Category: Footwear

Style, Streetwear and Skating – All With Shoes from Spartoo

Style and performance improvement. That’s exactly what this year’s line of streetwear shoes have in mind. Shoe retailer Spartoo is rolling out shoes fit for skating that offer style to boot. These include the DC shoes that reads the line between extreme sports and fashion waves. This season’s footwear goes back to the basics and classics with reliable shoes that look the part.

There is also the new collection of DVS shoes, which is often considered the essential skate shoes thanks to their shock absorbing technology. These shoes were conceived, tested, and approved by the entire DVS team to satisfy skaters looking for the best performance as well as all those who just love the style!

These are just two new offerings from Spartoo that offer good performance and style TOO!

Spartoo Skate Shoes Official Website

DVS Shoes

DC Shoes

Sketchers Enlists After-School All-Stars for Design

Students participating in the national After-School All-Stars after-school program will learn shoe design from Sketchers. The athletic footwear brand will teach classes about the creative process and mechanics of footwear design in a curriculum developed by the Sketchers fitness Group design team. Continue reading Sketchers Enlists After-School All-Stars for Design

Cycling Shoes For City Slickers

If you’ve ever commuted by bicycle in the big city you know there are a few issues to overcome. The first is making sure you actually make it to work safely, the next is making sure you’re not a huge sweaty mess when you arrive, and finally be dressed in the proper clothing for a day at the office.

The latter can be addressed by leaving a pair of shoes at the office and wearing cycling shoes for the commute – but what happens when you think you have shoes at the office and don’t? This happened to me personally once, and I spent the day wearing cycling shoes. While a good look on the bike, these don’t exactly work well the rest of the day. But Italian bike maker Cinelli and skateboard clothing company DVS are teaming up to create a urban cycling shoes reports our friends at BikeRadar.

The shoes are based on the DVS Luster skate trainer and will be available in two versions. One will be based on the Cinelli Pro Best of Italo 79 road bike, whilt he other will be based on the Vigorelli track racer. Either way the upcoming Luster Cinelli, which will arrive stateside in July (MSRP $68), will reportedly feature a high-abrasion rubber sole, full grain leather upper, stiffeners to aid efficient pedalling, reflective detailing, and a hidden tongue panel that also serves as a lace protector. These shoes look like they’ll be good for urban commuting, and look good off the bike.

[Via BikeRadar.com: Cinelli release urban cycling shoe]

Cinelli Official Website

DVS Official Website

K-Swiss Introduces 2011 Running Shoes

Triathlon season, despite what the current weather situation, is just around the corner, and this month Trek and K-Swiss held a tam camp in Kona, Hawaii, where the latter introduced four new running shoes for 2011, as well as a new trail shoe that will hit it in 2012.

This is quite a step forward for K-Swiss, which just a few years ago was primarily a tennis brand. Now the times have changed and K-Swiss looks to be a major player in the running market – despite the fact that the company has been on somewhat shaky ground, recently noting that worldwide revenue for 2010 was down almost 10 percent.

But now the company looks to be putting its best foot, or rather shoe forward for 2011. Triathlete reported last week that K-Swiss rolled out the four new shoes, which include the Kwicky Blade-Light, a trainer/racing shoe built upon the Blade-Light sole; the K-Ruuz 1.5, ultra-light flat; the Blade-Light Run, which will be available in a safety-oriented neon reflective sole; and finally the Blade-Max Trail, which features  a sturdier version of the Blade-Light sole.

[Via Examiner: Atlana Shoe Market: new models from K-Swiss]

[Via Triathlete: K-Swiss Reveals 2011 Running Shoes At Trek/K-Swiss Triathlon Camp]

K-Swiss Official Website

Zigtech Completely Cricket

When you mention Cricket to most Americans, we think of the noisy insect – the one that was friends with the wooden kid that came to life – or we think of the British game where everyone wears the white pants and sweaters. What could possibly be high-tech about that, right?

 Well, think again. Reebok has done many things for running, football and basketball, so why wouldn’t the company do something for the game of cricket. In fact, Reebok is actually one of the leading sportswear brands that, along with the International Cricket Council, has helped energize the game with some technical innovations for the team from India. This includes the futuristic Reebok ZigTech Bats, footwear and trainers. Just in time for the Cricket World Cup 2011 this year, Reebok has outfitted the Indian cricket team with “Zig-Sonic” equipped gear that helps reduce wear and tear in the leg muscles during training. Reebok’s ZigTech shoes have been called “engery drinks for your feet,” and now it seems like the drink is available in a curry flavor.  This same zig is being incorporated into the “on field” shoes, which have also been designed to meet the needs of the individual player’s patterns and foot movements. The game has clearly come a long way from simple white sweaters and wooden bats.

Hands on First Look: Louis Garneau T-Flex 300 Cycling Shoes

Truth be told a lot of cycling shoes look about as stylish as bowling shoes – sorry bowling fans but in the fashion department you’re left at the discount bins. Fortunately, Louis Garneau has stepped forward with its line of cycling attire that includes footwear.

