Z-CoiL Shoes

ABOVE: Z-CoiL shoes with enclosed heels. INSET BELOW: Shoe with open-coil heel.

Is it possible to enjoy sightseeing without sore feet? Until recently, I would have said "no," at least for those of us who spend more time trudging over cobblestones than sitting in sidewalk cafés. But with Z-CoiL shoes, the rules have changed: These odd-looking but cleverly engineered shoes literally put a spring in your step--and in doing so, they become effective shock absorbers for your feet and ankles.

Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear was invented by Al Gallegos, a runner and shoe-store owner who was plagued by heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and other foot troubles. He glued coil-spring heels to a pair of running shoes, and the Z-CoiL concept was born.

Since the first Z-CoiL running shoes were manufactured in 1997, the product line has expanded to include casual dress shoes, sandals, clogs, hiking boots, and work boots. Models are available for both men in women, and customers can choose between the original exposed-coil heels and the enclosed heels in the photo above.

Although the shock-absorbing coil springs are the most obvious difference between Z-CoiLs and conventional shoes, the product has other unique features: The front of the sole has 20 mm (3/4") of neoprene rubber cushioning to protect the forefoot, and the shoe's footbed incorporates a rigid plastic orthotic for arch support and stability. Such design features have helped Z-CoiL shoes to gain a cult following among nurses, chefs, airport security screeners, and other people who work on their feet all day.

ABOVE: Z-Coil shoes on the bridge between Mazzorbo and Burano, two islands near Venice, Italy.

Z-CoiL field testing

I bought a pair of black leather Z-CoiL Cloudwalker shoes (currently called the "Z-Walker") for US $170 back in 2003 after my wife, who suffered from plantar fasciitis, was referred to a specialty shoe shop by her doctor. (I started off with open-coil heels but later had them replaced with enclosed heels, which felt less bouncy and looked more dressy than the exposed-coil heels. It took only a couple of minutes to replace the heels, which were attached by Phillips-head screws beneath the insole.)

The Z-CoiL shoes performed well around town, but their real test came during a seven-day cruise on Peter Deilmann's MS Casanova, which spent most of the week in Venice. I walked hours every day in the Z-CoiL shoes, trudging through stone-paved alleys, climbing over bridges, and ascending the bell tower on Torcello with unprecedented freedom from sore feet or ankle pain.

The shoes even had great traction on wet paving stones (which were frequently covered with a sheen of canal water from acqua alta flooding) and on the ship's stainless-steel gangway when it rained. Since then, I've worn the shoes on many other walking-intensive trips with good results, and although I've replaced the heels a couple of times, the uppers showed no signs of wear until I'd owned the shoes and worn them regularly for about five years.

My wife, who started off with the women's Sidewinder Sandal, reported a complete absence of foot pain during two days of heavy-duty sightseeing in New York, despite previous bouts of plantar fasciitis. She prefers the open-coil heels, and she wears the sandals almost daily for working and walking in our city neighborhood when the weather is decent. (She's since bought two pairs of Z-CoiLs in other styles.)

Click for larger image Update 1: After buying my original Z-CoiLs, I bought a pair of High Desert Hiker boots (with enclosed heels rather than the standard open heels) for a walking trip in Ireland. The boots were especially comfortable when jumping from stone to stone or walking downhill on rocky paths, since the heels absorbed shocks that otherwise would have battered my ankles and knees.

I encountered only one problem: A part broke inside the left heel, causing the heel to loosen every day or two. Fortunately, I was able to tighten the heels quickly and easily with a borrowed screwdriver, but from now on I'll pack a Phillips-head screwdriver in my checked luggage when traveling with Z-CoiLs.

Two other minor caveats:

Z-CoiL shoes will set off alarms when you go through metal detectors at airports, so be prepared to take them off or be frisked. (Packing the shoes is another option, unless you're traveling with a small suitcase.)
Because the heels have springs, the shoes can feel a bit unsteady in small boats, trains, and buses if your sense of balance is less than ideal.

Update 2: I've since bought another pair of Z-CoiLs (a men's dress-shoe model), again with the enclosed heels. They've performed well on a number of European trips, and they're now my preferred shoes for urban travel.

Update 3: It's 2016, and I'm still wearing Z-CoiL shoes while traveling. Unfortunately, my favorite dress-shoe style is no longer available, so I'm saving my existing pair for trips that require looking respectable. I do have an extra pair of enclosed heels, so I should be able to keep the shoes going for a few more years.

Update 4: In 2024, I still have my Z-Coils, but I also have another favorite in my travel-shoe collection: The slip-resistant Hoka One One Bondi 8 SR, which has the advantage of not setting off metal detectors. But I still love my Z-Coils!

How to shop for Z-Coil Shoes:

First, visit the Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear Web site to learn more about the design, technology, and models available.

Next, use Z-CoiL's "Store Locator" page to find a dealer in the U.S. or Canada. (Unfortunately, the company doesn't yet have many dealers outside North America, although Australians are lucky: As of 2017, they can buy Z-Coils from Springy Feet in East Freemantle, which sells online and in pop-up stores.)

I'd recommend buying the shoes in person--not by by mail order-- because the shoes may require adjustments for the best possible match with your feet, body weight, and personal preferences. (My wife and I both returned to the store for adjustments--in my wife's case, to replace a coil that had a slightly different stiffness than the coil on the other shoe.) Also, some people may not feel comfortable or secure in spring-heeled shoes or sandals.

Finally, I'd suggest choosing the enclosed heel if you're at all self-conscious, because the open coils invite questions and comments from strangers. (For that matter, the enclosed heels elicited a question of "Are they comfortable?" from an X-ray screener at my local airport.)

Overall verdict:

Along with the Hoka Bondi 8 SR, Z-CoiL shoes are the best shoes I've ever worn for heavy-duty urban walking and sightseeing. They're even more comfortable than the Birkenstock shoes that were my standard travel footwear for the previous 15 years. If you do a lot of walking, try a pair the next time you're in a city that has a Z-CoiL dealer.

Last updatted March, 2024

About the author:

Durant Imboden photo. Durant Imboden is a professional travel writer, book author, and editor who focuses on European cities and transportation.

After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel topics for About.com, Durant and Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors in 2001. The site has earned "Best of the Web" honors from Forbes and The Washington Post.

For more information, see About Europe for Visitors, press clippings, and reader testimonials.

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