The Walk Charge Shoe

The Walk Charge shoe looks like an uncomfortable rubber Crocs-like affair with two tiny turbines in the toe section of each. As the wearer walks or runs, the turbines turn with the passing air. The turbines generate a bit of electricity which is stored in the on-board battery in each shoe. When the wearer is finished walking or running, she can sit down and plug a gadget right into the USB port in the back of each shoe. The concept itself is not a bad one, but the execution seems a little clumsy; kinetic energy can be more easily captured than putting easily-broken turbines into the toes of shoes. Still, we have to applaud any designer who takes a unique approach to renewable energy design.