Heelys (formerly known as Heeling Sports Limited) is an American brand of roller shoe (marketed by Heelys, Inc.) that have one or more removable wheels embedded in each sole, similar to inline skates, allowing the wearer to walk, run, or, by shifting their weight to their heels, roll. Braking can be achieved by lowering the back of the foot so that sole contacts the ground. Roger Adams patented Heelys in 1999. The headquarters are located in Carrollton, Texas.

Protective equipment

The manufacturer says, "We highly recommend [the use of protective gear] when the wheels are in the shoes." Most users do not wear protective gear because the shoes are worn for everyday use (unlike more specialized sporting equipment such as inline skates).

Tricks

Advanced Heelys users can perform tricks such as spins, backwards skating and skating on one foot. There are four categories of tricks used in heeling: ground tricks, grinding tricks, stalling tricks and vert tricks.

Controversy

The journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics published a study of injuries resulting from the use of Heelys (and Street Gliders, a similar product that is strapped onto regular shoes). The study counted only significant injuries that required assessment by an orthopedic surgeon, ignoring minor injuries that were treated solely in the emergency department. The 10-week study (conducted during summer school holiday), found: