How to mod your powerisers for comfort and durability.

Powerisers are a type of spring-loaded stilt that allow you to take 9ft strides and jump 6ft in the air. They were designed by Alexander Bock and the sport is usually known as bocking or power-bocking. The stilts are also known as PoweriZers, Power-Skips (The original design), 7 league boots, pro-jumps, or velocity stilts. I will refer to them as Bocks.

Unfortunately some versions can be lacking in their quality and durability. In this instructable i will be showing you 4 ways of making them more comfortable and durable.

None of these ideas are mine and have been documented on several other web sites, but i have decided to collate a few on here. If you do not agree with your idea being shown here please contact me and i will remove it.
As far as i can tell the first people to document these ideas are:
Tyre socks: Bill C of http://www.powerbockresources.com (A great site with all these tips and more).
Inner tube spring cover: Ray from New York City.
Webbing knee wrapping: Matt J., Centereach, NY USA.

This is my first 'ible so please give constructive criticism and point out any mistakes. Please post your own ideas too.

DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for you damaging your powerisers or yourself whilst modifying them. This is only accuate for my pro-jump brand Bocks. Yours may be different.

Step 1: Tools and supplies.

Tools
Size 10 spanner.
Size 13 spanner.
Adjustable spanner or another set of spanners.
Pliers.
Scissors.
Allen key set.
Awl or other pointy object.
A Phillips screwdriver.

You may want to wear gloves. The spring is a fibreglass composite and splinters are really annoying.

Supplies
-An inner tube for a 26 inch wheel. One suitable for a mountain bike. Not a very thin road one. I got mine from ASDA for £1.80ish.
-A tyre. Mine is a 20' bmx tyre for road use. This is better than an off road one as it lasts longer. Try to collect old tyres when you get the chance. Free tyres are free booties.
-Tape. Mine is gaffer tape. £1 from ASDA, but if you can get a fabric tape like "hockey tape" use that instead/as well.
-2/4 Hose/jubilee clips. (see second picture) I got mine from Wickes, B&Qs selection was very poor. I got the largest supplied (30-40mm), but still needed to link two together so needed four in total. Cost: £1.19 for two.
-Webbing. I have two 11 foot strips of webbing. This allows three wraps and copious knots at the back. You may find different configurations more comfortable. Cost: quite cheap, but i used some from an old slack line so don't know the exact cost.

I have heard that the nylon lock nuts used on Bocks should only be used once as they lose their effectiveness when removed. If this is true, you may want a supply of each type of nut. I have chosen not to change them, but i give my bocks the once over before rding them and usually tighten each nut if needed.

Comments

[NectarineSoup]

In regards to gluing rubber on, In the uk Evo-stik make a glue called 'Serious Glue - fix and repair adhesive' I've used it to repair holes in motorcycle boots. Glue rubber onto Puppets feet and repair holes in rubber inflatables. It's the kind of glue you use on puncher repair kits. If you cut a section of bike tyre off, add a liberal coating of the glue and tape it tightly to the hoof while it sets for 24 hours. Another glue that if used correctly will provide a strong bond to the hoof is Evo Stik contact adhesive. Apply to both surfaces and wait until they both feel dry. At exactly the point they stop feeling tacky and start feeling dry press both surfaces together.

[uberdum05]

Does anybody know cheaply where you can get these in the UK, I tried ebay?

[Lorddrake]

does anyone know if they make a model that can support more than 265lbs? If so what brand and model are they.

[Arferlala1254]

I remember seeing this one those cool, umm... superhuman-inventions shows, where they were practicing using these for the first time. the Poweriser could go with a cyborg costume. Or lightweight Mech costume. If you make this good enough, you can add it to a Master Chief costume, so you could be 7ft tall, then you could put a exoskeleton on the Poweriser, slap on a boot, and... ya have yourselves a nice lil' M. Chief costume!

[capnmckay]

Looking at these "Bocks" makes me think of a costume I want to make, And these would be perfect for the feet. However, the fact that they are expensive and that I don't want to use them for any extreme sports (just walking) Would you say it is possible (or wise) to attempt to create stilts that merely have the same shape as these? (I'd assume you may know since you own a pair)

[Pseudonym]

Hmm, I don't see why not, but I think they might be a bit harder to walk in without the bounce.

Just make sure the hoof is under the middle of the foot plate and that it has lots of grip.

[capnmckay]

Thank you!

