Pro-Jump PowerBocking Jumping Stilts Forum - Community for Power bocking / Pro Jumping!
YOUR JUMPING STILTS => Before you buy questions => Topic started by: BitLord83 on December 07, 2011, 04:04:32 AM
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Hey all. I'm from the USA. I've had a pair of Powerstrider Sharks for a good part of a year now and am addicted to the sport. :Csmile:
Right now these guys:
http://getjumpingstilts.com/powerstrider-olympic--alu.html
are on sale for only $250 US (160 British pounds)! These certainly seems like a great deal, especially compared to any other prices I've seen around, air-trekkers for instance.
Questions:
1) Are these somehow older models they're trying to get rid of you think? The picture shows the old hooves with the metal instead of the one piece solid rubber hooves shown in the picture of the Air-Trekkers. Anyone order recently from them and get the newest model?
2) They ever put metal binding clips on these things or are they still kinda cheapo plastic?
3) Is there some kind of warranty? The powerstrider site seems to be down. What's up with that?
4) If I need parts, are the Air-Trekker parts totally interchangeable with the Powerstriders?
5) Are the Air-Trekkers and the Powerstriders really the same stilt? Here is an excerpt from the Air-Trekkers site:
"our manufacturer has upgraded ALL products this year with racecar tire replaceable, foot pads, 30% stronger carbon fiber springs, and stronger/lighter frames. And they continue to upgrade our models: New Calf cuff part for custom tight fit, and high-end snow board bindings for those who go extreme."
Thanks in advance! :Cnotworthy:
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1) Only getjumpingstilts can answer that. Many people use old or inaccurate images so they could well be the newer model with the all-rubber feet.
2)Cheapo plastic, as pictured. Possible to upgrade but you need to ask.
3)Up to the retailer.
4)As long as they are both CZ range then they are fine.
5)Yes they are. Each brand can specify a few changes here and there but on the whole they are the same, with the same frames and springs.
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Thanks for the info. I emailed them. Hopefully I get a response soon.
That brings up one more question. Is the only difference in the newer model the all rubber hoof? Or are there other major improvements? If it's just the hoof I can always just buy the all rubber ones when the metal ones go bad.
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I can't speak for the USA but Naz (Webmaster) worked hard over here to get a few problems solved on the ones PJ sell
The all rubber hoofs you know about (due to the ally bit breaking up)
The bracket that joins the two bits behind your heel has been beefed up on ours due to a few fractures on the old style
The overcenter lock on the cuff bar holder was changed for a stronger one
And I am not sure about the last one but I think they fitted better quality bolts as on some early ones the hex holes rounded out easily
That I think was all but if I have missed anything someone will probably add to it
Jason :Hoofies2: :CGEEK:
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Thank you. You guys are always so helpful.
If the getjumpingstilts folks don't email me back about them having a warranty and being the newest model that will probably be a deal breaker, even if they're a deal of $250. Air-Trekkers would seem to be the way to go since they have great customer service and a good warranty. When I can muster up the $350 for them I might do that.
I really want the warranty because I'm concerned about the springs breaking. Has that still been happening lately on the PJs? I know some people were talking about there being some bad springs that broke pretty quickly.
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Springs do occassionally break but not as often as it would seem by the storys :Claugh:
The higher weights seem to be more prone to it but that was the same on the old ones and even on £1000 Powerskips
The warrenty varies but I think it is about 3 months and 1 yr on the rest of the stilts (excluding things like hoofs that are fair wear and tear type things)
Ask how much a set of springs will cost if you need spares and if they are available off the shelf (PJ have most weights most of the time and have always been able to supply me with spares when I needed them)
But must admit my first buy was decided by the PJ warrenty and good customer service so I would say go the same way with whoever you choose
Jason :Hoofies2: :CGEEK:
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Good advice.
Air-Trekkers have a 1 year warranty on all parts except the foot pads.
As for the springs, they are $120 a pair with free shipping.
I guess I have a debate on my hands as to what weight springs to get then. I weigh 218 lbs (99KG) and have decent stilting abilities (can fairly easily jump onto and over things that are around 2-3 feet tall). I currently have 198-219 lb (90-100KG) springs in my old powerstriders and can bottom them out pretty easily and get about 3 foot vertical on them.
