# I'm thinking of buying an Airwheel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 9, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703 "2015-07-09T22:21:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/1 "2015-07-09T22:21:15Z")
Not to be outdone by FloatyGimpy or Battle Pope I’m considering buying an Airwheel unicycle: [Commute To Work just got FUN! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_KFIT8nWF8) Amazon sells it for under $600: [http://www.amazon.com/Airwheel-X8-Carbon-Pattern-Unicycle/dp/B00N4TAKI6/ref=sr\_1\_4?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1436480437&sr=1-4&keywords=airwheel](http://www.amazon.com/Airwheel-X8-Carbon-Pattern-Unicycle/dp/B00N4TAKI6/ref=sr_1_4?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1436480437&sr=1-4&keywords=airwheel) ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/2 "2015-07-09T22:52:46Z")
Looks like fun. I hope you find some other way to get your exercise. My father used a Segway when he could no longer walk because it allowed him to do his errands while just standing still. Does it work on a similar principle to the original Segway, that is, lean forward to make it go, lean back (or less forward) to make it slow down and stop? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/3 "2015-07-09T22:53:01Z")
Not much range, and heavy on the Stupid-Looking. I’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/4 "2015-07-09T23:17:09Z")
I think it looks like a lot of fun! It looks a bit scary though, like you could trip and just fall forward or worse, backward. It would just take some getting used to, I assume. You could at least just “try one out” which is basically the same thing as “I’m just going to look at puppies”. You’ll come home with one! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/5 "2015-07-09T23:25:00Z")
A friend had one at Christmas. We tried it. It’s not nearly as simple as a Segway to ride. It takes practice. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/6 "2015-07-09T23:32:56Z")
It’s the 21st and 1/6th Century. You are pretty much obliged to get one. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/7 "2015-07-11T02:05:30Z")
What do you do about curbs? Bend down and pick it up? Not for me. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/8 "2015-07-11T02:38:50Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Not much range, and heavy on the Stupid-Looking. > I’ll pass. Coming from you Bosda that means… not a lot. To each him own I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/9 "2015-07-11T03:28:53Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Does it work on a similar principle to the original Segway, that is, lean forward to make it go, lean back (or less forward) to make it slow down and stop? I watched an instructional video. Apparently it’s controlled by the position of your feet. If you push down with your toes, it goes forward. If you push down with your heel, it goes backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/10 "2015-07-11T03:36:11Z")
Didn’t we get over the Segway fad? Looks like a great way to annoy (or injure) everyone else on the sidewalk. These are things I fundamentally do not get. You can stand, and balance, but you’re too impaired / lazy to walk? I suppose it’s essentially an overpriced toy. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/11 "2015-07-11T04:49:04Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Didn’t we get over the Segway fad? Looks like a great way to annoy (or injure) everyone else on the sidewalk. > > These are things I fundamentally do not get. You can stand, and balance, but you’re too impaired / lazy to walk? I suppose it’s essentially an overpriced toy. In the same way that a car is an overpriced toy. I’ve tried one for a couple of hours, and in my opinion they fit a niche between walking and the motor-cycle. If you are a person who doesn’t do an hour or two of walking or bicycling to get around, then you might not be in the target group. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/12 "2015-07-11T07:07:10Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > In the same way that a car is an overpriced toy. Nah, cars serve the same purpose that trains and planes do – traveling long distance in shorter amounts of time. Sometimes hauling shit. That’s practical, not frivolous. > [@](#): > > I’ve tried one for a couple of hours, and in my opinion they fit a niche between walking and the motor-cycle. > > If you are a person who doesn’t do an hour or two of walking or bicycling to get around, then you might not be in the target group. Well, except I do walk an hour or two to get around. I… WALK. I haven’t had any difficulty with it yet. (Then again, I also run just because it’s fun, so what do I know?) More seriously, I DO think that it’s a toxic attitude to approach any and all physical activity, no matter how little or mundane, as something to be avoided at all costs. Walking for half an hour won’t kill you. Not ever walking might. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/13 "2015-07-11T12:40:58Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Not much range, and heavy on the Stupid-Looking. > I’ll pass. Parses at least two ways.😃 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/14 "2015-07-11T12:59:07Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > In the same way that a car is an overpriced toy. > > I’ve tried one for a couple of hours, and in my opinion they fit a niche between walking and the motor-cycle. > > If you are a person who doesn’t do an hour or two of walking or bicycling to get around, then you might not be in the target group. My car is a great tool for commuting to work, traveling across town to visit friends and family, buying and bringing groceries home, giving rides to passengers, and taking trips out of town, hundreds of miles if need be. This device looks like a great tool for briskly walking short distances by yourself without moving your legs. I must also concur with Bosda’s expert opinion on being stupid-looking. Somewhere, someone is going to ride one of these infernal contraptions while using a selfie stick, and that’ll be the end of the human race. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/15 "2015-07-11T13:06:59Z")
That looks fucking awesome! I’m probably too uncoordinated to have one for myself, but still, they look fun. (Not getting the but hurt in this thread either.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/16 "2015-07-11T13:07:17Z")
When I’m walking a lot, what gets tired is not my legs from moving, but my feet from supporting my weight. This gizmo still has you standing, so my feet would still be getting tired, so what’s the advantage? Unless the goal is just to look like one of those guys from B.C. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/17 "2015-07-11T16:32:48Z")
Canadians? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/18 "2015-07-11T17:05:35Z")
Gator, please. ---
**Author:** ![Conspicuous\_Conspiracist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@Conspicuous\_Conspiracist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conspicuous_Conspiracist)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/19 "2015-07-11T23:39:33Z")
B.C. invented the airwheel thousands of years ago 😛 : [B.C. by Mastroianni and Hart for January 03, 2002 - GoComics](http://www.gocomics.com/bc/2002/01/03) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703/20 "2015-07-12T00:47:18Z")
Don’t let sneering naysayers deter you- that looks like a lot of fun for really not all that much money. You can always get your exercise elsewhere. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-buying-an-airwheel/724703.md?page=2)