Heelys Shoes... I hope these got out of style before I have kids!
By vivasuzi
@vivasuzi (4127)
United States
October 2, 2007 10:27pm CST
Even if Heelys are still popular when I have kids, my children will never own a pair. Here's why:
1. Kids use them to be lazy. They won't walk for more than a few feet before they are wheeling around as if walking is such a chore!
2. They go from shoes to wheel in a second... so that means sooooo many times a kid was walking towards my car in a parking lot - yet he was so far away I had plenty of time. So I start backing out and suddenly he's wheeling by behind me!!! That is soooo dangerous!! I don't think parents even tell their kids not to use their wheels in a parking lot, or at least to look out for cars.
3. Finally, kids wheel in public places all the time. I hate when I'm walking the mall and suddenly a kid wheels right past me and makes me lose my step.
I see these Heelys as one of those inventions that parents by their kids just b/c their kids want them, but since they are new parents don't know all the dangers. Parents, stop buying your kids stupid things like this! Get them a bike, then at least I will know they may come flying by.
3 people like this
7 responses
@raychill (6525)
• United States
3 Oct 07
Around where I live a lot of stores have signs up saying heely's are not allowed and they will ask the parents and child to leave if the child uses the heelys inside.
My favorite is when a kid is being "pulled" by their parents because the parents are holding the kids hand and the kid is just using his wheels.
3 people like this
@tdbrower1969 (1242)
• United States
3 Oct 07
My son actually worked all summer to buy his own Heelys and I let him. I know that they are a bit of a risk, but the kind he bought on clearance you have to take the wheels on and off so he can't just decide to use them whenever he wants. He is not allowed to wear the wheels in school, in parking lots, in stores, or any other public places. I let him wear them in our basement and on our street which is seldom used except for those people who live on our street. All the children on this street have them and they all ride together for about an hour each day. I can see your point though, they can be dangerous if not used properly, and our kids took a training course on how to use them.
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
3 Oct 07
There have been a lot of stores in the area that have banned them from being used inside them. There are way too many accidents and lawsuits - parents are complete morons if they allow their kids to wear these and use them in stores.
Personally, I am waiting for all the ankle and leg injuries to be listed at a website. Since you are bending the foot at an awkward angle to use the wheel, it is going to really screw up their legs and feet. I'd never let my kids have these but I guess I am in the minority.
2 people like this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
3 Oct 07
Cool, I am glad stores are banning them! I think it's safe to say there are more accidents with Heelys then with Bikes and Skateboards b/c kids don't really know how to control them and adults don't really know that the kids are wearing them most of the time.
It is unnatural the way they stand when they use them. I don't get the design at all.
1 person likes this
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
4 Oct 07
Many stores, at least in my area have banned them so people don't have to worry about being run over by kids in the stores. I don't think that the heelys themselves are the problem though. I think that the parents should teach their children to be more respectful of others, whether on foot, heelys, skateboards, rollerslates, rollerblades, bicycles, scooters, or whatever. I have been nearly knocked over by skateboarders and bicyclers too, so it isn't just the heelys. Some kids are very responsible and respectable of those around them, and others are not. When used properly I don't see anything wrong with them.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
6 Oct 07
Yeah that is probably true. Most parents are aware of how to teach their kids to properly use skateboards and bikes and such, but it's like these Heelys came out of nowhere and parents didn't seem to realize they were just as bad as the skateboards and such.
I still don't like them even if they are used properly. As others have stated, it seems you have to hold your feet in an awkward position to use them. They don't provide any exercise value since they seem to be the easiest thing to use. At least with a bike, skateboard or rollerblades they have to use more muscles and cardio to exercise.
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
7 Oct 07
I don't know too much about the way they work other than what I have read in your discussion. One of my kids asked about getting a pair when they first came out and I told them that they had to be nuts to think that I would pay that much for them. They never brought it up again. They seem to be much less popular now anyway, so I think that, at least around here, the fad is dying out.
@tenchiwei (146)
• Philippines
4 Oct 07
I hope they're going to be out of style soon! I hate seeing those heely shoes in the mall.I hate it when a child would just wheel past a person, not caring about the consequences at all! I guess it's the fad that's keeping all the youngsters interested, but it's also the parent's responsibility to tell their children proper use of their new toys (or in this case, shoes).
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
28 Dec 07
Yeah I don't get it. My husband's cousins both got a pair this year for Christmas. I told them to make sure not to do it in parking lots but didn't tell them how stupid I think those things are. Whatever happened to bikes? At least with those people see you are on a bike!
