Will ECCO’s new BIOM shoe fall short?
By David • Nov 23rd, 2008 • Category: Features •I don’t know why, but I was expecting something truly amazing with the release of ECCO’s new BIOM shoe. How could I not? Their thebiomproject website shouted “everything you know about shoes is wrong”. Although just a few weeks back they changed their copy to, well, better reflect the final product. Perhaps for their existing product line, they feel Biom is a breakthrough.
So I must say that I’m deeply disappointed with the Biom shoe. I was hoping that this touted ‘anti-shoe’ was going to really shake up the industry, and bring a well designed and functional transition shoe to market. I guess we’ll just need to wait until Skora Footwear launches in the next year. But I digress. Take a look at a few image shots from the clip.
So what did ECCO do (wrong) with the Biom shoe? They seemingly followed traditional athletic footwear design ‘rules’. Here’s my take based on the Runner’s World video clip:
1) Positive (raised) heel with midsole ‘cushioning’ technology. This shoe will most likely cause heel-strike in mid/fore foot runners, ouch.
2) Stiff bridge through the arch. Limited flex throughout the shoe will not allow the foot to exercise the way it should.
How could so much go wrong when they went to the trouble of enlisting a “world renowned bio-mechanist” to assist in the design and development? I have one of two theories. One, they heard what the chap had to say and thought, “oooh, if we follow his advice, it won’t be a normal shoe…” and thus returned to a safe (err.. unsafe) shoe design. Or, maybe the expert (like many unfortunately that study feet or biomechanics) seek to find possible flaws with human feet and gait instead of stepping back and seeing how perfect they really are, barefoot.
Either way, they seemingly did not achieve the goal of bringing “the foot closer to the ground” as their own study suggested in an effort to reduce injuries. I may be wrong; I really hope I am. I will say that the forefoot sole does look quite thin compared to even Nike Free’s, however that does not make up for the positive heel in the construction. Expect a full review once we get our hands on them!
So far: Seemingly another pair of ‘me-too’ running shoes trying their stab at the market
Price/Availability: $220 (leather), $195 (textile) / March 2009
David is an instigator and barefoot runner since 2002.
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I got my first pair of ECCOs yesterday… posted a picture on a forum (in Germany) and someone came up with this link.
I am surprised that you have a opinion (and a bad one) without even having tryed the shoe on, just from looking at a video.
Let me say: It is low, it is not soft (for most a bit on the firm side), and it is very flexible.
Axel
Hi, I´m from Denmark, and I´ve tried the shoes… No, no, no. Not a god shoe. I run in Saucony Fastwitch as a trainer an it´s much better. It´s close to the ground , lite and not as soft as a normal trainer. Just like The Ecco. I also like Nike lunarlite racer. Fantastic sole. The Ecco shoe is crap if you compere. Maybe more durable but thats it.
/Olle
did you really kill yaks to make this shoe?
Hi David,
I am not sure how this person got their hands on a pair of BIOM yet. Our official launch isn’t until March. It should be interesting as we willbe in 0ver 40 premiere running stores across the country. Please check out our advertising in Runner’s World and Running Times.
I still look forward to presenting the entire BIOM concept to you when you have time. I have a compenent ring which clearly outlines the difference between BIOM and other running product in the market. After previewing the product we would welcome you as a test runner and greatly appreciate your feedback. Please let me know where and when we can meet. I look forward to hearing from you.
Get BIOMized………..
David Helter
General Manager - ECCO Performance
The price on these shoes is way out of line. Why is it that a good shoe needs to be engineered? Then they want someone who runs barefoot to review it and then like it? Silly, lets face it the market for a barefoot style shoe is very limited and there is no money in it and that is why the Ecco shoe is what it is. Congratulations on making the most expensive running shoe I have ever seen. The runner on Ecco’s website is clearly heal striking and what is natural about that? The only people who will buy this shoe are the ones who like the barefoot principal and think this will bring them the benefits without the time needed to learn to run again. All this company is doing is making a profit on what we get for free when we run barefoot. Natural motion, the only natural motion I see with these shoes is me reaching for my wallet.
