Running Shoe | Evolving Consumer

Foot Armour

Apollo is considered a complex Olympian deity – and was a god of light and the sun, truth and prophecy, healing, plague, music, poetry, and more. He’s not as swift as Hermes/Mercury but apparently Under Armour still thought Apollo the worthy namesake of its new Speedform Apollo running shoes.

These feature a seamless heel cup, which naturally cradles the shoe to the foot and provides superior support without heel discomfort. Ultrasonic seams throughout the shoe provide just the right fit while form-fitting upper is breathable to let heat escape. The lightweight midsole also helps provide shock absorption without added bulk. It might have wearers feeling like the shoe is one of poetry in motion.

Under Armour Speedform Official Website

The Maximum Shoes

We’ve seen much made in the way of the minimalist shoes, but this fall there is a lot of traction being made on the other end of the spectrum with “maximum-size” shoes. Leading the pack of running shoes is the New Balance Fresh Foam, which offers a fresh take on shoes that can provide support as well as absorb shock.

This shoe features a sole that is 16mm in the heel and 12mm at the forefoot, and this might offer a feeling of running on air. The shoe also features a unique diamond-shape pattern in the foam that New Balance claims further adds stability while keeping the cushioning plush. The New Balance Fresh Foam was introduced this summer at the Outdoor Retailer Show and should be hitting the road soon.

New Balance Official Website

High Energy

Sir Issac Newton didn’t really consider the role of energy in this theory of gravity, but he’d likely still appreciate that Newton Running Shoes is inspired by his research. Understanding all of Newton’s (the brilliant man) concepts can be difficult for novices, but so can running with a pair of Newton shoes. The Newton Energy NR Guidance Trainer is designed to facilitate a seamless transition from conventional running shoes to the Newton way. These shoes will be ready to hit the road later this month.

Newton Energy NR Guidance Trainer Official Website

Boost’d

This winter Adidas unveiled the Energy Boost, which featured a revolutionary cushioning technology, and now the shoemaker has revealed the adizero Adios BOOST, a race-ready funning model that has already hit the pavement in a few marathons this year. This model features a full-length BOOST midsole that is complemented by a high-grip rubber outsole designed by tire-maker Continental to help runners go the distance. The only downside to this is that the shoes won’t be in stores until October.

Adidas Official Website

Cool Runnings

The ECCO BIOM Lite 1.1 shoe has a casual look to it, but it is actually meant for running, hiking and other activity. The concept here is that it is the shoe you can wear every day but if the mode strikes to start running it can handle it. The BIOM provides a natural foot position that is akin to the barefoot running shoes, which is expected as this shoe has virtually no padding. Thus this shoe encourages a mid-foot landing.

It also is far more stylish looking than the typical running shoe, but still features a thin rubber sole to provide some grip on the trails or pavement. It is the kind of shoe that might make you decide to run home from work.

ECCO BIOM Lite 1.1 Official Website

Gravity Defyer Shoes Put a Spring in Your Step (Is That a Good Thing?)

Some days everybody drags. You begin to wonder how you continue to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving? Will a spring in your heel help propel you through those days and even offer more health benefits? Gravity Defyer thinks so, and is willing to let you try for 30 days or your money back.

Gravity Defyer shoes come in several varieties including running and dress shoe styles. The shoe addresses the 80 percent of Americans who use a heel striking gate to walk and run. It’s built with VersoShock Trampoline Shock, an absorbing membrane heel. It also has twin stabilizers, that’s two springs that compress and expand with each step. The VersoShock benefits include less fatigue, performance enhancing, cell cleansing super workout, ease joint pain and pressure on your spine and says users can “have a more active lifestyle.”

These aren’t the only shoes on the market making health claims. Nike recently called out its competitors for making claims of toning while you walk. Will a spring add benefits to the shoe? Will it help you on your feet? Springs can be highly uncomfortable if you feel them poking through on a bed. Imagine how a spring might feel concentrated in your heel after a day on your feet? Just because the spring is powering your stride, doesn’t mean it’s relieving any pain in your body. It’s still a new company, and a new technology, but it seems like it could have imbalanced results.

Gravity Defyer official web page