Overview
It was only a matter of time before someone put a wheel on the heel, and Roger Adams beat everyone to it over a decade ago. But the invention could have gone either way. If people tried these out and couldn’t get them to work, it would have been a huge flop. But the proof that they do work is shown as soon as you see someone cruise by on a pair of these as if they are floating. It’s really neat to see it in action, but can take a lot of practice if you’ve never worn a pair.
The Hype
These were all the rage a few years back, and they still have some hype surrounding them because many people consider it a form of skating and there are even schools that ban them, so it is getting some press, and as they say, all press is good press. It’s also got a viral sort of quality to it, in that once you see someone use them, you want to try it too, which fuels its success.
The Cost
Heelys come in a vast array of styles, with different features as well. Some have two wheels while most have one. You can expect to pay more for more advanced styles and features. A basic style with standard features will run you around $50 or $60, which makes them more expensive than a standard pair of similar style shoes, but less expensive than a pair of typical rollerblades.
The Learning Curve
Evaluation
For parents, Heelys might seem like a hospital visit waiting to happen. For kids, it represents a way to incorporate some fun into mundane daily tasks. A trip to the supermarket is more fun when you can glide along their linoleum covered aisles. Walking to school is less dreadful when you can roll halfway there. Also, it could just be a case of keeping up with your friends if they all have a pair and you’re the last one that doesn’t.
Pulling Off Tricks
Like with anything that can be mastered, there are those that are really awesome with their Heelys on. They can use them like a pair of rollerblades or a skateboard and can pull of tricks and maneuvers at a skate park. You don’t have to get that involved with it, if you just want to use them to cruise around when you can, but it’s nice to know that you have the option to take it as far as you want to go.
Avoiding Injury
You definitely don’t want to hurt yourself, so it might be a good idea to wear some type of padding to protect yourself from injury, as least until you get good at it. A helmet would be overkill, but elbow pads and gloves would be good to protect from scratching or scraping yourself up if you take a good fall. It’s not too incredibly hard to stop, all you have to do is press back with your heel so that the back of your shoe scrapes on the ground. But even still, some people have trouble maintaining an upright stance with these one.
Heelys are the originator and are even patented for their design. Of course there are knock offs out there that look just like these, but if you want the authentic experience and a quality product you should get an official pair. They’re not that much more than the cheaper fakes, and you’ll be able to get better customer service if you ever have any problems with them.
Our Recommendation
These can be a lot of fun if you take the time to practice and get good with them. If you don’t stick with it though, they will just end up collecting dust in your closet because you’ll opt for a regular pair of shoes instead of having to mess with taking the wheel on and off.
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View Comments
Which is better 2 wheels on one heel with bearing 1 or one wheel with bearing 5? I am concerned about safe, smooth rolling?
Heelys are the most revolutional shoes to ever have been created. I got my first pair when I was a wee young lad and my feet have grown since my early years so I have resourced to purchasing 70 pairs so that I might never run out ever again. Thank you and have a nice day.
I fucking hate Heelys. They're fucking garbage and I want to kill myself whenever I see a pair of them. This fucking website is cancer and you are cancer and heelys are cancer. I have AIDS.
Warning, I read this article and I now too have AIDS, thankyou for the heads up Thoe but it's a little late at the end of the article, it really should be at the beginning!
You re an idiot. If you dont like something, you have the right to not purchase it. You need to find a hobby or something if you have nothing better to do than post ignorant comments like that. Have a nice day.
Can the wearer of these shoes still walk normally if not skating,or does it completely off balance the wearer. I can't decide whether to get these for my son or not
they come with a plug that you can put in place of the wheel if you want to walk... but why would you, unless your school sucks. at mine we are aloud to wear them when ever we want
Of course they do! Walking is boring, slow, and outdated. I think that heelys are the future of mobility for places like the mall, target, walmart, even school. Plus, it's great exercise and are so fun! Screw anyone that bans them or thinks they should be banned.
I used to think these were so cool to have when I was a teenager. However, I learned that they can be quite dangerous if you're not careful. They are like amateur roller blades or skates for someone who can't skate well and would like to. I agree with Phyllis that these would be perfect for beginners wanting to learn to roller blade or skate. I love that you can wear them as regular shoes if you want to. Just make sure you don't use them recklessly or you might not like the consequence that follow.
These are easier than regular roller skates and they can prove to be great trainers before you get on pair. Great for kids or adults who want to maybe inline skate but need to get their"sea legs" or rather their "skate legs" going. You will certainly need some protective gear at first especially with kids but they are fun and great for coordination skills for life. They are convenient because they are shoes and can be worn to do nearly anything so you don't have to worry about going home to change shoes if you want to pop into a shop. Although, parental etiquette is the key here as you will have to pay attention to kids in doors so you don't anger others.
I've never personally tried Heely's but both my sons, ages 8 and 13 have. Both of them love, love, love these skate shoes and never want to take them off. I have never had any problems whatsoever with their wearing the shoes and they seem to quickly adapt to how to wear and use them. The shoes are so much fun and provide the little ones with something extra for their day. It is like skating without all of the worry! I even think they are totally cool myself. Heely's are affordable priced and certainly a fun addition to the life of any child.
If you like this then give it a try, it's really a lot of fun. But I warn you, it will take some time to be able to ride it like a pro. Don't worry about the falls, they're not so bad because you're wearing shoes and not tall roller blades. Plus, falling doesn't necessarily mean twisting your ankle like the roller blades, so it's not unsafe by any measure. Try it once and you'll never go back to your boring old shoes.