Product Review - Heelys Wheeled Sneakers

All over America and 50 other countries, preteens are zipping effortlessly down hallways, sidewalks, and even grocer aisles. A glance at their feet confirms that they are wearing Heelys Wheeled Sneakers. Marketed as "Shoes That Roll," Heelys are lightweight athletic shoes with hidden wheels in their heels.

Currently, this flying footwear is rolling off shoeshop racks and sporting goods store shelves faster than lightning. Pre-adolescents are the prime market, stockpiling birthday money, odd-job payments, and piggyback savings to purchase the shoes. At $60 (US) and up, this is an impressive investment for a youngster.

The shoes come with rear wheels. Inside the sole of each shoe is a "sole-saver" heel plug, which pops out easily. The wheels click into that cavity. A heel plug removal tool is included with the shoes.

To skate, users lean back onto their heels and scoot along. To stop, they lean forward. The embedded wheels are only inside the heels of the shoes.

The manufacturer's instructions clearly state that users should remove the wheels and replace the heel plugs for regular walking. However, I have asked several youngsters I know, and all of them admitted that they lost the heel plugs shortly after purchasing the shoes.

Most schools, businesses, malls, and other organizations with wood, tile, or marble flooring do not allow roller skating inside their buildings. (The company claims the wheels will not mark floors.) As a result, one can clearly spot the Heelys-wearing youth. They are the ones walking around on their toes, so as not to set their wheels rolling!

What affect will this practice have on the balance and posture of an entire generation?

The web-site and advertising show young people wearing the shoes, along with helmets, knee pads, and other safety gear. In real life, though, I have never seen a child wearing any safety accessories. In fact, the kids lace their Heelys so loosely that they can slip them on and off easily. They slip their feet into the shoes, and off they go!

Heelys were invented by entrepreneur and roller-skating enthusiast Roger Adams, who cut the bottom out of a Nike sneaker and planted a wheel into it. He introduced the first Heelys at a trade show in 2000. Within three years, 1.25 million pairs had been sold.

A clinical psychologist by training, Heelys inventor Adams now holds eight U.S. and international patents. The Texas-based company now employs 700 people.

Incidentally, Usher wears a sleek pair of Heelys onstage for his concerts. Six custom pairs of Heelys (size 22) were custom-made for basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. I don't know about you, but if I saw that zipping down the free-throw lane, I would simply step out of the way!

Heelys come in full sizes only for children, as well as men and women. The shoes tend to run about a half size smaller than most. In the array of styles and colors, several widths and sizes of wheels are available.