Note: The devices I have genuinely used long-term are Kenqing's π and π Plus, so anything about "what it actually feels like to wear one" comes from my own hands-on use. I have not used the Ant-H1 / Ant-H1 Pro long-term; that part is compiled from publicly available manufacturer information. The key product specifications in this article, the H-series usage boundary, battery, power-off status, warranty and storage details were checked item by item with the manufacturer on August 28, 2026.
Recently, as I've been traveling and studying with an exoskeleton, more and more people ask me about it. Some ask for themselves; others ask on behalf of parents in their seventies, eighties or nineties. So I decided to lay out, all at once: my real experience from more than a year of use, the manufacturer's two consumer product lines, and how an ordinary person should actually choose.
If all you want to know is "can my elderly parent use one", you don't need to read from start to finish — jump straight to Part 2. If you yourself love traveling, hiking, Citywalk, parks or long-distance walking, Part 1 is for you.
Let's settle "is this an ad" first: this article is, above all, my own long-term real-world experience. The manufacturer has helped me verify the hard product facts; my creator affiliate center carries the purchase link.Searching "Kenqing" on JD.com or Taobao will also bring up the purchase links.
How to Read This Article
People who ask me roughly fall into two groups. One group is like me: they can walk, they love traveling, parks, Citywalk and hiking, but long-distance walking is getting harder and harder. The other group is the elderly themselves, or younger people buying for aging parents — they care more about slow walking, small steps, uneven strength between the left and right leg, or even some degree of limited mobility.
So this article does not ask you to read every single character.
- Travel, hiking, Citywalk, long-distance walking: start with Part 1.
- Buying for an elderly parent: go straight to Part 2.
- Ready to buy and wondering how to choose: read Part 3.
- Curious what pitfalls I hit after so long: read Part 4.
- Wondering why I finally chose Kenqing: read Part 5.
The devices I have genuinely used long-term are Kenqing's π and π Plus, so for anything involving real-world feel, I am only accountable for these two. Because so many elderly users and their children came to ask me this time, I went back over the manufacturer's two product lines for individual users — four products in total:
Sports & Outdoor: π, π Plus
Senior Care: Ant-H1, Ant-H1 Pro
I have not used the H1 or H1 Pro long-term, so for these two I only position them and sort out their functions based on the manufacturer's public information. I won't pretend I've used them.
01 | If You're Buying for Travel, Hiking, Citywalk or Long-Distance Walking
I am exactly this kind of user.
I have always loved traveling, and I can take quite a lot of punishment. In early 2024, eleven years after my PAO surgery on the right hip, my hip joint — stable for many years — began to ache frequently after long walks.
What bothered me most was not "being unable to walk at all", but wanting to go somewhere badly while my legs increasingly refused to cooperate. Can I manage this scenic area? Dare I climb this mountain? How far have I walked today? Do I still have a budget left for this afternoon? Travel started to become a math problem. That is when I began paying serious attention to consumer exoskeletons.
1. The π Series I Use Was Never an "Elderly Product"
Looking again at the manufacturer's current product categories, I became even more certain of one thing: exoskeletons cannot all be understood as elderly walking aids.
Kenqing's own product categories today are: sports & outdoor, senior care, and industrial applications.
The π and π Plus I use clearly belong to "sports & outdoor". So their intended scenarios include travel, Citywalk, long shopping trips, parks, hiking, mountain climbing, large numbers of stairs, and long-distance continuous walking. Young people can obviously use them too.
"Is an exoskeleton a product for the elderly?" The question itself may be wrong. The real question is: what problem do you want it to solve?2. What's the Difference Between π and π Plus?
The first one I bought was the π, and I later upgraded to the π Plus. This set of specifications has been checked with the manufacturer:
| Item | π | π Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Sports & Outdoor | Sports & Outdoor |
| Weight | Approx. 2.1 kg (with 1 battery) | Approx. 2.3 kg (with 2 batteries) |
| Net weight | Approx. 1.8 kg | Approx. 1.8 kg |
| Max assistance | 12 N·m | 15 N·m |
| Assist levels | 12 levels | 15 levels |
| Battery capacity | 3200 mAh | 6400 mAh (3200 mAh × 2) |
| Rated runtime | Approx. 3–4 h / 12.5 km | Approx. 6–8 h / 25 km |
| Modes | Standard / Climbing / Fitness | Standard / Climbing / Sport / Fitness |
My own experience after really using it: the Plus is far more than one extra battery — its power reserve itself is larger. I normally use around level 8–10; on the second half of a climb, when I'm exhausted, I keep turning it up.
