Let me start by saying that this has been an invaluable aid for me to walk up and down my own house and "get me my life back". I'd buy this again if I had to. I'd recommend it to anyone with good balance from about 16yrs old upwards. Don't buy for smaller kids who don't have full awareness of what it means that their leg is strapped onto steel.

Initial purchasing impression
I was hesitant to buy this because it was rated 3.9 out of 5. It turns out that this is because the self test is still subjective. Just because you can balance on one leg - that is maybe an 80% success predictor with some 20% chance to still not adapt to the iwalk. Especially because people may over estimate or underestimate themselves.

Key takeaway: TRY IT ASAP then return it if it doesn't work for you.

Some of the lower ranking reviews also were inaccurate - there is a half inch adjuster for the length of the peg leg, for example.

This brings me to my next point:

WATCH THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDS. They are very well made, not one wasted word. The straps need to be carefully set up. I saw someone say that their straps came off. That can happen if the black straps are not correctly set up and the blue straps aren't as close to the iwalk as possible.

Assembly and adaptation
It will take a while to optimize the iwalk. Too high? Too low? You have to adjust it for a bit. This part and learning to walk can be frustrating, esp when you slip.

Why did I give it 4 stars if I like it?
It performs better on some surfaces rather than others. I think it does well on wood. On tile, be careful to always lift yourself completely or it will catch / over grip on the floor, leading you to slip a bit.

Suggestions
Consider a lightweight (aluminum?) variant for users under 150 pounds or so?
Consider a telescopic folding metal to let it stand on itself.

Got this about a week ago to use while recuperating from a broken ankle. I'm a slightly overweight 62 year old female, normally pretty active (yard work, never-ending heavy housework/cooking, home maintenance, lots of walking, but no running or high intensity exercise), mild back and hip issues (more on that below). My opinion:
1. Be totally honest and realistic about your normal level of balance, activity and stamina before purchasing. If you are normally not very active, are notably overweight/obese, or have ANY balance issues, this is not for you. I pushed my luck a bit ordering this because I have some mild hip arthritis in the hip opposite my injury (the one bearing most of the weight with ANY assistive device). Crutches caused LOTS of pain in that hip so I felt I had to try something else. While this does aggravate my hip some, it's not nearly as bad as with the crutches, and I feel it's within an acceptable range. That said, that's not a design flaw or the product's fault. Just a fact that, like with any product, it's not for everyone. You really must watch all the videos and read all the recommendations BEFORE you buy.
2. Another note about weight: there are limits on how large your leg can be for the straps to fit properly, so if you are "thick" that could be a problem. So even though I'm a bit overweight, my thigh is small enough. The straps have to be very snug at all times and there is no "stretch", so your leg really can't be larger than the measurements they give.
3. I'm surprised by some of the reviews saying they've walked miles using this device because I find the pressure from the tightness of the straps uncomfortable to my injury, especially from the strap closest to my cast/calf. I've had swelling that I feel is caused by the tightness of the straps. The tightness is necessary so the device doesn't move around, so I don't think this can be avoided, but it makes my injured area ache after a while and I can't imagine having it on for any extended period of time (as in, more than 1/2 hour max at a time). Also, the knee that rests on the device gets tired and somewhat sore after a while, so I can't imagine walking on this for a long time or long distance. But, the same thing also happens with the knee scooter.
4. Know that as you put your weight down on the device as you step/walk, there is jarring/jiggling that occurs and that may cause discomfort in your affected leg (depending on what your injury is). Same with hitting bumps on knee scooter.
5. Don't use this on unsteady surfaces, any more than you would with crutches. So I'd suggest you disregard reviews referring to people walking in the sand on a beach, carrying heavy materials, or hiking up mountains. Dangerous, IMO. If you seriously stumble with this on, I think there's a good chance you won't be able to keep from falling, so unless you want to injure yourself further, I don't think it's worth it for a "look what I can do!" moment. Even if I was younger. Also, you should really check with your doctor/surgeon about using this device (as the product recommends): does he/she think it's ok, especially how/where the straps will go and how tight they must be; are they ok with using it for long periods where it could be tight and maybe impact circulation? How your foot will hang over, the pressure on your knee, the jarring?? Also, if part of your instructions are to "take it a little easy" as you recuperate, does your doc really want you trying to do ALL the things you normally do right now??
6. Don't try and carry anything that will put your balance off or shift around in one shoulder, like a backpack or heavy purse. Maybe you could do a back back on your BACK, but nothing on one shoulder. Same with holding/carrying things in front - be careful or better yet avoid anything large or potentially unwieldy. I was particularly bothered by one of the product images showing a woman holding a toddler in front of her. Not good, IMO.
7. For me, this device is ONE of the tools that is helpful, not something I can use in every situation. I have found it most useful for going up and down longer sets of stairs in my home, while doing tasks in the laundry room or kitchen, or walking short distances outside doing things where I really do want to try and have both hands free. But, I still go very slowly and am close to something if I feel unsteady. And the stairs, laundry and kitchen are the places I was struggling the most. So because this has allowed me improved mobility in those circumstances, I feel this is worth it and I'm glad I have it. The knee scooter gets me around most places, but as someone else mentioned, they are not perfect either: a normal crack/seam in a sidewalk (or your kitchen floor tile) or a tiny rock can throw it off balance very easily and potentially cause a fall. Two hands at all times!
8. Realize, if you are going to be getting up and down often, you will probably want to take this off when sitting. I guess you CAN leave it on, but the strap are tight (I worry about circulation with it tight for a long time, especially behind the knee), when seated, the device/foot portion sticks out in front and your injured/impaired foot will be on the ground with your knee bent and the weight of the device (though not much) will be pressing down. I think if you're supposed to be "non weight-bearing" that could be an issue. I felt like it was for me. As a woman, there would be no way I'd even attempt to use the bathroom without taking it off.
9. Just like with crutches, the bottom of the "foot" has a rubber tip, so it can get caught on rugs, carpets, hardwood, whatever, creating a potential to stumble.
10. I found that, for the best fit, erring on the device being a tad shorter than your other leg, rather than it being even a bit too tall, was best for me (so the "toe" doesn't catch).
11. I often have to hold onto the little handle when stepping with it so i feel like I have a little more control over how the "toe" will clear the floor as I stride. So, in that sense, I don't feel I can be totally "hands free" 100% of the time, but because it suits my needs otherwise, I'm ok with that. Others might not be.
12. Understand that your stride with this device (just like with crutches) is not like your normal striding gait, even if you have perfect balance. There is a different sort of "swing" to it. It is tiring!

