At tech shows like IFA 2025, you normally don’t get to spend much time outdoors. But thanks to Hypershell and its new exoskeleton, I got to take in some fresh air and beautiful views with minimal effort.
Hypershell has been producing its X line of exoskeletons for a couple of years now, with the goal of helping its users go further, faster or higher in their adventures with a little robotic help. But now we have its new flagship model — the X Ultra, on sale from today for $2,000. And I got to take it for a test drive up Teufelsberg, a hill overlooking Berlin.
What is the Hypershell X Ultra?
Let’s check the specs before we go any further. Within the 3.9-pound frame — made of carbon fiber, titanium and aluminum — there’s 1000W (1.3 horsepower) of motorized assistance, driven by two motors that sit on the user’s hips.
These are controlled by Hypershell’s “AI MotionEngine Ultra.”This system lets the exoskeleton adapt to your movements to help take some of the load, or increase resistance if you enable the optional fitness mode. When using for its primary purpose, the exoskeleton is claimed to reduce the effort of walking by 20%, and cycling by 39%. There are also specialized modes for moving on less stable surfaces like snow and sand.
The X Ultra package comes with two 5,000 mAH battery packs, giving you the option to quickly switch a use one out for a fresh one to extend your trips. Hypershell estimates a range of 30 kilometers (about 18.6 miles) per battery.
Climbing Teufelsberg
Teufelsberg, literally “devil’s hill,” is a popular lookout point over Berlin. Not only is there a big hill to climb, but there’s an abandoned U.S. listening post at the top. This gives an even better vantage point, provided you’re prepared to climb a lot of stairs.
After donning the Hypershell X Ultra in a parking lot at the bottom of the hill, I immediately felt confident I would make it to the top without exhausting myself. As there’s a side button on the device that can control the exoskeleton’s power level or turn it off in “transparency mode”, it was easy to get to grips with the different amounts of assistance the X Ultra can offer.
At the default 25% power, it’s noticeable but not distracting, while at the maximum “hyper mode” setting, you can feel the exoskeleton pulling your legs upwards as you step. It’s not enough to make you feel capable of walking straight up a wall and onto the ceiling, but it’s obvious that your legs aren’t alone anymore.
I do love walking, but not up hills. You need only ask my friends about how I fared during our vacation to England’s picturesque but steep Peak District. While I was still breathing more heavily as we progressed through our hike up Teufelsberg, I didn’t feel like I was slowing down. If anything, I was moving faster than normal, literally buoyed along by the X Ultra.
Reassuringly, the exoskeleton doesn’t limit your movement to purely back/forward. There’s a surprising range of motion that means if you need to widen your stance to climb a particularly steep section, you can do so without a problem.
Even as a novice exoskeleton operator, I have my reservations about the X Ultra’s controls. There are detailed settings in the Hypershell+ app, available for iOS, Android and Apple Watch, but there’s a single button on the exoskeleton itself, which you have to use a combination of single, double and triple presses to adjust your assistance levels. I’m not advocating for a full panel of buttons and levers, but at least one more input on the exoskeleton itself would have been a smart addition, keeping your focus away from your phone and on the route ahead.
As we reached the top of the listening post, it’s hard to argue against the effectiveness of the X Ultra. Hypershell’s done a cracking job, and allowed me to see one of the best views of the German capital possible without requiring several breaks or copious amounts of snacks to keep me going.
I don’t think walking exoskeletons are going to become a commonplace device. But I can see their benefit for outdoorsy types for whom walking is less about exercise and more a means to find beautiful scenery to photograph or camp among.
I’m not sure this particular model would be good for helping less mobile potential users get to the store and back, as you do require a reasonable level of mobility to begin with, and Hypershell makes it clear that its exoskeletons are not meant to be medical devices. But if you’ve been curious about Hypershell’s products, I can confirm they can certainly help you conquer any devilish hills and hikes you’ve set your eyes on. Just watch out for criminally-inclined plasticine penguins.
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