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Experimental project, very short lived. Not a commissionable item.
Category Designs / All
Species Marsupial (Other)
Size 958 x 1280px
File Size 132.5 kB
Long ago, I thought about making stilts of various designs to allow for digitigrade (correct spelling btw, just FYI) feet.
And I've made digitigrade appearing feet for fursuits.
But in thinking about the whole matter, in investigating naturally occurring digitgrade animals; I've come to the realization that digitigrade is a Hollywood creation, and nothing more than a trend that won't stand up to time. And trends don't make for good products as a fursuit maker. And so, I've given up on the idea of digitigrade costumes, except in special cases, such as a horse costume or something (and even then...)
Part of the reason I gave up is because there is only one, perhaps two species of animals in the natural world that are digitigrade and which walk on two legs, and they are flightless birds. In nature, digitigrade just isn't practical for a two-legged animal. Plantigrade is far superior because it allows for far better balance. There IS a reason you don't see digitigrade, two-legged creatures.
That having been said, I highly discourage people from amateur digitigrade solutions like the one you have made, unless you have some resources to ensure that your brace is correctly configured to prevent injury. When you make something like this, you are reconfiguring how someone walks. An incorrect posture in the brace can cause injury at worst, and strain at the very least. A quick look at your configuration shows that you are transferring the heel pressure to the front of the leg just above the knee. This puts a strain on your knee and the muscle on the back of your thigh that isn't normal and requires stretching and exercising for the wearer to safely utilize your brace. The brace designs I've seen don't redistribute that way but rather are designed to allow the wearer to balance on their toes and balls of their feet (that's the part just behind the toes.) To do that, you simply change the center of gravity, which does require some knee bending and thus does also induce strain, but not as concentrated in one spot as your design seems to me to do.
Be careful. I hope my comment is helpful.
And I've made digitigrade appearing feet for fursuits.
But in thinking about the whole matter, in investigating naturally occurring digitgrade animals; I've come to the realization that digitigrade is a Hollywood creation, and nothing more than a trend that won't stand up to time. And trends don't make for good products as a fursuit maker. And so, I've given up on the idea of digitigrade costumes, except in special cases, such as a horse costume or something (and even then...)
Part of the reason I gave up is because there is only one, perhaps two species of animals in the natural world that are digitigrade and which walk on two legs, and they are flightless birds. In nature, digitigrade just isn't practical for a two-legged animal. Plantigrade is far superior because it allows for far better balance. There IS a reason you don't see digitigrade, two-legged creatures.
That having been said, I highly discourage people from amateur digitigrade solutions like the one you have made, unless you have some resources to ensure that your brace is correctly configured to prevent injury. When you make something like this, you are reconfiguring how someone walks. An incorrect posture in the brace can cause injury at worst, and strain at the very least. A quick look at your configuration shows that you are transferring the heel pressure to the front of the leg just above the knee. This puts a strain on your knee and the muscle on the back of your thigh that isn't normal and requires stretching and exercising for the wearer to safely utilize your brace. The brace designs I've seen don't redistribute that way but rather are designed to allow the wearer to balance on their toes and balls of their feet (that's the part just behind the toes.) To do that, you simply change the center of gravity, which does require some knee bending and thus does also induce strain, but not as concentrated in one spot as your design seems to me to do.
Be careful. I hope my comment is helpful.
'There IS a reason you don't see digitigrade, two-legged creatures.'
One word "Birds"
Most birds are digitigrade. Not 'flightless' birds. Only Loons and Grebes and plantigrade.
There is also all have theropoda. Even though they are extinct, the position of their limps and leg type is what made these (and other) dinosaurs so successful for 175 million years.
The storage is flightless, but part of the reason it runs so well is not only because of how long its legs are, but the fact its digigrade. So yes, it IS practical for two legged animals in nature.
Personally, I find plantigrade anthros odd and boring to look at.
One word "Birds"
Most birds are digitigrade. Not 'flightless' birds. Only Loons and Grebes and plantigrade.
There is also all have theropoda. Even though they are extinct, the position of their limps and leg type is what made these (and other) dinosaurs so successful for 175 million years.
The storage is flightless, but part of the reason it runs so well is not only because of how long its legs are, but the fact its digigrade. So yes, it IS practical for two legged animals in nature.
Personally, I find plantigrade anthros odd and boring to look at.
This is pretty cool from an engineering standpoint, but I'd be careful. I once read that Torgo of "Manos and the Hands of Fate" wore leg braces to aid in his appearance of a satyr (which he doesn't resemble at all), and suffered chronic leg pain for the rest of his life. I think he killed himself, but that was a pretty shitty movie anyway.
I'll agree saftey is very important, but I also read he accidentily wore them backwards the whole time, and no one corrected his mistake. Also, the best discription of the 'extensions' was described as "metallic rigging worn under his trousers, made out of wire coat hangers and foam". That sounds more like the Satyr stilts that morso resemble high heel pumps without the high heels, which puts alot of strain on the leg muscles and joints. The whole reson for all the metal bracing is to take tension off of bones and tendonds and instead place it on the metal and cables. The body is perfectly ballanced with no strain on any joints because the stilts hold thier shape and weight. The stilts are very comfortable actually, and I dont see there being any long-term damage with extended use. Not with this design.
It looks like a pretty tough DIY project. I mean this whole thing has to hold up your weight and more it has to be done pretty well and with safety in mind. I am tempted to try to. But it might be too ambitious for me to try even that I am a carmechanic and know stuff about welding and metall and stuff. still ergonomics is not the thing I know much about. There has been a lot of engineering inside this things.
Anyway, I am deeply impressed by it.
Anyway, I am deeply impressed by it.
My short answer is no.
After 3 commissions and no follow up reviews, none of my stilts have ever ended up as part of a costume, I don't know why. I assume they simply aren't professional enough for long-term use, and serious fusuiters don't find them very effecient. I guess at the end of the day they're just a gimmick, so I don't build them anymore.
After 3 commissions and no follow up reviews, none of my stilts have ever ended up as part of a costume, I don't know why. I assume they simply aren't professional enough for long-term use, and serious fusuiters don't find them very effecient. I guess at the end of the day they're just a gimmick, so I don't build them anymore.
Aaaah nuuuu! gutted to hear you don't make these anymore! understandable though. It can be quite disheartening when there's no feedback on a project that takes days of labor. Sorry to hear that happened.
Still, for what it's worth, they look damn awesome!! and one can dream. I've been looking for a design like this for a long while. So sad to see they're not still in production. Thanks for the inspiration though, and for proving it's possible <3
Still, for what it's worth, they look damn awesome!! and one can dream. I've been looking for a design like this for a long while. So sad to see they're not still in production. Thanks for the inspiration though, and for proving it's possible <3
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