Overall, it's well made, I feel it serves a purpose as one of the tools that is helping my mobility while I recover. It's a bit pricey for the 6 or so weeks that I will need it. But given that I can't just be inactive for 6 weeks, I feel the improvement in my mobility, even for that short time, is worth it to me.

Delivery was super-fast with overnight delivery. Packaging was typical. In a box, brand new and factory sealed. Assembly was a bit horrific because there were no instructions. NOT GOOD!!! There was a pamphlet wanting you to conduct a scan of a Q.R. code just to go to their website and view videos on how to assemble. What a surreptitious way to solicit the consumer. It also has a Q.R. code to show you how to repackage the product if you wish to send it back. I would have to say that it's not the best, but, it's also not the worse. It's pretty sturdy and the quality appears to be solid. The design seems logical enough to assist with walking. Although I'm rating this on a personal experience and not a generalized one. Everyone has a different issue with needing assistance to walk. Mine was that I had tendonitis of the Achilles heel and the pain extended to the back of my lower calf. Applying weight on my knee when I climbed into bed or my sofa caused a tremendous amount of pain so this product at the time was not ideal. Now that the pain is slowly subsiding, I can bare to put weight on my knee without any pain and so this product is now useful to me. So just keep your personal circumstance in mind before purchasing. I'm 5ft 7in and I don't know if this would benefit someone shorter than that height. It's just a bit tall, but not by much, however, tall enough that it shifts my weight to my non-injured leg which tends to strain after standing for a while. The height level is set to it's lowest possible setting. I could shift the weight to my injured leg but I'd really rather not risk the injury. The product, as I said earlier, is pretty sturdy and it has a non-slip rubber foot padding on the bottom to grasp the floor. It's works pretty well so I have to make sure I lift the crutch correctly or else I might trip if it catches the floor. It takes a bit getting used to but once you get the hang of it, it's a walk in the park. Also, this may not be suitable for the elderly for obvious reasons. It's a balancing act. You are trying to balance yourself in an unfamiliar way. Another surreptitious thing about this product is an image of a woman who appears to be using the crutch hands free with her hands thrown up in the air. This product is NOT a hands-free crutch. Again, it's a very specious looking image and they can say it's not what it's representing, but it sure looks that way. Final thoughts. traditional crutches are probably just as good if not better. It's easier to balance with the traditional crutches and you're really not stressing the other leg or foot when trying to walk using traditional crutches. You can walk upstairs with crutches as well. The issue with this product is the task of having to remove the item when needing to sit down. So if you're in public, you'll have to take this thing off and find a place to set it aside, for example: when you're in a public restroom, a subway, or a bus, etc...Traditional crutches are slim enough and don't take up too much space, but this item does because it's bulky. I would have to say it's a bit heavy to carry around for an injured person. It's also quite a task to get the straps around your leg because you'll have to twist and bend to find those straps. I'm only using this at home but not everyone is fortunate enough to work from home so it's not that much of a nuisance but I can imagine for someone who is lugging this around in public.

