so it goes higher in the sky. Have it made with glow in the dark stuff that shines at night. It will take two rubber baloons tied together to carry up the plastic vial taped to one of the baloons. Proceed to get poke-em lancets from the drug store to prick your finger. Now Space-Aliens flying in invisible craft in Earths skies could retrieve a drop of your blood when you release the baloons over the desert or nature park. Go ahead and dab a drop of blood onto the surface of the baloon instead if you want, then only one baloon is needed. Your baloon might be recognized by the Aliens up there. Or you might find the whole idea a bad thing. Should people who believe there is Aliens visiting our solor system send out a spacecraft way past Pluto that has a supply of fruit tree, vegetable and berry seeds so the Extra-terrestial star travellers can take it home?
I forgot to add I was interested in the upgrade Kit.
I did find out the old 2007 models had a Bad lower bushing problem which has recently been resolved by installing a new bearing If you like me had just purchased a new set within the past few weeks contact your seller to see if you need the new parts.
Is by chance this the upgrade kit that was at the top of this page, as i didn't get any offer for it after my post but this could be because I am a new user and just registered after I made my post
My powerisers where purchased New and received them in two days Fed EX shipped from South Carolina USA
I got them from (www.xphub.com) for total of $320.00. Shipping is free & no offense meant to any store just offering my experience.
Thanks for all the help I love mine and I know I will soon be a pro with little effort for sure.
LKP
Cool article... I've never seen that commercial, but I can imagine it. To answer some of the questions, yes a fall can hurt, but it's not bad if you wear the protective gear. I tripped on a curb wearing my stilts, and had a bruise on my hip for a week or so. Luckily I was wearing all of the other pads, so nothing serious.
Dismounting can be done from any seating area or bench, but the newer models can actually be unclipped while leaning against something and then you can just jump right out of them. Very fast and great for urban environments.
It's pretty fun, so I suggest giving it a try even if it won't replace your commute. If you are located near the DC area, I have started up a powerbocking school here, and you can try it out for free.
Hey, it is the fantanstic ! I bought some pairs at very good prices from a manufacturer in China. Such a magic shoes really made me and my friends,and my customers crazy and really high.
I cannot image such a company in china can such a good thing before. Their website link: http://www.huaseen.com/product.asp?PicClassID=18 If you are young and with life up-forward style, don't hesitate to taste the magic high. I got my pairs at less than 300$ each one on avrage ,and also with air delivery cost.
Thanks the china company. MAGIC.
I actually just got a pair of these awhile ago and have progressed very quickly on them. They are so much fun, provide a great workout and provide a network of great people to give and take advice from...young and old. I got mine from getjumpingstilts.com and I am part of poweriserpages.com get some!
Whats this in the first paragraph, someone elaborate for me please lol: (and through a full cycle of re-engineering: if you were the first in your neighborhood to own a pair, check out the upgrade kit being offered free to current owners--right after you leave your comments letting us know if these live up to the imagination)
Where can i get this free upgrade kit? anyone?