Urban Transport

Cardiff Skates mount on your shoes, but don't have old-timey steel wheels

Cardiff Skates mount on your shoes, but don't have old-timey steel wheels
The Cardiff Skate attaches to the user's regular footwear
The Cardiff Skate attaches to the user's regular footwear
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The Cardiff Skate attaches to the user's regular footwear
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The Cardiff Skate attaches to the user's regular footwear
The idea is that people can use the skates to get to their destination, without having to pack along a separate pair of shoes to change into once they get there
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The idea is that people can use the skates to get to their destination, without having to pack along a separate pair of shoes to change into once they get there
The Cardiff Skate is available in two sizes, both of which are priced at US$160
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The Cardiff Skate is available in two sizes, both of which are priced at US$160
According to the company, the wheel configuration "gives the user unique maneuverability and excellent stabilization while both skating and braking"
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According to the company, the wheel configuration "gives the user unique maneuverability and excellent stabilization while both skating and braking"
A top view of the Cardiff Skate
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A top view of the Cardiff Skate
A front view of the Cardiff Skate
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A front view of the Cardiff Skate
A bottom view of the Cardiff Skate
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A bottom view of the Cardiff Skate
A side view of the Cardiff Skate
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A side view of the Cardiff Skate
View gallery - 8 images

Remember back when everyone owned a pair of rollerblades? How about several decades before that, when kids still strapped roller skates onto their shoes? Well, the California-based Cardiff Skate Company has sort of combined the one device with the other, in the form of its appropriately-named Cardiff Skate.

Like the strap-on roller skates of days gone by, the Cardiff Skate attaches to the user's existing footwear. The idea is that people can use the skates to get to their destination, without having to pack along a separate pair of shoes to change into once they get there.

Instead of leather straps and metal buckles, however, the skates utilize a downhill-ski-like ratcheting binding system. Sizing is accomplished through a spring-mount system, in which the front part of the skate automatically slides back to meet the front of the user's shoe, as soon as they step down.

A side view of the Cardiff Skate
A side view of the Cardiff Skate

The skates roll on three rollerblade wheels, arranged in a delta formation – a fourth rear wheel serves only as the brake. According to the company, this configuration "gives the user unique maneuverability and excellent stabilization while both skating and braking."

The Cardiff Skate is available in two sizes, both of which are priced at US$160. It can be seen in action in the video below.

Source: Cardiff Skate Company

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View gallery - 8 images
7 comments
7 comments
Gadgeteer
There have been plenty of strap-on skate designs even in recent years, including the Skorpion.
Fred Borman
I have an old pair of the strap-ons in my garage, from the 50's
Stephen Lockett
Looks practical
Pablo Mora
parallel wheels without cuff......nice design for 1900s
digi_owl
Looks nice, now to put a engine on there.
Schuyler19
I like the strapping mechanism, but the wheels should be like 4in. pneumatic wheels. the wont go over dirt or gravel very well. I was looking at skates like these a little while ago and found these:
xc skeleton - powerslide 2013 -powerslide.com
Same theory w/ the shoes, but inline style
Jamie Callihan
I actually just ordered a pair from my son on Brookstone's website. If you use a coupon code from their coupon page (http://www.brookstone.com/brookstone-coupons), you can get $15 off an order over $120. It will help save some money if you're interested in purchasing!