Jumping Stilt Modifications for Traction in Winter

The 7 League Boots and Poweriser Stilts come with a durable polyurethane hoof that is designed to optimize the balance between traction and durability on most surfaces.  However the stock hoof is fairly poor on a wet or slippery surface that you might encounter in Winter time.

But there is good news!  You can turn an old (or new) bike tire into a set of Tyre Socks which will give you more traction.  Mountain bike tires would be best for mud and water while snow tires would be best for ice and snow.

(More details: Instructables.com)

Another modification idea/approach: Attach Snow Spikes

 

 (source: Fly Jumper Forum)

Spikes from http://www.icespike.com

7s Stilts Strap Recall: Free Warrenty Replacements

It has come to our attention that several DC Power Stilts customers in the USA have been having problems with the straps that come with the 7LeagueBoot GT Cobra.  The issue is that the straps that initially came with the stilts were not made strong enough and will break / crack with normal usage. (see image to the left)

Because DC Power Stilts puts customers first, we suggest that all users of the 7s upgrade this part to the new DC Power Stilts Foot Strap Upgrade, and will be sending them out free during 2015.  All orders of the 7s stilts from 2015 onward will ship with this upgrade already installed.

The upgrade is much stronger is more comfortable, and can be installed with just a philips head screwdriver and an adjustable (or 8mm) wrench.

To qualify for the free upgrade you must:

• Have bought your 7s Stilts directly from DC Power Stilts
• Not have made a previous warranty claim regarding your foot straps
• Have a US shipping address
• Submit your information to DC Power Stilts during 2015:
• Purchase date
• Email address used for purchase
• Customer name
• Current address

What are the replaceable parts?

How frequently do they need replacement?
Wear vs Usage really depends on a lot of factors. Note that the Poweriser warranty doesn't cover damages due to normal (or improper) use.

Poweriser Hooves are the most common part in need of replacement. If you are using your stilts on soft surfaces such as dirt or grass, the hooves will last years and years. If you are using them primarily to jump, they will last a while, but running and moving on pavement wears them down more quickly. In my experience, hooves last about one and a half season with occasional usage on pavement. This can be mitigated by the use of "tire socks", a tire or something rubber wrapped around the hooves.

Poweriser Springs are designed not to catastrophically fail, but over time it will wear more and more. The appropriate time to replace the spring is when you find the stilts "bottoming out" during regular usage. Again there's no established range on these because it depends greatly on the weight of the user, the kinds of usage, and any damage. My first pair of stilts have been used a few hours each week, and the spring is still fine after a year and a half... But I'm at the low end of the spring weight range.

The bearings will wear out if they are not occasionally maintained. Because of the bearings, exposure to water sand and grit should be avoided.

The rest of the parts should last for most of the lifetime of the stilts, but may need replacements from heavy usage or incidents that cause specific damage.

Announcing Lower Prices!

Good things come to those who wait! Thanks to increasing popularity, Poweriser USA has announced permanent lower prices. The popular Poweriser Advanced is now priced $100 less than yesterday. The Poweriser Kids has been increasingly mass produced can now be purchased for $50 less than before. Based on past history, these prices should last about two years. The Poweriser Classic is the same price as before and is still the most affordable set, and they are sharing more and more upgraded parts with the Advanced level of stilts.

If you have been on the fence about ordering, I suggest taking a look at the Poweriser Advanced. It's an amazing value at $399. The DC Power Stilts Web Shop has been updated and is ready for your order.

The Legendary PowerSkip

DC Power Stilts Expands! We now offer parts and merchandise for PowerSkip Brand. While PowerSkips are priced at the top of the market, there are many reasons why they are the best. If you need to get huge jumps or perform acrobatics on a responsive, lightweight fibreglass spring, consider the PowerSkip Classic. If you need to upgrade your running, consider the PowerSkip Pro with it's custom shoes and tilting footplate.

Since we are focused on only the best merchandise, we are very excited to offer this brand in partnership with the Böck Family; The family that invented Powerbocking!

Upgrading to the Calf Cuff

A customer recently ordered the upgrade kit for his 7 League boots to put on the Poweriser calf cuffs.

Hey. Would just like to say thanks for the cuffs. I also noticed that you added the bolts on there too, thanks for that ;D, really shows you care about your customers... I'm sure it will work out. Thanks again, hope to do business with you again.

Bravo for happy customers!! He's agreed to put together a tutorial on how to do the upgrade, so I'll post that on my website soon. Apparently it was pretty easy.

Can I Buy The Classic Stilts and Upgrade Later?

There were a couple of questions about starting with the classic stilts, and upgrading the hardware later. It's a great idea as the upgrade path will give you the same comfort and support as the advanced stilts for around the same price, but with less cost up front. Since replacement service is performed free for Customers, this upgrade option is close to hassle-free. For upgrade options (and an interesting schematic of the hardware), see our Upgrades Kits.