what are rocket skates
What Are Rocket Skates?
Rocket skates (officially called RocketSkates) are a pair of motorized, hands‑free electric skates that you strap over your regular shoes and ride by tilting your feet—no remote needed. They’re basically “mini Segways for your feet”: two wheeled skates with brushless motors, lithium‑ion batteries, and onboard microprocessors that let you zip along sidewalks at up to 12 mph.
Quick Scoop
- What they are: Motorized shoe attachments (not actual rockets) that turn normal shoes into electric skates.
- How they work: You decide a “lead foot”; tilt it forward to accelerate, tilt back to slow down. The two skates communicate so they stay matched in speed.
- Top speed: About 12 mph , depending on rider weight and conditions.
- Range options: Three models:
- R‑6: ~6 miles / 45 minutes
- R‑8: ~8 miles / 70 minutes
- R‑10: ~10 miles / 90 minutes
Charge time is roughly 90 minutes.
- Price: Originally launched on Kickstarter; retail prices were around $499–$699 depending on model.
Where Did They Come From?
RocketSkates were created by Peter Treadway , a Los Angeles‑based entrepreneur and CTO of Acton , a startup focused on alternative personal transport. The concept started as his graduate thesis project at ArtCenter College of Design, where he imagined a futuristic, “rocket‑powered roller skate” inspired by old cartoons like Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner.
The product first gained major attention through a Kickstarter campaign in 2014, which exploded far beyond its $50,000 goal, raising over $550,000 and proving that people were genuinely excited about motorized, hands‑free skates.
Rocket Skates vs. Other “Cool Skates”
RocketSkates are often compared to:
- Hoverboards: Self‑balancing boards you stand on; RocketSkates are wearable, hands‑free, and let you walk up stairs without removing them.
- Heelys / wheeled shoes: Shoes with a single wheel in the heel; RocketSkates are more powerful, faster, and have dual motors per skate.
- Spnkix: Acton’s earlier motorized skates that were heavier and had fewer motors; RocketSkates are lighter, smaller, and more refined.
| Feature | RocketSkates | Hoverboard | Heelys / Wheeled Shoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Tilt feet (hands‑free) | Weight shift + gyro | Roll when leaning, walk otherwise |
| Speed | Up to ~12 mph | Usually 6–10 mph | Walking speed, short glides |
| Footwear | Strap over regular shoes | Stand on board | Special shoes |
| Stairs / Walking | Can walk up stairs without removing | Must carry | Walk normally, glide when leaning |
What Happened After Shark Tank?
RocketSkates appeared on Shark Tank in Season 7, where Acton pitched the product to the investors. The company had already sold over $1 million in products before the episode, including both RocketSkates and an electric scooter, showing the brand had real traction beyond just a TV appearance.
According to later coverage, the RocketSkates line continued to evolve, though mainstream availability and marketing became quieter compared to the initial hype wave around 2014–2016. The brand’s focus gradually shifted toward broader “urban micromobility” products, but RocketSkates remain a notable early example of wearable electric transport.
Why the Name “Rocket Skates”?
Despite the name, there are no rockets on RocketSkates. The name is:
- A nod to cartoon logic (Wile E. Coyote’s “Acme” rocket skates).
- A playful brand move to make the tech feel futuristic and exciting, even though the actual propulsion is electric motors and wheels.
Peter Treadway himself joked that strapping real rockets to your feet would be a “Darwin Award” situation, so the company chose motors instead.
Are They Still Around in 2025–2026?
By 2025, RocketSkates were no longer the viral trend they were in the mid‑2010s, but:
- Articles still reference them as an influential early product in the wearable micromobility space.
- Forums and DIY communities occasionally discuss modding, repairing, or comparing them to newer electric skates and shoes.
- There hasn’t been a major new “RocketSkates 2.0” launch as of 2026, so interest is more nostalgic and niche rather than trending mainstream.
“Rocket skates are no longer novelty props for Wile E. Coyote and Batman. [...] they take square aim at urban residents who too often find themselves at the intersection of too‑close‑to‑drive and too‑far‑to‑walk.”
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.