The only real difference between LED shoes and regular sneakers is that they have lights in the sole or the heel. Thanks to the cushioned rubber soles of sneakers, they quickly became popular as everyday footwear. LEDs can have a life of up to 50,000 hours, meaning that its rare for a bulb to burn out in your shoe. It wasnt until 1992 that the first LED sneakers were introduced to the world. You should examine the heel for a tab or slot that opens to the battery compartment. Like any other footwear, LED shoes arent invincible. If you find that you simply cant keep the wiring in your shoes from coming loose, you can always permanently affix the connections using glue or epoxy on the housing components. There is the solid color mode and the multi-light setting which flashes all of the colors continuously. Individual, solid-state LED lights were usually either sewn into the fabric on the upper portion of the shoe or embedded around the heel in the outer sole of the shoe. While some still have individually placed LED lights, many use an LED strip wrapped around the sole of the shoe to create a variety of trendy effects. This can also help to hold the wiring in place. As you walk, run, or otherwise move, your foot rubs the wire, tugging against the connection and increasing the chance of it breaking apart. If youve put new batteries in your shoes and noticed no effect, then the issue could be with the wiring. Some are even specialized for athletic wear, making them suitable for jogging, running, jumping, and more. Once youre sure that the circuitry is connected properly, you need to close up the battery compartment to protect it from moisture and the elements. Whats more, by housing the setup under the insole, shoe manufacturers didnt have to sacrifice comfort for the sake of fashion. The shoes will blink red when charging and turn solid green when when fully charged. Youll have to examine your shoes before heading down to the store for a fresh pack of batteries. One of the main reasons that the LEDs in shoes stop working is due to a simple connectivity issue. Shoerazzi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Now, most LED shoes offer a variety of lighting options. It also offers a sleeker, more modern look than the LED shoes of the 90s. Others, however, use specialty watch batteries. Theyre free of harsh chemicals, recyclable, and offer the same output as up to 25 incandescent bulbs. Some are even housed in plastic or rubber casing for further protection from moisture, especially due to sweat. A weak or broken connection at any point can prevent your shoes from lighting up properly. There may also be connection issues between the battery and the LED strip or individual LEDs. Try to avoid wearing them when walking on rugged terrain, instead of reserving them for days when you know youll be walking on smooth, even surfaces. Unfortunately, the success of the LED sneaker was short-lived. With some LED shoes, particularly kids models, the battery is only accessible from the underside of the shoe. While its not possible to avoid shaking and hard impacts altogether, you can take steps to protect your favorite pair of LED shoes from damage. Many of us remember having light-up shoes as kids. If you see a connection thats come apart, thats most likely the culprit behind your broken shoes. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Some use simple AA or AAA batteries, which most of us already have sitting around the house. Instead of heading down to the shoe store, take a few minutes to check out your shoes and see if you can have them lighting up again with a simple DIY fix. Here, we go over some of the main reasons that people find their LED shoes failing to light up. Minnesota even banned the sale of these sneakers over health and safety concerns. This feature earned them the nickname of sneakers.. The battery, though long-living and reliable, contained Inhaling the compound can lead to symptoms of the nervous, digestive, and immune systems as well as the lungs and kidneys. This will allow the sensors to communicate between the shoe and control. Whats more, with advances in LED technology, these shoes are safe, convenient, and more affordable than ever. You should avoid throwing them in the washer at all costs. Even if the wiring appears fully hooked up, a weak connection can cause your shoes to malfunction or stop working entirely. Please charge them using the split usb cable. Most are resistant to some degree of water damage because the electronic components are designed to stay protected from the environment inside the rubber sole. It may be necessary to get a knife, nail file, or flathead screwdriver to help you pry the cover open. The battery, though long-living and reliable, contained unsafe levels of mercury. You can hook your shoes up to just about any device to charge them, and most have batteries that offer around six to seven hours of wear time. of reviewers would recommend this product to a friend, Rated 0 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Large, Rated 0 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Narrow, 0 is Just Right and 2 is Wide, Open user-uploaded video and review in a modal, Rated 1 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Large, Rated -1 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Narrow, 0 is Just Right and 2 is Wide, Synthetic leather upper with padded tongue and collar for optimal comfort and protection, Translucent outsole featuring bright LED's around the perimeter, Easily press the power button to scroll through the 10 different light sequences, Light sequence will flash for 4 minutes, then turn off automatically. It may be that your battery isnt touching the terminal completely. It will be fully