Has anyone tried this?
http://www.jumpusa.com/poweriser.html
http://poweriser.net/
Fun toy, useful training device, insanely dangerous fad, or useless informercial fodder?
I’ve seen them in use and they look great; you don’t get anything for nothing though, so I’m sure these huge, fast strides probably tire you out quite quickly. I’d imagine the biggest safety issue is that you can run at 20mph with them, or rather, the problem would be trying to stop in an emergency, or just tripping up. Probably not much more dangerous than a racing bike though. I want some (bloody expensive though, aren’t they?)
So you’ve seen it eh? Does it look difficult to use?
Running on 2 legs is a pretty inefficient mode of locomotion, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Poweriser was noticeably more energy-efficient. Still, if it’s fun and burns up calories that’d be a good thing too.
Yeah it’s expensive, but not too bad compared to a decent bicycle. (And a lot cheaper than a fancy bike.) The other excercise/sports equipment I’m interested in is the Kickbike but that costs about the same. If it’s easy enough that I’ll learn to use it before giving up, it might be worth the cost…
I was expecting a price from $120-170. They are $400. I vote for ‘massively overpriced toy’.
E pluribus Gad!!! :eek: Would I like to run really fast on a pair of pogostick stilts? Um, no.
it looks like it would be easier than a unicycle, possibly even easier than a pogo stick or ordinary stilts, but still something that would take a good deal of practice. It looks as though it would make you very top-heavy; my concern would be serious head and neck injuries if a mishap occurred - come to think of it, your wrists are going to shatter if you try to break your fall. Still, looks like great fun if you don’t fall over.
Looks like a lot of fun. I’d like to have a go at it, but I cant see myself dropping the cash (a few other toys have priority).
I saw them in use in a video, and they seemed delightful (I think it was Cirque du Soleil, but don’t quote me on this).
Something that I really like about skiing is the tremendous power released by the spring action of the skis at the end of each turn. That is a sensation that I miss in the summer when in-line skating. I expect that these things might convey such a sensation. I’d be a bit worried about the foot-print, though. Could it hold during sharp changes in direction?
My greatest concern, however, would be durability. How strong are these things? I expect that having a part break could lead to a nasty fall on horizontal pavement.
(OT: this season, I have broken two toe boxes and four release plates on my ski bindings. The bindings can’t handle the flexing of the skis . Fuckity fuckity fuckity fuck fuck fuck!)
Oh hell yes. 
If I ever have a spare $400 lying around, I’m so getting a pair of these. The coolest part is that your friends probably haven’t heard of 'em…so, you invite them over, and watch the looks on their unsuspecting faces as they see you bound across an empty lot at 20mph in 6ft vertical leaps. You will be the freaking MAN.
Provided your friends are guys, of course. Most women will realize pretty quickly that you just look silly.
For R. Crumb fans, doesn’t it remind you of Boingy Baxter?
“Dis is in da realm of great acheebments!”