So if someone only walks occasionally, the base version may already be enough; if you climb, travel and walk long distances often, and your body weight, slopes and fatigue levels are all on the higher side, then power reserve and battery life become increasingly important.
3. Where Exactly Is It "Useful"?
My own feeling is simple: my legs lift more easily. Especially on slopes, stairs, and the second half of a long walk — the effect becomes more and more obvious.
The device does not lift your whole body up. It gives a little extra force in the direction your leg was already going to move. Which is why the best scenario is exactly continuous walking.
For example, I use it on long shopping trips, on Citywalks, in parks, for a full day in a scenic area while traveling, and even more when climbing.
But it cannot solve every kind of "tired". I only truly understood that difference later.
4. For Exhibitions and Museums, I Actually May Not Want to Wear It
On long shopping trips, I wear it. But if I am seriously visiting an exhibition — walk a few steps, stand for ten minutes, walk a few steps, stand for another ten — I often find the exoskeleton is not that appealing.
Because that kind of tiredness is largely not "my legs won't move", but standing too long. When you stand, the machine is hanging on you too. Two-plus kilograms is two-plus kilograms.
So in that scenario, what actually saves me is sometimes not an exoskeleton, but a small stool that lets me sit for two minutes.
That is also why I eventually developed my own "three secret weapons": an exoskeleton + two trekking poles + a portable stool.
I will write a separate piece about these three later: they do not replace each other — they each solve completely different problems: "continuous walking", "added support", and "needing a rest after standing too long".
Note that I say two trekking poles, not the single cane common among elderly people. Two poles add support and rhythm to long-distance walking, and can share part of the lower-limb load. Together with the exoskeleton and the stool, they actually solve three different problems.
5. Don't Automatically Assume "High-Tech" Means "Best Fit"
Sometimes two trekking poles costing one or two hundred yuan are enough; sometimes what's missing most is somewhere to sit; sometimes you really do need a machine to give you power.
So I increasingly dislike the question "which is the best?" There is no best. Only: what do you actually need today? One sentence for this part: the π series suits people who can already walk and want to go further on trips and outdoors; don't treat every exoskeleton as an elderly walking aid.02 | If You're Buying for an Elderly Parent, Read This First
Of the people who have asked me recently, many are not buying for mountain climbing at all, but asking: "My mother is in her seventies and can't walk far." "My father is in his eighties — he can still walk by himself, just slower and slower." "My parents' left and right legs have different strength." "Their steps are tiny." "Can I buy him your π?"
My first reaction is: don't buy on that basis. Because the manufacturer also has a product line specifically for senior care: Ant-H1 and Ant-H1 Pro. Compared with the π series, it is not simply "a bit more expensive or a bit cheaper" — it solves different problems.
6. Sports & Outdoor and Senior Care Are Not One Price Ladder
Many people line the four products up as π → π Plus → H1 → H1 Pro and read it as "the more expensive, the more advanced". That is not the case.
More accurately, there are two lines: the sports & outdoor line is π → π Plus, leaning toward travel, climbing, hiking, long-distance walking and sports assistance; the senior-care line is H1 → H1 Pro, leaning toward daily walking for middle-aged and older users, slow gait, small steps, left/right leg differences, irregular gait, and more complex walking-assistance needs.
The first step in buying an exoskeleton is not comparing prices — it's choosing the right product line first.Let's be clear about one boundary first: these are all consumer products
The π, π Plus, H1 and H1 Pro introduced in this article are all consumer products. They are not medical devices and do not provide medical, therapeutic or rehabilitation functions. The manufacturer's publicly available product system mainly covers sports & outdoor, senior care and industrial applications; this article only discusses the first two categories for individual users.
