Ski Mojo review for resort skiing & ski touring
Style altitude Ski Mojo Review
How a Ski Mojo can help you carry on skiing as you've been used to, and even help you ski longer than your mates
This season I'll be using a Ski Mojo full-time all across the mountain and finding out the answer to a few questions, such as can you ski tour with one, and should you wear your Ski Mojo on the outside or under your ski pants?Back in 2024 I tested and reviewed a Ski Mojo and was very impressed, but was not quite ready for one just then...
owever, I did know back then that it would not be too long before I would probably need a Ski Mojo. After that test back in February 2024, I skied the rest of that season with the usual aches and then skied the 24/25 season with varying degrees of discomfort.
So again, like the previous review, I'll outline my CV/profile, albeit a few more ski seasons on.
I am a 67-year-old 75-80 kg male (weight depending on the season), who maintains probably an above-average fitness regime by way of trail running and cycling the many legendary Cols where we live here in Serre Chevalier, such as the Galibier/Izoard, and, when not in the mountains, living by the beach back in the UK, kitesurfing and wingfoiling .
Over the years, I've had a fair few trauma injuries, which now are making themselves apparent on almost a continual daily basis, with knees being the most prevalent. So it's very much about managing the body and selecting what tools (skis) to use, dependent on the conditions, to minimise the impact.
You can read more background in the original Ski Mojo review I wrote back in 2024.
Since then, another injury has taken hold, basically after trying to run too fast at my age, using ultra-light carbon-plated running shoes, when I developed chronic Plantar Fasciitis in one foot, which has totally curtailed my running these past six months and made me extremely paranoid as to how my winter sports activities would be affected.
The good news is that ordinary skiing is fine, and after a long 1200m ski-tour, I only had a slight twinge in the evening. Best of all, cross-country skate skiing is, also, not an issue, though it can aggravate the knee at times.
The best strategy is to be selective when to take a break, using the forecast to identify potential rest days after a hard XC session or a big ski tour, as gone are the days of being able and actually wanting to ski every day of the week. So even the slightest chance of bad weather is enough to warrant a rest day!
I had already clocked up five or so days skiing and cross-country, along with a couple of ski tours, by the time my Ski-Mojo arrived, and the knee was already twinging, so the timing was perfect.
I knew, following on from my first session with them, that the adjustment was critical. I was fortunate back then to have the owner/inventor of Ski Mojo, Martin Hannaford, fit it for me.
He carefully explained the various nuances of the system, but even though I followed the instructions, I still went along to Jules Melquiond Sports in Chantmerle to have them check my adjustments and fit the permanent* studs to the back of my boots.
*Mojo also comes with moveable clamps/studs so you can use them on other boots, but they can be a little fiddly and eventually work loose
I then further liaised (by sending photos) with my contact at Ski Mojo France to ensure I was ready to go. Once everything is adjusted, it's a case of tightening all bolts up as best you can!
Back when Martin was fitting the Ski Mojo, he explained that, in most cases, if you follow the detailed instructions and the various videos, you should be ready in 10 to 15 minutes. Once set up, it's only a couple of minutes to put it on and take it off. However, if you actually buy the Ski Mojo from an authorised retailer, they will handle all the necessary adjustments, which is the best option.
In fact, many retailers rent the Ski Mojo for you to test, and they then deduct the rental cost from the actual product after you buy it, which, according to Sebastien Brunel from Jean Sports at the Aravel here in Serre Chevalier, the vast majority do.
Jean Sports has been selling 30-35 Ski Mojo units a year. Their customer base is across all age groups, as Sebastien explained, it's not just old skiers like me, but younger ones too, often people who have osteo issues right through to those with disabilities and even amputees. Sebastien said it can bring a tear to his eyes when people wearing a Mojo for the first time are joyously happy realising that they'll still be able to ski.
To some extent, there are now more ageing skiers as those of us who were ripping in the heady days of the 70s and 80s are just about hanging in there :)
And it's not just those of us who ski for fun, it's even more critical for those who are professionals and rely on their legs being 100 percent to earn a living. However, as Sebastien explained, it's still a mindset for many to accept that they might need actual support rather than swallowing a handful of Ibuprofen each day to go to work!
And a bit like reformed non-smokers who can be significantly (frustratingly) evangelical about their newfound modus operandi, the same is true for Ski Mojo users as I now know/admit to :)
And maybe now it's almost 'cool' to wear your Mojo on the outside?
Wearing your Ski Mojo on the outside shows everyone that you're proud to be wearing one and creates the opportunity to chat to people in the gondola about how amazing they are!
So, again, if you're curious about how it actually works, you can read more detail in the original Ski Mojo review I wrote back in 2024.