I was going to go with the CZ100 since that is just above my weight a little, but I have read that these springs are much stiffer and it may not be smart to go up a weight category, and now you mention that the stiffer springs break easier. Would it be smart to just go with the CZ90's especially since people say they have a really hard time bottoming them out?
Jason, thanks again for the help. You're a bocking encyclopedia! :Claugh:
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Ok this question is a can of worms mate :Claugh:
The springs are lumped into sizes but weights are marked on the bottom
So if you buy cz90's you could be getting anuting from a 90kg to a 99kg
Not sure if Powerstriders have the weights on the bottm but have a look you may find they are 90's in which case ask your supplier to get you a set of cz's slightly higher or similar (remember springs get softer with age)
PJ will search out a set of bocks to get as near as they can but charge a small fee for doing it (They have to open a lot of boxes to find the right ones sometimes and time is money) so I would imagine your guys would do something similar
The only way to be sure of the weight you need is to try someones cz's before you buy but a good guideline is
The old models used to be about 10kg light and the CZ's are spot on so you need as near your real weight as you can get
Having said that some extreme bockers go 10 or more kg over their weight but they are very extreme :Cbiggrin:
Jason :Hoofies2: :CGEEK:
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Ha, yeah I figured I was opening a can of something. Sorry Jason!
Wow, I had no idea that the exact weights were specific to the springs, that's crazy!
Unfortunately mine are not marked that I can tell. I just switched my hooves with non-marking poweriser hooves last night, so I'm pretty sure I would have seen it marked somewhere on the springs if it was there, and it's certainly not marked on either end. I'm pretty sure that they are the 90KG range springs though.
I should contact Air-Trekkers again and see if they can pick out a specific weighted spring. I have my doubts if they would do that, but who knows. I would certainly try a pair if I could, but I'm in the US and of course over here we're stupid and don't like cool sports like bocking, so the closest person to me with any stilts are probably about 3 or 4 hours drive away at best.
I'm certainly planning on upping my ability with the stilts and keeping fit on them, so I'm leaning towards the 100-110KG range (CZ100) stilts and make myself work a little harder on them. That way as my springs soften they'll still be plenty as my skill goes up. I hope not to gain any weight but I have a feeling that I certainly won't be loosing, so that's another factor.
On the other hand the 90s would certainly be better for quite a while initially it seems like, so I'm still kinda of on the fence. I could always upgrade to the 100 springs at some point in the future if I really need to.
I don't think I'll ever get to the "extreme" stage of bocking, so I certainly won't go for the 110s or anything.
Thanks Jason, you're the best.
PS: Air-Trekkers said that the calf cuff clamp is upgraded to a stronger version, and they come with the all rubber hooves on them.
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Sounds like they are the upgraded ones if they have both of those mods
I would go for the lighter weight to start with my reasons being that I bock on springs my own weight and at first I couldn't get anywhere near bottoming them and it is still not very often I can
You will learn quicker on the softer springs and after a year or so of hard use you will need new springs anyway
Jason :Hoofies2: :CGEEK:
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I will most certainly take your advice. It looks like it will be the 90s Air-Trekkes extreme for me when I can get the money.
Jason, thank you for all the help. After all, knowledge is power, and that makes you a very powerful bocker!
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You are welcome mate
I just had a look at you weight and you said you are 99kg so I will ammend my last coment
You need them as close to your weight as possible so either top weight 90's or low weight 100's
You don't want to end up with 90kg or 109kg as one would be too soft and the other to hard so idealy you need them in the 98-103kg
Do get on the phone to the supplying company as they may be more than happy to check the weights for you
I know it a pain to call and ask but you will be amazed how helpful people will be if you ask nicely :Claugh:
Good luck and get some vids up on here so we can see how it should be done :Cbiggrin:
Jason :Hoofies2: :CGEEK:
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Thanks Jason. I will certainly give them a call when I am closer to buying to see about the weights, and yeah, I should certainly put up some videos.
Also, for anyone who needs more info about Air-Trekkers and other general stuff, there is actually a fair amount here (just keep in mind they're still trying to sell their stilts and talk them up):
http://www.air-trekkers.com/blog/