LAS VEGAS – SES 2026 gave me my first experience testing a robotic exoskeleton, and I’m impressed.
Developed by Defy (“Defy”), the SideKick lifts your heels with every step, making walking easier. I was the first journalist at CES 2026 to demo the device, which retails for just $4,500 and is expected to start shipping on January 25.
(Credit: Eli Chartoff/Duffy)
The Sidekick consists of a proprietary shoe with a carbon fiber plate on the back attached to a battery-powered exoskeleton that cradles your calf. It only took 15 seconds to install each one. After that I pressed the power button and started running tentatively. For the first few steps, the device analyzes your gait before giving a little jolt with the help of the battery. I literally gasped when I realized it.
“Caves are truly the unsung heroes of movement,” Luke Mooney, CEO and cofounder of Defy, told me. “This first product is targeting experiences — walking the dog, going to the store.
(Credit: Eli Chartoff/Duffy)
The shoes look and feel similar to the Huka shoes and provide good arch support. Inside, the exoskeleton includes a brushless electric motor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, and a controller. A removable battery powers the motor.
“It’s using the onboard sensors and the controller to understand how you walk, build custom models in real time, and then develop growth strategies that help you as an individual,” says Mooney.
The device did not feel heavy on my legs at all. Because it straps your calf, and not your hips or knees like other robotic exoskeletons we’re seeing at CES, this side kick doesn’t draw much attention. It doesn’t make standing up easy, but it lives up to its promise, giving you a small boost with each step. After walking around the Venetian lobby for 20 minutes wearing a sidekick, I found myself wishing I had the device at the airport yesterday on my way to Vegas.
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(Credit: Eli Chartoff/Duffy)
Like e-bikes, the Sidekick also provides several levels of assistance. At medium power levels, I felt a few minor moments of instability, but overall, the basic feeling was one of support. When I suddenly stopped walking, she accidentally picked up a heel, but that only happened once. After that, I learned to brace myself before stopping.
“There’s a steep learning curve where you’re still adapting, and it’s adapting to you,” Mooney says.
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About our expert
Angela Mascaratolo
Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics
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I’m PCMag’s managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and a wide variety of product categories. I’ve been with PCMag for over 10 years, and in that time I’ve written over 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously worked as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I am also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for almost a decade.
Before joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in Journalism from West Virginia University, and began my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Updated by Angela Mascaratolo
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