The 22mph Russian boots that could, but never did

The Gray Lady's got a rather interesting piece on the peculiar (and telling) tale of a Russian inventor and his declassified gas-powered engine-boots that get 70mpg and can swiftly take a runner upwards of 20 miles per hour without the regular strain, stress, or tiredness that comes with long-distance running. Unfortunately for Viktor Gordeyev, the boots' creator, instead of being allowed to sell his boots on the open market, the Russian government classified them for military use until 1994. When they were declassified in 1994, Gordeyev tried his damnedest to get them into consumers' hands (or rather, on their feet), but despite his better efforts he just couldn't find buy-in and his business -- like so many other Russian technology companies -- went under. Yes, it's truly apparent that in Russia, boots run you. What a country, eh?

[MikeTLive @ Mar 17th 2007 11:03PM]

I read the article this afternoon.
the boots were studied and found to require more exertion on the part of the user than if he were to go the same distance without the boots.
thus until the materials changes to make them weigh about 2lbs or less they are not useful.

[omegamerc @ Mar 18th 2007 12:55AM]

Nothing composites can't fix.

[droopy1592 @ Mar 17th 2007 11:04PM]

"upwards of 20 miles per hour without the regular stain, stress, or tiredness that comes with long-distance running"

running stains u?

[David @ Mar 18th 2007 1:43AM]

"Droopy" how appropriate for your name as since you have never seen or heard of "sweat stains" I can only assume "droopy" is some sort of reference to your figure. Trying running in a white t-shirt for a few weeks and you just might develop those disgusting yellow stains in the armpit area.

[akijikan @ Mar 17th 2007 11:28PM]

Engadget, Champion of the Free Market!

[Kads Baker @ Mar 18th 2007 12:34AM]

In Soviet Russia....it is Kilometers Per Hour!

[Matt @ Mar 18th 2007 1:00AM]

^^ yeah no kidding. carbon fiber and titanium and that thing is golden. and how sweet it would be...

[NeoteriX @ Mar 18th 2007 1:35AM]

In Soviet Russia, the boots wear YOU.

[Aaron @ Mar 18th 2007 3:31AM]

""Droopy" how appropriate for your name as since you have never seen or heard of "sweat stains" I can only assume "droopy" is some sort of reference to your figure. Trying running in a white t-shirt for a few weeks and you just might develop those disgusting yellow stains in the armpit area."

Engadget made a typo, dumbass. It was supposed to be strain, not stain. Think before you attack someone's comment over your damned sweaty shirts.

Unless you were being sarcastic, in which case you should omit the 'dumbass' and just remember to be more clear next time...

[Grant @ Mar 18th 2007 11:54AM]

sounds like a glandular problem. they have antiperspirants that can help you with that now.
I have run consistently several miles ever other day for the last 3 years, sometimes in white, but never developed any nasty pit stains. If you drink more water and improve your diet it could also help.
sweat is a lot like urine(but very much diluted), less toxins = less yellow.

that being said, it clearly looks like a typo, i mean they can't even word the joke right. As Bipedal noted,it should read: "In SOVIET Russia, Boots run you!"

[Bipedal @ Mar 18th 2007 2:18AM]

IN SOVIET RUSSIA, BOOTS RUN Y-


Damnit. You guys have already done that one.

[Olga Pavlova @ Mar 18th 2007 2:33AM]

Oh, really? Or, perhaps, the main problem of this guy is that he just cannot manage his business and ask the government "to support" ;) him? It sounds more possible than any tearful conspiracy theory.

[droopy1592 @ Mar 18th 2007 9:40AM]

Thanks for clearing that up...

[jmchez @ Mar 18th 2007 9:37AM]

If you bother to read the article, you'd realize that the Soviet Space Agency calculated that you would burn more calories wearing these things than walking the same distance, thus they make you faster but more tired. They are also dangerous and not for your average person. Imagine a bunch of conmuters running at 15 mph. You couldn't do that on a sidewalk; they would have to set up special lanes just for these things.

[Chris @ Mar 18th 2007 11:08AM]

Well these probably wouldn't be used in an urban environment. I picture them as most useful to cross expansive terrain.

[Xof @ Mar 18th 2007 2:43PM]

Wow!! Another example of missed opportunities despite brilliant minds!

[Harry @ Mar 18th 2007 5:54PM]

Better to use motorized roller skates.
Motorized roller skates would be far less stressful.
I imagine these boots would be about as stressful as running twenty miles per hour. HOWEVER, for moving over bumpty terrain the powered boots might be useful.

Wondering how the local authorities would classify THESE things? I can just see somebody in dense, urban san francisco hopping around Union Square on these things.

[Grmbl @ Mar 19th 2007 4:56AM]

I'm from Russia myself and remember seeing TV strip about these boots. I remember I was quite impressed - that guy managed to run over rugged terrain with a really fast speed. Although noisy. :)

They run on you regular gasoline, so you get some energy from them, as opposed to that Powerizer thingy, which is just a spring attachment.

Not sure about urban use - that would definitely be too dangerous.

[James @ Mar 19th 2007 5:05PM]

I vaguely remember seeing some commercial that was set in "the future" (not sure if there were flying cars; no idea what the product being advertised was) where some unimportant guy in the background was wearing what I can now identify as Powerizers, just as ambience to establish that "this is the future". At the time, I had assumed the leg-gadgets to be an original idea by the advertising agency. Whatever they were actually selling, I said to myself, "Screw that, I want those foot-spring things!"

I wouldn't shell out 400 bucks for 'em, but I'd really like a chance to try them out. One of the major reasons I don't run/jog more often (the other, foremost one being laziness) is that I hate the impact stress on my legs and ankles, and it looks like this would be a great way to combat that.

[The Giant Squid @ Mar 21st 2007 3:40PM]

I think it's just too late for this guy.
http://www.boysstuff.co.uk/product.asp?id=12639&random=697643459&cid=15&scid=
These Powerizers things are the same concept, and use something like a spring instead of a piston. they look lighter, and you already can buy these.
"Run Forrest, Run!"

[bluemonq @ Mar 18th 2007 4:56PM]

So, uh, with those Powerizers, what do you do if you need to stay in place? Quite a balancing act, I'd imagine...