Outdoors

Walk Wings turn your shoes into roller skates

Walk Wings turn your shoes into roller skates
Walk Wings are strap-on roller skates with retractable wheels
Walk Wings are strap-on roller skates with retractable wheels
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Each Walk Wing attaches to the user’s existing footwear via a heel strap, toe cover, and a ratcheting ankle strap
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Each Walk Wing attaches to the user’s existing footwear via a heel strap, toe cover, and a ratcheting ankle strap
Walk Wings are strap-on roller skates with retractable wheels
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Walk Wings are strap-on roller skates with retractable wheels

Readers of a certain age may remember those old-school roller skates that were strapped on over top of the user’s regular shoes. The Cardiff Skate Company recently brought the general idea back, but using rollerblade-type wheels instead of the original steel ones. Walk Wing takes the idea further, with strap-on skates that feature retractable rubber wheels.

Each Walk Wing attaches to the user’s existing footwear via a heel strap, toe cover, and a ratcheting ankle strap. Sliding a lever at the back causes the four polyurethane wheels to drop down into place, allowing for some roller skatin’ action. Stopping is achieved using a heel brake, located below the wheel-release lever.

When the user encounters an obstacle such as stairs or a gravel surface, they just pull the wheels back up by flipping the lever over to its original position. Given that they’d be a little gawky to walk in for extended periods – even with their wheels pulled up – the Walk Wings also come with a backpack for carrying them when not in use.

Each Walk Wing attaches to the user’s existing footwear via a heel strap, toe cover, and a ratcheting ankle strap
Each Walk Wing attaches to the user’s existing footwear via a heel strap, toe cover, and a ratcheting ankle strap

If you’re interested getting a pair, they’re currently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign. A pledge of US$90 will get you some, when and if they reach production. The planned retail price is around $200.

You can see them in use, in the video below. For another take on add-on roller-skates, check out On Wheelz – although they require you to either buy special shoes, or get an existing pair altered.

Source: Indiegogo

Walk Wing, An exciting new way to move around.

5 comments
5 comments
mach37
Has the writer ever actually used "old-school roller skates" that were strapped on over top of the user’s regular shoes? I am a "Reader of a certain age" (actually OLDER than a certain age) who has NEVER seen any roller skates that strapped on over top of the user’s regular shoes. The only old-school skates I used had metal clamps that attached to the hard leather soles of regular shoes from the bottom.
chomper
Just Google "old metal roller skates" and look at the images. Some clamp on and some have a toe clip with a buckle. The ones I had when I was a kid were the kind that strapped on over regular shoes (toe clip with buckle).
That being said, this design is laughable. Have they ever seen Heely's (http://shop.heelys.com/adults)? $60 and it's a way better design.
Don Duncan
About 10-15 years ago, at the mall, I saw some young boys flying along on in-line rollers built into the bottom of their shoes (Sacramento). They stopped, sat down for a few seconds and retracted the rollers, walking away normally.
This invention is greatly superior. Why would anyone chose Walk Wings over this?
esar
What, mach37 doesn't remember going to a roller disco and putting on a pair of these! http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/6326202611_d1442a23e2.jpg These look pretty sleek, but there is something similar out there called Cardiff Skates. Not retractable wheels, but they fit over the shoe. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0241/2315/products/cruiser-l-profile_grande.jpg?v=1423074854
Grunchy
The retraction feature, I'm skeptical about. I'd be afraid that lever probably doesn't lock in place well enough, and eventually you come skidding to a stop.

What I most appreciate are the 92mm wheels. Regular skateboard wheels are 60 to 65mm. But I got to try out a longboard with 87mm wheels, the experience was night vs day! The larger wheels were much more streetable.