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Original poster

Pros and cons of Heeleys

37 replies

EsmeCordelia · 15/11/2016 13:23

Ds (7) has asked for Heeleys for Christmas. I had never seen them beforeven. Are they like roller skates? Are they dangerous? Apologies for sounding like ive been living in a cave!

OP posts:

BigginsforPope · 15/11/2016 14:54

Gosh! I didn't realise there was so much hate out there for heelies!

My two dd's have them, the older girl is 13 and has been wearing them for about six years. We have only ever bought second hand off eBay though. Younger dd is 8 and having outgrown her older sister's cast off's, I bought her a pair from Sports Direct for her birthday in the summer. She loves them and wears them where ever I let her. My ds has a pair that he has worn approx twice. He just didn't get it and prefers his scooter.

Honestly I have never seen anyone crashing into someone while wearing them and I do let dd wear them to the supermarket.

Saying that dd1 did break her wrist whilst wearing hers a couple of years ago but I think that was really the fault of the dog she was trying to walk at the time.

phoenix1973 · 15/11/2016 15:01

We got some age 9.
Loves wearing them, understands must be careful.
They work best on supermarket and indoor shopping centre floors.
A nightmare on concrete.
Very uncomfortable with the wheels removed. The sole is not flat, its curved so awkward.
We like them here.

Microwaste · 15/11/2016 15:05

My DD has a pair and loves them, she's asked for a bigger size for Christmas. She only wears them indoors, we have hard floor everywhere downstairs and she's quite happy whizzing round and round and round and round the lounge. She's very coordinated and energetic so got the hang of them immediately and has had loads of use out of them. We got them from sports direct too, but I would say you do need to try them on for size really, they are not quite accurate to normal shoe sizes in our experience.

CryingShame · 15/11/2016 15:08

They are very heavy, more so than a pair of Dr Marten boots, for example. I've only come across them in supermarkets when staff have asked that children don't use the wheels because of the risk of hitting other people. I feel they're antisocial and wouldn't buy DS a pair.

He has rollerblades instead, with padding and a helmet, for use only in the park.

MadisonAvenue · 15/11/2016 15:20

I've only ever seen them used in shops and supermarkets and they're an absolute nuisance.

fourcorneredcircle · 15/11/2016 15:49

I'm not sure they're very good for the feet either? As PPs have said they have an awkward curve to them which means you have to walk on the ball of your foot. I think this must have the potential to cause damage if children wear them a lot.

atticusclaw2 · 15/11/2016 16:02

DS2 (9) had them for his 9th birthday and has worn them about 3 times. He couldn't get to grips with them and hasn't really had the time to set aside to master them.

Complete waste of money IMO. His feet will have grown by the time he gets to grips with them (if that ever even happens)

MrsDilligaf · 15/11/2016 17:45

I hate them. I've seen a couple of nasty accidents involving them and while I know that the majority of children and parents are sensible about where they are used some aren't (maternity ward yeah that's a great idea).

They also look really uncomfortable to walk in says the woman who can't walk in anything other than converse

MrsHouseBrownie · 15/11/2016 17:52

DO 8 has some which the wheels retract inside the shoe. Really handy for shops! She loves them but I spend half my life saying be careful! No good on anything other than Smooth slippery surfaces.

TreehouseTales · 15/11/2016 18:07

I hate seeing kids skidding around on them in supermarkets. They should be banned! I can see my daughter getting some and never getting chance to wear them!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/11/2016 20:35

When your child walks in them, they cannot do the proper gait of heel strike-lateral side-across the metatarsal heads - toe off on the big toe .
They have to put the ball of the foot down which is an "Equinus Gait" seen in people with very shortened tendons or a leg length difference.

Burn them I say. Fecking hate Heeleys and hate seeing children in supermarkets wearing them.

Aderyn2016 · 15/11/2016 21:14

My dd (9) has them and loves them. My advice is to buy the padded ones as I think they are more comfortable and supportive and also to get the ones with 2 wheels rather than one as these are much easier to learn to use and are more stable.
Try them on, although I have found the padded ones to be quite similar to Clarks in terms of sizing, but it really is better to try them on first. Think they have some in Smyths toyshop.
My dd loves them and has managed to get by without crashing into people

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