Go bare if you dare, Jay.
This post has good and valuable information, thank you.
I google’d for these shoes today and found this post because I saw the ad in Runner’s World. In the picture in the mag it looked more minimalist than what I see here. I am surprised at the heel size and I have my doubts, but I’ll try to find a pair locally and give them a brief test.
As a fore/mid striker I am interested in shoes like these, Newton’s and Lunaracers, but I do well on the cheap with shoes like Brooks T5 racers. If I find the trial to be miraculous, I’ll report back.
With respect to the Yaks and Debbie, life is a terminal condition. If the need for shoe materials hastens that unavoidable end for a yak, I’m ok with that.
- Josh
I have to ask… wont you get shin splints alot easier. I don’t know much about the shoes science but isn’t thatone of the reasons why they have cushoning in other shoes?
Hi David,
I am still waiting to hear from you so we can meet. It would be great for you to see the product in person, hear what R & D has gone into the development of BIOM and maybe even try running in BIOM. If you are really interested in learning about BIOM, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from and meeting with you.
David Helter
General Manager
ECCO Performance
I have been going for ~15 mile runs in a Nike free for more than 5 years, so I’m ready for this shoe.
For some reason, the biom website doesn’t have the store locations for the USA yet. When will it be coming out over here in the USA, and where can we try it on? :)
@Jake, go here:
http://www.eccousa.com/biom/index.aspx
and click on “+Show” to see the current US retailers with Biom in stock
My friend on Facebook shared this link with me and I’m not dissapointed at all that I came to your blog.
Check out The Newton Running shoes if you’re interested in a good barefoot running mimic-like shoe. They are outstanding…
I have just had to take a moment to tell you that I’m really impressed by your blog. this is an excellent site.
[...] Biom Review from Barefootrunner.com [...]
David & David (Helter),
I’m a part-time barefoot. Born in South Africa, the first 18 years I only wore shoes to school & to rugby. Then on to spikes (not really shoes), but always barefoot at Judo.
Mainly I wear shoes to have warm feet (now live in France).
I’d be interested to give a non-biased opinion of running this summer (winter in Europe is still too cold for me), both with and without shoes. Let’s say compare the ECCO to a natural foot.
My normal running path includes gravel (sharp & round), a few kilometers of tarmac, and a lot of compound (i.e. compacted gravel). Bits of grass, but not really worth the mention.
If interested, just Google “Pauwl Lunow”, and get in contact.
It will of course only be one persons’ opinion, but possibly worth the experience/findings.
regards,
Pauwl
Hi David,
I sent you a note via regular email this morning. Hope all is well in sunny and warm FL. I enjoyed reading all the blogs on your site and wanted to make a few comments.
To those on your site who have bought and worn BIOM, thank you very much. We are very interested in any feedback from you about our natural motion concept. Just for the record, we are NOT trying to convert barefoot runners to minimialist footwear. We are actually providing an alternative shoe for wearers of the current paradigm of maximum cushioning, motion control or stability shoes or a transition shoe for runners moving toward barefoot running. After all, the BIOM concept was inspired by the great barefoot runners.
To anyone looking to test BIOM, we are now distributed in 40-50 (and grwoing) PREMIERE running specialty stores across the US. Check out thebiomproject.com to find the store closest to you.
David is going to receive a pair of BIOM to do his own independent and unbias testing of the BIOM concept. I am sure his candid feedback will be posted on this site for all to read. We will also utilizehis expertise to continue to work on our natural motion concept. (Sorry David, you won;t receive any money for your feedback and expertise!)
Debbie, regarding the controversary of yak leather, ECCO is very proud of our use of yak leather. Yak is an animal raise mainly in the Himalaya Mountains to be used as a pack animal and also for its milk and meat. ECCO is one of the largest premium tanneries in the world. The Yak hides were not being used as the leather is thick, oily and very difficult & expensive to tan. ECCO worked 2 years to develop a process to tan yak hides and is now buying most of the supply from the Sherpas in the region. Therefore, what we have done is recycle product, which was being trashed or wasted.
