More Testing and PowerStrider Olympic Model

Larry (DC Power Stilts Affiliate) and Tyler perform a simultaneous test of PowerStrider Olympic - Aluminum comparing both the cz60-Al and cz110-Al springs.

Most comparisons relate the new model to the well regarded Poweriser Advanced stilts which we all have used extensively in the past.

Pluses we found:

• The lighter weight made a big improvement in control for both pairs of stilts, especially while in the air, and they try to do tricks


• The new cuff clamp quick clip is very nice. It took only 5 minutes to attach the cuffs and get them fitted properly. Our stilts also shipped with Knee bars as an option.


• Performance was smooth and responsive: both sets of springs flex and easily achieve 3ft jumps with little effort compared to the Poweriser Springs.


• Frames performed nicely smooth operation, with no noise at all. With this new design, any clack sound heard by other models of stilts is a thing of the past. The reduction of noise makes it nicer for people nearby and more comfortable to use stlts in indoor spaces.


• Due to the design, both users were able to get much higher over all in jumps, and better response from both weight class springs. Standing height was tad higher. Tyler easily cleared the 6 ft mark on his 110 set. Larry was too light even for 60 set but he still managed to flex the springs fine, and got to a 4 ft height


• Both the frames and springs held up well from dozens of hours of usage.

Minuses and Suggestions:

• Plastic Buckles - Once tight they held up fine, although to improve them, they should make them with metal parts. If you push hard down on them while you ratchet them tight, they do work.


• Stilts do not have a stopper - when bottoming out occurs, it can cause a hit hard enough to put a small dent, and chip mark, in the support tube. We suggest keeping within the limits of the spring range and adding a rubber stopper to prevent this damage.


• Spring Protection - Factory supplied rubber coating, or Tape would improve this model. In the meantime, we suggest you apply your own tape to protect the spring.


• Bolts and Screws - Frequently check the bolts and screws because it works loose over time. We suggest applying lock-tite to reduce this tendancy. Another caveat is that screw heads are soft and will become stripped with automatic tools.

Bottom Line
Overall they both loved this new setup, especially the lighter overall stilts weight, and over all more responsive design. The PowerStrider Olympic - Aluminum stilts are a decent quality product, suitable for pretty much anyone looking for a pair of power stilts.

Testing notes:

• Normal usage such as jumping and running
  Testing immediately revealed a faulty PowerStrider Spring on the 60KG set. It had red marks on it that showed small cracks from the factory. (Warranty replacement springs were tested and performed fine.)


• Over-powering the stilts to see how the PowerStrider spring would respond
  Springs did not suddenly crack, which indicates a safe and gradual wearing of the springs, rather than an unsafe and sudden snap.
  
  Also it was noted, with the over power and over the max weight issue, that the support tube can give and twist some causing frame damage too, if the spring was not able to support the users full weight and power. The frame and spring held fine, no noise or weakness in the spring was found later on after this test.


• Under-Powering stilts to test "responsiveness"
  Both users found these Springs to be very responsive compared to the older model of Poweriser springs


• Assembly and dis-assembly for routine maintenance
  Soft screw heads used were easy to strip. We suggest carefully using non-electric tools on the stilts.


• Testing routine hardware adjustments
  If the mounting hardware is tightened, be careful not to over tighten the support tube hardware, or the spring mounting hardware, as this can bind the frame, or even crack a spring


• Wear and Tear performance over time
  Loosening of parts means that users should frequently check all fasteners, nuts and bolts and maybe even use Blue lock tight on then all to make sure they stay secure!

First look: PowerStrider Olympics (CZ Model)

In Summary:
This new model has a good design and offers innovative features and impressive weight reduction without compromise in performance... I'm excited about this model, but how well will they hold up? More testing is needed.

The Details:
Shipping for this model consists of a smaller box and the lighter weight is immediately evident. The reason the box is so small is because the leg cuff is not attached. I actually think this is a smart move because it saves on box volume and assembled stilts still need to be adjusted and fitted by the end user. The stilts are not symmetrical, so the user needs to figure out right and left during assembly. (Remember the buckles should be on the outside when attached.)

Impressions while putting them on. Again the lightweight nature of the stilts is very nice. The footpads are minimal but it saves on weight and they look cool. Wearing boots, the front foot strap was a little tight, so it seems like people with unusually wide feet may need to add washers or do some tweaking to get a comfortable fit on the front foot strap.

Unfortunately the metallic-painted buckles are completely plastic. So they won't have the durability, grip and power that a metal buckle would offer. They do work nicely, so out-of-the-box they seem fine.

The instruction manual goes beyond the normal operating instructions and offers some good tips for learning and doing tricks. Unfortunately it's been translated mostly into "ingrish" and could use some editing by a native English speaker. I also noticed that the content was slightly different between the Chinese manual has different content! For example, the English version of the manual offers tips and photos from the Swebounce website while the Chinese version doesn't seem to have the photos and descriptions of jumping tricks.

The Cuff is comfortable and easy to adjust thanks to an innovative new clamp that can be loosen or tighten for adjustment via one lever and a thumb screw. The cuff is adjustable in the usual ways, so be sure you check to make sure the height and centering are correct.

A detachable hoof is a great idea, but one drawback is that the rubber hoof gets metal screw attachments sticking into it, which kind of makes those become weak points for wear. Of course, it is very nice to be able to just replace the rubber part without replacing an entire hoof assembly.

Starting out the first thing to note is how the bBearings are super smooth on these. Whisper quiet, There is no "clack"! The reduced weight of the stilts seem to make everything a little bit easier. The springs are nice and responsive and don't bottom out from running or jumping big. I'm in the middle of the 70kg weight range, so it seems that they are well calibrated.

Jumping and running works the same as any other pair of stilts but the lighter weight of the PowerStrider Olympics (CZ) feels good with every step.

After a couple hours of running and jumping, getting yogurt and hanging around town on these stilts there aren't any noticeable scratches, and the springs are pretty pristine considering that there is no spring cover. Inspecting the cuff attachment points, the single-screw and lever seems to have held them tight and there aren't any signs of splitting or wear on any of the parts. Wear on the hoof seems normal.

So far we are excited by the PowerStrider Olympics (CZ) since there don't seem to be any inherent flaws or design compromises. They offer good design, impressive weight reduction, and some other innovations.

More Testing is needed since we've only been on the stilts for one day. DC Power Stilts wants to see durability and performance over time, with a range of conditions. We will most likely endorse it if it hold up.

Pricing and economic factors are going to be important to the overall picture and DC Power Stilts will need to examine that to know whether we can offer this product or whether it will be a good value to our customers.