So when you see target-user descriptions such as "limited mobility" or "semi-disabled elderly", do not automatically assume the product offers medical correction, treatment, fall prevention or substitute support.
Assistance is not support. Being able to help you step does not mean it can help you stand steady.7. What's the Current Difference Between H1 and H1 Pro?
The core specifications and modes of the H1 and H1 Pro have been newly verified with the manufacturer:
How to understand the H-series modes: Standard mode suits people with larger, more continuous steps; Assist mode suits people with smaller steps, poorer continuity, or weaker leg support who can still step actively; Left/Right Assist mode targets one noticeably weaker leg; Training mode is for very small steps, irregular gait, and even cases where lifting the leg is very hard.
I have not used the H1 / H1 Pro long-term myself, so I cannot judge how these modes perform in practice. But in real life I have met many elderly users whose left/right leg strength, step length and stability are genuinely different. Seeing the H series turn these situations into separate modes, I can at least understand that it targets a very real need.
| Item | H1 | H1 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Product line | Senior Care | Senior Care |
| Weight | Approx. 2.6 kg | Approx. 2.6 kg |
| Assistance | 10 N·m | 12 N·m |
| Assist levels | 10 levels | 12 levels |
| Battery | 3200 mAh | 3200 mAh |
| Runtime | Approx. 8000–12000 steps | Approx. 8000–12000 steps |
| Charging | Approx. 1.5 h | Approx. 1.5 h |
| Best fit | Height 150–185 cm; waist 60–133 cm | Height 150–185 cm; waist 60–133 cm |
| Modes | Standard / Assist / Fitness | Standard / Left-Right Assist / Assist / Training / Fitness |
Here is something quite interesting: the π Plus is about 2.3 kg with 15 N·m; the H1 Pro is about 2.6 kg with 12 N·m. So the H1 Pro being more expensive clearly cannot simply mean "lighter" or "stronger".
Looking at the verified modes and target users, what its higher price really buys is finer handling of small-step gait, left/right leg differences, irregular gait, and more complex walking conditions.
This also shows that what makes an exoskeleton truly valuable is not always a bigger motor, a bigger battery or lighter materials. For the H series, what matters more is whether the machine can recognise different gaits and deliver the right amount of assistance to the right leg at the right time.
8. The Most Important Sentence: Helping You Step Is Not Helping You Stand Steady
This is what I especially want to remind children buying devices for their parents. The manufacturer's H-series pages use descriptions such as "limited mobility", "semi-disabled" and "walking assistance for the elderly".
The manufacturer has further confirmed the usage boundary: these products target users who "can stand steady by themselves and can actively step" — steps may be small, speed may be slow, and dragging one leg is acceptable; but people who cannot stand at all or cannot actively step are not covered. The product itself has no support or balance function and cannot prevent falls; those with poor balance need someone accompanying them while using it.
So never interpret "suitable for semi-disabled elderly" as: someone who cannot stand at all and cannot step at all will walk on their own once they put it on.
Assistance ≠ Support. Stepping ≠ Balance. Walking more easily ≠ Fall prevention.If an elderly person can no longer stand steady on their own, or cannot actively step at all, they fall outside the scope of this kind of consumer exoskeleton; if it is only a matter of poorer balance or needing assistance, they should first try it out, with someone accompanying, and consider whether a professional assessment is needed based on their own condition.
9. What If the Elderly Person Can Still Walk, Just Not Far?
This is, in fact, the category I think is more worth trying. For example, someone who can stand and walk on their own, but is slower and slower, cannot go far, takes smaller and smaller steps, has different left/right leg strength, and gets clearly tired after long distances.
In this case, I still suggest not buying first, but experiencing first. The H series in particular has finer modes for these needs — slow gait, small steps, left/right differences. It is best to let the elderly person put it on themselves and walk in a real environment: flat ground, turning, up and down stairs, starting and stopping, sitting down and standing up again. Only if they feel comfortable and are willing to use it does it make sense.
10. Don't "Surprise-Order" for an Elderly Person
I really do not recommend that children secretly buy a machine costing over ten thousand yuan for their parents and then expect them to say: "Wow, so high-tech!" What the elderly person may actually think is: "What on earth is this? I'm not wearing it."