Pauwl, thank you for your offer to test BIOM. We currently have more the 500 test pairs of BIOM in the market globally and are getting great feedback from the test runners. However, if you or other readers buy BIOM and would like to participate in the feedback survey go to thebiomproject.com.
Happy barefoot running to all and if you have to wear a shoe, please take a look at BIOM.
Best Regards,
David Helter
I’m just trying a pair, this blog made me skeptical, i’m the guy interested in barefoot running but have been running on ghetto shoes my whole life with 18 ounces of cushioning… Any ideas on other shoes that would be a good transition from cushion to barefoot?
@David Helter / ecco : Just received this Biom B model today! Looking forward to giving them a try. Expect a full review in the coming weeks.
I am anxious to see the BIOM review, but I think it will really not be accurate enough considering that no shoe has yet ranked below 5/10. David is just too nice in his reviews (I suppose I should keep in mind he does not review typical running shoes, which would probably rank 1-3/10). The marketing for the BIOM is silly, too. “Replica of the human foot” - heh. In the video he says “made the forefoot super flexible”, but he can barely move it. All the videos made my ankles and knees hurt just looking at them. These shoes are definitely not going to be worth their ~$200 price tag. Sorry ecco, I am opting for the $6 Aqua shoes or some modified huaraches - or, of course, nothing at all.
I think it might be helpful to look at the BIOM Model B as a transition shoe for runners accustomed to conventional marshmallow running shoes who are seeking to become midfoot or forefoot runners. After that jump has been made, the BIOM Model A looks a lot more promising as a shoe which would be much more amenable to the barefoot/natural running ideology. The heel is extremely low profile - much more low profile than the Model B - and I have to commend Ecco for using polyurethane midsoles, which are all too often neglected in the running shoe industry. Mind you, these are all just ideas, as all I have tp base my thoughts on are photographs and promos from running sites and the Ecco Biom page. I am looking forward to trying them though, but will probably have to wait until someone in my state actually starts selling them.
Hi Brandon,
Thanks for your open minded comments regarding BIOM. We are proud of the BIOM concept and the evolution we think we are helping to create in the running industry. We are not encouraging barefoot runners to run in shoes when they can run barefoot, but, offering BIOM as a substitute when running barefoot is not possible (cold, heat or surface) or as a transition shoe for runners using the currrent running techonology paradigms of stability, motion control and ultra cushioning. The objective of BIOM is to offer a minimialist approach to footwear.
Hi JFT,
Keep running barefoot and enjoy. BIOM is not for everyone. If you get a chance to see BIOM product, please compare us to the current product being offered in the running market (cushion, stability and motion control) as opposed to the bare foot. That is our competition. Hopefully you can at least give us credit for stating our belief that the “world is not flat” and doesn’t need all the technology currently being offered.
David,
I hope you are enjoying BIOM as an alternative to barefoot running. I would hope your readers understand you are going to evaluate BIOM from an unbias point of view as a barefoot runner. Even though we realize it was a bit of a risk to provide you with BIOM to test, we think you will be able to provide us with a unique and valuable viewpoint.
Happy Running,
David Helter
Been running in Bioms since march and quite like them. I have had 3 pairs of newtons (slightly less money), nike free’s (hated them) and now the bioms. For me, and I can only speak for me - the fit is the best part of the shoe, narrowish in the heel and roomy up front, so thats a plus. The forefoot is super flexible like a nike free, but the heel seems to stay over the shoe better (another plus for me). On the comments on the beefy looking heel, it only looks beefy, it seems that the sole under the heel isnt very flat - that is is seems the actual platform is quite small. Also the are quite firm feeling - no squish, heel stompers will feel pain. I didnt follow the break in plan as i have been running in light flexy shoes (biom b’s arent all that light) and didnt have any problems. My only complaint is price…but then Ecco never has been a budget shoe brand. I should note that i dont run in them exclusively, i also have a pair of squishier shoes that i swap days with. The longest day i put in was 26kms. I will probably get another pair when they wear out (the dont seem to be), and hope i can find them on sale. I think it is ridiculous that all these people seem to want to comment on them without trying them. sidebar: I only run barefoot about 15 minutes at a time.
