I think the patent stuff only applies when you're selling things.  Just making a pair of super-bocks for yourself is equivalent to strapping yourself to some beams and walking around.  Whoever holds the patent (if there is one) on basic stilts could never sue you unless you try to sell them.

But watch out because Skyrunner routinely sells their crappy stilts under other brand names.  I've seen them sold as Powerskips, Powerisers, Powerizers, and a few other random names.

I have been running for months with one bolt totally missing (well, stripped because I tightened it too much and now it doesn't do anything but sit there from the block where my Poweriser cuffs attach, and I have noticed no difference.  I don't think you need to worry too much about that

The play in the joint is nothing special, either.  That's standard.

What I meant was that the support rods should be in tension.  If all of your weight is right at the heel, your downwards force will all go into the column in back.  That's fine, but the spring is also going to put some upwards pressure on the diagonal, which goes into the support rods and bends them.  If you have enough weight on the fronts of your feet, the downwards force will counteract that and then some.  Since the rods could probably hold up a small car's worth of tension, there is no issue that way.

I'd imagine that the amount of heelward weight distribution necessary to allow this bending would be rather uncomfortable...

Judging by the shape of the bocks, the upward force from the diagonal would be higher when accelerating forwards, i.e. running.  It's perfectly fine to put a relatively large amount of your weight near your toes when running.  It's instinctual and the balance shift helps the running motion.

yes.

Interesting...  Do you put all your weight on your heels?

Those rods are meant to withstand tension, but not compression.  The force of the spring acting on the diagonal support would tend to bend the rods in that way, but I think that the weight of the user is supposed to overcompensate for that compressive force.  I think the expected weight distribution is about the same as how you distribute your weight when standing.  If you put all your weight on your heels, the compressive force could overpower the tension your weight applies and bend the bars.

If you distribute your weight evenly, I have no idea.

I think this has been nailed on the head, but I feel compelled to say my piece.

Flipping is big and impressive.  It's also a rather difficult trick with lots of risk.  If you can flip, its a sign that you are confident on bocks and take them seriously, plus it's quite a sight to see.  I think it's blown out of proportion because it's so impressive, but it should still be taken seriously.

I don't mind the fact that flips are mostly to please dumb crowds.  Without crazy videos of people or the crazy people in person flipping and doing unbelievable things, there would not be so many bockers.

When I land, my knees are bent about 20-30 degrees (maybe less- it's been a while now) and I straighten them out as the spring compresses and flings me back upwards.  Sort of a flat-footed jumping motion.

Almost makes me wish I didn't have a pair already...  Perhaps I should inform my sister, she finds them intriguing.

cool! You're not living up to your expectations, but I don't think anyone actually thought you would do it.  You're still learning very well.

I hope you enjoy your cuffs!

Actually, it's quite an experience.

The cuffs do not stay in place as well as knee bars, so Poweriser had to design a new metal block for them to fit into.  Make sure to get a pair of those if you get cuffs.

S-Rex isn't any more powerful than any other 120kg spring; it's all hype.  All other brands use the same frame for all spring strengths.  I wish they'd just put a warning saying something like "If you put these on anything other than S-Rex frames, good luck!" and sell them.

It depends greatly on how you try to get up.  My clueless brother managed to make Poweriser 07 bindings come undone when he tried my bocks out, but that doesn't make them crappy.

I didn't know you couldn't get Poweriser calf cuffs separately in the UK.  That's almost as stupid as 7leagues not selling S-Rexes separately.

I'm really kinda pissed about that, cuz I want to get S-rex springs in the USA but nobody will sell them.

Sorry, I think the thread has totally drifted now.

By the way, I do believe you will be well-served by 7leagues.  Just mod the knee bars and they're plenty good enough.