How to Make Stilts

CHINESE STRAP-ON STILTS by Jackie Welbourne

First, a bit about Health & Safety:

Never use Stilts without Knee Pads for protection!
If you are a beginner, you should always start by attending a circus workshop run by a professional stilt-walker or circus school who can teach you properly with tips for safe techniques.

Key Notes re Stilts Training from Circus Maniacs' Code of Practise:

Circus Maniacs normally use 18" high Stilts for initial training, it is part of our Code of Practise for teaching stilt-walking to children @ 7+ years through to adults.
The exception is that we use 12" high 'Starter Stilts' for younger children aged 4 to 7(ish) years.
[Not only is this safe practise, but students learn far more quickly at these heights].

Make sure all students are given sufficient support and are 'spotted' until you are convinced of their competence.

We only let our students (a) "off on their own", or (b) upon higher stilts (increasing 6" in height at a time), if our students have passed their Base Level Stilts Certificate.

Circus Maniacs' Base Level Stilts Certificate involves demonstrating competence in all of the following:

(a) Marching on the spot for a fixed amount of time.
(b) Walking a certain distance
(c) Performing a bunch of different basic mobility steps we set
(d) Performing a 'Safe Fall'.

BE SAFE & HAVE FUN!

Stilt Construction Notes

[N.B. If you 'click' on the picture it will open an enlarged image for printing].

Stilt Legs

Wood section should normally be 2" square. However if you are making stilts for someone not more than @ 45kg and the foot plates are not more than @2ft high you can use 2" x 1 ¾" section instead and this will make the stilts a bit lighter.
Length: Allow @18" from the footplate to the knee + the height you wish the foot plate to be above the ground. As a guide 18" for training complete beginners, 24" - 30" works well for shows.
If unsure buy the longer length, you can easily cut it down if it feels too high.

The Top Stilt-Strap should lie snug just under the knee for maximum support.
The Toe Strap needs to snug tight around the arch of the foot and the curve of the inside arch on the footplate. N.B. If the Toe Strap is too near the toes it will work loose very quickly!

Wood Blocks

We recommend wood of @ 3" x 5" x 7" to go under the foot plate.

Foot Plates

12mm Plywood (minimum) if you choose a lesser width it might be vulnerable to breaking.
Draw around the Stiltwalkers shoe, if you want to allow for growth, then allow about an extra 1 cm round the toe, instep and heal areas (but not the outside of the foot that rests next to the Stilt Leg.

Rubber Bottoms

You will need to secure some form or Rubber to the bottom to (a) stop slipping on some surfaces, and (b) so that the wood at the bottom does not wear away. The Rubber bottoms get the most wear & tear so use something that's tough, chunky bike tyre works well, so you could look for an old one & recycle it. You need to secure the rubber well as with use it ocassionally stretches.

Wood Glue

Please use this, it helps with construction and overall strength

Long Bolts, Square Nuts

We recommend 8m bolts as we know from experience they do a good structural job. Ones with the mushroom shaped philips screw head are the best. If you use these bolts and also sink the square nuts into round chipped out hole, then you will have nothing sticking out for anobe to harm themselves on.

Stilt Straps & Velco

We recommend you use 2" wide upholstery webbing. The lengths of the straps will vary according to whether it is the Top Strap, Ankle Strap or Toes Strap. When working out strap lengths, you should always allow for the strap to go properly around twice, so times the circumference by 2 ½ for each.

Velco

You will need to sew 2" wide velco onto the Stilt Straps. You will need to use a 1ft length of velcro per Stilt Strap (2 x 6" lengths). For 1 pair of Stilt Straps you will need @2ft of Velro, if you don't attach your own shoes to the foot plate* you will need 3 pairs of Stilt Straps @6ft / 2m.

*Stilt Straps / Own Shoes???

You basically have 2 choices:

To make a pair of 'Workshop Style' Stilts, i.e. ones with Top, Ankle and Toe Straps
Pros: Friends who can already Stilt-walk can also use them. [N.B. Beginners must start at 18"].
Cons: (a) The cost of 3 pairs of Straps with Velco. (b) The Straps work looser quicker, so you will need to be on constant alert to retighten them.
To make a pair of Stilts with your own, bolted on, with Top Straps only.
Pros: You will feel really secure with your shoes bolted in, the only strap you need to check occassionally is the top one, and that is easy to most Stilt-walkers to tighten themselves.
Cons: Only people with the same size foot can use your stilts!!

Footwear for Attaching to Stilts

Footwear doesn't have to be new or fashionable as most of the time it is hidden, but the sole must still have integral strength - try to recycle if you can. Strong shoes / trainers / ankle boots with toes covered can be used. The footwear should 'do up well' to give good support around the foot. Daps are not Strong enough.

Bolting Footwear onto Foot Plates

You should use 2 bolts and washers per shoe, i.e. one in the heel and one in the ball of the foot area. So the bolts are not uncomfortable we recommend that you take out the lining of the shoe first, and replace it on top when the job's done.
You must use washers both sides, if you don't the soles of some footwear will gradually break away from the footplate with use.

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