# Poweriser jumping boots **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 13, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894 "2005-02-13T18:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/1 "2005-02-13T18:58:58Z")
Has anyone tried this? [http://www.jumpusa.com/poweriser.html](http://www.jumpusa.com/poweriser.html) [http://poweriser.net/](http://poweriser.net/) Fun toy, useful training device, insanely dangerous fad, or useless informercial fodder? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/2 "2005-02-13T23:51:17Z")
I’ve seen them in use and they look great; you don’t get anything for nothing though, so I’m sure these huge, fast strides probably tire you out quite quickly. I’d imagine the biggest safety issue is that you can run at 20mph with them, or rather, the problem would be _trying to stop in an emergency_, or just tripping up. Probably not much more dangerous than a racing bike though. I want some (bloody expensive though, aren’t they?) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/3 "2005-02-14T06:48:30Z")
So you’ve seen it eh? Does it look difficult to use? Running on 2 legs is a pretty inefficient mode of locomotion, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Poweriser was noticeably more energy-efficient. Still, if it’s fun and burns up calories that’d be a good thing too. Yeah it’s expensive, but not too bad compared to a decent bicycle. (And a lot cheaper than a _fancy_ bike.) The other excercise/sports equipment I’m interested in is the [Kickbike](http://www.kickbike.com/) but that costs about the same. If it’s easy enough that I’ll learn to use it before giving up, it might be worth the cost… ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/4 "2005-02-14T06:48:59Z")
I was expecting a price from $120-170. They are $400. I vote for ‘massively overpriced toy’. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/5 "2005-02-14T18:19:48Z")
E pluribus Gad!!! :eek: Would I like to run really fast on a pair of pogostick stilts? Um, no. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/6 "2005-02-14T23:00:40Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > So you’ve seen it eh? Does it look difficult to use? it looks like it would be easier than a unicycle, possibly even easier than a pogo stick or ordinary stilts, but still something that would take a good deal of practice. It looks as though it would make you very top-heavy; my concern would be serious head and neck injuries if a mishap occurred - come to think of it, your wrists are going to shatter if you try to break your fall. Still, looks like great fun if you don’t fall over. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/7 "2005-02-15T08:23:43Z")
Looks like a lot of fun. I’d like to have a go at it, but I cant see myself dropping the cash (a few other toys have priority). I saw them in use in a video, and they seemed delightful (I think it was Cirque du Soleil, but don’t quote me on this). Something that I really like about skiing is the tremendous power released by the spring action of the skis at the end of each turn. That is a sensation that I miss in the summer when in-line skating. I expect that these things might convey such a sensation. I’d be a bit worried about the foot-print, though. Could it hold during sharp changes in direction? My greatest concern, however, would be durability. How strong are these things? I expect that having a part break could lead to a nasty fall on horizontal pavement. (OT: this season, I have broken two toe boxes and four release plates on my ski bindings. The bindings can’t handle the flexing of the skis . Fuckity fuckity fuckity fuck fuck fuck!) ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/8 "2005-02-15T09:56:25Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Would I like to run really fast on a pair of pogostick stilts? Oh _hell_ yes. 😃 If I ever have a spare $400 lying around, I’m _so_ getting a pair of these. The coolest part is that your friends probably haven’t heard of 'em…so, you invite them over, and watch the looks on their unsuspecting faces as they see you bound across an empty lot at 20mph in 6ft vertical leaps. You will be the freaking MAN. Provided your friends are guys, of course. Most women will realize pretty quickly that you just look silly. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poweriser-jumping-boots/289894/9 "2005-02-15T18:21:06Z")
For R. Crumb fans, doesn’t it remind you of Boingy Baxter? “Dis is in da realm of great acheebments!” 😃