Safety Info and Disclaimer
PEGSTILTS.COM STILT WALKING SAFETY INFORMATION:
ALL CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE A RESPONSIBLE ADULT PRESENT AT ALL TIMES DURING USE of PEGSTILTS.COM PRODUCTS.
PegStilts.com kids size stilts are recommended for ages 8+ only!
There are downloadable instructions for a number of topics below, please click on the topic of interest:
Stilts Use & Maintenance FAQs (click here)
Stilt Walking and Falling Information (click here)
Stilt Walking Levels Sheet (click here)
Shoe Attachment Instructions (click here)
Rubber Tip Replacement Instructions (click here)
Tire Tread Replacement Instructions (click here)
Friction Kit Installation Instructions (click here)
Fire Dancing on Stilts Safety Information (click here)
STILT WALKING SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
It is very highly recommend to ALWAYS WEAR KNEE PADS when Stilt Walking!
No matter what your skill level is.
If your knees are protected, AND you learn (AND practice) to fall properly, then you are “more likely” to land on your padded knees safely, and therefore decrease your chances of injury if/when you fall unexpectedly.
PegStilts.com recommends knee pads with the plastic cup on the outside, NOT the all-fabric type.
Additional optional safety equipment includes:
Elbow pads, wrist guards, bicycle helmet, gymnastics mats, **spotters (helpers on the ground), **walking stick/pole, etc.
SURFACE AND ENVIRONMENT NOTES:
Peg Stilts are NOT recommended for use on smooth/slick surfaces (such as waxed hardwood, ceramic tile, or polished concrete floors), hills, steps/stairs, certain gravel types, icy/wet/slippery surfaces, or hiking trails due to falling, slipping, and tripping hazards.
Peg Stilts are best used on grass, asphalt, concrete, dry dirt, and carpet where good traction can be obtained.
Your best asset on stilts is your own awareness of your surroundings, and practice time on your stilts.
Pay attention to who is around you and what they are doing: kids, animals, strollers, weather conditions, intoxicated people, all call for extra attention, as does the surface you are walking on, and anything else in your surroundings that could be problematic, or be a navigation or safety issue.
LEARN HOW TO STILT WALK:
Falling while using stilts CAN be dangerous. Remember, safety first!
WEAR YOUR SAFETY GEAR, ESPECIALLY KNEE PADS!
**Use a spotter (helper), **a long pole, a wall, or tall object at first, until you figure out the balance of walking and rhythm of being up tall.
You can not stand still, balance comes from movement on stilts, like on a unicycle.
You MUST always be moving your feet (marching in place) when on peg stilts.
You can simulate this feeling on the ground by standing on your heels.
(NOTE: You don’t want to flex your feet like that when you’re on the stilts though. This suggestion is just to allow you to simulate the feeling of not having a foot platform to stand on, which is the case with Peg Stilts.)
Helpful Hints:
Try to find your body's center of balance, be sure to stand up straight and tall just like when you walk normally.
Look out in front of you rather than down.
Breathe - In and Out, no really.
Strong hips/legs/knees but not rigid.
Lift from your knee and hip, rather than your foot, this will help you relax more.
Relax your foot if you get shin cramps.
You should not need to flex your foot to pick up the stilt, the foot strap should be tight enough that the stilt lifts when your leg lifts. If it doesn’t, then tighten the straps for the foot and knee (you want them tight!)
BONUS: You can permanently attach your shoes if you want to, this is REALLY HELPFUL and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
PRACTICE HOW TO FALL SAFELY :
Falling while using stilts CAN be dangerous. Remember, safety first!
WEAR YOUR SAFETY GEAR, ESPECIALLY KNEE PADS!
PegStilts.com encourages all stilt walkers to practice controlled falls regularly, especially when you are first learning, so that you can train your body how to fall properly, that way when you get caught off guard, your body will more instinctively and quickly respond to an unexpected fall.
**Practice this off stilts first, then do it with a spotter and gymnastics mats (or soft grass at a minimum) the first time or two, once you're up on the stilts**
Basic Idea:
--Drop forward to your knees (meanwhile leaning your chest back), sit your bottom onto your feet heels, with your hips relaxed and core (stomach and back) strong but not rigid.
Technique:
--When you lean your chest back, you are trying to make a straight line from your knees, through your hips, chest and up to your head.
--Do not to bend forward at all
--Do not to use your hands to "catch" yourself (behind you or in front of you), hands should be a last resort.
--Think "rock-n-roll guitarist slide”
--If you do have you use your hands though, you’d want to put both hands flat out in front of you and make a triangle between your thumbs and forefingers. This will allow your elbows to bend and for you to block your face as well. If your hands are pointed forward or out, you are more likely to have elbow/wrist issues.
Physics:
--By sitting your bottom on your heels and leaning back you decrease the amount of pressure and impact onto your knees
--By leaning your chest back you slow down the velocity of the fall and likelihood of needing to use your hands
DO NOT land straight up (vertically) on your knees.
You will send shock and pressure into knees, hips, back, and further up your spine, also you are more likely to have to use your hands.
Instead, SIT down onto your feet as you drop down, relax your hips. Do not push them up and/or forward.
DO NOT fall forward onto your hands, this could result in serious injuries to your hands, arms, elbows, shoulders, etc.
DO NOT fall backwards. Falling backwards can be very dangerous for your entire body, but particularly the hips/tailbone, spine, neck, and head.
There are downloadable instructions for a number of topics below, please click on the topic of interest:
Stilts Use & Maintenance FAQs (click here)
Stilt Walking and Falling Information (click here)
Stilt Walking Levels Sheet (click here)
Shoe Attachment Instructions (click here)
Rubber Tip Replacement Instructions (click here)
Tire Tread Replacement Instructions (click here)
Friction Kit Installation Instructions (click here)
Fire Dancing on Stilts Safety Information (click here)
PEGSTILTS.COM DISCLAIMER:
DO NOT make stilts, for yourself or others, using PegStilts.com products to copy from.
PegStilts.com does not endorse, allow, or permit the copying of our peg stilt design, style, or construction which is proprietary and has been used exclusively by PegStilts.com/Kricket Caffery since 2008.
PegStilts.com reserves the right to file legal complaints, including Cease and Desists and to take court/legal actions if necessary.
If you would like to know how to build stilts of your own, there are instructions that are downloadable for free from the internet.
Stilt walking can be quite safe provided that safety precautions are taken, and purchasing a well made product from a professional reputable builder like PegStilts.com is always recommended over building your own.
There are many dangers that a novice builder may not be aware of that could permanently disable someone if the product they’re using fails under them due to poor craftsmanship or the wrong materials being used.
ALL activities, including Stilt Walking, DO have risks, and by attempting to stilt walk YOU acknowledge that YOU are responsible for the safety of yourself, others around you, including property and possessions.
By purchasing or using PegStilts.com products, YOU assume ALL responsibility, liability, and risk to yourself and others around you, and you understand that any modification or poor maintenance of PegStilts.com products could be dangerous.
If you injure yourself, others around you, or any property or possessions, while stilt walking, training, or otherwise using PegStilts.com products or suggestions, whether properly or improperly, Kricket Caffery, PegStilts.com, and any/all affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents assume NO responsibility for injuries or damages incurred.