7/10
Open rating explainerInformationWIREDLighter, more refined design. Responsive, better-timed assistance. Handles changing terrain more naturally. For the first time, I can genuinely feel the difference.TIREDTarget audience still unclear. You’ll never forget you’re wearing it. Niche, expensive proposition. Battery range is not very adventurous.Exoskeletons have been edging toward the consumer space for a few years, helped along by lighter batteries, smaller motors, and a steady stream of startups trying to turn wearable robotics into something you might actually buy. At CES 2026, WIRED counted 19 companies showing exoskeletons and related systems, which is certainly a momentum of sorts.
But the sticking point with the early exoskeleton designs has been how they feel. Having tested models like the Hypershell Pro X and Dnsys X1, the issue has rarely been about power. It’s how and when that power is delivered. Assistance tends to arrive a fraction too early or too late, leaving you constantly aware of the machine. Less natural extension of your movement, more Woody from Toy Story.
Hypershell’s new X Series is built around the idea that fixing this unnatural movement comes down to timing rather than strength. Three new models are launching today that will replace the existing lineup. You get the choice of the Hypershell X Pro S, X Max S, and X Ultra S, and crucially, they all feature the same new AI-based control system, HyperIntuition. The unit I tested is the flagship X Ultra S, which combines the new software algorithm with a few key hardware refinements.
What’s New
Photograph: Chris HaslamThe X Ultra S is made from carbon fiber and titanium alloy, weighs 5.5 pounds, and is powered by a dual-battery setup with a claimed range of roughly 18 miles. The motor delivers up to 1,000 watts and 22 Newton-meters of torque, with a maximum assisted pace of 15.5 miles per hour. There are 12 assist modes (10 on the other models), covering everything from stairs and road walking through to gravel, dunes, and even schlepping through the snow.
All three models in the Hypershell range share the same major update, HyperIntuition. This replaces the previous basic rule-based software (you walk, it adds power) with a system that processes movement continuously and adjusts torque in real time. The argument is that real-world movement is irregular, and the exoskeleton needs to adapt to an ever-changing range of movement. We naturally stop and start, slow down, speed up, stride, mooch, climb, and adapt to uneven ground, but traditional exoskeleton systems were rubbish at this. They only really worked by recognizing repeatable gait patterns and, as a result, made me feel more like a robot than like a human being assisted by one.
Hypershell claims a response time of 0.31 seconds and a “human-machine synchronization rate of 97.5 percent” across varied terrain, whatever that means. Hypershell tells me that the aim was not simply to add power but to deliver it at the right moment, so that support feels aligned with your movement rather than imposed on it. In theory, that means assistance engages fluidly, ramps up as you work hard, and backs off as soon as you stop. It’s a bold claim, and one I’ve been testing for the past couple of weeks.
Setting up the Hypershell X Ultra S remains mercifully simple, with excellent step-by-step fitting instructions via the app. I was testing with a prelaunch iOS app version but was told the final version would be basically identical. Getting the fit right is very important, something I’ve learned with previous models. Making sure the motors are properly aligned and not too tight to your hips is key.
Compared to previous Hypershell generations, the X Ultra S has far superior padding around the hips that I appreciated immediately. The straps are easy to adjust, and once you’re clipped in, the system feels balanced. Please don’t think for a second, however, that the 5.5-pound weight will magically melt away when you start using it. No matter how many times I went walking with it on, I never once forgot it was there.
It does suffer some of the same issues I’ve had with all exoskeletons, notably the fact that your front pant pockets become completely useless, and backpacks tend to sit on top of the battery, but not in a good way. This issue is made worse if you’re carrying a loaded pack and need the hip strap support. You’re fine if you opt for a smaller, higher-mounted daypack.
To control the exoskeleton, you can either delve into the app or use the single button on your right hip motor. I’m fairly used to Hypershell’s long-press-short-press control system, but it isn’t especially intuitive. I won’t be the only person to have switched on Hyper at an inopportune moment or turned the whole thing off by accident. The app offers a much greater level of control, enabling you to easily select modes, tweak power percentages, and check battery life.
Power Up
Having something else move your legs, or at least help you move them, is not a natural sensation, and no matter how many times I wore the X Ultra S, it took a good few minutes for me to adjust. But compared to previous generations, this exoskeleton feels better in almost every way. With the older models, when I started to walk, my legs would be jerked about unnaturally, and only really be of assistance once I found a stride. Here, however, assuming you don’t try to walk in the Hyper Running mode—which will see you can-canning like a loon—there’s a progression to the power assistance.
