Stilts That Make You Run Faster

Anyone who has seen a person running and jumping down the street with strange metal shoes that lift him several feet off the ground may think they accidentally stepped onto the set of a science-fiction movie. However, these stilts, known as jumping stilts, power stilts or powerbocks, are very much a reality. These stilts are a relatively recent invention that allow their users to both run faster and jump higher than they can naturally. They appear similar to activity-oriented prosthetic legs and operate under similar principles.

  1. History

    • Jumping stilts earn their name "powerbocks" from their inventor, a man named Alexander Bock. Bock first patented these stilts in 2004, and began designing them as early as the late 1990s. Jumping stilts have since spread throughout the world, and powerbocking competitions, such as Capital Bocking, have begun to appear. Some people do professional stunts with jumping stilts similar in composition to other extreme sports like skateboarding and rollerblading.

    Abilities

    • Unlike traditional walking stilts which simply raise a person high into the air, jumping stilts actually enhance a person's athletic ability. A typical jumping stilts user can jump 3 to 5 feet into the air from a standing position. The stilts also enable users to run up to 20 miles per hour with a stride of 8 to 9 feet, twice as long as a natural stride.

    Construction

    • Powerbocks are broadly a combination of a snowboard, spring, and prosthetic leg technology. A snowboard boot strap attaches to a fiberglass leaf spring. The light fiberglass supports the weight of the user's body without weighing the user down. The spring absorbs the shock of impact from jumping or running. At the bottom is a rubber foot pad, called a "hoof," which protects the stilts from damage and adds traction to help users keep their balance.

    Brands

    • Because powerbocking has become popular, many different brands offer designs similar to the original designed by Alexander Bock. Bock's company offers a brand called "Powerskips," which can cost upwards of $1,000 and are used by professionals. In addition, a Korean company produces a brand called "Poweriser," and an Austrian company has developed a brand called "7 League Boots." Two entry-level brands for new powerbockers are "Flying Locust" and "Skyrunner."