Stick Reviews
Here's a guide to some of the better sticks on the market to make choosing your ride a little easier.
Individual Stick Reviews
Flybar 1200
Vurtego
Power Pogo
Gravity Games
Motostik
Airgo
Gogo
Bottom Spring
Pro-Go
Master
Trick Table
A table of the sticks reviewed and what category of tricks they are best suited for.
Flybar 1200
SBI Enterprises
Click here to read the full Xpogo.com review.
This is SBI's latest project, The Flybar. This stick is getting set to revolutionize the industry. It's bigger, badder and getting more media attention than any pogo stick in the history of bouncing.
System: The Flybar using a unique system of about a dozen large rubber bands inside the casing that gives the pogo stick an almost trampoline like feel, unlike the air and spring systems. That system also didn't hurt at all in getting the stick to level out at over 6 feet in a tuck.
Strengths: The stick is built solid and enduring. The shaft is square shapped to keep it from bending when landing crocked or when dropping into the peg taps. The pegs are built on solidly and are not going anywhere no matter how hard you drop into a stall. The full construction was made to hold up under the beating a stunt sticker will give to it.
Weaknesses: The stick is heavy. About twice as heavy that the Gravity Games stick. It's harder to manuever in the air, especially for lighter jumpers. The price is also an area of concern for some costumers.
Price: $299.99
More Info: Visit Flybar.com and sign up to recieve news and updates.
Also read what the Xpogo stickers are saying about the Flybar on the Message Board.
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Vurtego Pro Series
Vurtego
The wait if over for the Vurtego Pro series pogo sticks! The Pro series includes three sizes, small, medium (pictured), and large. There will also be an "Ultra" series available made from even higher quality compenents and totally costomizable sizes. This is a great stick that can be adjusted for awesome big air or smooth technical jumping. It's also made in the USA.
System: The Vurtego is more or less a giant air cylinder. You can adjust the amount of air in the tube with either an air-compressor or regular bike pump. The bounce is very crisp feeling. As soon as you hit the ground your instantly back into the air.
Strengths: The stick is very well put together with high grade aluminum and thermoplastic parts. The ability to adjust the air pressure makes it very versatile. With less air its a great technical stick, with more air it an awesome big air stick! It's also very light (about 11 lbs) making it extremely maneuverable in the air and manageable on the ground.
Weaknesses: To adjust the air pressure is a bit of a hassle if your switching quickly between jumpers or jumping style in a single session. The price is also a bit higher than traditional sticks, but if you’re serious about the sport it's worth the investment.
Price: Pro series - $349, Ultra Series - $399
More Info: Vutego Homepage
There's also more info about the stick on the Message Board.
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Power Pogo
Vurtego
The Power Pogo was design by Vurtego as a lower cost alternative to the Pro series sticks. It's essentially the same stick but with a bit lower quality components and made in China. There are two sizes, and adult (pictured) and a jr. model.
System: Like the Vurtego, it is more or less a giant air cylinder that can adjust the amount of air in with either an air-compressor or regular bike pump.
Strengths: The strength of the Vurtego apply to the Power Pogo as well. It's great for both big air and a technical jumping styles and still extremely durable. If your not up for investing in the Vurtego but want the same bounce, the Power Pogo is exactly what you're looking for.
Weaknesses: To adjust the air pressure is a bit of a hassle if your switching quickly between jumpers or jumping style in a single session.
Price: Adult - $179.99, Jr. - $129.99
More Info: Power Pogo on Etoy.com
There's also more info about the stick on the Message Board.
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Gravity Games Super Pogo
SBI Enterprises
The Gravity Games Super Pogo, or "GG" as it's called among the Xpogo community is still the stick of choice for most serious jumpers. The traditional Y frame design and sturdy frame makes it ideal for all kinds of jumping, and it's easily modifiable. They are currently are off the market and are virtually impossible to find for sell anywhere, but a re-release has been announced for early June/late July. So keep your eyes open.
System: The GG uses a traditional heavy duty spring. If you've ever jumped on an older pogo stick you'll adjust easily to this stick. The only major difference is that it's quite a bit heavier than you're probably used to.
Strengths: The major stength of this stick is it's versitility. Whether your a big air jumper, or a highly technical jumper, this stick will play to your strength. It's also a great price for a stick this great!
Weaknesses: The main weakness at the moment is that they're impossible to find, but that should change this summer. The current design also has a small problem of banging up the insides of your knees because of the width of the upper pass, but that should be fixed in the new model.
Price: $50.00 (currently off the market)
More Info:SBI Enterprises Home Page
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Motostik MX1
UTI Inc.
The Motostik was designed by and for motorcycle enthusiasts, but it's definitely still a stick that anyone can enjoy. It's sturdy, stylish, and an all around very solid stick. They come in two sizes, large (pictured) and small. The small is the same but a few inches shorter and a softer spring.
System: It has an internal set of springs. You can adjust the spring tension with a knob on top to optimize it for the weight of the jumper. Because the spring chamber is enclosed, it also has a small amount of pneumatic pressure to help with the jump. This is also, without a doubt, the quietest stick I've ever used.
Strengths: Lots of strengths on this stick. It is very very durably built. Bent shafts and other problems that occur often on other sticks aren't a worry with the Motostick. It's adjustable. The construction allows for easy modifications and addition of after market accessories. It gets a little bit more air than the Gravity Games stick.
