{"id":52839480,"date":"2025-09-01T21:12:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T21:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ski-mojo.com\/?p=52839480"},"modified":"2025-09-09T17:36:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T17:36:59","slug":"review-using-the-ski-mojo-instead-of-a-knee-brace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ski-mojo.com\/en\/review-using-the-ski-mojo-instead-of-a-knee-brace\/","title":{"rendered":"Review using the Ski-Mojo instead of a knee brace"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Source: Style Altitude \u2014 \u201cReview using the Ski-Mojo instead of a knee brace\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>

Review using the Ski-Mojo instead of a hinged knee brace<\/h1>

Questions explored:<\/strong> What advantages does Ski-Mojo have over a hinged knee brace? Is the hype real? Does it work, and how well?<\/p><\/header>

Introduction<\/h2>

The reviewer had long assumed that a Ski-Mojo was not a true alternative to a medical hinged knee brace (e.g., Donjoy). After a full day of hard skiing with prior, persistent knee issues, the device proved a revelation.<\/p>

This feature is in two parts: first, a practical on-snow review of Ski-Mojo versus a normal knee brace; second, an analysis of benefits to the knees and whether Ski-Mojo can substitute for a hinged brace.<\/p><\/section>

Reviewer profile<\/h2>

65-year-old, 76\u00a0kg male; above-average fitness (running 5\u00a0km\/25\u00a0min, cycling major Alpine cols in Serre Chevalier, open-water swimming in the UK, kitesurfing and wingfoiling). Over 45 years of skiing and snowboarding: ski touring, XC skating, carving GS race skis, and powder whenever possible.<\/p>

Extensive injury history: one ACL reconstruction, one ACL rupture without reconstruction, multiple arthroscopies, and a broken knee. Has used various braces (e.g., Donjoy; currently Stoko on flare-ups) yet still experiences underlying ache unless conditions are pristine.<\/p><\/section>

Context: SIGB Ski Test, La Clusaz<\/h2>

En route to the test, knee pain returned after heavy use in prior days. Day\u00a01 included eight All-Mountain skis (~100\u00a0mm+) across conditions from fresh to hard icy piste.<\/p>

That evening, the reviewer met the Ski-Mojo team at the hotel, explained skepticism (\u201cfor the unfit \/ those lacking leg strength\u201d), listened to their case, and agreed to try it the next morning.<\/p><\/section>

Fitting & first impressions<\/h2>

Fitted by Ski-Mojo owner\/inventor Martin Hannaford<\/strong>. Handling the sprung rod felt like easing the barrel of an air-rifle under load\u2014immediately conveying the concept of a powerful, spring-assisted support down the outside of each leg.<\/p>

System layout: a climbing-style hip harness; upper rods clipping to the harness; an articulated spring mechanism at the outside of the knee; a lower rod clipped to the boot. According to Ski-Mojo, the spring stores energy during knee flexion and returns it on extension; the assembly is held with a neoprene sheath.<\/p>

Hannaford\u2019s one-liner: \u201cA spring-loaded knee-support acting as an exoskeleton, taking about a third of the load off legs and knees \u2014 the skiing equivalent of an e-bike.\u201d<\/em><\/p>

Setup typically takes 10\u201315\u00a0minutes using instructions\/videos; on\/off thereafter is a couple of minutes. The only fiddly part was clipping to the back of the boot. On the first squat, the power was obvious. Resistance is tuned to weight\/height via a \u201cpower adjuster\u201d; a simple external switch engages\/disengages. Worn discreetly under ski pants; normal to drive and walk in.<\/p><\/section>

On-snow test protocol<\/h2>

Location: Balme sector, La Clusaz. Test lap: ~5.3\u00a0km, ~1,200\u00a0m vertical (Balme gondola + Col de Balme chair). The reviewer initially chose to engage assistance after unloading the chair, though there is a \u201cspring off the lift\u201d technique if engaging just before dismount.<\/p>

Parallel ski tests: Nordica Enforcer 99; then V\u00f6lkl Mantra 102, Dynastar M-Pro 100, Salomon Addikt Pro; later K2 Mindbender 96 and Elan Playmaker 101 (lower section). Conditions covered firm pisted snow and softer spring-like sections\u2014ideal for carving evaluation. All runs were skied non-stop and aggressively to stress quads and technique.<\/p><\/section>

Results: fatigue, control & pace<\/h2>

Descents felt almost effortless. Where quad burn would normally kick in mid-run, there was only the slightest twinge. At the test center finish, the reviewer could speak normally, with no breathlessness or sweat. Strava time for the 5.3\u00a0km was ~8:43. Subsequent non-stop runs produced similarly quick times with low average heart rate (~115\u00a0bpm).<\/p>

Notably, the test used touring boots (Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD\u00a0120), which usually demand more leg work than alpine boots\u2014yet the legs felt fine the next day back in Serre Chevalier. Provisional score: 9\/10<\/strong> (a tentative 10\/10, pending heavy off-piste \u201cultimate test\u201d where the knee typically suffers).<\/p><\/section>

Why it works (manufacturer\u2019s technical rationale)<\/h2>