I have a slight obsession with minimalist shoes. Due to surgery, my left knee is remarkably picky about types of shoes and as a result, I do much of my workouts in Vibram FiveFingers. I recently rewarded myself for a month of gym-going with a new pair of Vibram FiveFingers KSO EVO, a huge upgrade from my 6-year-old KSOs!
A few weeks ago I got my last ‘running streak’ update from TimeHop on my iPhone, meaning two years ago I stopped my running streak after 65 days. I started the streak because right after my last half-marathon of 2012, I took a couple of days off, didn’t have a goal, and I was concerned I would lose my ‘mojo’.
Last year the folks at Merrell let us check out their new M-Connect line of running shoes, and I for one was utterly smitten. The Road Glove has been my go-to shoe, but now that I’ve had the new AllOut Fuse sneakers for a weekend, there may be a new shoe love for me!
The goal was simple — use Kickstarter to fund a project to “give American Manufacturing its own yellow ribbon… a wearable way to show your support for the war they’re fighting daily”. The Bluelace Project raised six times more than its goal and shipped the best laces ever — in blue no less — to those of us who backed it.
Sometimes a product comes along that is so bizarre-looking that you just have to take notice. Heaven Golf Shoes are just such a product, and they promise to be a revolutionary development in the game of golf. If nothing else, they’re sure to distract spectators from your duck hook into the wrong fairway.
Most days I wear dress shoes. I hate it, but they go best with a suit. When I’m not dressed up, I tend to wear a favorite pair of low-rise boots.That may change thanks to the lightweight, minimalist Lems Primal2s I’ve been trying out. Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever worn a pair of shoes quite as so comfortable!
Carly did a great job reviewing Merrell’s philosophy of running shoes and some of their line-up earlier this year. This week the company sent me a pair of their most recent addition – the minimalist Vapor Glove. These are Merrell’s lightest shoes at a specified 5 oz per shoe (my scale in the video has them at 6oz … I blame the lousy scale), and have an ultra-light, breathable barefoot construction that puts barely anything between you and the ground. I decided to do a quick hands-on video while in the midst of my first run using the shoes –…
I love sneakers. Even before I became a runner, I vastly preferred sneakers over any other footwear. It still makes me sad that my office is business formal, and the first thing I do when I get home is shuck my work shoes and slip into sneakers. So I take my sneakers very seriously, and when I say that the Lems Primal 2’s I’ve been testing for the past week are some of the best sneakers I’ve ever worn, that’s praise I don’t give lightly. What makes these shoes so great isn’t any one thing, but a combination of things….
I had the opportunity to check out Merrell’s M-Connect line of minimalist shoes recently. They were kind enough to send me three pairs of their shoes to get to know the line, and while all three are part of the M-Connect lineup, each has its own unique styles and benefits. Of the three, the Merrell Road Glove 2 is the most minimal choice. How does it stack up? Read on for the full review to find out! There isn’t much to the Road Glove 2. The upper material is quite thin, and the sole is quite flexible. It does take a…
When’s the last time you walked outside barefoot? It’s fun to be in your bare feet and feel the texture of the ground and the way your feet move differently without shoes. But while it’s possible to run and hike barefoot, and some people embrace that wholeheartedly, many of us prefer to strike a balance between barefoot and big clunky “traditional” running shoes. Merrell’s M-Connect line of minimalist shoes is designed to give you everything-the feel of being barefoot, but the protection of shoes. They have a variety of models, from very minimal to hiking-oriented. Merrell was kind enough to…
One of the big knocks on minimal running shoes is that the prices are anything but minimal. Most of the big brand name shoes cost around $100 a pair, which can feel steep for a slab of rubber and some cloth for the upper. But like all trends in fashion, designs do eventually trickle down to cheaper names. Target’s C9 by Champion offers all sorts of great athletic wear at low prices, and they’ve expanded that to shoes that look suspiciously like the Reebok Realflex, a popular transitional/minimal shoe! Target is calling it the “Champion Premier” line, but the shoes…
From now until 2013, we’re going to take a look at some New Year’s Resolutions and a Gear Diary way to help you keep them. New Year Resolution: Get in Shape in 2013 It’s a new year and you’ve decided to make it a new you! So you’re really going to buckle down and get fit, but before you pick up a new gym membership or start downloading “Map My Run” to your iPhone, you need the right gear– starting with your feet. Even if you aren’t going to head out for a run, footwear matters. You need a good…
