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Mack
Released: 9/23/2003



Grindplate: N/A

* Independent 52mm Clear PU Big Wheels (Pair)
* Cemented-On Big Mack Nylon Grind Plate
* ABEC 7 "688" Reinforced Micro Bearings
* Quick Button Release System (pops out both wheels easily!)
* Nu-buc Finish Leather
* Super-Light Phylon Midsole
* Includes Wheel Hole Plugs
* Patented Technology
* Available in 2 Colors
o Lt. Gray/Charcoal/Red , Black/Charcoal/Royal Blue



Pros
Added stability - good for beginners. Much more terrain tolerant.

Cons
Bulky making it difficult to comfortably walk. A bit slower than traditional Heelys.

The Bottom Line
Not the best choice in Heelys. But if stability is paramount and you can forego the beauty of stealth, then the Mack might be worthwhile as your first Heely.

Full Review
If this is your first bit of research on Heelys, please first read my introduction to Heelys by going here:

Heelys Flow Review

This review is dedicated to examining the specifics of the Heelys Mack product and do not cover the overall pros and con of the Heelys product.

The BIG MACK

Following the same principle as other Heelys, the shoe allows the rider (called a "Heeler") to walk, run and then by shifting weight, glide across the floor. The "Mack" is unlike all other Heelys in that the wheels are on the outside, as opposed to the underside of the shoe. Having the wheels on the outside do not change the functionality if of the shoe. But there certainly are differences.

The Upside

The Macks has several advantages over other traditional Heelys. The wheel configuration places one wheels on each side of the heel on each shoe. So it has four wheels instead of two. Compared to a single wheel in the sole of each shoe, the Mack is more stable and easier to balance on. This works well for beginners in the sport who have had a more difficult time learning to balance on one wheel in each shoe.

In addition to the added stability, the Mack's external wheel configuration has the added advantage of being much more terrain tolerant than traditional Heelys. The larger wheels, which can more easily clear rocks and cracks, don't hurt either. This has classically been the largest bane of Heelers. All in all, HSL (the company that produces Heelys) wanted to address both major concerns hampering their product (the learning curve and stability when riding).

The Macks also come standard with the SOAP patented grind plate. Grinding junkies will like that.

The Downside

There is sufficient bulk added to the shoe. With the wheels in place (also removable as with all Heelys), the wheels increase the overall width of the shoe by nearly 1/2. This makes for a additional impedence during walking and running. And while this may not seem like much, it is.

Another negative is the speed. Macks tend to lose speed faster than traditional Heelys because there are two wheels side by side that cause additional friction. Note: the wheels each have their own axle, so there is inherent (albeit little) divergence. This is not highly noticable, but an avid rider can tell.

Finally, the design faulters from Heelys' original appeal which includes stealth. With the wheel on the underside, the shoe looks like any other shoe. And until the Heeler glides away, no one is to know the better. However, with the wheels on the outside, this attribute is lost.

Other Information

The shoe comes with a specialized wheel remover. It's simply a pin with a handle that allows you to press the button on the back of the shoe. Pressing the button without the tool is possible, but harder. Once pressed, the spring loaded wheels pop out on either side of the shoe to await storage. There is a small carrying bag that comes with the product. Instead of wheel plugs, the product comes with small axle plugs, neatly with the Heelys logo - all in all quite snazzy.

All in all, my take on the Mack is that its well suited for beginners who have a lot of difficulty with balance. However, a wearer will want to graduate to a pair of traditional Heelys once he/she gets the hang of Heeling.

Where can I get additional information?

The Heelys website is www.heelys.com
The most commonly visited forum is www.runandroll.com

Recommended
No


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Comments

May 23, 2006 onthegrindduude

I think they would be sooooo cool if they had normal heelys wheel in the heel not the outside.I think the wheel placement ruins the shoe. I wouldve got this shoe if the wheel was in the normal spot. I got torchers instead. Both have grind plate so im not too upset. OVerall im not impressed i think they should've made one version with the normal wheel and one with these. Again im really not impressed and the grind plate is wwaaaay to thin to do and good rails. And if you think they say they put the wheels on the outside to help begginers and people with bad balance. SO why would people like beginers be grinding? and those plates and even bad for ledges. My friends friend let me borrow his at a sleep over and i tried to do them on a simple one and a half foot ledge and i barely even moved. If anyone... even begginers are thinking of buying these i recomend heelys torch. I have them and they work great for me. or heelys flow. Though they are a little more expensive they are very good shoes. Plz for your own good if you are thinking to get a cheap set of heelys with grind plates. Dont get these. and if u cant find any other heelys with grind plate. jUst buy normal heelys and then buy some soaps. It isnt that much for normal heelys. ONce you get into grind plate heelys prices go way up. So anyone who is thinking about getting these stop and read my comment and consider that these heelys stink altogether. that was a long comment i apologize for the used up space and i hope you take my comment into mind if buying these. thanx for your time.

