When I first wrote about the hardware design behind Tensio, I was upfront about the limitations. Wrist-based tracking can't cover exercises where the wrist doesn't move, such as leg press, leg extensions, hamstring curls. I said those limitations were solvable and on the roadmap.
This is the solution.
If you have worn an Apple Watch or other wearable, you will know that the bands are detachable and replaceable. Similarly, Tensio's core technology - the sensors, the processing, the algorithms - lives in a small, detachable enclosure. The enclosure is the technology, the band is just how it attaches to your body - and bands can be swapped.
The wrist band:
This is still the default. An adjustable loop band, similar to what you'd see on other wearables. You put it on, forget about it, and it tracks everything your wrists are involved in, which is most exercises. This covers barbell, dumbbell, cable, and machine movements where there is any wrist movement.
Nothing changes here. This is still the core experience.
The ankle band:
This is what opens up the lower body exercises that wrist tracking misses. Leg press, leg extensions, hamstring curls, calf raises - any machine exercise where your arms stay still but your legs are doing the work.
The ankle band will use a velcro enclosure strap rather than a loop - that way you don't have to slide it over your shoe or foot. You open it, wrap it around your ankle, and close it. On and off in seconds, no friction.
Same sensors. Same tracking. Same data. Just a different attachment point. Swap the enclosure from your wrist band to the ankle strap when you move to leg machines, then swap it back.
On the bar:
This one is for two groups of people. First, lifters who don't want to wear anything on their body while they lift. Some people just don't like wrist wearables, and that shouldn't exclude them from getting Tensio's data. Second, for barbell compound movements where tracking the bar path directly may provide more optimal data. Powerlifting and Olympic Lifts in particular will benefit from this.
The attachment method is still being finalized, but it will likely be either a silicone wrap or a clip that attaches directly to a barbell, dumbbell handle, or machine/cable attachment. The goal is the same as everything else with Tensio: minimal friction, maximum data.
One piece of tech. Three ways to use it.
This is the part I'm most excited about. You're not buying three separate products. You're buying one enclosure that works across multiple attachment points. The wrist band is the standard - the others complete the experience.
The core philosophy hasn't changed. Tensio is designed to stay out of your way so you can focus on the lift. This just means it can stay out of your way in more places.
When I wrote about the dual-wrist design and the limitations of wrist tracking, I committed to solving those gaps. This is the first step. The exercises that were previously untrackable are now on the table.
More updates to come as the designs are finalized. If you're on the waitlist, you'll see these first.