These Boots Were Made for Hopping

Want to put some spring back into your workout?

You might try Kangoo Jumps--boots that resemble in-line skates, but instead of wheels on the bottom, they’re outfitted with springs. The boots are designed to cushion your knees and back from the shock inflicted on your body while jogging or jumping, say company officials.

The product, developed in 1994, has been repeatedly tested for safety, design improvements and fun. One test, according to the company Web site (https://www.kangoojump.com), used the bouncy boots in a disco. The result? According to the Web site, people got “really euphoric.” But the site neglects to say which disco song was playing. If it were “Disco Inferno,” the euphoria might not have been just over the new shoes.

Another interesting fact about the boots, which have a suggested retail price of $249, are their country of origin. You’d think with a name that plays off a kangaroo, it would be Australia.

Nope, these new boots were developed in Switzerland--a country better known for its hot chocolate than its jumping. But maybe, just maybe, the Kangoo Jumps will change all that.