First I will start with a bit of context so that you can judge my judgement. I'm a relatively active, healthy 40 year old that tore my calf and ruptured my Achilles. The surgeon who performed the surgery is a colleague of mine at one of the best hospitals in the country. He took his time to explain to me about the difficult recovery and how critical it was to follow the instructions provided, which are rather simple: NO weight bearing on the injured leg and keep the foot elevated above the heart as much as possible until I seem him again in three weeks. His biggest concern during recovery is infection of the wound and re-rupture of the tendon, usually from a fall. Unlike in my previous injuries that required surgery and rehab (I've had a few since my 20's), I'm older now and I took his advise much more seriously...the last thing I want to do is repeat this grueling process.

I live in a big city in a third story building with no elevator. Many people with experience with my injury had advised me to get a scooter and after surgery I quickly learned the limitation of crutches for an injury like mine which has a very long recovery period. I considered the scooter devices but knew it would be cumbersome in a flat like mine which has several levels and wouldn't completely free my hands. I ran the I walk by my MD and he said it would work, but it wouldn't be as stable as the cart and felt that the risk of falling/injury repair was higher. He didn't actually say no, so I went for it.

My experience with the iwalk is that it is easy to put on and take off once it is set up correctly. There are two strap adjustments: one for macro adjustment to get the strap length in the ballpark, but give you enough room to fasten them to the frame and another to tighten the strap once it is connected. The large one is set and forget...you use the small one to install and remove the brace each time...takes me 15 seconds tops. For me, the most critical thing to ensure a stable and secure fit is to make sure the thigh strap is as high as possible and as snug as possible. At two-weeks post surgery, with a week of regularly use on this device I am comfortable to say that this device is much better than crutches. My crutches had more of a tendency to catch on things and if they did, it would be harder to break a fall. While the iWalk's is mechanically similar, the total path width I need with this device is much narrower and so I'm less likely to trip up on things. If I do, I have my hands free to help break a fall and my leg is locked in a "loose" position (achilles and calf are contracted). At this point in my recovery I'm using it with a hard splint that covers the back of my leg and has a soft front...it is not removable, but it be swapped out for a cam boot in a week and a half. Because I'm following the MD's recipe as much as possible, I have not used this thing for longer than 15 minutes at a time...I'm not out there like some of the folks on Youtube trying to do back flips or dance with one of these and if I don't NEED to do it, I don't regardless of if I could. That said, I do regular household chores and exercise three times a day (mostly core and upper body), to compensate for my relatively sedentary state.

Probably my biggest complaint with this device is the foot. I wish the foot bed was more compliant and "sticky" (like a tennis shoe)...not hard like it is, which can be pretty slick depending on the flooring. I feel this would improve stability and comfort significantly and I'm going to try this mod out myself later this week. I have not experienced the knee pain/padding problem, but I have yet to use it as extensively as some of the other reviewers. Nonetheless I have 1/2" sheets of firm memory foam I used for another project that I will use if needed...easy fix.

Update: Like others, the padding on my i-walk completely collapsed and using the device became very painful. I easly solved the problem by cutting a piece of material out of a 1/2" thick, high density yoga mat exactly like the BalanceForm GoYoga mat sold here on Amazon. This actually improved comfort over the original padding immensely and it absorbs much more of the shock from stepping. Yes, it's an extra $20, but it's still much better than fumbling around with crutches or a cart. I also live on a steep hill in the city and I have been using the i-walk to go up and down it for the past couple of days. Uphill is a bit challenging, but I take it slow and I'm comforted by having my hands free to help. I think it is also important to make sure you do moderate exercise and stretching everyday, weakness and/or tightness will certainly impact your balance and whether using crutches, a cart or the i-walk, hip issues seem likely to arise.

