Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Z-CoiL Shoes Are Apparently Not A Sight Gag

Z-CoiL Shoes (Images courtesy Z-Tech Inc.)
By Andrew Liszewski

While they might look like they came from a grade 6 science fair project, the Z-CoiL line of shoes are apparently very real. Their most striking feature, the Z-CoiL itself, is made of steel and serves two purposes. First, it slows the rate of impact experienced by the body when taking a step, since it absorbs a lot of that energy as the coil is compressed. Then as the foot moves forward to take the next step that energy in the coil is released, giving you a small boost.

Unfortunately the shoes just look plain ridiculous, and I’d gladly choose to live with any pain if the alternative involved me wearing these things in public. Maybe the running shoe version could be useful as a way to intimidate another athlete, since they look like they enhance your jumping ability about 100 fold, but if you walk into a job interview wearing the dress shoe version, you’re walking out unemployed.

The Z-CoiL equipped shoes are available directly from the company’s stores, and you’re looking at about $200 for running shoes, $220 for dress shoes and $190 for sandals. I would probably recommend the Titanium Spring Insoles from Hammacher Schlemmer as a cheaper alternative.

[ Z-CoiL Shoes ] VIA [ Geekologie ]


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Viewing 22 Comments

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    You're a little late reporting this. The Z-Coil has been around for about five years now.
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    My Mom has a pair and we joke around with her everytime she wears them. Damn goofy but she swears by them.
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    I'm a healthcare professional and I wear Z-CoiL shoes in my office every day. I own seveal pair. They have been great for my back and knees. Your sophomoric comments about z-coil reflect a lack of awareness. Z-CoiL (headquartered in Albuquerque, NM) has been selling this footwear for over 12 years. There are about 125 stores. Most are west of the Mississippi.
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    well, perhaps they do have various benefits but I can attest, from personal experience that they are hideously ugly and that it is impossible to wear them without looking like a freak.
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    I own a Z-CoiL store and looks don't seem to make a difference when pain is going to make you retire at 55 years old and no one can afford that. The looks don't make any difference when a stroke victim walks out without their cane and a man that came in my store with a walker had to be chased down to remind him to take the walker he had left behind. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and because I can walk without pain, I behold them as beautiful.
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    Z-CoiL shoes were recommended to me by my knee surgeon to save me from a second surgery...5 years later of wearing z-Coils and no knee pain and NO KNEE SURGERY!
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    I also own a Z-CoiL shoe store. I wore Z-Coil shoes about 4 years before I opened my store. I traveled a lot with them, in Nepal coming down from 17,500 feet my knees did not bother me at all. Most of the other travelers were in serious pain. My trip was Pain free. I am sorry you are so concerned about what others might say about you but in my estimation, I would be shaking my head if and when you were in pain because you know about the product. I am only sorry many people do not know about the amazing advantages of this shoe.
    Incidentally there is another great benefit to these shoes. One is better balanced on their own posture making walking and running easier and much more fun.
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    I guess ignorance is bliss... apparently, you have not been in as much pain as I have in my life, because if you were, you would realize that if a shoe can make you be pain-free when doctors have recommended surgery on both knees and hip, you would wear them! Without my Z-CoiL's, I am in a lot of pain and have a severely reduced quality of life. With Z-CoiL's, I lead a normal productive life... I just hope that you never have to endure the kind of pain that I have, but if you do, try Z-CoiL's. It changed my life and it will change yours!
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    "’Id gladly choose to live with any pain if the alternative involved me wearing these things in public. "

    As a purveyor of Z-Coils I have heard such comments from people who have later regretted ever making them. Z-Coils potentially reduce or completely eliminate the need for costly surgery. if we had more products like this, which pro-actively deal with foot pain and biomechanical pathologies, we would see a significant reduction in costly healthcare services, and eve deaths. Yes, even deaths. Currently physician error (especially surgical error) is the number one cause of preventative death in America. $200 is logically a much cheaper alternative to health care than several thousand.
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    I also own a Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear store. After seeing what these shoes did for my family we decided to open a store to help other people. A good example of how these shoes help is we had a young man come in to our store with crushed heels in such pain he could not stand upright and could barely walk. by the time he was in our shoes a half an hour he was almost upright and could walk almost normally. When I saw this man again he was walking perfectly without any pain.

    So, when I hear someone say:
    "Id gladly choose to live with any pain if the alternative involved me wearing these things in public. ” I find it hard to believe you would give other people power over your life by being embarrassed about how your shoes [that give you back mobility and freedom from pain] look . If you were to come into my store I would treat you with compassion and professionalism in spite of your misgivings because I know how people react when they are freed from their pain.