May 23, 2006 onthegrindduude

ALSO IF YOU DONT AGGREE WITH ME AND GET THESE SHOES ANYWAY... LOOK AT THE WHITE THEY ARE MUCH COOLER. BUT AFTER READING IT YOU PROBABLY WILL DO WHAT I SUGGESTED IN THE TOP COMMENT. PLZ READ MY TOP COMMENT!!!!!

May 23, 2006 Surfaced

What are Torchers? Is that a Heelys model? I know Soap had Scorchers... but I've never heard of Torchers.

May 23, 2006 onthegrindduude

My mistake they are just called heelys torch without the "ers" they are on this website link
http://www.inlinewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=9116

May 23, 2006 onthegrindduude

READ THE TOP COMMENT IF THINKING BOUT GETTING THESE... FOR YOU OWN GOOD.

Jul 30, 2006 AnthoFlex

Hmm....The plate on this is very similar to the express...but its not...then the side view of it looks like the A-side's plate....call me crazy, but i think i like these....hmm i think i MAY get a pair

Aug 24, 2006 AnthoFlex

A very random and weird thought came to me today during work......Why not make a Heelys, with this EXACT design, BUT with a 50/50 Lateral plate?.....u know, like the A-sides? All the Heeling pleasure with a hint of A-side

Aug 24, 2006 Mart

50/50 plate is the normal plat dude. Think of it as how your feet are positioned if you were to bust a 50/50 on a deck

Aug 24, 2006 AnthoFlex

true...sorry about that, so what is it called then? *what i was reffering to i mean*

Aug 24, 2006 Mart

A sole plate. Simple as

Jan 17, 2007 Kile

The wheel comcept is mad retarded. Two wheels oen on each side i would be dumbfounded if any one ever purchased this piece of chinsese made POS!!!!

Feb 27, 2007 yanninicole

ihat this one

Feb 27, 2007 ordnanceflint91

i would get this shoe jus b/c of the fact it dont have the wheel in the heel. leave those off the sides and u got an almost soap shoe. cant even see the heely logo on the side. it would be an ok shoe without those wheels on it

Feb 27, 2007 SonicSoaper

The plate looks pretty good but the shoe's still terrible.

Feb 27, 2007 yanninicole

i agere wiht sonicsoaper

Feb 27, 2007 yanninicole

and ugle

Feb 27, 2007 kobansora

They look pretty cool in a futuristic sense... But the wheels on the sides are just a turn off.

~JJ

Feb 27, 2007 yanninicole

TURE OFF

Feb 27, 2007 Hattmac02

i dnt like the look of the plates, it looks like the rubber next to them would stop u if u were off a little

Feb 27, 2007 SonicSoaper

Prolly wouldn't suck so much if it wasn't a Heelys shoe.

Feb 27, 2007 RamenRadio

lol, exactly

Feb 27, 2007 kobansora

pshh

~JJ

Feb 27, 2007 ordnanceflint91

look at the plates. almost the same as the express

Mar 23, 2007 heelyhailey

errrr. I never liked Mack. These are basically the training wheels of heeling. and also way too slow. Macks were what started several imitation heelys too. Like Togos . . .

Mar 23, 2007 AnthoFlex

Togos?

Mar 23, 2007 heelyhailey

Trust me, you dont want to know about them :/

Mar 23, 2007 AnthoFlex

No, please...do tell....

what are these togos?

Mar 23, 2007 heelyhailey

ok . . . if you rreeeaaalllyyy want to know
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5ZgLUCvi-Yc

Mar 23, 2007 heelyhailey

aww youtube links dont work

Mar 23, 2007 AnthoFlex

HAHAHA! Thats hilarious, wow

Are those actually macks?

Mar 23, 2007 heelyhailey

NOOO!!!!! those are Togo's

Mar 23, 2007 AnthoFlex

I dunno....they look like macks

Mar 23, 2007 AnthoFlex

in the 2nd video he was like....

"More action for all you Heely hoes"

lol

Mar 23, 2007 heelyhailey

actually the guy is wearing heelys but put togos on over them. Togo's are strap on. And the Mack wheels dont light up

Mar 23, 2007 heelyhailey

yeah, thats what we call retarded people on heelytalk. We'll be like "YOUR ACTING LIKE A JCARDIN!" (jcardin is the guy in the vids

Mar 23, 2007 AnthoFlex

quite obviously, but the lights were really funny

Mar 23, 2007 kobansora

That was a scary video.