Everyone in retail wants to bemoan “show rooming” or the tendency of shoppers to check products out in store, only to buy online. It’s a huge problem, and I am not the only person to point out that customer service can often make the difference between someone shopping in store versus hitting Amazon on their iPhone as they walk out the door. Runner’s World took a closer look at the statistics involved, and came up with some interesting conclusions. First, they looked at a survey that indicated the higher the discount online, the more likely shoppers were to not shop…
Warning, if you care about style do not read this post. Warning, if you’re self-conscious don’t read this post. Warning, if you can’t handle a bit of ridicule don’t read this post. Okay, if you are still reading this post then you clearly don’t care about style, aren’t all that self-conscious, and can handle a bit of ridicule from your peers. Good let’s get started. A little over a year and a half ago Carly wrote a few posts that discuss Vibram Five Finger shoes. (Check out last year’s lineup here.) They are the ugliest things I had ever seen…
If you are used to traveling with a pair of sneakers (or boots) and a backup pair of flip-flops, then I know you won’t be able to relate to what I’m about to confess … and that’s fine. But when I am packing for a trip that will last a week or more, and I know that I’ll be in both casual and dressy situations, it is typical for me to bring no less than six pairs of shoes. I would bring even more along if there weren’t weight limits on checked luggage. Part of the reason that I’ll pack so many,…
(Me, 2 years ago) I fully intended this to be a post about over-reliance on technology. You see, in one week I am running my fourth half-marathon, and I really, really, really want to set a new personal record (PR). I have trained hard, and obsessed over every run, and my biggest dilemma is whether to use my Garmin Forerunner during the race, or whether it will psych me out too much to have all that data strapped to my wrist. For those who don’t live and breathe running, a Garmin Forerunner is a wristwatch with GPS that tracks your…
Admittedly, this winter for Ohio has been a bust where snow is concerned. However, living where I do winter inhabitants are occasionally bedeviled by ice storms or significant ice accumulation. Late January for me was one such episode where we received between 0.25″ to 0.5″ of ice accumulation and a dusting of freezing sleet. Walking in such weather on untreated or partially treated surfaces can be very tricky. Fortunately for me as a Christmas gift I received two pairs of Snowtrax 2 slip-on cleats that made all the difference on that treacherous day.
To best describe Fila Skeletoes, you need a bit of background. When I started running last year, I became enamored with the barefoot running concept but found my feet just couldn’t adjust to it. So I tried Vibram Five Fingers, which were great for walking around but didn’t work well for me for running. After a great deal of experimenting with shoes, I finally settled on a lightweight pair of normal running shoes, paired with wearing Vibrams for casual use. It puts me in the odd position of being neither fish nor fowl; not really part of the “barefoot running”…
Having a wife who loves shoes and who also loves the outdoors, I have frequently been confronted with her looking for shoes that are functional but look good. I really don’t think this is remotely what she had in mind! In fact, my wife, her sister, and our 22 year-old niece pretty much called these the stupidest things they’d ever seen! Here is the description: NEW HIGH (M)ART WORLD EXCLUSIVE! Teva, leader in the sport sandal industry is known for their innovation of performance products and advanced technologies in the footwear industry teamed up with Grey Ant, the two collide…
Here’s a news flash for everyone who’s looking for a quick fitness fix: there isn’t one. There is no magic equipment, no special pill, and definitely no pair of super sneakers that are going to get you in shape or zap away the weight. It takes watching what you eat and getting your butt moving! Of course, if you look around your local mall, every athletics store is touting some form of “toning shoe” that promises better muscle tone in your legs and back, and all you have to do is wear them! The first time I saw the shoes…
Who doesn’t love Converse All Stars? Many of my friends own at least one pair, and I own several, though my color choices have become far less garish as I’ve gotten older. Sure, you can grab a pair at your local Target, but if you’re looking to recapture the “cool” factor your first pair of Converse had, check out their new line of Dr. Seuss themed shoes! Personally, I like the “Thing One and Thing Two” style, but I have a ridiculous fondness for red Converse. Sarah (my fiancée) said I should wear the “Cat in the Hat” white ones…