All spring brands tested

[martin]

Hi bouncer,

Since I was asked, I post the results of a test with all available bouncer-spring brands for you. 9 bouncer met in Munich for a weekend and we tested our equipment.

When we came together we tried to be impartial but finally it is still our and especially my personal opinion. Also not all springs where for the same weight so this might slightly distort the result.

We had the following springs available:
PowerSkip E580
7meilenstiefel-pro 70/90 (Austrian brand)
Speedjumper 110 (German brand)
Poweriser 70/90
Flyjumper 100/110

A friend developed an evaluation from 1 (bad) up to 10 (excellent) to enable comparison. Especially the category efficiency (exertion versus output) tells a lot about the quality of the fibre glass.

PowerSkip:
PowerSkip was unanimously voted as the winner by far. It is the most expensive spring but worth its price (I did not buy the whole PowerSkip but only the spring). The spring starts very soft and you think it is too easy for your weight. It seems that you bottom them out easily, but the opposite happens the more you compress it the harder it gets, before you can bottom it out you reach the highest resistance. And in addition to that it gives you back the whole energy you put into the jump. So without much exertion it is easy to reach and to maintain modest height and with power you reach high altitude. Even as a beginner, when you may miss (timing) the exact point to push yourself up after coming down you do not loose your whole energy. From my personal experience I know that they keep their character over time (long-lasting) what is not naturally if you look at Powerisers.

Running: 9
Learn to jump: 10
Usual bouncing: 10
Extreme bouncing: 9 (probably 10 with a higher weight model)
Efficiency (exertion versus output): 11 (yes that’s right)

7meilenstiefel-pro:
The opinion about this spring where mixed. It has the most similar character compared to the PowerSkip but a little bit stiffer at the beginning. Some voted them on second place. Some bottomed them out easier than the PowerSkip what they did not like, but since this spring was for a lower weight it was difficult to compare them directly. They are universal springs which can be used for nearly all purposes. 

Running: 8
Learn to jump: 8
Usual bouncing: 7
Extreme bouncing: 7 (perhaps 9 with higher weight model)
Efficiency (exertion versus output): 8


Speedjumper:
The Character of this German spring is more close to the Poweriser Model. It is stiff and you need a lot of power to bend them. The resistance stays the same over the whole way (till bottom out). No wonder our model was also for high weight. You need  a good timing concerning pushing-up yourself in order to get good height. 

Running: 6
Learn to jump: 5
Usual bouncing: 5
Extreme bouncing: 8 (high weight model was tested)
Efficiency (exertion versus output): 5

Poweriser:
The well known Poweriser spring did not do very well in this test. They are very stiff, even stiffer than other brands in higher weight categories. The resistance stays the same over the whole way only just before bottom-out it gets easier, which is not very comfortable. It is hard to bend them at all, but if you bend them and you have a very, very exact timing you can get very high, but you need a lot of practice to get it right. Extreme bouncing is very exhausting compared to other models. You are quickly short of breath. On the other hand we used a brand new pair of springs and I know from my experience that they get softer during the time which could shift the result.

Running: 4
Learn to jump: 2
Usual bouncing: 5
Extreme bouncing: 9 (average weight model was tested)
Efficiency (exertion versus output): 2

Flyjumper:
Flyjumper did not do very well either. They are actually not bad for beginners since they are relatively soft and this is easy for running, but you bottom them out quickly therefore they are not suitable for high jumps and tricks.

Running: 6
Learn to jump: 5
Usual bouncing: 5
Extreme bouncing: 5 (high weight model was tested)
Efficiency (exertion versus output): 5


Again this is my personal opinion. Do not hold me responsible for your buying decisions.

I personally learned to bounce on a pair of Powerisers. It was a pain in the a** and they are not good for quick success but when you manage them you have learned a lot. When I switched to PowerSkip springs they where very easy for me.

I hope this test is of interest for you.

Happy bouncing
Martin


note: To be fair and to avoid the suspicion of plagiarism this text is based on posts which colleagues of mine posted in German forums and I translated and adjusted them.

[XarnuSonci]

Thanks martin, that's some really good info, I'd never seen a good comparison between Powerisers and the professional versions so this helps a lot. I think i'm gonna try to get powerskip springs when my current springs wear out. How much do they cost?

[Dan Silverman]

Forgive my ignorance, but can we put the actualy springs from one brand onto a different brand? For example if the actual spring for the PowerSkip is better than that of the Flyjumper, then can we swap out one set of springs for the other? In other words, are all these spring compatible with the aluminium frames of the other sets?

[XarnuSonci]

I read someone on the forum put PoweriZer springs on powerisers, and flyjumpers look exactly the same so i'd assume their springs will fit too, and martin said above that he doen't have powerskips, just their springs.  They all look like the same mounting method to me so i don't see why the wouldn't fit or you couldn't make them fit with minor adjustments.

[Dan Silverman]

I read someone on the forum put PoweriZer springs on powerisers, and flyjumpers look exactly the same so i'd assume their springs will fit too,

PoweriZers and Flyjumpers are exactly the same. The two manufacturers merged to increase production and profitability (from what I have been told). As a result, if you order a pair of PoweriZers they have both the PoweriZer logo and the Flyjumper logo on them.