I am currently working at a running shoe store and we received shipments of both Biom A’s and B’s, and I took the liberty of trying them both on so get a clear idea of how both of these new shoes feel. I have a neutral arch, but tend to supinate quite a bit upon ground contact when follow through (neutral cushion, D width). I will say right now, if you are a heavy heel striker like me, the Biom B is not for you.
The primary difference between the two models is the added ‘cushion’ in the heel area, especially in the medial section of the heel (if you look at the bottom picture, the top left section of injected black rubber on the heel is where I’m talking about). The Biom B is designed to be used for longer runs (relative to the Biom A) because the extra millimeters in cushioning material, but the rigidness of the medial heel portion makes for quite the uncomfortable ride: a ‘protruding’ feeling near the heel, like wearing a stability shoe with posting really really far back (ex. Lunarglide). Biom A feels better, simply due to less density and less of an awkward feel when striking the ground. Sure, both shoes have very low heel profiles to mimic barefoot running, but I would say the people who would feel more comfortable in these shoes are lighter heel strikers and forefoot runners/joggers.
That being said, the forefoot and midfoot feel is very good, the interior of the shoe providing snugness down the length of the shoe from heel to toe. An interesting aspect of the shoe is it ability to accommodate a size and its half-size (eg. 10 and 10.5), and is clearly labeled on the box as such. The toe box is an average side, and should fit any D width or a slightly wider foot nicely. There was some tinkering with the sizing that I had to do to get the best snugness out of both Bioms, as I am typically a size 10 and wore the 9~9.5 Bioms for the best fit. However, there is nothing that cannot be fixed by either tightening the laces, using a more padded sock, or both.
Another small issue with the shoe is the folding of the leather upper above (and into) the toes when following through after the heel strike. Even though the leather is extremely soft and flexible, it still cannot offer the flexibility of a traditional, mesh toebox (eg. Asics Cumulus). Still, I have not yet tried the textile upper versions of the shoes, and I presume that the folding would not be an issue for them.
Overall, a pricey, flashy shoe with some great technology and fit behind it, but slight issues with the heel design make it a shoe that only a specific foot-type demographic can fully enjoy.
I gave up on running five years ago because I kept injuring my back and knees. I started walking and then running in Vibram fivefingers this spring and am up to a consistent 5 K three times a week at about 80% running and 20% walking. No great feat, but six months ago I thought i would never run again. My advice to anyone who really wants to try barefoot running is to forget about a transition shoe. Just commit to going barefoot (fivefingers will protect you from sharp stuff) then slowly build up distance. When I let my feet really feel the ground they tell the rest of my body what to do. My knees and back experience considerably less shock and fatigue but the muscles of my feet and lower calves work much harder and needed time to adjust.
As for the bioms, i am going to try them at a store because I need to figure out what I am going to do when the snow flies this fall but I am a little skeptical. They talk about natural running but the picture and the drawing in the brochure look like heel striking to me so I am not convinced that they are fully committed to the concept of natural running. On the other hand, on the web site they have a short video of a guy running naturally and I think he looks very relaxed. He appears to be to be carrying much less shock through his body and that is what barefoot running is all about.
I am also going to put a plug in for a book called “Born to run” by Chris McDougall a great read. I would not be running today if I had not discovered barefoot running through that book. He puts forward the notion that modern running shoes are designed to fix the problems that modern running shoes create. I hope the Biom presents a real solution.
