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


Show more shoes

Username

Password