This kind of device needs to be strapped to the waist and legs, and it needs charging, putting on, taking off and adjusting. If the elderly person is psychologically resistant, it easily becomes the most expensive clothes hanger in the house.
Taking them to try it in person matters more than ten days of online research.
One sentence to remember when buying for an elderly person: first check whether they can stand steady and actively step, then look at gait and left/right differences; those with poor balance need someone with them. Age and price are not the first criteria.03 | What I Look At When I'm Actually Ready to Buy
This part is not only about Kenqing. If I were buying a consumer exoskeleton again today, these are what I would focus on.
9. First, Get Clear: Powered or Unpowered
Some exoskeletons have no motor and rely on springs, elastic structures or mechanical energy return. Their advantages are being light, no charging, and no range anxiety. But that is not the same as active motor assistance. So when you see an ad saying "no charging needed, never runs out of power", don't get excited — ask: does it even have a motor? No battery naturally means no range problem, but the way it assists is completely different.
10. Weight, Weight Distribution and Wearing Comfort
Weight matters a lot, because no matter how smart the machine is, it ultimately hangs on your body. I care a lot about lightweight design, but you cannot look at just one number. If someone says "ours is only 1 kg", I keep asking: why only 1 kg? How big is the battery? How big is the motor? What has been reduced? Where is the lightweight material used? Has assistance capability changed? Don't just ask how light it is — ask why it can be that light.
Two kilograms all on the waist, spread between waist and legs, far from the body versus close to the body — the feel is completely different. So never rely only on numbers on a web page; you must put it on.
11. Assistance Strength, Levels, and Which Joint It Actually Helps
Many people assume stronger assistance is better. In fact, my own lesson was exactly the opposite. The first fitting should start at a low level and go up one level at a time until you find the level that is most natural, most comfortable, least disruptive to your own rhythm — yet clearly helpful. The maximum level does not mean the best.
Different exoskeletons may assist the hip, knee, ankle, or multiple joints. Many lightweight consumer products mainly assist the hip. So if your own problem mainly comes from a different link, you cannot assume suitability just because of the word "exoskeleton".
12. Battery, Runtime, Disassembly and Storage
Manufacturers generally quote a maximum runtime. But in reality, body weight, slopes, assist level, cadence and mode all affect power consumption. So I prefer to ask: can an ordinary user with medium assistance get through a full day of travel? My own π Plus basically manages it.
I seriously underestimated this before. The manufacturer confirmed this time that what the π series calls "modular" means the main unit, waist belt and battery can be separated. Correct storage is not forcing the belt inward: power off, remove the battery, then press the orange button on the side of the main unit to detach the belts on both sides, and finally fold the main unit and leg rods along their structure and pack them separately. Very practical when actually traveling.
13. Elderly Users: Wearing, Body Dimensions and Summer Comfort
For elderly users this matters even more than torque. How many straps are there, are the buckles in front or behind, do you need to bend down, is the waist hard to align, does the device weight press on you while putting it on — these must be tried on site.
At minimum, check height, waist, thigh circumference, leg rod length and adjustment range. Don't just accept "it fits all elderly people" — every product has a fitting range.
No one can judge this for you. My own π series does not wrap the whole body tightly; what really gets hot is the strap above the thigh, especially when shorts touch the skin directly. So it is best to try it wearing the clothes you actually wear.
14. Manufacturer Capability and After-Sales Matter More Than Price
An exoskeleton is not an ordinary mechanical brace. It involves motors, sensors, mechanical design, gait recognition, control algorithms, batteries and software. So I check: when was this company founded? What did it do before? How long has it been making exoskeletons? Does it keep releasing new products? Does it have a real R&D and after-sales team?
I would even rank this ahead of price. The manufacturer's current statement to me is: the main unit (excluding battery) has a 1-year warranty, the battery half a year; textiles such as waist, shoulder and leg straps, as well as the main unit outer shell, power module outer shell and other plastic parts, are not covered. Repairs can be sent to the company headquarters or official designated stores, and batteries can be purchased separately on e-commerce platforms. Before buying, still ask clearly about local experience points, repair methods and future parts supply.
