How high can a pogo stick jump

A pogo stick is a device for jumping off the ground in a standing position, through the aid of a spring, or new high performance technologies, often used as a toy, exercise equipment or extreme sports instrument.[1] It led to an extreme sport named extreme pogo or "Xpogo".

It consists of a pole with a handle at the top and footrests near the bottom, and a spring located somewhere along the pole. The spring joins two sections of the pole, which extends below the footpads.

The jumper places their feet on the footpads while balancing on the pole, then jumps up or down with a bending action of the knees to add or subtract energy in the spring. When the spring is at full compression or extension, the jumper is lifted by the recoil of the spring, being launched several inches or feet into the air. This process is repeated to maintain a periodic bounce.

The pogo stick can be steered by shifting one's weight off the centerline of the spring in the desired horizontal direction thus producing horizontal locomotion.

Inventors[edit]

A spring stilt utilizing compression springs on each foot was patented in 1891[2] by George H. Herrington of Wichita, Kansas, "for leaping great distances and heights". This was an antecedent of the pogo stick as well as today's spring stilts.

The modern eponymously-named pogo stick was invented by Max Pohlig and Ernst Gottschall, from Germany. A German patent was registered in Hanover on March 1920[3] for a device they called a "spring end hopping stilt". It is thought that the beginning two letters in these men's last names is where the word "pogo" comes from.

The two-handle pogo stick design was patented by George B. Hansburg[4] in 1957. Hansburg described the origins of the Pogo name colloquially in a story of a young Burmese girl with the aforementioned name whose father had created a crude version of the device so that the daughter could travel to the local temple for prayers.[5] An earlier design with a single upright vertical handle [6] patented in 1955 posed something of a risk to the user's chin. Later improvements to the pogo stick have been made, including the Vurtego,[7] Flybar,[8] and the BowGo,[9] which allow operators to jump much higher than with a simple coil spring pogo stick. Back flips and other tricks are now possible on some of these newer sticks, which has contributed to the growth of the new sport of Extreme Pogo ("Xpogo").

Whatever improvements or different types are made, the basic design idea of a person riding on a spring remains the same.

Popularity[edit]

The popularity of the pogo stick has fluctuated over the years, but rose to prominence in the 1970s due to a marketing scheme by Irish/Italian immigrant Ryne Recchia,[10] which promoted the pogo stick's unique design and versatility. There have been shows performed with pogo sticks, marriages performed on them, jumping contests held, and world records set and reset numerous times (which currently stands at 20 hours and 13 minutes).[11]

In 2012, the pogo stick was gaining in popularity through the invention of extreme pogo sticks and the emerging sport of Xpogo.[12]

Animation of how a pogo stick moves.

Extreme Pogo, or Xpogo, is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks on extreme pogo sticks, defined as such by their durability and potential for height. Today's Xpogo sticks have the potential for over 10 ft (3 m) of height (measured from the ground to the bottom of the tip).[12] Extreme pogo is a relatively new extreme sport and is currently emerging into popular culture as evidenced by the growing number of Xpogo athletes around the globe, growing sales from extreme pogo companies,[13] the popularity of Xpogo athlete exhibition teams,[14] positive feedback and continued interest in Xpogo content on sites such as YouTube,[15] and the expanding scope of the annual World Championships of Xpogo, Pogopalooza.[16]

The pogo stick is all grown up and ready to do new things! Unlike a traditional pogo stick, the 10-foot Pogo Stick doesn’t rely on a small metal spring; instead, it uses an air piston for a smoother bounce and a gravity-defying ride.

The air piston design means the 10-foot Pogo Stick is capable of some pretty amazing feats. It gives riders the ability to get big air so they can do flips, spins and set world records—including the 10-foot world record for which it’s named!

These stunts are unbelievable.

If you’re not quite ready to attempt world records, don’t worry: the 10-foot Pogo Stick is fun for almost any size and skill level. The stick’s unique air piston design can adapt to any rider between 75 and 400 pounds.

Adjusting the air pressure of the stick will raise and lower your bounce, so you can find the level that’s right for you.

The heart of the 10-foot Pogo Stick is the carefully engineered air piston, which generates the power for your jump. This is contained inside the aluminum cylinder, which has been anodized to resist scratches and dents. That means this bouncy stick was designed to take a beating, so you can always ditch your ride to save your body.

The shock absorber and slide shaft provide a smooth bounce while the traction pegs and grip tip help ensure as safe of a ride as possible.

Exercise and fun don’t always go hand-in-hand but the 10-foot Pogo Stick gives you a workout while you play! The combination of jumping and balancing is a great way to increase your heart rate while working your muscles.

Enjoy the view while working out your lower back, glutes, quads, hamstrings, calves, and triceps. If only dieting was this much fun.

Lose weight while gaining altitude.

Even if you’re not planning on getting in shape or becoming a pogo pro, jumping on a pogo stick is still just plain fun. It’s like turning the sidewalk into a trampoline!

Simply put, the 10-foot Pogo Stick takes the simple joy of a traditional pogo and amplifies the awesome.

Everyone loves a good jump.

The valve at the top of the stick allows you to adjust the air pressure using a manual bike pump or air compressor. Just remove the protective cover and make adjustments to match your weight and the amount of spring.

You’ll probably want to start at a psi that’s about a quarter of your body weight. From there, you can lower the pressure for a softer, lower bounce, or raise the pressure for a firmer, higher bounce.

When your body is all bounced out, the 10-foot Pogo Stick retracts for easy transport and storage. Just let all the air out through the valve and retract the slide shaft inside the cylinder.

In travel mode, the stick compresses down to 34” so you can take it with you as you go hopping around the world.

Question: Umm….is this safe?

Answer: When used properly, the 10-foot Pogo Stick is a fun and safe product. However, this stick packs some serious power so you’ll need to take precautions. At a minimum, make sure to wear a helmet and avoid uneven and slippery surfaces. We also recommend starting at a low air pressure until you become accustomed to the stick. And, as always, use a liberal amount of common sense.

Question: Can I really jump 10 feet with this thing?

Answer: The “10-foot” part of the name refers to the highest jump recorded with this pogo stick. It’s unlikely that non-professionals will get that high but even us newbies were impressed with the jumps we could do.

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