[PONYTA009]

i have a pair of powerisers their pink well coll mine can jump 10 ft high and mine were £115!

[Kazeem]

get someone to measure that :P most pro's can only jump up to 9 feet.

And if you do get 10 feet in the air, send me a photo please =] i'd love to see it

[quietsailor]

In the past I've used a type of pipe band (over here we call them "Jubilee Clips") that comes in a roll, you cut the length to suit then the tensioning part slips on. I bought mine in a agricultural garage but an automotive parts shop might have them as well.

[StiltGuyJoe]

I have a pair of powerizers, I love 'em. only thing is the spring on the left side has worn most the way through where the top of the 'hoof'. When I get replacement parts I'll be sure to reinforce them so it won't happen again.

[jasontimmer]

I'd love to get a pair of those, just too darned expensive right now.

[nibbler125]

I wish I had some but im broke.....wait I could make my own hmm a future insrctible possably

[reeding]

there is a sale where the pro and adult model are the same what should i do...i am beginning

[polabearboi]

is that on pro jumping.com? cuz i was on there and had and still have that dilemma. i would say go with the pro because i think they are just built better, but im not really sure. i mean they on sale rite?the pro model is usually 400 instead of 300. and the regular adult isnt on sale and it is 300. i go with pro.

[shammallamaman]

is there a cheap place to get them, or is there a way to make a pair, i would love to have some, but i don't have enough money to cover the $300 price tag

[sonaps]

I just ordered a pair of these from overseas after seeing this. I youtubed a load of videos and decided i needed to have a pair, and so now they are on the way and I'm really happy. I've already got all the things to do these mods and i'm pre-emptively getting some of the parts made, I can't freakin' wait until I get them!

[Pseudonym]

Brilliant. Glad to see i've converted someone. You might do well to check out the link posted above. The resource centre has a few more mods that might take your fancy and a few different ways of doing them too. Post some pictures when you're all done. Wear safety equipage. Protect your head and your wrists. Elbows and knees too, but the head and wrists are the bad ones to break.

[sonaps]

I do tons of sports, already have the stuff, have gone through things to prove I need it. And thanks about the link I didn't notice it before.

[aceLED]

do u think theres away to make a home made pair without welding

[bowmaster]

How hard are these to balence?

[Pseudonym]

Not that hard at all. You do have to step forwards and backwards to stay upright, but it's quite easy to learn.

[bowmaster]

How much do they cost? (average)

[Pseudonym]

Just search for some online. Try ebay if you want them slightly cheaper or froogle some of the names that are mentioned in my 'ible. It all depends on the brand and your location.

[buttersnake]

Wow, i have never heard of these but i want a pair!

[Doveman]

Man I wish I had some of these!

[darkmuskrat]

Is there any different is hight because of these adjustments? ( not really important, but im interested :P )

[Pseudonym]

Only the width of the tyre boots. Nothing noticeable.

[Mark Rehorst]

They look simple enough that it shouldn't be too hard to make them. Maybe old hunting bow or bow-flex gym parts could be used for springs. The rest is bent tubing, etc...

[bob the builder #2]

you can buy the springs

[Pseudonym]

Would love to see if that would work. The springs are the integral part and they come in a lot of different weight categories. You'd have to work out which draw weight bow worked for you and even then i'd be a bit scared of using them.

[bumpus]

Awesome!!, do you have any links on where to buy a pair online?

[Weissensteinburg]

Be warned, they are very expensive. Around $250, if I remember correctly.

[bumpus]

Thats not too bad..
The first time I embarked on a hunt to buy them they were $400
$250 is quite a bit better

_{any links?}

[Weissensteinburg]

No...I looked a while ago. Just do some googles. And like I said, i'm not sure of that price...they very well may still be $400. I don't want to get your hopes up, too much.

[bumpus]

yeah, I check, they are still pretty expensive :(

[Grey_Wolfe]

They're $299 US here, Bumpus.

http://flyingjumper.com/shopper.html

Still kinda expensive, but might be in your range.

[bumpus]

its a step, but possibly...

[Pseudonym]

Yeah they are quite expensive. These are the cheapest version, but i still got them 2nd hand for even cheaper.

It depends what type you get for the price and availability. You should sign up on a large powerbocking forum and ask there.
A good place to look for forums is http://www.poweriserpages.com and http://www.powerbockresources.com.

You should definitely have a look for some. They are brilliant.

[Weissensteinburg]

How much did the used pair run you?