I once damaged an outer shell myself, precisely because I did not take the manufacturer's "modular / dismountable structure" seriously. To fold the device smaller, I kept forcing the waist belt connection point, and the shell eventually cracked. Looking back, that damage was entirely avoidable: the belt can simply be detached and packed separately — there is no need to bend it hard over and over.
One sentence before you really buy: first make sure your body and scenarios fit, then compare weight, power, battery and price; manufacturer capability and after-sales are equally important.04 | The Pitfalls I've Actually Hit After Using It This Long
Now that the specs are done, the following are the lessons I paid for with real money and real leg mileage.
15. Forgetting to Turn On Assistance: Don't Believe the "Wow Effect"
When I first got the device I was extremely excited. Once I turned it on and just walked. The more I walked, the more I thought: why is it so easy today? Why doesn't my leg hurt? How is it this amazing? Later I checked the data: assistance was almost zero. I had only turned on the power, not actually activated assist mode.
That made me very wary of the "wow effect" at a first fitting. Expectations, posture and attention can all affect your subjective feeling.
So now I suggest: on — off — on again. Do a simple A/B test.16. The Biggest Pitfall: The Machine Makes You Forget Your Limits
After I really found it helpful, I got a bit carried away. On a trip to Japan I walked nearly 20,000 steps a day. Back in Beijing it was spring, so I went climbing and walked the Great Wall again and again. I used to hesitate at stairs; back then I thought: why worry, I have a cheat code.
After continuous heavy load, my hip pain clearly worsened again.
The machine can reduce your sense of fatigue, but it cannot endlessly raise the real load-bearing capacity of your body's tissues.An exoskeleton should expand your radius of activity, not make you forget your original boundaries.
17. Usable Does Not Mean Worth Using: Cycling, Strap Removal and Power-Off
I have indeed cycled with it, and the assistance was obvious. My legs lifted faster, cadence went up, and speed increased. The problem is exactly here: more speed leaves less reaction time.
Another time, when getting off a shared bike, the exoskeleton's side rod caught the brake cable. I ride fairly often and reacted quickly, so I didn't fall. Someone else might have fallen right there in the bike lane.
Also, cycling drains the battery unusually fast. The manufacturer's explanation: when walking, the two legs step and land alternately, and the device mainly assists during the "step" phase; cycling is continuous high-frequency pedalling, so assistance output lasts much longer and power consumption clearly increases. The manufacturer considers cycling usable, but you should watch the remaining battery and cannot estimate it using walking runtime.
Usable does not mean worth using.Once I forgot to fully power it off and just opened the leg straps. The machine was still running, and the rods suddenly moved on their own, giving me a fright.
So now I always remember: power off first, then take it off. It is a powered mechanical device, not an ordinary knee brace.
The manufacturer also confirmed: after the π / π Plus loses power or runs out of battery, the hip joint and leg structure are in a free state, equivalent to "worn but not switched on" — no leg locking; walking, stairs, sitting and standing are not restricted by a mechanical lock.
So for me, the worst situation remains: carrying two-plus kilograms of machine for nothing, with no assistance.
18. Real Life: Summer, Skirts, Vehicles, App, Flights
It gets hot in summer, mainly at the straps, but I wear it anyway. Trousers are fine, shorts are fine, skirts are fine too. It is just that after the straps clamp a long skirt, the shape becomes very strange — I eventually stopped caring.
Cars, the subway, restaurant chairs — no particular impact for me. Using the toilet was not as difficult as I had imagined either.
At first I worried too. Later I found hardly anyone stares. Later still, with more exoskeleton TV ads, some people can actually recognise it. Mostly they are just curious: "Hey, is that an exoskeleton?"
Eventually I had no psychological burden at all, and even found it rather cool. At higher speeds the motor makes a slight mechanical sound, which I thought was pretty neat.
Nowadays everything likes to come with an app. Exoskeletons do too — data, parameter adjustment, mode switching.
But in my own long-term use I barely use it, because the buttons on the waist unit are already simple enough. For ordinary elderly users this is actually important: not knowing how to use a phone app does not mean not knowing how to use an exoskeleton. For me the app is nice to have, not must have.
