Mercury ran like the wind with wings on his shoes. These days wings aren’t required, just some advances in construction that allow for lighter and lighter shoes. This week adidas unveiled the new adizero Rush, which weighs 7.5 ounces. At that weight, you could shave a few seconds off your training run.
Category: Footwear
Made in America: Okabashi Brand Shoes
In a country of over 300 million people, the United States has very few manufacturers making shoes for all of those feet. Most of those jobs have headed outside our boarders into countries with lower wages and lower environmental regulations, but not all have left. In fact, there are some companies that have started up and are thriving based on the idea of creating a niche product instead of trying to become overly diversified. One such company is Okabashi Brands, Inc. of Buford, GA. Their low-cost, environmentally friend shoes are 100% recyclable and are made in America. Continue reading Made in America: Okabashi Brand Shoes
New Pará Boots
There are boots that can be good for walking in deep wet snow, but these aren’t exactly good as hiking boots. Fortunately Hi-Tec Sports will bring out the new Pará Boot, a new pair of boots that offers “the best of standard rubber boot with the flexibility, comfort and performance of a hiker.” It features a Vibram sole and removable footbeds, along with a waterproof rubber upper, neoprene lining and a “toggle closure” to make them watertight. These weigh just a pound and a half on each foot, and at $105 they might be more than other pairs, but it is like two boots in one!
Sounds like a great boot that won’t let your feet slip or get wet!
Hi-Tec Sports
[Via Gearjunkie: Coming in 2012: Amorphous Rubber Boots!]
Of Course Nike Can Dunk!
httpv://youtu.be/7XS4GFnP53c
Expecting a Nike shoe to be able to dunk is… well, like expecting Michael Jordon to dunk. Of course it can happen and more importantly will happen. But we’re not talking about basketball this time, we’re talking about golf! The Nike Dunk, which is available now, has been weatherized and spiked. Thus it can handle a very different kind of dunk as the video above proves! Press Release after the jump
Kickstarted Electric Skates
We’ve heard about quite a few interesting Kickstarter projects, but the spnKiX could give skaters a kickstart and a lot more. Essentially these are motorized, battery-powered shoes that can allow the wearer to travel up to speeds of 10mph.
While not technically skates, and thus not exactly fitness products, these do offer a new method of making short trips as the motorized shoes can travel some two to three miles.
Walk To Gather Energy
A long walk will get you where you need to go, and at the same time allow you to burn a few calories. But the rest of the process is just wasted energy that could be harnessed for something else. At least that’s the idea of the electrowetting process, where a liquid that is normally hydrophobic will be forced to move by applying an electric current.
This is now a concept being used in a pair of shoes but in reverse. By walking with special shoes that contain the special substance you could force the mixture over several electrodes and create a current while walking. This energy in turn could be stored on a battery for future use. Currently a team of engineers at the University of Wisconsin are looking into how to actually bring this from concept to an actual product – but in the future you could juice up your mobile phone simply by walking. Think of this as a way of walking and talking!
[Via Ubergizmo: Electrowetting process helps you generate power while you walk]
Give Stinky Sneakers a Wash
The price for a pair of sneakers easily competes with the cost of a fine pair of Italian leather dress shoes — for men or women. Yet sneakers are the last article of clothing that anyone thinks about washing. You might polish those fine Italian leather shoes, but will you use a shampoo-like wash and scrub brush to keep your running shoes, or even your boutique sneakers, looking new?
Radler Unzip and Go
There are times when having a good extra pair of shoes can come in real handy, and the Timberland Radler Trail Camp hikers could be just the thing. At just 9 ounces (255g) each these are plenty light, but weight is just part of the issue. The problem for many of us is that shoes – even when they weigh next to nothing – are still big and bulky. Video after the jump
Latest Reebok and Chapter Collaboration Goes Leather
Reebok has been introducing a slew of new athletic shoes that promote some sort of new technology (although the company has had to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit against the company’s booty-building EasyTone shoes). I have been wearing Reebok’s RealFlex running shoes for a few months and I now swear by them. They have replaced my hipster Converse Chuck Taylors as my every day shoes. They are comfortable, lightweight, and great looking, and I plan to buy a new pair shortly.
But prior to the RealFlex I have never looked to Reebok for athletic shoes, and I’ve viewed them more as a purveyor of lifestyle kicks (still love and rocking my old Reebok camo sneaks). In this collaboration with Japan’s Chapter World, Reebok’s Alien Stomper resembles the shape of basketball high-tops but there’s a feel of luxury here: two types of leather with gold accents and a camouflage insole. This isn’t Reebok’s first relationship with Chapter World, but it’s definitely more subdued. You could step out in these on the court, but they’re better suited for the club, methinks.
Chapter World Official Website
[via Kicksonfire.com: Chapter x Reebok Alien Stomper]
Carbon Team Player From Louis Garneau
While the new Carbon Pro Team cycling shoes from Louis Garneau will be available in red and black when they hit stores in January we think they could help riders such as Thomas Voeckler, who will be wearing these next season, get in yellow!
These offer the latest in shoe technology innovative for optimized performance, and feature a lightweight outsole that still provides added ventilation without compromising stiffness. Designed for racers, these further offer a thin design that achieves a position that closer to the pedal to offer increased power, while the rear heal features HRS-300 technology, an internal polymer system that secures the foot in place, optimizes fit meaning less power loss through slippage. Continue reading Carbon Team Player From Louis Garneau
When Does 8 Plastic Bottles = 1 Pair of Shoes?
What really happens to a plastic bottle that is tossed into the recycling bin? Does it actually get recycled or carted off to the dump? Shoe company New Balance along with Dasani water, owned by Coca-Cola, have now teamed up to show what is possible through reducing, reusing and recycling some of the materials that we use in our everyday lives. This partnership was launched to highlight the sustainability of reusing the plastic from one product and turning it in another product. In this case it was turning the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic that is commonly used in drink bottles into a fabric that can be used in a pair of shoes under the name newSKY.
Converse ConTain Fit New Line
While the lockout may be keeping the pros off the court, Converse is still in the game with a new line of basketball shoes. The Converse DEFCON and Pro Leather 2K11 shoes feature ConTain Fit Technology in the upper, unique to Converse, which first appeared in the Star Player Evo shoe. These form a lightweight brace around the foot and providing breathable structural support and cushioning. ConTain Fit further contours the foot and transfers all physical force directly to the traction system for increased on-court mobility.
The Converse DEFCON shoe, which is named after the military term identifying defense readiness, was built for players to quickly transition from offense to defense. The DEFCON shoes further integrate the upper and midsole with direct-inject EVA foam for lightness, breathability and containment, and also comes with an OrthoLite sockliner providing long-lasting comfort during extended wear. Continue reading Converse ConTain Fit New Line
Transform Any Shoes Into Golf Spikes
There seems to be specific shoes for just about every sport under the sun, for use on the field, on a bike and of course on the greens – the latter being golf shoes. Now not to bemoan those who like the Carrier Bradshaw approach to shoe shopping/collecting, but are all these shoes all really necessary? For those who like to play golf on occasion but don’t see the need for another pair of shoes, there is a solution, the Quick Spikes, which are being billed as “the temporary golf spike solution.”
These are designed as an alternative to golf shoes, and fit over any pair of regular shoes, yet provide the same snug and secure feel for the golf course. These will ensure that feet don’t slip, even on wet grass conditions. In fairness, these probably aren’t a replacement for true golf shoes for the hardcore players, but for those who only get into the swing of thing now and again, we say go for the Quick Spikes! Video after the jump