Walking does not feel totally natural, but the way the X Ultra S delivers power is far more intuitive. Stopping and starting feels nicer, and when I was aimlessly ambling about waiting for someone, the system noticed immediately and backed off the power. As I found my stride, the assistance increased accordingly, but for the first time, I felt in control rather than feeling like a beta-testing passenger.
As a fit, active person, I still do not see the point of owning an exoskeleton for myself, especially when walking on even flat ground. On one long, relatively flat walk, I felt the assistance just wasn’t needed, so I turned it down low, leaving me feeling strapped into something I didn’t need to bring. But when faced with a more challenging incline, the impact was immediate and impressive. As soon as my stride changed and my legs lifted higher to cope with the slope, the exoskeleton kicked up a notch and eased the path ahead.
I asked my wife, Louise, to try the X Ultra S. Her initial thoughts were of hatred, but once we got the fit right, and I stopped messing about with power levels on the app, enjoying being Gepetto to her Pinocchio, her impression changed. “I do not see the point of having this just to walk on the flat, and it is horrible to run in, but it really pulls me up the hills!”
Most tellingly, however, after about 40 minutes of use, when we swapped back, and I resumed testing, Louise remarked, “Oh hang on, it now feels like I’m walking through treacle!” True enough, and for the first time while wearing an exoskeleton, when I stopped hiking after an hour with the power on 50 percent Eco mode, my legs also felt sluggish for a few steps. I perceived the assistance as only very minimal, but it had clearly made an impact.
Running and Cycling
According to Hypershell, the X Ultra S is also fantastic for running and cycling. I call BS on the running front, having raced them, and agree heartily with my wife. It is horrible to run in, stripping away the feeling of freedom you get with a longer, faster stride. Yes, it makes uphill easier, as it does with walking, and maybe the Hyper mode is too much for my trail-running skills, but it just feels overcooked. It also smashes through the battery.
As for cycling, it does work—put your bike in the right high gear and the assistance propels you along. I did not find it very comfortable when riding, and rather than helping me to conserve energy, I just wanted to go harder and pedal faster. It felt good, but not as effortless as a traditional electric bike, and assistance maxes out at 15.5 miles per hour. I think cycling mode is a nice extra, but be warned: Slinging your leg over a crossbar is nigh on impossible when you have two carbon-fiber rods in the way.
Screenshot via Chris HaslamI have been hugely impressed by the changes Hypershell has made to its flagship exoskeleton, but to make the machines powerful enough to work properly and light enough not to be a complete burden, the battery takes a beating. The quoted range of 18 miles is based on carrying the spare battery with you.
I set out on one walk in a nearby forest, and with 81 percent battery, the app told me that while using 75 percent Eco assistance I could walk for 4.2 miles. If I needed more power to get up some hills or run, I could manage 1.9 miles before recharging. That’s not exactly adventurous.
You can eke out longer battery life by relying on the high power modes only when the hills get really steep, and on flat ground I needed only enough assistance to offset the weight of the unit. But for days out, you will need the spare battery and a power management plan.
Who’s It For?
There is still a disconnect between what the Hypershell X Ultra S is and who it appears to be for. The marketing focuses heavily on young, athletic hikers striding dynamically across mountain ridges, but if you are already fit enough to move like that, it is fair to question whether you really need to drop thousands on an exoskeleton in the first place.
That’s not to say I don’t think active people can benefit from an exoskeleton, and I certainly appreciate the help it can offer on hills. But there seems to be an issue with actually marketing these devices toward those people who would benefit most. In 2025, participation in outdoor activities among seniors increased 7.4 percent year-on-year in the US, making older adults one of the fastest-growing outdoor demographics. Maybe someone should tell Hypershell.
Hypershell’s internal lab-controlled testing suggests significant reductions in effort, with a drop in heart rate of 42.7 percent when cycling and 22.3 percent during incline walking. Leg muscle activity was also reduced by up to 63.7 percent.
Misgivings and niggles aside, the X Ultra S is the best exoskeleton available. The new HyperIntuition AI-driven algorithm has transformed how the exoskeleton feels, and while I’m stopping short of saying it feels “natural,” the assistance offered by the 1,000-watt motor is significantly more intuitive than anything I’ve tried before. It really does take the effort out of a walk and performs particularly well on steeper inclines. Whether you need one remains debatable, but we’re finally reaching the stage when you might just want one.
Buy at Hypershell
