How to improve jumping stilts?

[jondenby]

Hey guys,

Im doing some research on jumping stilts as a product and I was wondering if you know of any areas that the jumping stilt design could be improved. 

Is there anything you want to do on your stilts but the design just holds you back?

Im looking more for broad design flaws like "its hard to stand still" than little things like "this bolt keeps rattling"

Thanks!
-Jon Denby

[carlgreen]

i keep warping stilts   

my left stilt just seems to bend all the time every pair i have had do it 

so maybe a stronger metal but not heavy  is that possible?

and bushings seem to wear quite fast better design 4 the moving parts?

*just my 2c*

Carl

[XS]

joints fall apart that's the biggest flaw on every model, we need stringer frame materials and better designed bushing/bearing systems, also stabilizer rods are annoying but that's been sorted by the heel truss on SJ pros and the new FL models

[Hilly-of-the-Marshes]

carbon fibre would work better carl, but its sooooo blinkin expensive
and just use 7s "glide bearings"

i did a similar analysis for my A level D&T and some of the things i found were that it can take too long messing about to put them on - you want 2 simple clips and your in and ready (including you cuffs/putting your leg through a kneebar)- plus there are people like me that don't like calf cuffs, or kneebars, i'd like someting similar to the cuff but not using velcro at all - i'll have 2 work on that myself too

You could also look into fast collapsable stilts for ease of transport

oh and the brackets which hold the bars/cuffs in could do with being stringer, without having to resort to getting (is it powerskip's?) metal ones

[aidanh1]

jondenby are u planning on remaking the jumping stilts ??

or is this just a general question for research

[Jason]

I think most of the problems/flaws on stilts are more compromises between making them affordable and the best they can be at the price

I would beg to differ on the standing still bit being a flaw as it helps keep you fit and if you want to stand still your missing the point of bocks and should buy some plastering stilts (you can stand still on them  )

It is possible to cure all the minor problems with bocks at a price (£1000 Skips  ) but I would rather have a pair I can afford rather that look at a perfect pair in the shop window and not be able to afford them

Having said that if you come up with a cheap way of curing any Bock problem, more power to your elbow 

Jason 

[jondenby]

Thanks a lot guys, it is a big help. 

 aldanh1, i am trying to redesign them. "trying" is the key word.  Ive got a prototype almost finished, (kind of like a hybrid of a poweriser and a drywall stilt)  and well see if it improves the experience at all.

When i tried them i disliked the feeling of slamming your heels into the ground, seemed really concussive on your joints.  Hopefully my design will allow you to jump off the balls of your feet like we naturally do. (more so than the powerskip pros) 
 
Jason, you make a good point about the point of jump stilts, but maybe being able to stand still could take the sport in a different direction than just bouncing. My point is, it doesnt have to replace jump stilts, but could go in a different direction. 

[Kazbahn]

Not meaning to sound like a right critic or anything, but how can standing still take ANY sport into a new direction?


Spring loaded bird watching?

Crowd avoidance whilst standing at start lines?

[Bbmthbloke]

id say look at ways 2 'improve' the bocker not the bocks

bsides that,  money 1st,   this is a seriously odd sport   lower the cost barrier which will get more people in. many of us here have spent money, hundreds in2 thousands  not just kit  but holidays un stuff,  so in some ways not best to ask.  but  most peeps buying this stuff    money talks

A premier product will b vvv small beer

2 improve bockin , cheaper,  and more clubs un greater disemination of best practices un activities from clubs which hopefully will  get the peeps wot buy  stayin on their bocks

obviously  u hav a reason 4 wanting to improve the stilts.  i want to improve the sport  and at mo  i dont think technology is the key.

soz  un dont worry ---- im told im majorly wrong quite alot  

havin said all that  make the things lighter