Moonwalkers Dramatically Increase Your Walking Speed

Do you feel like walking is just too slow? The average human walking speed is around 2.5 to 4mph, which is pretty darn slow in our modern world and its sprawling cities. With public transportation lacking in many cities (especially those in the United States), it can be difficult to get around without resorting to cars. But what if you could walk much faster? That’s what these Moonwalker skates help you do and they can increase walking speed by 250%.

Moonwalkers recently launched on Kickstarter with a substantial $90,000 funding goal, but the campaign has already exceeded that goal with $129,000 raised so far. The campaign doesn’t end until November 24th, so there is still plenty of time to get in on the action.

Moonwalkers are a bit like motorized roller skates and they can fit just about any shoe. Just step into your Moonwalkers, snap the magnetic quick release buckles on over your shoes, and start walking. Moonwalkers aren’t meant to provide constantly propulsion, like an electric scooter or skateboard. Rather, their motors enhance your stride to increase your walking speed. It is a bit like walking on a moving sidewalk at any airport — you’re still walking, but the Moonwalkers’ motors impart a little extra speed whenever they’re in contact with the ground.

Shift Robotics, the creators of Moonwalkers, claim that these increase walking speed by 250% and the demonstrations seem to back that up. Their internal batteries are good for around 6 miles of range and are rechargeable through a USB-C port. They’re ideal on flat ground, but can also help you climb hills. And there is no need to fear going down hills or stairs, because integrated brakes prevent uncontrolled acceleration or completely lock the wheels on demand. When you get to a set of stairs, a simple foot gesture control locks the brakes so you can climb without rolling. All control is completely hands-free, as Moonwalkers are smart enough to react to your natural movement and foot gestures.

On the style side, Moonwalkers look sleek and polished. But they’re currently available in only one color scheme (black with bright green accents) and they aren’t exactly subtle. If you don’t want attention, then Moonwalkers probably aren’t for you, because people will notice them. Frankly, the success of Moonwalkers will come down to whether or not the general public considers them “cool” or not. That is almost impossible to predict ahead of time, so these could be a huge success or they could flop like Google Glass did.

If you want a pair of Moonwalkers, the Kickstarter campaign runs until November 24th. Many of the special deals are already taken, but there is still a super early adopter special available that gets you a pair for $1,099. Backers should receive their rewards between March and June of 2023, depending on which special they get.