Spring Heel Shoe
The verdict is still out, however, on whether wearing them will turn you into the mythic monster known as Spring-heeled Jack.
Comments
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
In an airport?
Wouldn't these shoes be pretty much guaranteed to get you strip-searched and interrogated by the airport security goons?
They look like Wile E. Coyote's version of a shoe bomb.
Wouldn't these shoes be pretty much guaranteed to get you strip-searched and interrogated by the airport security goons?
They look like Wile E. Coyote's version of a shoe bomb.
Posted by Big Gary in Muleshoe, Texas on 10/22 at 07:30 AM
Paul - You saw a guy wearing these? Are these for men? They look like clogs which I always assumed were for females. The times they are a changin'.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 10/22 at 07:46 AM
I don't know whether the guy you saw in the airport fit into this category or not, but, spring heeled shoes are important for those with hip and knee problems. The springs longer travel distance creates a much longer, softer foot strike. Many of these shoes have hidden springs to make the shoes look more normal. Z-Coil is one of those brands, I believe.
When it comes right down to it, some folks would rather walk with less pain than not look dorky. Of course, high heels are the polar opposite decision...
When it comes right down to it, some folks would rather walk with less pain than not look dorky. Of course, high heels are the polar opposite decision...
Posted by Sigh on 10/22 at 07:54 AM
Big Gary--the guy was past security when I saw him, so who knows what happened with the TSA?
Posted by Paul on 10/22 at 08:03 AM
Madd Maxx--the pair the guy was wearing might've been a little different, with enclosed toe. I didn't really want to stare at his feet too long. But the heel part was identical to what's shown here.
Posted by Paul on 10/22 at 08:04 AM
Sigh--well, I suspected that medical issues played a part with these shoes. Nonetheless, I'd like to see some studies about the helping power of spring shoes....
Posted by Paul on 10/22 at 08:05 AM
My first thought was Jack. This must be an international plot to create a legion of serial killers. Or make people look like dorks.
Posted by Mark in Cincinnati on 10/22 at 08:13 AM
Paul - I believe Wile E. Coyote did some studies on this. I can't find his test results but there should be video documenting the experiments. Of course his prototype was just some ACME Bed Springs.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 10/22 at 08:16 AM
I consulted the Oracle (google):
http://www.zcoil.com/pdf/tests/sandia.pdf
http://www.zcoil.com/pdf/tests/lanl.pdf
Of course, these are posted on a spring shoe manufacturers website, so one can expect some amount of selection bias (as they are unlikely to host negative studies on their web page).
I have tried on their shoes. They aren't inexpensive, but they seemed to be pretty well made, and you can get new springs fitted. There is definitely a feeling of more cushion.
The amount of benefit, however, depends a lot on your stride. Jogging and sprinting, for example, don't usually have a heel strike. Running and walking typically do. If you don't land your weight on your heel, then having a spring locate there is of much less benefit.
http://www.zcoil.com/pdf/tests/sandia.pdf
http://www.zcoil.com/pdf/tests/lanl.pdf
Of course, these are posted on a spring shoe manufacturers website, so one can expect some amount of selection bias (as they are unlikely to host negative studies on their web page).
I have tried on their shoes. They aren't inexpensive, but they seemed to be pretty well made, and you can get new springs fitted. There is definitely a feeling of more cushion.
The amount of benefit, however, depends a lot on your stride. Jogging and sprinting, for example, don't usually have a heel strike. Running and walking typically do. If you don't land your weight on your heel, then having a spring locate there is of much less benefit.
Posted by Sigh on 10/22 at 08:48 AM
I once had the boots of Springheel Jak. I got them in the Thieves' Guild. They grant +50 Acrobatics while wearing them, but they break during the Great Heist.
Posted by kingmonkey in corrigible on 10/22 at 09:17 AM
Sigh--those are pretty impressive studies, and it was awfully thoughtful of you to dig them up. WEIRD UNIVERSE hereby endorses such shoes for those with the requisite medical conditions--while still maintaining that the wearer will look like a total dork!
Posted by Paul on 10/22 at 09:42 AM
Paul - I have to know, was the wearer in question also sporting some lovely man-style capris?
Posted by KW in Dallas, TX on 10/22 at 09:47 AM
KW--nope, just standard dweeb look.
Posted by Paul on 10/22 at 10:02 AM
One of my fellow committee women wears a pair of sneaker style spring heels to our meetings, and I routinely stare since I have a shoe fetish rivalling Imelda's. If I ever get the medical condition you say they are meant to address, I might try them out. I just hate looking like a dork if it is not necessary.
Posted by kay in maine on 10/22 at 11:14 AM
I'm holding out for a steel-toe model.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 10/22 at 11:25 AM
I have 2 pair of z-coils, one with exposed springs and one with enclosed springs. I wear them almost every day, I look like a dork walking down the hall, but at least I'm walking. The shoes are expensive, but cheeper than a knee replacement.
I've been through airport security in them with no problems, probably because I was told they sell a lot of these shoes to the guys walking on the cement tarmack at the airport that direct the planes while waving those flashlights.
And yes, they do have a steel toed boot.
I've been through airport security in them with no problems, probably because I was told they sell a lot of these shoes to the guys walking on the cement tarmack at the airport that direct the planes while waving those flashlights.
And yes, they do have a steel toed boot.
Posted by ajm in Minn on 10/22 at 11:48 AM
ajm - Do they make it possible to leap a tall building in a single bound? 
Posted by Madd Maxx on 10/22 at 12:00 PM
These things are a lifesaver for those of use who work on our feet all day. My employer will pay for one new pair of Z-coils every two years.
Posted by Irene in Oregon on 10/22 at 12:10 PM
I've always been partial to Dansko clogs, but I may have to try out a new shoe. I don't care how dorky I look when it comes to my work shoes. After a 16 hour shift on my feet I wouldn't care if I was wearing glasses with tape on the nose and a spinning beanie.
Posted by Caffeinated Katie in Atlanta, GA on 10/22 at 12:45 PM
Can anybody tell me what the price range is on these?
Posted by Caffeinated Katie in Atlanta, GA on 10/22 at 12:50 PM
Category: Fashion, Shoes, Flight, Human Marvels, Stupidity, Technology, Fictional Monsters