    Grateful


    I actually hope you never suffer from pain like my clients.
    Fighting the good fight for you,
    Richard
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    These are the most amazing shoes you will ever experience. And although you may think they are ridiculous, you really don't care what they look like when you are not in pain. The product has been around for over 12 years, and is FINALLY getting into new markets where people are experiencing pain relief and the ability to live a full life again. I have laughed and thought I'd never be caught dead, until I put them on and now it's more of I'll never take them off! In my early 30's into fashion and more importantly into being able to do whatever activities I want without the cost of pain! Do yourself a favor if your in pain just try them on!
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    I'm glad (and not surprised) to hear these shoes have provided relief for a lot of people. But at the same time I don't think my initial reaction to their appearance would differ from the general public. It's obvious a lot of work has gone into designing the actual shoe part, but I can't help but feel that some people (even those suffering from foot pain) would be turned off by the design of the 'Z-coil'. The desire to "fit in" is unfortunately human nature, and it's not surprising how far some of us will go to do just that. The fact that people feel compelled to post comments here defending their shoe choice, instead of just not caring about what I think is evidence of that. But I'm glad they have, since it shows the shoes do work as advertised for some people.

    But I still think a more subtle approach to the design of the 'Z-coil' would make people less apprehensive about trying the shoes in the first place. A wider acceptance would increase sales and hopefully reduce prices, making the shoes available to people who can't afford $190 for a pair of sandles.
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    Who gives a crap about what people think, is it more rediculous to wear these shoes or to be some kind of sheep who needs a cookie or a pat on the head when they do somthing socially acceptable. I do not own a pair of these shoes yet but I have seen the difference they have made in the lives of many people I know. I am getting my shoes in Lubbock TX Saturday. I plan to walk tall with the thousand of other people who are pain free and looking like freaks. I have been labled a freak all my life so it is nothing new to me, enjoy your foot pain and your back pain as you wear your "socially acceptable" shoes you sheep.
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    "I plan to walk tall with the thousand of other people who are pain free and looking like freaks. "

    So in other words you're still a sheep, but in a different herd.
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    If you had experienced true pain then you would never say that you would rather put up with it. I haven't had the chance to try these shoes as I'm in Europe but would love to. The alternative for me is a wheelchair when going anywhere that involves walking or standing and I assure you, you feel ridiculous in one of those when you are physically able to walk but simply can't stand the pain.
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    These aren't good for your Knees springing isn't natural for normal knee function, I had to get rid of mine.
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    Bruce, you know not what you talk about. Why not just keep your mouth closed and appear dumb rather than opening it and removing all doubt.
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    Andrew, all you did was show complete ignorance in this whole article. First, you never mentioned (or anyone that commented that for that matter) that you are able to get ANY shoe with an enclosed heel. The enclosed heel actually makes the heel stiffer and takes a little of the "springy" effect out while still completely absorbing all the impact as an exposed heel. Secondly, you have never even tried the shoes, so how can you say you would rather be in pain than to where these shoes with an exposed heel? Oh, you can't comment on that, can you?

    I am 21, 6', 150 lbs, and have a size 10 foot, but usually wear between a 10-11, just all depends on the shoe. Our entire family is a huge Disney family, and some if not all of our family makes a yearly Disneyland trip, and usually stay between 3-5 days. I suffer from major heel pain even after 1 day of walking, and then the next couple days are worse than the first day, at the end of the day. I never knew of these shoes until a few months ago, and the next Disneyland trip we go on, I will require these shoes. Also, standing on my feet for as long as a couple hours, I start to have bad heel pain. I guess that my feet are a little small for my body, but am not totally sure.

    So for all you suffers of heel pain, arch pain, or just any foot pain in general, from being on your feet for a while, or just weak feet or heels, give these shoes a try. Looks past the look of the shoe and just go to the closest Z-Coil store, and try them on. Also remember, YOU CAN GET ANY SHOE WITH AN ENCLOSED HEEL! Most Z-Coil stores are called another name since they are all independently owned, but just go to the Z-Coil website and find the nearest store. Stores are taking off, but if you don't have a store near you, but going to be visiting where there is one, make sure to make that a stop.
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    I wear mine everywhere I go and I love them. They are a real conversation starter. People are interested in them. I really don't care what other people think about the look. They are practical and comfortable. I love them and the clogs go to the office and the OR every day. Get off your high heeled horse and join the real world of the grownups.
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    I would describe the style as "farty". Kind of like the PT Cruiser of shoes.
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    Helena Bonham Carter looks fab in hers!
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10...
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    For some us that deal with back pain and neuropathy of a foot we are happy to look "ridiculous". These are the only pair of shoes that I can walk in without the pain in my foot. I have nine pairs and they really are the only pair of shoes that I wear and I am happy to do so.