Darn,
I wish I had read up on these shoes prior to buying. Saw advertisement in Runners World and had to go buy a pair. Have been running in them for 3 weeks and am going to have to retire them already. Not because I have ran like Forrest Gump, quite the opposite. My left foot, top portion where the tongue is becomes increasingly tight and fatigued. I have tried to move the tongue to the side and barely tighten the shoelaces and still have the same problem. Not so on the right foot. I now see that they are for a different type of runner as I never paid attention to my heel strike. I now am trying to compensate for the pain and am getting sore in areas I never have before!!! Hip and lower gluteus. Great looking shoe if that is your thing. Was sort of mine………
@Sheila, are you finding that you don’t heel-strike in these shoes? If so, the cause of the soreness may come from using certain muscles that were previously unused. Curious to discuss further, feel free to contact me at barefootrunnerATgmail.com.
Mr. Helter,
I wish I could have known about the testing, before I purchased the shoe. I do find it rather expensive, but I guess we’ll see what this shoe is really made of.
I’ll provide some feedback once I’ve hit the road with them a few times. Maybe by Wednesday. I run about 5 miles daily.
-Ron Garcia
I purchased my first pair of Biom A running shoe (textile). I run 5 miles/ 4 days a week and its been 3 months now breaking in the shoe. I must say the breaking in part is longer than your normal running shoe, so if the shoe still feels uncomfortable. Keep running! They will break in and your body will adjust.
I like the shoe, but there is only one thing that will keep me from buying another pair. PRICE! I spent $220.00 on a shoe that does the same as a $150.00 shoe. I’m not running any faster and I’m not looking to run any farther. I owned Newbalance before switching over to Biom’s and nothing has changed in my running. Just 2 months of pain, but that will go away over time.
Basically, we are paying for all the R&D that went into this so called, Natural Motion Technology! Bottom line is: if you want to save money and time breaking in a shoe. Stick to what your feet have always been a custom too. Cushion!! AIR!! GEL!! SHOCKS!! What ever it may be! No reason to make the switch unless you have $200.00+ to spend on something that isn’t going to change your performance.
Hi to all;
I would like to get some feedback/advice in getting the a good pair of running shoes. I started running about 2 years ago. Recently I ruptured my rectus femoris muscle while sprinting. After a month of physical therapy I feel strong enough to run again. I have done some research on the different types of running technic ( heel to midfoot , midfoot push off ect). I have flat feet and had purchased the soucomy onmi 6 and I feel that they are too heavy and slow me down compared to my old running shoes that i had (Puma D-Cell). while running on the Soucomy Onmi 6 I notice on the shoe that the bottom of my right heel is all used up more than the left. Also after running i feel soreness on my heels and pain in my lower back.
After reading thru the runners magazine I notices the Biom shoes and the Newtons running shoes. I read both of their site to get as much information as i could and then decided to do a test run. I ran just like it was advice in the Newton’s shoes web site (midfoot push off and landing) and i notice that i did not have any heel pain but my calfs where sore and also i had no back pain. so my question is which shoes should i get? I would like a shoe that is light and supportive. the Soucomy weight about 12 oz
thanks
@JJ: First off I would recommend taking time to relearn proper running form by easing into barefoot running. Then, find a minimal shoe that has little to no heel lift. The less cushioning and support the better. Our feet, knees and legs are designed to have your entire body act like a shock-absorbing spring. Heel-to-toe is not natural - you would not run in this manner barefoot. The reason your calves are sore is because you are stretching and using a muscle group previously asleep - this is a good sign. Focus more on midfoot/forefoot form, bent knees, short stride, landing softly…. learn and have fun. Then, you can look into the right shoe(s) that will will allow you to maintain these vital techniques to be healthy and injury-free for life. Happy trails, David.
First time checking out this blog, but I got to say I’ll probably be here more often
I am not really a runner, I just do it to lose weight. Honestly, every extra second I get outside of work and exercising, I play golf. The only reason I know of Ecco Shoes is because I sell Ecco Golf shoes in my store. They are exspensive, but they are very high quality and even more comfortable. I have had Nike running shoes, and I currently have Asics, and honestly I get shin splints in both pairs. I am going to give these new Ecco Biom running shoes a shot because I know of the quality Ecco puts out. I’m going to give an unbiased feedback on the shoes after using them for a few days.