We just received the new T-Flex 300 shoes and nothing could make us more upset to see the snow and mud still covering the ground. These shoes are so pretty that we can’t imagine taking them out in these conditions – and that could be about the only bad thing we have to say about these shoes right now. In a few weeks when the conditions permit we’ll be sure to put these to a true test, but for now we’re impressed with the look and more importantly the feel of these shoes. Continue reading Hands on First Look: Louis Garneau T-Flex 300 Cycling Shoes

SHOT Show: S.W.A.T. Customizable Boots

The Original SWAT Footwear Company has now introduced a line of boots where users can choose from a number of boot model options, upload images, and even enter team names or badge numbers should it be required. Users can decide if they want a plain toe, or go with the Tec Tuff Toe option, which provides protection from abrasions and is also resistant to oil, petroleum and salt staining. It is further fire retardant and resists cold cracking. There is even an option for a composite safety toe inside the boot that can withstand 200 Joules Impact Test Standards, yet is made of non-metal material so it is anti-magnetic and non-sparking – plus metal-detector friendly.

 In addition, users can choose insulation type, opting for the 400 gram of Thinsulate insulation, which is ideal for high activity levels in cold weather, and  even decided if the boots need to be waterproof or offer puncture protection. All this can be determined directly from the website and each team member – should there be a team involved – can get a boot just for them!

Original SWAT: S.W.A.T. ID official Website

Baggy Shoes

We’ve seen a lot of products turned into other things, like the American Express Card dress worn at the Oscars a few years back – and we’ve heard about products using recycled plastics that can be turned into all sorts of things, including bike frames.

Now Civic Duty is doing its something unique. The company has introduced a new line of futuristic sneakers made from FedEx airmail envelopes, mounted to a recyclable rubber sole. The result is a shoe that is easy to stash in a carryon bag, yet is comfortable for hours of walking – best of all it is waterproof thanks to its Tyvek material so ideal for those trips during the rainy season.

The shoes, which are available for purchase now online, are the brain child of Steven Weinreb, Civic Duty founder and Chief Inspiration Officer. The shoe’s material promises to be both comfortable and breathable while being water resistant and highly durable. It should also be easily recyclable as well. Best of all it comes with a worn vintage look right out of the box.

Civic Duty Official Website

Battery Powered Boots Means No More Cold Feet

Years ago I heard someone say, “if they can put a man on the moon, you’d think they could make boots with built-in warmers.” Well, man did indeed walk on the moon back when Richard Nixon was President and when VHS wasn’t even yet a rich man’s toy. Now in the era of Blu-ray movies we finally have boots with a power source.

The Columbia Bugathermo Techlight Boots are ready for the showshoe trail or just ready to tackle an average American winter. These boots built on Columbia’s BugaBoots, which use a Omni-Heat membrane to reflect body heat back at your cold toes, and the new Bugathermo model feature a built-in heating system. These boots, which made their debut last season – and were not surprising a huge hit – now feature a waterproof Nubuck and split suede leather upper, along with a three-temperature heating system. On low setting the boots can provide extra warmth for eight hours, or three full hours when you need to turn up the heat to maximum

The boots are ready for mountain trekking or even Arctic exploration according to Columbia as these can provide underfoot insulation that is rated to -25 degrees F/-32 degrees C. With these boots you should never get cold feet again!

Columbia Bugathermo Boots Official Website

Lighten the Load – Starting With the Shoes

It is a New Year and if you’re thinking about a “New You,” Lady Foot Locker is there to help. Getting fit can mean getting lighter, and now the shoe retailer is helping runners on their way with an effort to provide lightweight running shoes. These are among the most technical shoes and the market, and include a range of products from Nike, Asics and even Reebok.  Lady Foot Locker has even launched an online campaign built entirely around the concept of “Lightweight Running,” with a great selection of shoes and beyond.

Lady Foot Locker Lightweight Running

Smart Workout Apparel in Development

Photo: John Rogers

Currently, we are seeing workout attire that breathes better, doesn’t retain that foul gym smell and even helps provide extra “squeeze” to compress muscles. That’s all good and clever, but truly “smart” clothing is now being developed that could change the way we work out.

Reebok and start-up MC10 have partnered up to develop apparel that would utilize stretchable silicon electronics. Reebok would utilize the flexible electronics from MC10 into its sportswear, resulting in clothing that can actually monitor a user’s health and performance during training and post-workout cool down. Continue reading Smart Workout Apparel in Development

Dare to Go Bare with Footstickers

Concept Footsticker for dance class.

Bare feet get a lot of attention these days. Running in bare feet or bare feet-like shoes from Vibram are said to be healthy. Yet if you choose to go bare, your feet are vulnerable to injuries such as twists, slips, and the dreaded pebble or glass. A concept from designer Frieke Severs from Nike EMEA for “Footstickers” covers key points of the foot to provide better motion control, more feeling for the direct floor contact and a surface-grabbing silicon surface to propel you in your workout. Continue reading Dare to Go Bare with Footstickers