I have taken the device on many flights and in my experience it has always been carryable. The manufacturer confirms that the current battery has 3C certification, with a single battery at 3200 mAh / 46.5 Wh.
But I still would not write "no problem on any flight". The manufacturer's line is also: under current regulations it can be carried on board, but specifics are subject to airline and airport requirements, so it is best to confirm again before every departure.
My own habit is to keep the device with me, and carry batteries with me following lithium battery rules.
An exoskeleton can help you walk, but it cannot exercise your muscles for you
Many people ask: will I become dependent? Will my muscles get lazier and lazier?
My understanding: when you walk, the device only helps reduce part of the load — you are still walking and still using your muscles. But the exoskeleton helping you move and you doing strength training yourself are two different concepts.
An exoskeleton can help you walk, but it cannot exercise your muscles for you. My deepest realisation after all this time: the machine amplifies your ability, and may also amplify your excess. It should expand your radius of activity, not make you forget your body's boundaries.05 | Why I Finally Chose Kenqing
I saved this story for the end, because I don't want anyone to read this article from the start as "recommending a particular brand".
I first started paying attention to exoskeletons in early 2024. At that time my right hip was eleven years past PAO surgery, and it had started hurting frequently after walking again.
I saw information about consumer exoskeletons online and looked at quite a few overseas crowdfunding campaigns. Many products had not really launched then. Following the information, I found that the R&D and manufacturing behind many products actually came from China, so I proactively contacted several domestic manufacturers.
From early to mid-2024, I spent more than half a year checking overseas crowdfunding, researching Chinese manufacturers, finding contacts, and asking when products would launch, about technology paths, weight and usage scenarios.
From mid-year onward, Kenqing gave me fairly consistent, patient replies and invited me to that November's national welfare expo.
Before that I had already visited their after-sales service point and tried the then-current H1. The H1 was already a device costing over ten thousand yuan. At the same time they told me that a lighter, more sports-and-outdoor-oriented new product would come later — the π.
At the end of November 2024, at the welfare expo, I went specifically to try the π on site. After trying it, I joined the crowdfunding on the spot.
Just before the 2025 Spring Festival, I received the finished product.
From then on I truly brought it into travel, Japan, scenic areas, shopping streets, Citywalk, parks, mountains, the Great Wall and study trips.
So my final choice of Kenqing was not because of any single advertisement, but because after more than half a year of gathering, contacting, comparing and on-site experience, I felt this company is genuinely committed to exoskeletons for the long term.
As I kept using it, I also came to feel more and more: for this kind of new device, what really deserves attention is not only price, weight, battery or carbon fibre. It is also whether the people making the machine truly understand "how people walk". When should the machine help, when should it not, which leg, how much, and can it keep up with a person's steps — those are the truly difficult things.
Finally: is it worth buying?
My answer is still: it depends on the person.
If you cannot stand steady or walk at all, do not expect a consumer exoskeleton to take you from 0 to 1.
If you are simply too lazy to exercise, it cannot replace muscle training either.
If you only travel once or twice a year, renting and trying first may be more cost-effective.
If you can walk, but not far, if long distances hurt afterwards, if travel is becoming more and more limited — and you still badly want to go out and see more — then it really is worth a try.
Of course, if you have more money than you can spend and a very strong urge to buy, then stop doing all this math — just buy it.
Buy it and actually use it; even if it only lets you walk a little more and go to a few more places, that already counts. The thing to fear is not "paying too much", but buying it and keeping it at home.
After using it for so long, my biggest change is not finally owning a piece of high-tech gear, but slowly learning: when to use the exoskeleton, when to take two trekking poles, when to simply sit down, when to keep walking, and when to stop.
So if anyone asks me now, "is an exoskeleton really worth buying?" I would probably answer: don't ask whether it's worth it first. First ask what you actually want it to solve for you.Purchase Notes
Kenqing products are currently available on platforms such as JD.com and Taobao.
I have also put the Kenqing sports model purchase link in my channel's creator affiliate center.
If you order through that link, I receive a 5% platform commission; if you happen to be preparing to buy and are willing to order through my link, I would of course be very grateful — and I will do my utmost to share more real experience with you.