But as you can see in the image below, I'm loving them. But to be honest due to the lack of good snow cover, I've been skiing far more cautiously than usual, even using a helmet when ski touring. However, a good friend who is a bit of a La Grave ski goddess, having lived and skied there for over 30 years thought that maybe I was skiing a little stiffer because of them. But that was purely skiing sensibly as opposed to letting rip with long freeride turns, or lack of them. Regular service was resumed the next day, (video at the bottom) .
And so with the lack of good snow in resort combined with sectors and lifts still closed, we've taken to ski touring in the resort; aka slackcountry, which might involve three or four climbs of 100-150m resulting in skiing sweet, untracked cold snow, providing a great insight into ski touring with a Ski Mojo.
So what's it like ski-touring with a Ski Mojo?
Ski touring at best can involve a lot of faffing (French don't have an equivalent word as far as I know). Check out more about skiing and faffing here.
And throw a Ski Mojo into the mix, and the potential faff factor can go through the roof.
So, for the first ascent, the question was whether to wear them and/or carry them in the pack, along with a helmet, due to the thin snowpack (rocks), which would also be gear I don't usually carry.
What was apparent the previous day during testing/adjusting was that, without the actual rods on the side, the waist/glutes harness can easily slide down,, so I adapted some old bib braces to hold the harness up and packed the Mojo rods in my backpack. But I have since bought the actual Ski Mojo braces which are designed to work perfectly with the harness, far better than trying to use some old braces.
As conditions were not too demanding, there was plenty of room in my 30-litre pack, and for the transition, it might have only added another three or four minutes. That was my first attempt, so it would only get quicker. Once they were on, I kept them on for the subsequent two ascents and absolutely no issues.
A few days later, I did a similar sortie and this time wore them next to the skin under ski pants. They were just as comfortable, though I presume maybe best to wear some leggings as well, but again, it very much depends on the weather and the ski pants one opts to wear.
When it comes to skiing, I have to say I don't notice wearing the Mojo. Over the next few days, I toured with it both on the outside and inside my ski pants, and I only once forgot to engage them, which is ironic given that when ski touring in any one season and with friends, there will always be one of us who will not engage their boots into ski mode.
There is absolutely no doubt that the Ski Mojo enables you to ski as hard as you want, and not be out of breath or even need a break.
Back when I last skied with one I also said that I would give it 10 out 10 for performance, with the caveat that I know when skiing heavy snow off piste is where I can really feel my knee suffer with the downward pull similar to an ACL Lachman test. This is when the ski stays in the heavy snow as I try and unweight it, which will be the ultimate test for me. Fortunately, so far using it I've yet to encounter a technical snow pack.
And what about leg/thigh burn?
That soreness and burning sensation in the quads (thighs) is a result of lactic acid being produced, which makes the muscles ineffective. This is massively delayed and limited using the Ski Mojo exoskeleton, as it essentially reduces the work of your legs and muscles, which in turn reduces the risk of fatigue-related accidents and muscle soreness.
It has to be said, in good fresh snow, my knees don't really complain, and it's only when I ski into the resort and on the hard boiler plate piste, especially still on lightweight touring skis that are 106 wide, that I really have to work to keep an edge, and that triggers my knees.
Perhaps one of the best tests is skiing from the top of the ridge with a mate through the cold untracked and then back on to the piste. I then carried on skiing all the way back down into the valley and found myself waiting for my mate who came in four or so minutes behind me. When I asked him what was the matter, he complained with an expletive saying he didn't have a 'f**king Ski Mojo' so he had to stop for a rest due to leg burn.
It costs, on average around €699, but what price can you put on being able to still ski for another 10-15 years? Without it you might have well hang up your skis and become a couch potato sitting in your old person's armchair reminissing about your skiing days?
And as for reducing knee pain and protecting the knee?
To read more about how it works and the benefits, then click here.
As Ski Mojo blurb states, like many other devices designed to facilitate, extend or improve the practice of a sport (electrical power-assisted bikes. for example), Ski-Mojo is not a medical device.
And, finally, can a Ski Mojo protect your ACL?
Now here STYLE ALTITUDE, Ski Mojo and referring third parties, must state again, that the Ski Mojo is not a medical device and, accordingly, take no responsibility for anecdotal verbal claims that have been made regarding ACL injuries and more specifically a phantom foot fall ACL injury.
However, it is documented that a phantom foot fall ACL injury occurs when the skier falls backwards with a bent and relaxed knee but, if wearing a Ski Mojo that is locked/engaged. then your knee simply cannot be bent and relaxed.
ACL injuries and skiing is a subject that has been widely documented and here on Style Altitude it's a subject very close to us as well.
Why are there so many ACL injuries when skiing.
And a few more products focused on knee injuries and skiing.
Head Tyrollia Knee Protector Binding
Stoko Knee Brace - but only available in North America
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