Who says fitness isn’t fun? Bounce yourself slim with these exo-stilts
Mustering THE motivation to get out for a run during the winter months can be tough. Running through rain, sleet and sub-zero temperatures just isn’t any fun, no matter how hard you try to convince yourself otherwise.
Enter the Kangaroo Jumps: the more-than-faintly-ridiculous keep-fit method that is slowly carving out a niche in London. Keep a look-out in Hyde Park for long enough and you will, eventually, between the skaters and roller-bladers, spot groups of people who appear to have taken inspiration from the moon landing footage.
There is no denying they look a bit silly, lolloping along at a fair clip like an accelerating hippopotamus – but there is method to the madness: bouncing can burn off 20 to 30 per cent more calories than jogging. They also have another major advantage over running: the boots absorb as much as 80 per cent of the stress that your knees usually take.
The entry level bouncer will probably want to start with a pair of Kangaroo Jumps (pictured right), which will put a spring into your step but won’t launch you into orbit.
A seasoned jumper, though, might want to try something a little more hardcore: the Pro-Jump EXO CZ80 Jumping Stilts. These look similar to 200m runner Oscar Pistorius’ blades and can generate a crazy amount of power in each stride. Knee, elbow and head protection is a must if you’re using them on concrete or attempting any tricks.
Kangaroo Jumps are £166 from kangoojumps.com.
Exo Stilts are £159.99 from Amazon.co.uk.