Pros: Product adds assistance to walking. Maxiumum power boost is perhaps roughly equivalent to a # 2 setting out of 5 on an e-assist bike; useful, but not amazing. More noticeable however on climbing when leg extension is greater. Provides bracing on decents. Adapts quickly and smoothly to gait on regular walks. Fits well and mounts easily on body. Design is very slick and all details well thought out. Fabrication seems high quality. Battery is not heavy in itself and will long outlast most user's excursion requirements.
Caveats: Requires some adaptation of stride and movement to use properly. Operations manual OK, but could use more and simpler explanations. Control on hip motor is good, but does take time to figure out and memorize, even needing a paper with summary on first excursions. Rotational hip-leg movement outside the front-back plane usually causes unexpected resistance from the device, both in terms of the rigid frame and the biosensor- motor coupling. Device has some difficulty in synchronizing complex rapid movements, which can be compensated by user slowing down and adapting to the machine limitations. However, activities such as walking over rough rocks or roots on trails, requiring rapid unconscious balance movement will be compromised by the machine's inherent limitations in response - and in a few situations, power applications that amplify loss of balance. Some care required on rough trails therefore.
Cons: Is not heavy per se, but adds noticeable weight to walks, increasing fatigue. I found 3 or 4 level power setting required, to compensate for added weight. Assistance on thigh muscles necessarily requires more strain on lower leg, ankle and foot muscles. Braking on downhills puts strain on knee joints, which are forced to take the extra load. Time is required to adapt gait and strength to use the device for longer, more demanding excursions.