In any case, if the Powerskip springs are that much better, then wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to get a set of PoweriZers and replace the springs with Powerskip springs then to outright buy a set of Powerskips?

If this is the case, then we could have the best of both worlds (better price and better performance).

[XarnuSonci]

That's what I hope to do, and that's apparently what martin did.

I did not buy the whole PowerSkip but only the spring

[martin]

Hi,

Yes, to my experience all springs fit into other stilts. Sometimes minor adjustments are required since e.g. the hole in the footpad is to narrow or to wide. I had to replace some screews.

I put PowerSkip springs on my Poweriser. A pair of Powerskip springs costs around Euros 360,-. Together with the connection parts I paid around Euro 400,-.

Unfortunately I am not happy with this combination any more since the Powerisers start to loosen all joints, they make strange noises and it seems they start to fall apart.

I intend to buy better stilts also. Especially since in Austria I get stilts which cost the same as Powerisers and they have a better quality. One guy even said, that in his opinion they are at least as good as the Powerskips.

happy bouncing
Martin

[riser-rookie]

theres some good info there, thanks.

[poweriser kid]

im gonna get some powerskip pro springs for my birthday/christmas or when i get enough by myself because im sellin some stuff to make the footplate mod and buy the highest grade spring for maxamum performance
anywayz be cool
poweriser kid

[rrcraig]

I intend to buy better stilts also. Especially since in Austria I get stilts which cost the same as Powerisers and they have a better quality. One guy even said, that in his opinion they are at least as good as the Powerskips.

Please tell us the name of the stilts you can get in Austria with Poweriser price and Powerskip quality?  Would it be possible for some of us in the US to have a few sets of them shipped here? 

[Dan Silverman]

Unfortunately I am not happy with this combination any more since the Powerisers start to loosen all joints, they make strange noises and it seems they start to fall apart.

I don't understand why this would happen. If the springs are all basically the same then there is no reason for your 'risers to start falling apart. I cannot see how the springs could be responsible. Is there anything else you did besides replacing the stock springs with the Stilt springs?

[martin]

Unfortunately I am not happy with this combination any more since the Powerisers start to loosen all joints, they make strange noises and it seems they start to fall apart.

I don't understand why this would happen. If the springs are all basically the same then there is no reason for your 'risers to start falling apart. I cannot see how the springs could be responsible. Is there anything else you did besides replacing the stock springs with the Stilt springs?

The springs are not responsible, they are gorgeous. But the rest (the Poweriser frame) does not keep up with the spring. Good springs shi**y stilts, the PR feel like slightly twisted and wobbeling. It seems that the joints and frame parts have too much play. This prevents exact movements. It is difficult to explain but I hope you know what I mean. I even lost screws while bouncing.

Martin

[martin]

I intend to buy better stilts also. Especially since in Austria I get stilts which cost the same as Powerisers and they have a better quality. One guy even said, that in his opinion they are at least as good as the Powerskips.

Please tell us the name of the stilts you can get in Austria with Poweriser price and Powerskip quality?  Would it be possible for some of us in the US to have a few sets of them shipped here? 

Hi rrcraig,

The name is 7meilenstiefel-pro (www.7meilenstiefel.com), you can find a description of the springs in the test above.

Re shipping: I would have to ask the manufacturer, but I could imagine that he would appreciate business with the US. Shall I ask, who would have interest? I posted a test under http://www.PoweriserPages.com/forum/index.php/topic,320.0.html

This model was advanced by listening to all problems which had occured using poweriser and flyjumpers. My personal assessment, if you are looking for long-lasting quality take this new model into account.

Just today a got new 7meilenstiefel-pro springs for intense testing.

happy bouncing
Martin

[chuck]

martin,

one component that i'm particularly interested in hearing a comparison is the bushings at the pivot points.  i own powerisers and the brass bushings at the upper pivot wore completely through after 3 months of very moderate use.  these bushings are also responsible for the annoying squeaking and honking experienced by powerizer users out of box.  i have since replaced mine with bearings (improved but not 100% satisfied).  has this issue been considered in the model you are testing and i'd like to hear how the skip compares with this part as well.

also i remember one of our professional friends posting that the skip spring had to be modified by drilling out the holes in the spring to fit the riser models, so thats not exactly interchangable in my opinion. 

thanks for the good info,
chuck

[martin]

Hi chuck,

The 7meilenstiefel-pro (I call them 7ms) has needle-bearings in all pivot points (3 pivot points with two bearings each = 6 needle-bearings per stilt). They are (by far!!!) the most quiet stilts I have seen/heard.

Re interchangeable: I said minor adjustments are required. For instance I argee that PowerSkip springs have smaller wholes for the screw=axis where they are connected with the foodpad. There are two possibilities: 1) Drill the whole bigger (in this metall connection part, a kind of angle steel, I hope you know what I mean) in order that Poweriser screws fit into the Powerskip wholes. Or 2) Replace the angle-steel of the PowerSkip with the angle-steel of the Poweriser and it works also, that is what I did. All I needed where some stainless screws and shims which you can by everywhere.

I am pleased that my infos are of use for you.

Martin