Astoria resident Sam Ressler, 26, has improved his daily commute to and from his SoHo office by spending $1,200 on a pair of motorized Moonwalkers Aero shoes. These shoes can speed up walking time by roughly 50%, according to maker Shift Robotics, allowing users to reach speeds of up to 7 miles per hour. Ressler appreciates the compact size of the shoes, which allows him to easily store them in his small apartment. While more expensive than alternatives such as a bike or scooter, Ressler values the convenience of always having the shoes with him and not having to worry about issues like availability or docking dramas.
Shift Robotics founder Xunjie Zhang created the Moonwalkers as a response to the frustrations he experienced with biking, scootering, and driving in the city. The Moonwalkers are small electrical vehicles that are like a natural extension of your legs. Enabled by complex robotics, they feature an AI-assisted gait controller that can measure the wearer’s pace and adjust speed accordingly. The shoes can predict the next motion of the wearer and communicate with each other hundreds of times a second to determine stride and speed. They are rechargeable, can be charged in 90 minutes, and have a range of about 7 miles on a full charge.
Ressler, who found out about the Moonwalkers through an Instagram ad, enjoys the convenience and fun of using the shoes on his commute. While he can’t pinpoint the exact number of minutes he saves on his commute, he appreciates how the shoes speed up the process for him. He believes the shoes are a fun alternative to walking and does attract some curious looks when wearing them in New York City. He admits that if there’s any place to wear the Moonwalkers, it’s in the bustling city streets.
The writer tested the Moonwalkers in Midtown Manhattan and found that the shoes felt quite heavy at first but adjusted to their stride automatically. The shoes accelerate and decelerate based on the wearer’s pace and can come to a complete stop when needed. Despite the unnatural feeling of walking on wheels, the shoes allowed the writer to glide effortlessly down the street at a much faster pace than usual. Although they garnered some puzzled looks and double takes, the writer found that they could get used to using the Moonwalkers as a commuting option. Overall, the writer appreciated the convenience and fun of using the shoes for a faster and more enjoyable commute in the city.
