Exoskeletons for older adults: what Hypershell and Dnsys require

Both brands say their exoskeletons are not medical devices and that you need to walk on your own. Hypershell's marketing also names older users. This page sets out what each official page says.

Checked against official sources on

This page reports what manufacturers state. It is not medical advice and makes no judgement about whether a device suits any person. If you have a health condition, a history of falls or balance problems, talk to your doctor or physical therapist before buying.

What the brands require

What the brand saysHypershellDnsys
Who the brand says can use it“Requires unassisted walking and balance.” The product page says it is designed for people who can walk independently.[1]Written for the X1: you should be able to walk unaided at 1 m/s (about 3.6 km/h) or faster; “If you have limited balance capabilities, DNSYS is not your choice”; not recommended if you have skeletal, muscular or neurological issues.[2]
Medical device statusNot FDA-approved or classified as a medical device. Hypershell does not recommend it for medical purposes or as a substitute for medical treatment or assistive devices.[1, 3]The US product page also says “Not a medical aid.”The FAQ says the X1 “is not a medical device” and asks users to follow medical advice.[2]
Fit checkMeasure height, weight, waist, hip width and thigh length and compare them with the size chart. Hypershell's BMI rule: 16–34 is “generally suitable”; below 16 or above 34 the current model is not suitable and it does not recommend buying.[4, 5]The size ranges are published as images and were not read. The FAQ says the adjustable frame covers about 80% of adult sizes.X1: sizes S, M and L by waist; the size checker covers waist 70–125 cm and thigh 40–62 cm. Z1: height 150–196 cm, body weight 40–122 kg, waist 70–137 cm.[2, 6, 7]The FAQ says the X1 fits about 97% of adults and asks you to email support with your measurements for sizing help.

Dnsys gives a number: you should be able to walk unaided at 1 m/s, about 3.6 km/h, or faster[2]. Hypershell’s product page says the device “requires unassisted walking and balance” but gives no speed[1].

Where Hypershell’s own pages disagree

What the brand says about older usersConflicting
  • Marketing: a 2025 blog post lists “older users looking to stay active longer”, people with early-stage mobility issues and post-injury rehabilitation among the uses, and says the devices “help maintain balance, reduce fall risk”. The New X Series FAQ also names older users among the intended users.[8, 9]
  • Product terms: “Not a medical aid” and “requires unassisted walking and balance”. The Help Center says it is not a medical device and asks people with health conditions or mobility concerns to consult a healthcare professional first.[1, 3]

The blog describes uses, such as early-stage mobility issues and post-injury rehabilitation, that the product terms say the device is not for. We treat the product page and Help Center as Hypershell’s terms of use and the blog as marketing.

What research is registered

We found one registered study of a Hypershell device in older adults. NCT07840872, run by Vrije Universiteit Brussel, plans to enrol 20 healthy volunteers aged 65 and over and to measure fatigue during a series of everyday mobility tasks while they wear the Hypershell hip exoskeleton with active assistance. On the check date it was listed as not yet recruiting, with estimated dates from October 2026 to June 2027[10]. It has no results yet. We did not run a systematic literature search.

Questions to settle before buying

  • Can the person walk on their own, at a steady pace, without holding on to anything? Both brands make this a condition of use[1, 2].
  • Do their measurements fit the size chart? Hypershell uses height, weight, waist, hip width and thigh length, plus a BMI rule[4]. Dnsys publishes waist and thigh ranges for the X1, and height, body weight, waist and leg ranges for the Z1[6, 7].
  • Can it go back if it doesn’t work for them? Change-of-mind returns are narrow at both brands: see return policies by country.
  • Is there a way to try one first? See where to try an exoskeleton.

What we don’t say

We make no claims about falls, health conditions or whether a device suits a particular person. The brands’ marketing claims are labelled as claims wherever they appear on this site.

Buying guides

Comparisons

Sources

  1. Manufacturer New Hypershell X Series product page (US store). Hypershell. Checked , read through the site's data API. Prices rechecked on 2026-10-28 from the store's public product data for this page (the page URL with .js appended).
  2. Manufacturer Dnsys FAQ. Dnsys. Checked , page text read.
  3. Manufacturer Are Hypershell products suitable for medical use?. Hypershell Help Center. Checked , read in a browser, including the page's structured data. The article shows only a relative date ("Updated 6 days ago").
  4. Manufacturer Size Chart (Hypershell CA store). Hypershell. Checked , page text read. The measurement ranges are published as images; only the text (measurements and BMI rule) was read.
  5. Manufacturer Hypershell FAQ (US store). Hypershell. Checked , page text read.
  6. Manufacturer Dnsys X1 hip exoskeleton product page. Dnsys. Checked , read through the site's data API. Prices rechecked on 2026-10-28 from the store's public product data for this page (the page URL with .js appended). Rechecked with the store set to the UK, Canada and Australia: the same US-dollar prices.
  7. Manufacturer Dnsys Z1 exoskeleton page (specs and FAQ). Dnsys. Checked , page text read.
  8. Manufacturer Understanding Hypershell X: support, power or both (Hypershell blog). Hypershell, published Jun 26, 2025. Checked , page text read.
  9. Manufacturer New Hypershell X Series product page: FAQ and in-the-box list (Japan store, in Japanese). Hypershell. Checked , read in a browser, including the page's structured data.
  10. Research registry NCT07840872: Exploring the Effect of the Hypershell Hip Exoskeleton on Fatiguing, Everyday Activities in Older Adults. ClinicalTrials.gov. Checked , read through the site's data API. Read through the ClinicalTrials.gov API (version 2).