Conclusion: I'm now 4 weeks out from my Achilles surgery and walking with a boot now so I thought I would give my final thoughts of using the i-walk 2.0 for about 4 weeks. I got very good with this thing after about a week of use and I had no problems with stability being a 6'3", 220lb 40 year old. I went up and down three floors of stories and walked 5 city blocks to work every day, which included 1.5 steep up/down hill blocks on old/rough brick sidewalks. I wouldn't have been able to do this on a cart and crutches were horrible (and wouldn't have let me grab a coffee or groceries along the way). Uphill was the hardest, but I just had to take shorter steps and launch harder with my good leg. I think if I was strolling around on a flat surface all day, the cart would be better, but I just laid low during that phase of my recovery. After walking to and from work and running around at work on this thing, but leg was done for the day. It got lots of looks and several people stopped to asked me about it, including people in my Drs office who were on crutches. While I currently see no better solution on the market for me, I don't think it is the best solution for everyone. I think it requires a certain amount of strength and coordination to use it to it's full benefit and not be hazardous, but I found it easier to use that crutches for me and my needs. Nonetheless, I'm glad to be packing this thing back in it's box and hope to never need one again.

I bought the iWalk for recovery from ankle surgery. I was non-weight bearing for 3 months. I used both a knee scooter and the iWalk. Once I got used to the iWalk, the scooter was dumped into a corner because it was a strain on the neck, arms and back and required "wide open spaces" to navigate. And I found the scooter to be unstable: any little crack in the sidewalk or a rock will stop the wheels and you risk flying over the handlebars!

I found the iWalk to be very useful mostly around the house where the hallways and spaces are narrower (and cluttered ). For example, I was able to strip a bed, take the bedding to the laundry room, do the laundry, and remake the bed all while wearing the iWalk. You need to adjust your stance to compensate for balance and your leg sticking out but it's doable. Here are some of the observations and experiences I had with the iWalk.

1. You really do need to have decent balance to begin with - and this will tax your strength and stamina at first. I really felt the strain in my good leg - not bad, just like a good workout muscle sore.

2. My back was relatively happy - I didn't feel any back strain. You are mostly walking upright in an almost normal posture.

3. I am tall with a long inseam (38"). I had to use the iWalk on the tallest setting - I had no more adjustability. The bottom of my knee cap is 19.5". If you are taller than that you may not be able to get a comfortable fit. Your good leg/knee would have to be bent to walk. Walking in a squat is not fun! Ouch!

4. Throw rugs are not friendly. Take extra care when walking around rugs or any uneven surface (even slightly uneven). Just beware that you might stumble so lift and place your iWalk foot purposefully. You might want to hang on to the thigh handle just to make sure you are steady until you get into more friendly territory.

5. Walk close to a wall until you are comfortable with the balance. If you get off balance it's nice to have something solid to steady yourself. It took me about 2 weeks to really feel comfortable with the balance. The device makes you feel like you are leaning (falling) forward but that is that way it is supposed to work. Once you get used to that feeling, you will master the iWalk 2.0 quickly.

6. I was in a Cam Boot while using the iWalk. The heaviness of the boot may have caused some balance problems with the iWalk. It seemed like the leg wanted to swing out to the side and that caused the iWalk to wobble a bit. I found that holding on to the thigh handle stabilized the leg until I got used to the feel of the peg foot. After that it was a piece of cake.

7. Watch the iWalk videos. Notice that the instructions tell you to lean forward to walk. That helps you "fall" into a walking stride. Remember this when you feel a little unbalanced - lean forward a bit. Don't wear a heavy purse or backpack - that puts you even more off balance to the rear and will cause you to fall. Leaning forward is the counterbalance to your leg sticking out behind you.

8. Make sure the straps are tight. The tighter the straps the more steady you will be. If the iWalk straps are loose, the device can shift and throw you off balance.

9. Wear a decent shoe on your good foot. These pictures of the iWalk models wearing flip flops and sandals is insane. You need a nice solid walking shoe (like a good lace up running shoe or one with a solid non-slip sole) so you can maintain your balance and not twist your good foot/ankle! Just remember, no matter what, you are still a little off balance with the iWalk. You have your foot hanging out behind you and that is an odd, off-balance weight that you are not used to.

10. And remember that your foot IS hanging out behind you by a foot or two (no pun intended) so when you walk backwards or take a corner...remember you have a sore appendage hanging out there. Smacking it into the wall could make you fall. Wear a brightly colored sock or cast cover - seriously. People pushing shopping carts may not see your black CamBoot (or cast) and run into you. And it can give you a reminder that you have an overhanging oversized load behind you! CastCoverz has really cute covers with lots of patterns. My Recovers has a higher end cast cover that is very well made with a heavy duty zipper that keeps the cover in place. But they are more expensive and not as much variety. I would recommend either. If you are handy with a sewing needle, the pattern is easy.

