Skip to main content

Trekking: This sensor measures more than just speed

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.

Recommended Videos

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

B2QJhW1CAAAMiDGAlthough 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.

Brandon Widder
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…
10 cigar myths the internet won’t let die
The cigar 'facts' shared in every lounge that are actually complete BS
two men enjoying cigars

The internet has been such an asset to the cigar world. It allows us to look up obscure brands, communicate with fellow fans across the globe, and access a greater amount of information than ever before. There's a downside, though: rumors catch on like wildfire, and once they're out there, they're nearly impossible to get rid of.Visit any cigar lounge or read online forums, and you'll find the same tired myths that have been making the rounds for decades. While a few are harmless pieces of folklore, others are robbing you of your hard-earned cash, ruining your smoking experience, or just flat-out lying to you about health hazards.Let's burn down those stubborn misconceptions once and for all.

Myth #1: Darker (Maduro) cigars are always more powerful

Read more
Cigar etiquette 101: Dos, don’ts, and modern manners
Please don't be that guy. Here are the cigar etiquette mistakes that scream 'amateur'
well-dressed guy smoking on a couch in the dark

Walking into a cigar lounge for the first time feels like crashing somebody's secret club. They've got this unspoken language, weird rituals, and enough unwritten rules to make your head spin! But here’s the thing—cigar etiquette is not some gatekeeping nonsense to try to make you look dumb. It's about respecting the process, the experience, and not being the person who ruins everyone else's vibe.Whether you're new to this or have been faking for years, this guide will sort you out because there's nothing more likely to ruin a good smoke than someone who clearly has no idea what they're doing.

The basics: Respecting the ritual

Read more
The first movie from Materialists director Celine Song just found a new streaming home
The movie is a brilliant look at the roads not taken.
The cast of Past Lives

Few directors have a debut feature that's as splashy as Celine Song's. The director, who now has Materialists in theaters, had a breakout hit at Sundance called Past Lives that took her all the way to the Oscars. Now that Materialists is in theaters and doing quite well, you might want to catch up with Past Lives, which was one of the best movies of 2023.

The film stars Greta Lee and is told in episodes that span more than 20 years. It starts in South Korea, and follows two Korean children who are clearly close friends and may even have a romantic spark as one of them prepares to move to Canada. Then, we follow their story over decades as they come into and out of each other's lives until they're both in their mid-30s and they reunite for a day in New York City.

Read more