Hoverboots

Hoverboots were Lombax engineered boots that allowed their wearer move very quickly across areas using ion propusion. The Lombaxes of the Lombax Praetorian Guard invented hoverboots during the early days of the Great War. Hoverboots used zero-g pulse stabilizers and ion propulsion cells for propulsion. The hoverboots' propulsion system also used ion coils, and the rusting of these coils caused a pair of hoverboots to shut off unexpectedly. To turn, the wearer simply had to shift his body weight, and the hoverboots would adjust their flight path accordingly. Hoverball was a sport played with hoverboots, presumably invented by Lombaxes. Hoverboot races were also popular.

Used by
Alister Azimuth used hoverboots, and had much more experience with them than Ratchet. Alister Azimuth taught Ratchet how to use them, and taught Ratchet's father, Kaden as well. Ratchet had to collect a total of 23 flares around Monoloth Fields to complete Alister's training.

Gameplay
Ratchet could jump off of ramps using the Hoverboots' accelerator. Ratchet could also latch onto a Hover Bolt by pressing, then use the left analog stick to steer, and press to let go, propelling him forward at great speeds. When hovering and gliding through the air, Ratchet sometimes encountered Kick pads. Using these was similar to Wall jumping, although Ratchet was in mid-air. made Ratchet kick off of the pads to gain further momentum. Series of kick pads were set up to travese long gorges, like the ones found in Krell Canyon.

Controls
The Hoverboots could be equipped and un-equipped by pressing right on the directional pad. R2 was the accelerator. Ratchet could glide in the air by holding while he was in midair, replacing Clank’s Heli-Pack/Thruster-Pack. Ratchet could jump long distances by accelerating the hoverboots to full speed and jumping, allowing him to reach otherwise inaccessible areas.

Behind the scenes
Hoverboots were first revealed as a feature in Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time in the E3 demo.

Trivia

 * The Hoverboots may have been inspired by w:c:jakanddaxter:Jet Board from w:c:jakanddaxter:Jak and Daxter, as they have similar functions and are both used to get around the large, open areas quickly.
 * It seems that Alister Azimuth's Hoverboots are morepowerful than Ratchet's, because with his, he is able to jump across large gaps that Ratchet must swingshot across, and he also has the ability to hover in one place, charging his Hoverboots and then jet forwards at great speeds. This is most likely due to the fact that Ratchet's Hoverboots hadn't been used for quite some time while Alister must have in his upgraded his own Hoverboots.
 * Ratchet's Hoverboots were previously his father's.
 * It's highly possible that they were used as a way to replace the Charge Boots, which were used frequently in previous games.
 * The skill point Head Like a Rock can be achieved while using the Hoverboots.

Appearances

 * Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
 * Ratchet & Clank: Issue 1: Ears of War