charged in 3 hours. It takes 3 hours to fully charge and they last for about 6 hours. Some are molded into the rubber, and so if the battery dies, the footwear cant be fixed. You can also break connections without realizing it as you slip your shoe on and off of your foot. In many cases, you dont necessarily need to shell out the cash for a brand new pair. This feature may make the sole of the shoes a little bit thicker than average by design because there has to be enough room available to house lighting elements. LED lights are rechargeable. Unfortunately, the success of the LED sneaker was short-lived. One end connects to your shoe inside by the ankle and then you can plug the other end in your laptop or other USB socket. When an LED shoe stops working unexpectedly, its often because the batterys gone bad. For many modern models, however, batteries are both rechargeable and replaceable. All rights reserved. If it comes into contact with skin, its highly corrosive, and toxic if ingested. Its easy for wiring to come loose or disconnect, especially in cheaper LED shoe models. Most shoes that use watch batteries use either a CR2025 or a CR2032 size. Many modern LED shoes have a wire running up along the interior side that connects the battery to a USB charger. Its important to keep LED shoes as dry as possible when wearing them. If your LED shoes get dirty, the best course of action is to take them to a dry cleaner. LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, are a type of bulb thats safer and more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. You can cycle through the colors, light modes, and turn off the shoes. Heat can cause batteries to bulge, bubble, and even burst at high enough temperatures. Locate the charging port under the hidden flap on the tongue. It takes only 30 minutes on a hot day for the interior of your car to reach over 120. Before chalking your new shoes up as a loss, you should thoroughly investigate the interior wiring to make sure that everything is securely connected. Once youve replaced the dead batteries in your shoes, double-check to make sure that theyre in the correct spot and the right orientation. Connections can even break apart during shipping so that your shoes arrive seemingly broken. LED shoes wouldnt be a fashion phenomenon if it werent for the introduction of the first rubber-soled shoes in 1917. Its important that the spring is oriented in the right direction. Now that the kids who wore light-up footwear in the 90s are adults, theyre eager to enjoy some nostalgic fashion. They were at the height of fashion in the 1990s, and youd be hard-pressed to find a playground without seeing LED sneakers flashing. Initially, they were relatively expensive and marketed solely towards children. Theyre made of the same materials, including foam and rubber, for proper support around the foot and ankle. Theres generally a button housed discreetly within the shoe that allows you to change between settings with ease. LED shoes can use a variety of different battery types. While most LED shoes are resistant to water damage, total submersion isnt recommended. Please remove the plastic film strip to activate the remote signal. You should always store LED shoes in a cool, dry place when not in use, such as in a closet or under the bed. If the wires connecting the two become loose and break apart, the LEDs wont receive the power they need to light up. In most cases, the circuit was set up in such a way that each LED could blink separately. Moisture can lead to anything from malfunctioning shoes to complete destruction of the inner electronic components. Its relatively easy to disconnect your LED wiring from the battery by accident as you move. You may need needle-nose pliers to remove the batteries. The spring bounces on impact, forcing it to make contact with the battery and complete the circuit to trigger the lights to flash. These shoes were designed for athletic activity, and unlike traditional shoes, were quiet on most surfaces. Theres a good chance that youll be able to salvage the pair. It can get surprisingly hot inside a closed vehicle, especially on a sunny day. Excessive heat can do just as much damage to your LED shoes as moisture. Be warned, however, that this is a permanent solution and may make it difficult to fix problems with your shoes in the future. To activate the remote you must pull and remove the thin plastic strip located on the bottom. If this is the case, your shoes wont light up even if everything is properly connected. In most cases, a wire running up the side of the shoe to a USB connection allows for easy charging. Its a good idea to test the shoes out with your hands on a flat, smooth surface to make sure that the lights are working again. However, with frequent use, burning out LED bulbs isnt impossible. Copyright 2022 Heelys. Once parents found out about the mercury in LED shoes, they were worried about the effect it might have on their children. Turn on your shoes by pressing the red button and his will allow you to cycle through the different light modes. However, they were still wildly successful. The very first LED shoes were powered by stepping down, blinking and flashing as kids walked, ran, and jumped around the playground. The shoes will turn solid green when charged to the max. Turn your shoes on using the manual button inside the shoes then you may use the remote. Because of the circuitry cased inside the sole of the shoe, their more delicate than other footwear. If you had to lift the insole to reach the battery compartment, make sure that you put it back in place before wearing your shoes. Excessive shaking or hard impacts, such as kicking something or stubbing your foot against something, can rattle the wiring