And for all of the “barefoot runners” complaining about how tall the heal pad is, and blah blah blah. Buy a pair of the Ecco Casual cool GTX golf shoes, take out the softspikes and then run in them. It would almost be like a cross trainer without a tall heal. Even better, the leather is completely waterproof, very soft (as I tell my customers “feel like your putting socks on”), and actually very comfortable to run in, I wear them when I caddie because they are easy to run in. Plus they are nearly flat-footed. Just a thought…
I am really looking forward to the review of these.
I only tried them on the treadmill, and it was hard to really get a feel of it. Need something to put on my feet for the coming winter.
Regards
Barefoot CPH
Hello Barefoot Runners,
It has been a while since I have written a blog on this site. I had some time today and enjoyed reading through the long list of blogs, especially the stuff about BIOM.
We know BIOM isn’t for everyone. As a matter of fact, we are pushing against two opposite forces: barefoot runners and the traditional running technology paradygms of cushioning, motion control & stability. It certainly appears that today’s runner is finally understanding that everyone doesn’t need traditional technology and is begining to understand that “maybe less is more.” There is a trend by runners to move away from too much of any technology; cushioning, motion control and/or stability. This is NOT a fad and it will continue. In the next 6-18 months runners will see more of the traditional running companies developing “natural motion” technologies and product.
Therefore, ECCO is gratified to be on the front end of this curve. We have had great success with the BIOM concept. ECCO has placed BIOM in 50 premiere running specialty stores in the US. Not bad for a little Danish company known for European comfort and casual product, fighting the BIG ATHELTIC GIANTS like Nike and Asics. The PR buzz surrounding the launch and the technology has been incredible. The biggest issue we are facing now is the amount of interest and demand driven by BIOM. We receive weekly emails and phone calls from consumers who want to see, try, experience BIOM and can’t find them in their respective markets. This will slowly change as interest at the retail level continues to grow. The more other brands follow this trend and develop natural motion product, the more attention and credibility BIOM will receive.
For the barefoot runner, please understand ECCO is not trying to convert you to run in shoes. BIOM is a minimalist shoe which you can use if weather conditions and surfaces don’t allow for barefoot running. For the traditional runners still wearing excess cushioning, motion control and/or stability, maybe we can assist you in transitioning to less!
In the meantime, keeping blogging about BIOM and happy running to all.
David Helter
General Manager
ECCO Performance Division
Just got the Biom A (textile, not Yak) and ran two 5-milers with ‘em. Personal caveat: I’m older (50), heavier (200 lbs.), and slower (14 mile-a-minute jogs are my usual pace) than a lot of runners, but a bout of heel spurs led me to minimalist footwear a couple years ago (Mizuno Universe 3s are a current favorite) and I’m actually quite an experienced and happy POSE runner (forefoot striker). As such, running in the Bioms felt truly odd.
The forefoot is thin, light, soft, and flexible, which is great, but the heel is hard, thick, and obvious every time I try the POSE footstrike. I found myself drifting more towards a flat-foot rather than forefoot landing and even, as the miles piled up, some God-forbid heel striking. I know the Biom people are trying to sell the shoe on its purported ‘natural running’ values, but I suspect their concept of natural is somewhat different than mine. Instructions accompanying the packaging even have silhouettes of a runner clearly heel-striking! Are the Biom people advocating, at best, a roll from heel to toe? If so, it will indeed require months (as they suggest), to acclimate to the shoes, as it will force me to relearn what I’ve successfully unlearned via POSE.
So, for me, the Bioms made for a clunky ride. I was also demonstratively slower (by about a minute-per-mile) than my usual pace; the Bioms are trainers, not racing flats, it would seem. Also, as the shoes are sold in full rather than half sizes, I found myself in a pair perhaps at least a half-size too large.
Yet, despite the above negatives, a surprising and major positive is that these shoes seem to be easier on my knees! Going down stairs, my knees always hurt a little the day after I run, but with the Bioms, they don’t! Granted, it’s only been a couple days, and I’m the kind of ‘athlete’ who will always find a way to hurt myself, but so far, in regard to knee health, the Bioms are doing fine.
