Trekking: This sensor measures more than just speed

By Brandon Widder April 16, 2015

Man isn’t meant to stay indoors — our weekly “Trekking” column can attest to that. It’s a column dedicated to the adventurer inside of all of us, the one pining to ditch the office humdrum for a quick surf session or seven-week jaunt in the Grand Tetons. One day we may highlight an ultra-light stove and the next a set of handmade canoe paddles. Life doesn’t just happen inside the workplace, so get outside and live it.

Smartwatches are all the rage right right now — I mean, have you heard of a little thing called the Apple Watch? However, fitness trackers and wearables in general typically only track and provide data pertaining to so many metrics, often allowing you to do little more than track your calories and distance over a short duration. XensrAIR ($180) isn’t necessarily a wearable, though, and the sensor-jammed device does far more than what you might expect once strapped to your snowboard or bike helmet.

Related: SmrtGRiPS get you where you’re going while keeping your eyes on the road

B2QJhW1CAAAMiDG Although there certainly have been similar physics-based sensors in the past, Xensr CEO David Troup designed the device with a set of particular capabilities in mind. He initially concocted the idea while watching kiteboarding and windsurfing competitions, which often crowned a victor based on the view of a single judge opposed to a set of measurable statistics. He soon developed a reliable device for measuring metrics such as airtime and rotation, but given his interest other sports, he expanded upon the versatile design to encapsulate other outdoor recreation.

Now in its final form, the squared sensor measures just under 2 inches and weighs less than a half an ounce. It’s outfitted with TruMotion metrics, which allow it to conveniently feed statistics pertaining to your jump height, airtime, speed, runs, rotation, landing impact, and slew of other data that could potentially help you become better when it comes to your sport of choice. The entirety of the information is relayed to your phone, too, from up to 100 yards away via Bluetooth. Ever wonder just how much air you caught coming off that half-pipe? Well, now you don’t have to.

Check out Xensr online for more information. You can pre-order the XensrAIR for $180 until June 2, but once the device officially launches, the price will jump to $250.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brandon Widder is a journalist and a staff writer for the Manual and its brother site, Digital Trends, where he covers tech…

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