11. I have successfully negotiated narrow spaces (a long pantry/laundry room) with backing up. Just take small steps and make sure the iWalk leg is firmly on the ground. It may help to hold on to the handle when you are backing - beeping is optional.

12. Don't twist or lean around to grab something off a shelf. That puts your whole body off balance and it is easy to stumble and wrench your back - or fall.

13. When you make a turn, stop and turn your whole body. If you have to do that in a couple small steps, so much the better. Leaning backwards or twisting sideways will only set you up for a fall.

14. Don't take huge or fast steps at first. Slow down and put your feet down solidly and carefully. That said, I walked 10 miles over a weekend at a racetrack, zipped in and out of the heavy crowds, and climbed up and down the stadium stairs with no problem. One reviewer said to go backwards when you go down steps "“ I totally agree, it is much easier!

15. Remember that you cannot easily sit with the iWalk still strapped on so you have to practice taking it off and putting it back on. It's pretty easy to do - it just requires something to hold on to or lean on to maintain your balance while you strap in or out. If you have a high stool that allows you to leave the iWalk strapped on, you still really have to be careful when you try to get back up. Make sure the iWalk leg is firmly under you and you hold on to something until you can push yourself upright. It really is safer to just take it off.

16. Clothing: Skirts or kilts will not work with the iWalk. A skirt can get tangled around your iWalk leg and/or your good leg which could cause you to stumble. The iWalk handle sits high on your thigh at crotch level. If you need to grab the handle while wearing a skirt you won't get a good grip and you could stumble again. So wear pants or shorts.

17. My recommendation is to wear pants. The iWalk straps can pinch and irritate the bare skin on your knee/leg. And bare skin can sweat on the foam leg shelf which can cause your knee/leg to slip. To avoid irritation, wear pants.

18. And now that brings you to what kind of pants or shorts can you wear? If you are in a cast or CamBoot with "DO NOT REMOVE" instructions, you have to make sure your leg openings can go over the cast/boot. And if you are going back to work during your recovery, your wardrobe might be a bit limited. Just another thing to consider.

19. It is so nice to have one or two hands free to carry things. Recommendation: if you are going to carry something hot or breakable, carry it in your "good" hand (the opposite side of your injured leg).

That way if you slip or get off balance, you have a hand free to grab the iWalk thigh handle and steady yourself.

I stumbled a couple times as I was learning the feel of the device but I was able to catch myself with my good leg and not fall. However if you step down hard on the iWalk leg (as in a stumble), that could jar your sore foot/ankle. Just be careful.

20. Be prepared for people to stop you and ask questions. I work with engineers, several of whom actually got down on the floor to inspect the construction of the device. Ha! I spoke to so many nice people who wanted to know how it works, where to buy one, wished they had one after their surgery, etc. One reviewer mentioned that people look at you like a freak. I didn't have that experience. Sure, I got lots of looks but it is a unique device and people are curious. I even was stopped by a Police Officer who wanted to give me a ride to the bus stop but when he understood how the device worked, he laughed and said "You get around better than me!"

All in all, the iWalk is very useful and worthwhile IF you are in decent shape (other than the injured leg/foot) and have good balance. If you find that the iWalk 2.0 is catching or stubbing on carpet, shorten the leg a bit until the lift and swing motion becomes natural.

UPDATE: i have been on the iWalk for over a month. It took a couple weeks to get comfortable with it. It's just like learning how to use crutches - there is a learning curve to figure out how to balance. But once you practice and learn to relax and let yourself lean forward into the step, it's great!

The iWalk doesn't cause that constant knee pressure that a scooter can cause so it is so much more comfortable to use. And your hands are free!

After a couple weeks I was zipping around on the iWalk and had co-workers so nervous they were "yelling" at me to slow down! I even had someone chasing me down to get more information about the device. All I heard was "HEY! Peg leg lady! Slow down!! " Ahahahahahaha

UPDATE 2: I got off the iWalk 2.0 1 month early because I was healing quickly. I went from the iWalk 2.0 to weight bearing in the Cam boot & brace. Oh my gosh "“ I wanted to go back to the iWalk! Walking in the boot was so slow! And I could carry heavy boxes and pull heavy loads of luggage with the iWalk easier than just in the boot! But healing is a good thing"¦

I highly recommend this device but you have to give yourself time to learn the balance and feel of walking. Once you master it "“ it took me 2 weeks "“ then it becomes second nature to use.