NeoSomaTech
Does a powered exoskeleton work in extreme cold?
The answer in detail
Lithium batteries cope poorly with extreme temperatures, so manufacturers publish an operating range. For the X Series, Hypershell states -20 to 60 °C for the X Pro and X Carbon, and -10 to 60 °C for the X Go. The X Ultra page also states -20 to 60 °C.
The manufacturer's support specifies, for the X Series battery, a standard range of -10 to 60 °C and an "anti-cold" version of -20 to 60 °C. These are stated operating limits. We found no quantified data on range loss in cold weather.
What the manufacturers say
| Model | Stated operating range |
|---|---|
| Hypershell X Go | -10 to 60 °C |
| Hypershell X Pro and X Carbon | -20 to 60 °C |
| Hypershell X Ultra | -20 to 60 °C |
| X Series battery (support) | standard -10 to 60 °C; anti-cold -20 to 60 °C |
| Dnsys X1 | not specified on our product page |
Our Pro X page also presents it as reliable in cold and damp, which remains a manufacturer argument, with no independent measurement read.
Who it is for and when
These limits interest those who walk in winter, at altitude or in the north, as well as hikers in the mountains where the temperature can fall below -10 °C. With a model stated only down to -10 °C, like the X Go, an outing below that temperature is outside the manufacturer's intended range.
For range in general, our question on the real-world range of a hiking exoskeleton details what makes it vary, and the one on rain covers damp.
Limits and precautions
- The stated ranges are operating limits, not a guarantee of full range in extreme cold.
- We found no independent measurement of range in cold weather.
- For Dnsys and VIGX, our product pages give no temperature range: ask the manufacturer.
- Follow the manual for storing and charging the battery after an outing in extreme cold.
If in doubt about an extreme outing, favor caution: keep the battery in an inside pocket when the manual allows it, and plan a margin.
Key takeaways
A powered exoskeleton works in extreme cold within the limits the manufacturer states: -20 to 60 °C for the Hypershell X Pro, X Carbon and X Ultra, -10 to 60 °C for the X Go, and an anti-cold battery for -20 °C. These ranges say nothing about real range in cold weather, not quantified in our reading. Check your model's range before a winter outing. To compare the ranges, read our Hypershell vs Dnsys comparison.