loose. To turn the shoes off, you need to hold down the button for 3 seconds and the shoes will turn off. As the price of shoes went down and families gained access to disposable income, more and more people made the switch to sneakers. Wearing them as an everyday pair will speed up the rate at which the LEDs burn out, especially if you keep them on throughout the day. Squeezing the metal battery holder with your fingers, or pressing on it gently with a tool such as a hammer can compress it and bring it into closer contact with the batteries. Without these two components connected, your shoes wont charge properly and wont have the power to light their LEDs. Typically, the battery is housed in the sole of the shoe, around the heel of the foot. Dual prong charger included in package so both shoes can be charged at the same time! Inhaling the compound can lead to symptoms of the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as the lungs and kidneys. If your shoes are left in a hot environment for more than just a few minutes at a time, it may cause permanent damage to the battery. Often, there are wiring grooves heading away from the battery compartment and either up the side of the shoe or along the sole. If you remove your insole to check for disconnected wires, its also a good idea to test the other connections to make sure that theyre not coming loose. Just press the button that turns the LED lights on and it will cycle through the colors. The batteries used in most LED shoes are susceptible to water damage. If theres a cover plate, make sure that you close it all the way and fasten it if necessary. You can usually view the wiring of an LED shoe by stripping away the insole. Sometimes during transit your shoes may run out of battery. The battery and motion sensor, if there is one, is still typically housed in the heel of the shoe. You can also strengthen the connection between the batteries and the rest of the circuitry in your shoe if youre having issues getting them to work. In the original LA Gear shoes, the sensor contained mercury. When youre ready to go out and hit the town in your favorite pair of LED sneakers, it can be frustrating to realize that one shoe has suddenly stopped lighting up. Not all LED shoes have a battery compartment thats designed for accessibility. In the sole of the shoe, the battery was protected from moisture. The rubber sole underneath also helped to cushion the circuitry from hard impacts. LED lights also stay cool when lit, reducing the risk of causing burns and making them a safe choice for wearable items. Nowadays, though, if you see a motion sensor in an LED shoe, its generally a safer spring-operated mechanism. You may want to limit wearing your LED shoes for special occasions if you want them to last longer. You may also want to avoid wearing them outdoors to prevent weather damage. A disconnected wire can break the circuit so that energy cant flow between the battery and the LED lights. Otherwise, the LEDs in your shoes will fail to light. Due to the location of this wire, it can become disconnected easily. One of the greatest thing in life Ive ever did was order 2 pairs of these bad boys, I cant figure out how to ride them but I love them. When your favorite LED shoes stop working, dont worry. If water gets inside, it can oxidize metal contacts and render the entire battery useless. A battery was also housed inside the sole of early LED shoes. Avoid keeping them in your car or in your trunk. You can use a variety of materials such as pennies, cotton, loose fabric, foam, cardboard, and more to close the gap and keep the battery fully connected to its terminal. If they do, make sure that all the wires are back where they belong if you moved them, and lay the insole back flat against the sole again. Whether its due to water damage heat, or any other number of reasons, replacing the battery with a fresh one can have your shoes working like new again. You can flip back the insole and see if theres either a compartment carved into the rubber underneath or a cover plate. Typically, on a full charge, the LEDs will remain bright for 6 hours, but they can last much longer, just slightly dimmer. These batteries have a smaller, flatter profile, making them ideal for LED shoe designs with thinner soles. Right by the ankle in the shoe there is a small charging port that sticks out of the fabric. Hook it back up and test to see if your shoes will light once again. Without proper care, they may break, possibly irreparably. You can opt for a solid strip of light, flashing, or even color changing. Typically, LED shoes are fashioned like regular sneakers. If they get too wet, water can still get into the electronics. If it comes into contact with skin, its highly corrosive, and toxic if ingested. The LED shoe fell out of fashion for a couple of decades, but recently, its made a comeback. Call us toll free at 855-521-3077. This establishes the connection between the signals. You may also want to fill any empty space around the battery compartment to prevent it from wiggling away from the terminal. The company that made them, LA Gear, sold over five million pairs in the first year alone. Question? In total 7 colors (red, blue, green, purple, turquoise, yellow and white) and come in two light modes so you can select which ever one you want at the time of wearing. If your shoes arent lighting up and dazzling passers-by, you may be able to fix them without giving yourself a headache. Inside the sole of the shoe, a sensor detected when the shoe was shaking around, triggering an LED pattern to light up in turn. When lights start to appear dim, it's time to recharge. You can conveniently charge the shoes with the USB charger which is included with your purchase.