Before I say anything else, I want to state that I used to work for Z-Coil Pain Relief Footwear, so please understand that I am somewhat biased.  BUT - this means that I can give you some very accurate information about Z-Coils.  Again, I USED to work for Z-Coil, so this information is not OFFICIAL and has no legal merit - it is only my PERSONAL knowledge for YOUR information.


The Sales Pitch:
Z-Coils are unique shoes, specially engineered to relieve foot, knee, hip, and back pain.  How do they work?  With every step you take, your body absorbs 3X your body weight in impact force.  Z-Coils reduce that impact force by 50%.  Z-Coils also incorporate a hard plastic orthotic that provides support to your foot, and which offers relief to many who suffer from plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and other foot ailmanets.  The steel coil also provides an additional 50% energey return when you step off (according to the Sandia and Los Alamos Nat'l Laboratories), meaning you use less energy to walk (and are less tired at the end of the day).  Think of Z-Coils as shock absorbers for your body...

Z-Coils are great not only for people with existing pain issues, but also for ANYONE who is on their feet all day.  They are especially popular with doctors, nurses, teachers, salespeople, waitresses, cooks, and bank tellers.  Many seniors also find relief wearing Z-Coil footwear.


Important - all shoes should be custom fiited:
No authorized Z-Coil retailer or dealer will EVER sell Z-Coils through the mail.  This is because Z-Coils have many adjustments that can only be made by a trained Z-Coil associate to compensate for things like over-pronation or supination of the ankles, abnormally flat feet, abnormally high arches, bunions, corns, as well as an individual's height, weight, heel strike, and stride.  When you go into a Z-Coil store, trained fitters will observe the way you walk, examine the wear patterns on your old shoes, and then fit your Z-Coils just for you based on that information.  When you buy a pair of used Z-Coils off of eBay, you are buying shoes that have been custom fitted to someone else.  This means that it is VERY IMPORTANT that you take your "new" pair of Z-Coils to a trained and authorized Z-Coil dealer or retailer and have your shoes custom fitted to YOU.  As a former authorized Z-Coil retailer, I can tell you that they do NOT charge for that service - if your shoes are in good condition, the fitting service and all tune-ups are 100% FREE.  The only costs that may be incurred would be if you needed new heels.


I would like to address some other concerns listed in some of the other buying guides. 

#1.  The heels and wearing out.  One individual mentioned that the heels in the pair of shoes they purchased wore out in 3 months.  This was a problem in some earlier Z-Coils, especially those with the non-slip soles.  Z-Coil has changed the material used in the soles, and standard soles & heels are now manufactured with a rubber/plastic similar to the material used for car tires.  The non-slip soles still use a softer material (and wear quicker), but Z-Coil has been using a new material (since mid-2007) which is much more wear resistant than the earlier material.  You should be aware that any Z-Coils manufactured prior to mid-2007 may wear quickly and require new heels (retail price - about $42.00 for exposed heels, or $64 for enclosed heels).

#2.  Stability & falling.  Z-Coils are not your "normal" shoes.  For most people, there are no stability issues at all, but people who have stability issues in "normal" shoes may find those problems amplified when wearing Z-Coils.  The exposed coils can and DO get caught up in many things.  When you buy your Z-Coils at an authorized Z-Coil retailer, the perils are explained to you and you are required to sign a legal document/waiver saying that the dangers have been explained to you, and you understand the hazards.  Z-Coils should never be worn on ladders, and extra care must be taken when around hoses and wires (like extension cords, computer cables, etc.) on the floor.  You should be careful when driving - the coil can get caught up in your floor mat, and can even get jammed under a pedal.  Z-Coils should not be worn for atheletic activities requiring quick lateral motion and/or lateral stopping and starting.  People who are used to flat-soled shoes can experience instability on stairs (if only the heel is on the stair tread, and an individual is not used to that, they may feel unstable and/or fall).

#3.  Chair rungs.  One of the biggest issues people have experienced has been with chair rungs and bar-stool rungs.  People will tuck their legs up under themselves, and the heels will hook on the rungs.  People will then try and stand up, but the heels will remain hooked on the chair rung, which results in what is generally called a "face-plant".  This is something else which is explained to you when you purchase your shoes from an authorized dealer, and is also part of that legal document/waiver you have to sign.


For many people, Z-Coils can bring immediate pain relief without surgery or medication.  They are, without a doubt, the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn - I now will only wear Z-Coil shoes.  Many people find their Z-Coils last 3-5 years.  I was personally buying new shoes every 3 months before I got my Z-Coils, so even if I end up only getting 3 years out of them, I will still end up about $100 ahead of the game...