Shadow Soles

You stride the pavement with the world’s lightest and best ventilated footwear. As each foot swings forward through the air, a Shadow Sole zips along under it. As each foot nears the earth, the strapless sandal is there to cushion the landing and protect the skin.

Segways for pedestrians, these soles have battery-driven, motorised 3cm (1 1/6 inch) wheels that retract on every step. They utilise image recognition software to follow the foot overhead, and they identify your toe prints to foil theft. Upon encountering an obstacle such as a kerb or stair step, or upon power failure, each sole flips up a curved strap from the front allowing the walker to insert a foot and use it as a conventional sandal.

With zero weight and minimal contact, Shadow Soles are perfect for runners and hot weather walkers. An economy pair is under development with the motors and electronics exchanged for an elastic band to the big toe.