My grandfather actually came up with a design like this more than 10 years ago. He had hurt his leg and he built something almost exactly like this out of wood. It's like a pirate's peg leg.

Having been on crutches for the last 3 months, I can definitely see the use of this. Having your hands unoccupied is pure feedom. Although, the fact that the sensitive area (the foot) is sticking out is not ideal, so I don't know if I'd recommend it for crowded areas where people can be less than accomodating.

I just purchased the IWalkFree on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130195852186&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123) and overall I am very happy with it.

CONS
On thing left out of the instructions on the IWalkFree website is what to do if you need to adjust the beam. In the videos it quickly bypasses this by saying "If you need to adjust the beam contact your practitioner". I bought this online and my doctor had not heard of it, so this wasn't an option. I contacted the company via their website and recieved a very speedy response. What you need to do to adjust the beam (I'm 5'4" for reference) is to simply cut the beam with a metal saw and then file the ruff edges with a metal file. Since most people have these readily available, this is not a problem (sarcasm is intentional) I ended up not adjusting the beam height and it seems alright. Sometimes the beam hits my stomach if I bend over, but this is not an issue so far.

The second issue is my cast. My cast comes up to a couple of inches below my knee. The first day I used the IWalkFree I ended up with a blister that was ripped open just inside the top of my cast. Pretty painful. This was easily remedied by folding up a small towel and putting they underneath my knee just above my cast. This allows room for my cast to drop below the towel and no pressure is felt at all. This is actually mentioned in one of the website videos.

Thirdly, the IWalkFree is not as convenient to take on and off as getting around in crutches. It's a little cumbersome.

PROS
Simple enough...I get my hands back.

Final thoughts. With all the CONS I have, do I regret getting the IWalkFree? Absolutely not. I was able to walk around on the IWalkFree right when I took it out of the box. I can get up at work and get myself a cup of coffee. Best of all, I am able to put my daughter to bed at night (that alone is worth it).

Just keep in mind you may have to cut the beam and file down the edges or just live with it poking you in the belly sometimes and make sure it you feel your cast rubbing put something under your knee.