Being surefooted in the winter can be tricky. What works on ice might not work so well in slush or deep snow. Instead of changing the boots you can now change the soles with the Korkers , wading boots that can do double duty in a variety of winter conditions. Continue reading Don’t Change the Boots – Change the Soles
Category: Footwear
New Balance Hits the Trail
There is an old saying that when out on the trails you should take on pictures and leave only footprints, and while you can’t really reduce the size of your footprint the New Balance Minimus Trail might be about as small a footprint as a running trail can shoe can get. It follows the barefoot running trend with a minimal shoe that features just a 4mm drop from heel to toe, while elastic across the forefoot helps keep its securely snug on the foot. While it doesn’t come with a rock plate it does still offer some padding with the minimal sole, and the webbing/matrix mesh cover can still stand up to cool and wet conditions. It is about as “Minimus” as it gets on the trails.
[Via GearPatrol: New Balance Minimus Trail – MT10, A primitive step for trail running]
Nike Readies for Summer of Competition with New Gear
Now that the winter that never really happened starts to get closer to spring, Nike is announcing several new styles and updates on shoes, uniforms and other products. The spring is about to get into gear. Continue reading Nike Readies for Summer of Competition with New Gear
BMW Partners with Puma, OGIO On Athletics Collection
BMW’s vehicles may be out of reach for most people, but its latest offering is bit more accessible for the rest of us. The German automaker is launching a new line of BMW-branded athletic and lifestyle apparel aimed at what they refer to as “ambitious amateur athletes” (perhaps something was lost in translation from the German). The BMW Athletics Collection comprises of running shoes, performance clothing, and accessories, and joins BMW’s Golfsport, Yachtsport, and Motorsport collections.
The running shoes were created with Puma. According to BMW, “the running shoes are designed for any kind of wear. They provide optimal comfort and support whether you’re working out in the gym or running. Their features include breathable sandwich mesh, shock absorption, and comfort-last technology for a perfect fit. The collection also includes retro lifestyle sneakers, which convey a love of sport away from the training ground too.”
The shirts, hoodies, jackets, pants, and other clothing items were also made with Puma. Every item has silver reflectors as added safety when used after dark. “The softshell jackets are windproof, breathable and feature clever details like sleeve pockets for MP3 players. The hoodies are designed to offer maximum comfort during training and are ideal for couples who like to train together in style, with a royal blue hoodie for men and a light blue version for women.”
For the sports bags, BMW teamed up with OGIO. The collection includes a duffle bag, a backpack, and a triathlon bag that has ventilated compartments for shoes and damp clothing, insulated pockets for drinks bottles, and a cushioned compartment for safely storing items such as mobile phones (the triathlon bag can be converted into a backpack).
BMW says the new gear will be available at selected BMW dealerships and at www.bmw-shop.com, although there’s no word if they’ll be available stateside or at Puma stores. While you may not be able to buy that new redesigned 3-series, you can at least live the BMW lifestyle and pretend you own one while you’re out jogging or at the gym.
Advance Look at Salomon S-Lab Sense Long-Distance Running Shoes
Few of us get to try out the latest running shoes until they hit store shelves, and by then the manufacturers are already prepping to release the next big thing. If you’re a professional athlete, however, the manufacturers may use you as a “test bed” and design a special pair just for you. And, sometimes, the press gets an early look at such shoes.
That’s the case with the folks at iRunFar.com, who received an advanced preview of Salomon’s S-Lab Sense running shoes, designed for Spanish runner Kilian Jornet. Jornet won the North Face 100 and subsequent victories last year wearing these shoes. The shoes are lightweight and made to race 100 miles or more with a 4mm heel-to-toe drop (9mm in the forefoot and 13mm in the heel), with unique protection built in. Hit the link to read more of iRunFar.com’s review.
iRunFar.com: Salomon S-Lab Sense Preview
[Via Ultra168: Should the Other Shoe Companies Give Up Now?]
Nike Gives Prosthetic Leg Some Sole
This week we heard about a feel good story, where Nike is helping competitive amputee athletes by adapting its shoe technology for use with prosthetic legs. The Nike Sole has been designed to work with the Össur’s Flex-Run prosthetic running blade, which is used by competitive amputee athlete including Sarah Reinertsen (above).
The sole features a stacked design and comes with a stretch rubber leash over a rubber waffle outsole. Reportedly this material is made up of “regrind” soles that come from recycled shoes, while the polyurethane foam midsole is topped by a thermal plastic that was created from recycled air bags. So not only does this technology offer a benefit for amputee athletes but it is good for the planet in the process. And time will tell how this might help disabled athletes perform. Continue reading Nike Gives Prosthetic Leg Some Sole
Weekend Reading List (2.4.12): Runners Talk, NASA Innovates, House Votes Against Bikes
httpv://youtu.be/NPdb7ZDJKS4
New Day, Same Old Sh…
Welcome to the Weekend Reading List. We moved the list to Saturday to give our loyal readers something new for the weekend, and as a way to catch up on stories that they might have missed. This week we being with Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say (video above).
Enjoy the list and be sure to check back every Saturday. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (2.4.12): Runners Talk, NASA Innovates, House Votes Against Bikes
Hike, Bike and More With X-Alp Shoes
Mountain bike shoes are good for mountain biking and not so good for hiking, while hiking or trail shoes don’t always work so well on the bike. What’s a multi-sport athlete to do? The answer is to consider the Pearl Izumi X-Alp series.
The newest model, the Seek IV WRX is a $130 mountain bike shoe that will let you clip in when you need, offering a stiff nylon plate to make sure there is adequate power transfer, while still offering padding and a bit of flexibility to be used as trail shoes. These are still hybrids so the WRX aren’t going to be better on the bike than dedicated mountain bike shoes, nor will these replace trail runners. But for those who want to be able to hike and bike with a single pair of shoes, these will do the trick very well. More photos after the jump
SIA: Lizard Footwear X-Spin Boots
Last week at SIA we saw a number of skis, snowboards, accessories and boots that aren’t quite in production. One thing we liked was the new X-Spin boot from Lizard Footwear. The boot was incredibly light, yet durable enough for some rugged winter adventures.
SIA: Lodgesoxx for After Skiing
Last week at SIA Snowsports Show we saw lots of products for activity, but also a few post-workout goods that are worth mentioning. LodgeSoxx is a pair of socks designated for wearing around the lodge or other areas you want to take off your ski boots, but you don’t want to walk around in just your socks.
SIA: The Sights of the Snowshow in Denver
Last week KineticShift headed to SIA, the Snowsports Industries America Snowshow, to check out winter sports gear coming out this year. Here are some of the highlights from the show. Click on the images for a larger view and more detail.
Nike Makes Lunar Landing
Shoe maker Nike isn’t headed to the moon, but rather has ascended to the lunar surface in another way, as in on the fairway. Nike Golf has announced its new innovative rich lightweight summer golf shoe, the Nike Lunar Ascend, which builds on the success of the Nike Lunar Control. This new summer footwear features Nike’s Hyperfuse construction and Integrated Traction. Additional images after the jump
Outdoor Retailer Show: High Teko Socks
Numerous companies do socks, and throughout the year we see a lot of socks, but Teko Socks, which was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 2004, works to make a leave a smaller footprint of sorts. The company, which showed its latest line at the Outdoor Retailer Show, uses proprietary fiber combinations mixing traditional organic wool inter-weaved with polyester. The result says the company is a sock that is comfortable and functional, while also being sustainable and have a low ecological impact. Sounds like a step in the right direction!