As trainers, by all means give Bioms a try. They are being marketed as an experiment, after all. So spend the $$–the shoes are, if nothing else, a fascinating alternative. For racing, though, stick to flats.
Minor edit to my earlier post: I’m a dude. I was so eager to review the Bioms, I managed to mistype Martin as Marti.
Also, I can run in just about any shoe on trails and feel great but keep buying shoes like Bioms to try to keep my joints healthy on asphalt. As I said in the previous post, POSE helps, but I perhaps wistfully retain hope science can come up with a viable solution to running on pavement. Total barefooting is a no can do for me, as my neck of the woods are covered in snow half the year.
@Martin, thanks for the feedback and insight. I share in that the Biom cause a subliminal return to heel strike (more to come in my upcoming full review). Barefoot and POSE runners alike will notice this. Unfortunately most shoes with a positive or wedge heel will cause this. A fascinating alternative indeed, with more footwear companies bringing barefoot alternatives to market over the next 12 months including : VivoBarefoot, Inov8 and Skora. Happy barefoot trails, David.
Well, after a couple more runs, I think I’ve got these Biom pups figured out. But first: my apologies for seeming to have claimed in an earlier post to be able to run 14 miles per minute; what I meant to say, of course, was that I usually jog along at a more earth-bound and gravitationally challenged pace of 14 minutes per mile.
Now then: the shoe companies always suggest their new product line will make us feel like we’re running barefoot through daisies in the Garden of Eden. There’s nothing new in this. Men of a certain age may remember the old PF Flyers, the ‘action shoes which will make you run faster and jump higher.’ Author Richard Price, I believe, even included this conceit in one of his novels, were one kid goaded another into jumping to his death off a roof with the assurance that such a leap could be safely accomplished while wearing Flyers.
So it is with the Bioms. They call to mind the old joke that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. But, punchline aside, camels do have their utility, don’t they? So, I am coming to believe, do the Bioms; maybe the mad scientists are on to something and are striking a blow against the ‘Born to Run’ crowd–or at least blending the barefoot ethos with all that compulsive measuring and calibrating in the lab.
Sure, the Bioms have got this bizarre roll bar towards the front of the heel, and yes, the Biom Training Plan that came with the packaging does refer to a ‘centered landing point under the heel,’ but, darn it, somehow it all comes together after a few practice runs.
After the first few miles, your feet make peace with the intrusive roll bar. Either your feet mush it, or it mushes your feet, but whatever unholy alliance takes place, you stop noticing the lump. I don’t know how, but you do. You even run leaning slightly forward as the POSE and Chi Running gurus tell you to.
It might be because the roll bar is not in the heel but just in front of it, meaning you’ve got a pivot point in some sort of mystical sweet spot. Yet, you don’t exactly roll heel-to-toe either. If you look closely at the jock running on Ecco’s web page, you’ll notice that while he seems to be heel striking, he lands really kind of flat-footed, with his knees clearly bent. Those over-muscled legs are pistoning almost as if he’s doing lunges in the gym. So, no, if you’re worried about landing straight-legged like a classic heel-striker, with all the unpleasant jarring that entails, don’t worry–it ain’t gonna happen.
Also, the Bioms do ‘break in’ after a few runs. I can now easily twist ‘em and bend ‘em manually as if they were running flats. But they aren’t running flats. They’re not so much shoes as contraptions the manufacturer tells us we have to learn how to use. They are not, necessarily, intuitive, as one would assume a ‘natural running’ shoe should be. The product literature says it will take, I believe, weeks or months of practice to truly get the best out of these shoes. Seems like a lot of work and concentration to me. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to self-hypnotize while I run and not worry about the gears and pulleys involved.
So far, though, I think my learning curve is on schedule. I plod along nicely in my usual fashion, nothing hurts (so far), and the energy return (bounce) of the Bioms matches or exceeds that of any number of the minimalist slippers I usually run in. The Bioms seem slower, as they are a little heftier, but they take less out of you on long runs (though this may just be perception rather than fact).
