[wp_ad_camp_4]
[wp_ad_camp_1]
In the space between somewhat practical vehicles like the Segway and completely fad-driven curios like the Tamagotchi, there exists a middle ground of outlandish gadget that almost seems to make sense, but is weird enough that you might be too embarrassed to use it in public.
It’s still early days, but that appears to be the case with Acton’s RocketSkates, which look like a joint creation by the art departments of Judge Dredd and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Offering to motorize your feet, they are a recent Kickstarter success story. And depending on your temperament, the RocketSkates either look like a glimpse at the future, or an expensive prank.
Do they work as described? A demonstration video indicates that, yes, you can use the RocketSkates to traverse the city at fairly rapid speeds. But there are limitations.
The skates, powered by lithium-ion battery packs, come in three configurations with varying limits of usage: Rocket Red at 45 minutes (or 6 miles), Terminator Chrome at 70 minutes (or 8 miles) and Deep Space Black, which lasts for 90 minutes (or 10 miles).
Each skate is equipped with two hub motors and an on-board microprocessor, so they can synchronize with each other to maintain the same speed. Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the RocketSkates is the fact that no remote control is needed: To speed up, tilt your feet forward; to slow down, tilt your heels back. Additionally, you can monitor the status of the skates, and track your routes, using an accompanying app for iOS and Android.
The exact price of the RocketSkates isn’t made clear on the company’s website or its campaign page, but based on the early-bird price and discount for the lowest tier of the device, it likely retails for around $500 a pair.
Another benefit of the RocketSkates over traditional skates is that you can more easily walk up steps, although the videos showing this process make the wearer look pretty graceless.
The demo video, which aims to show how fun the skates can be, also brings to mind the possibility of leg and knee injuries. Sure, the device works on a perfectly smooth surface, but what if you’re traveling through the city at a fairly rapid clip, and hit a damaged piece of pavement?
Unlike a bike or even a skateboard, you won’t be able to hop off when hitting a bad patch of road. Veteran joggers, propelled by their own power, know that even landing awkwardly on a slightly damaged surface can cause knee problems — adding motorized power to the same scenario would likely cause problems.
Even the human-powered Heelys, sneakers with embedded wheels you’ve probably seen on children, suffered backlash during the height of its popularity in the 2000s, as some criticized the product’s safety. In 2007, a group of doctors published a study investigating the potential orthopedic-injury hazards of Heely use among children. That same year, a UK town made headlines when it banned the device for being too dangerous.
Despite the RocketSkates’ seeming impracticality, potential hazards and odd look, it’s important to note that recreational devices like rollerblades and the Razor scooter were once laughed off, only to later become hugely successful in certain segments of the market.
And based on the RocketSkates’ Kickstarter campaign, the public is clearly interested. Acton originally sought $50,000 to produce the product, but as of this writing, the company has already raised over $455,000 — nine times its original goal.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
[wp_ad_camp_2]
[wp_ad_camp_3]
