Kangaroo Jumps Rebound Shoes From the 1930s

Kangaroo jumps (or rebound/jumping shoes, also called “moon shoes” or spring-heel shoes) from the 1930s era refer to early spring-loaded footwear toys or devices, precursors to modern rebound boots like Kangoo Jumps.

A woman helping her friend with her Kangru-Spring-Shu, a pair of boots fitted with springs, ca. 1935.

These were not the modern fitness rebound boots (which emerged in the 1990s with brands like Kangoo Jumps, featuring advanced leaf springs or tension bands for low-impact exercise). Instead, they were simpler, often risky “ankle-breaker” toys with metal coil springs attached to wooden or metal platforms that strapped over regular shoes. They aimed to let kids (or adults) bounce like kangaroos or walk on the moon, tying into the space race hype later on.

A 1914 French patent by Gaston Devore described a device adapting to shoes for increased running speed or jump amplitude, considered one of the first conceptual “jumpers.” “Kangru-Springshu” or similar “Kangaroo” spring shoes appeared from between the 1920s and 1940s as toys. They featured large metal springs (front and back) on platforms, with leather straps. These were sold as fun, novelty items emulating kangaroo hops but were unstable and dangerous.

Popularity surged in the 1950s amid the Space Race (branded as “Moon Shoes” or “Satellite Jumping Shoes”), but the kangaroo-themed versions predate that. They were basic: wooden/metal bases with springs, adjustable straps, and poor lateral stability—often criticized for causing injuries. Modern equivalents are safer with better designs.

The term now usually means Kangoo Jumps (or similar rebound boots), popularized in the 1990s by Swiss inventor Denis Naville. These use advanced polyurethane springs/T-springs for fitness (low-impact jogging, aerobics, burning more calories while reducing joint stress by up to 80%). Prototypes existed earlier for athlete rehab, but commercial success came later.