Weaknesses: The handlebars are very wide. For freestyle jumping you'll probably want to cut the handle bars down about 4 inches on either side. The straight stick design and the fact that it's directional (has a front and back) also limits trick versatility a little bit.
Price: $199.95 (large) $189.95 (small)
More Info:Motostik Home Page
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Airgo
Razor
This here is Razor's (Yeah, the scooter guys) attempt at a pogo stick. This is an excellent choice of stick for someone who wants to look really cool but really isn't very good. The stick was created hoping to start another big fad and it didn't work so well. It's shiney and looks good in the box, but as far as Xpogo goes, I would have to encourage you to shy away from this stick if at all possible.
System: As the name "Airgo" would suggest it's an air powered stick. The problem with it's system is that for you to get enough air pressure to get a decent bounce, it becomes so stiff that it's not worth jumping on. Adjusting the air pressure required a bike pump.
Strengths: Availability. They're all over the place, especially Ebay. They quit producing them shortly after starting, but the market is still so oversaturated it isn't hard to find one for an extremely discounted price.
Weaknesses: Overall it's just not a very good stick. It looks pretty durable, but it's designed to fold up, which limits the tricks you can do on it. Also the air chambers tend to leak, or break the seals, in which case, the stick becomes useless.
Price: $80.00 retail, but please don't pay full price for it.
More Info:Razor's Home Page used to have info on them, but they've taken it down.
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Gogo
Razor
Also from Razor comes the Gogo stick. I'm really not exactly sure why Razor decided to make this stick. The airgo was a commercial failure and Gogo even more so. Oh well, their loss.
System: There's a spring stuck in that tube and then it's all welded closed so if something goes wrong there's not too much you can do to attempt to fix it. Like the Airgo, it's also designed to fold up.
Strengths: They're shiny! That's about all I can think of. Moderately durable...
Weaknesses: Not very reasonably priced, not very available, just all around not very good. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the straight stick models just aren't very good for stunt.
Price: Around $50. And there's also a smaller jr. model for a bit less than that.
More info: Razor removed all mention of pogo sticks from their site. I think they're trying to pretend it never happened.
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Bottom Spring Sticks
Everyone
I get the impression that at a toy makers convention someone was handing out patent rights for this particular stick. I've seen pogo sticks that are almost exactly like this one made by at least 6 different companies. Micro Scooters put one out, Speed Metal or something like that has one, this one is put together by King Coiler. They're all basicly the same stick, and they're all completely worthless.
System: They've got these Tinee-tiny springs that you can only compress so far before you hit the bottom, and that amount of compression isn't even close enough to propell you back into the air. You might as well pogo stick with a garden hoe. They're are built for a smaller age and weight range, but even so... not really worth it.
Strengths: Umm... It's fairly sturdy. If you are the recommended weight range for this stick, you probably will get bored with it a whole lot sooner than you'll break it.
Weaknesses: It's not a Xpogo stick. Sorry, but it's not. Most models are conviniently collapsable (aka: you'll kill yourself if you try any stunts) it's too small, too skinny, to weak, and too cheap for Xpogo.
Price: $15-$35 depending on model.
More Info: It's on the list to encourage you not to buy it. You don't need to do anymore research. Go look at this instead.
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Pro-go
?
This the Pro Go. It claims to the the most proffessional quality pogo stick
on the market. It's built out of aircraft grade aluminum
has a supercharge air compression chamber that makes
Razor's look really sorry, really light weight, folds up
to almost nothing. I've heard claims of six feet of air
but in reading most people got about 3 feet, which is still
quite good. If your just going for big air, this might
be the best stick for you, however, as an all around stunt
stick it lacks quite a bit. The folding up bit is a downer,
the slim design limits a lot. I guess it all depends on the
kind of jumping you want to do. These are made in the UK
so the prices are all in pounds, if somebody could help me
convert I'd be more than greatful. I've seen them from 29 pounds
(johnlewis.com) to 99.99 pounds, and everwhere in between. The main
supplier is boysstuff.co.uk which has them for 39.99 If you live
outside of the UK shipping will kill you. Then again if you live outside of
the US any other stick will kill you on shipping. I guess its only fair.
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Master
SBI Enterprises
And lastly is the SBI Interprises Master Pogo stick. This is
what I started on, which I promptly broke in half. So I got
another one, which I broke in half. So I got another one...
Strengths: It's a superb stunt stick for starters. If you're under the weight limit I'd encourage you to make this your first pick. There are also a couple variations on this stick, the Foam Master and the Chrome Master. You'll find these sticks for sell all over the place, never a shortage of Masters on store shelves.
Weaknesses: If you're over the weight limit you will break this stick.
Price: Around $25
More info: Check out SBI's Home Page for more info and also an online store where you can buy yourself a pogo stick!
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Trick Table
Here's a quick table of the sticks reviewed above and what category of tricks they are best suited for.
|
Spins |
Grabs |
Stalls |
Reverses |
| Flybar 1200 |
 |
|
 |
|
| Gravity Games |
|
|
|
|
| Motostik |
|
|
|
|
| Airgo |
|
|
|
|
| Gogo |
|
|
|
|
| Bottom Spring |
|
|
|
|
| Pro-Go |
|
|
|
|
| Master |
|
|
|
|
This is nowhere close to a complete list of sticks. These are just
the ones that I felt like reviewing. They are also among the most
common and best stunt sticks.