~JJ

Mar 23, 2007 snikas

im sorry but i have to say these are extremly ugly

Mar 23, 2007 Surfaced

Eh... I think if you killed the wheels and their slots, you'd have a decent shoe.

Mar 23, 2007 kobansora

But still, the colors are hella ugly. I don't know who designed these shoes, but what the hell?!

~JJ

Mar 23, 2007 kobansora

And the heelys logo.

~JJ

Mar 23, 2007 Surfaced

haha yes the logo.

Mar 24, 2007 rhinoskater30

Shoulda put a full sole plate in there

Mar 24, 2007 heelyhailey

nah, that would be a waste. No one likes Macks so they wouldnt sell well.

Apr 13, 2007 rhinoskater30

r u crazy, it would a been a sole plate retard

they dont have those anymore!!!!

Apr 17, 2007 Tasslehoff

you know what i say? if you want wheels on and a grind plate, get those strap on wheels from tv and slap em on some SOAPs.

Apr 17, 2007 sam

If you want wheels and a grindplate, go buy some rollerblades...

Apr 17, 2007 Tasslehoff

lol

Jun 8, 2007 mets603412

so true

Jun 22, 2007 xJeremiahx

If for some reason soap shoes where not available I would buy these and throw the wheels in the trash.

Aug 15, 2007 Heel4life

God, I hate those types of wheels. Espically the fake ones that you "add on" your shoe.

Aug 15, 2007 rhinoskater30

I hate Heelys cuz they kinda have a wheel that you "add on"

Aug 15, 2007 LVsoaper12

i have to say something to heel4life HEELYS ARE GAY like michael jackson

Aug 15, 2007 Megashadow77

^look at the above comment^

Aug 19, 2007 greenfire8484

wtf is wrong with those wheels? is that supposed to help or paralyze ur rolling?

Aug 20, 2007 greenfire8484

i guess if i were to buy heelys, it would be these considering the wheels are on the sides and dont fuck up the soles much

Aug 20, 2007 RamenRadio

I just think it makes sense to have two wheels on the sides. It's better balance and stuff. I'd think they'd WANT something that would be better for balance. Rather funny lol

Aug 20, 2007 greenfire8484

and just that there would be no hole in the sole

Aug 20, 2007 RamenRadio

Plus, maybe if the wheels are in the side, your heel would not be raised at all. Maybe these shoes actually didn't hurt your feet. OMG THAT'S WHY THEY WERE DISCONTINUED, they were easy on the feet!.

Seriously, if they were better for balance, they shouldn't have discontinued them so early. Why do heelers hate these shoes so much?

Aug 20, 2007 greenfire8484

when u say heelers hate these shoes, u mean the mack? cuz ive never heard of anyone complaining about them...

Aug 20, 2007 AnthoFlex

Ok, to shut everyone up, here goes...Heelers hate the mack because:

1. They are slow
2. There are two wheels
3. The stealth of them being Heelys is given away since you can see the wheels on the side.

Heelers hate for people to know that they are wearing Heelys and the Macks are a dead giveaway

Aug 20, 2007 greenfire8484

and theyre also usually given away by the GIANT H on the side on most of the shoes or the sometimes too large gap between the sole itself and the floor.

Aug 20, 2007 AnthoFlex

A lot of heelers are ignorant like that...what can ya do?

Aug 21, 2007 vault

uhe grey ones look like the broadside on the side. hmm

Mar 20, 2008 RamenRadio

The white ones look ok

Nov 26, 2009 Brad

Best looking Heelys in my opinion. You know, once to take those god awful wheels off the side.

Nov 27, 2009 sylonbroadsides

I actually have a pair of the white ones, they are ok.

Jan 18, 2015 Waffle

These would have been successful if they had a lateral plate.

Jan 19, 2015 mcgrinder2011

You sure about that? they look pretty shitty. Even if the plate would be fucking fast(similar design to the speedsters, another zippy plate designed by Soap).

Jan 19, 2015 Waffle

I mean a lateral plate would be dope.

Jan 20, 2015 mcgrinder2011

That would be dope but Heelys didn't do lateral and never will. Because HSL is DEAD!

Jan 20, 2015 Waffle

HSL still makes Grind Shoes.

Jan 21, 2015 mcgrinder2011

You sure about that? If HSL still made Grind shoes, how come I haven't seen any in stores or online?

Jan 21, 2015 Waffle

Heelys Chrome and Heelys Slide! Look em up but they are gay!
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