Are they worth the $$? Probably not, but running shoes are the crack cocaine of runners, so what the hell.
Hi Martin,
Thanks for your detailed experience in BIOM running shoes. We continue to gain momentum with our BIOM launch with more premiere running specialty stores across the US carrying the concept and more consumers inquiring where to find/test them.
For all the barefoot runners out there who on occasion need footwear, we believe that natural motion and BIOM are worth the price. Please look for us at various race expos across the country. We will be telling the BIOM story, fitting shoes on interested consumers and preaching the “less is more message.”
Happy Running
PS-David, please let me know when you do your full review on BIOM.
Hi,
is there anyone who have tried both the biom and the newton shoe?
or just know what the big difference is between the two besides the price!
I wanna try the pose/midfoot running as soon I’m my knee injury quit.
Hi Jesper,
I have tried both the Newton and the Biom B. I am now a 1:35 or so half marathoner, 52, with 35 years of running experience although I only jogged a few times per week for about 20 years before getting back into more serious training and racing. Heavy heel striker zero knee lift a bit of a shuffler but in my day this “efficient” stride got me to a 2:28 marathon. Lots of pairs of Nike Voomero in recent years
The Newtons are great for pace work, at 8:00 minutes per mile or faster, not so good for “jogging” due to the raised forefoot pads. At speed they feel great if a bit firm ride but the next day rarely any soreness.
I call the Bioms “training wheels” for forefoot running. You really feel it if you settle back onto your heels. They seem to “naturally” cant you onto the forefoot and jogging is very pleasant in them. I had no problems adapting to them and was up to 6 miles plus after 2 weeks. I feel my turnover is already faster. I have not done pace work yet but am planning to.
I have been running barefoot for years as supplemental training to go along with my training for xc and track. i recently began going barefoot much more and bought a pair of these shoes to try and help my transition into barefoot running. Worse mistake i could have made, the gigantic heel and hard inflexable construction caused me more pain in 3 days than 4 years of running shod. I hope this helps anyone one the fence about buying these.
Go Barefoot My Friends,
Alex
Hi Alex,
Not sure which shoe you bought, BIOM or Newton. When you refer to the inflexible construction, I assume you mean Newton as both the flexibility and torsion of BIOM is dramatically better than 99% of the current footwear on the market. However, the misolde material, PU vs. EVA in most shoes, offers a firm and responsive ride.
As stated in earlier notes, ECCO is not trying to convert barefoot runners to footwear. We have simply built BIOM footwear based on natural motion and not the current paradigms of motion control, stability and extreme cushioning. This footwear will assist footwear runners to convert to the less is more philosophy.
As long as surfaces and and weather permits, by all means go barefoot my friends.
David S. has had BIOM footwear for several months. I look forward to his objective review of this footwear on this site.
David Helter
General Manager - ECCO Performance
Hi David,
Im about to start training for track season soon, and i am very interested in buying these shoes, but I am currently living in Germany and your store does not ship to APO. Any info on were i could get a pair would be
Awsome!
P.S. i am also interested in becoming a tester for these shoes…but im not sure you guys need any more :P
Austin Peterson
Hi Austin,
Please go to our website http://www.thebiomproject.com. We have had a very successful launch of BIOM in Germany and are currently in many premiere running stores there. You will be able to locate these on our store locator. Good luck and have a great BIOM experience.
David,
I have written on this blog many times and recently sent an email or two to your personal email address. You acknowledged receiving the BIOM shoes we sent you and committed to writting a review on this website. Do you still intend to do this? I look forward to your response.
David
[...] but they apparently encourage natural motion in your foot and they keep the foot muscles strong. Not everyone believes they achieve that, but my options are limited at this point in [...]
I am very interested in that review of the shoes. I can not understand how someone can give such a hard verdict on something without testing them and ending the post with: “Expect a full review once we get our hands on them!”. If I understand you got a pair the 16th of June, 2009 at 12:52 pm?
Bjork, I’m puzzled as well. He has had them for almost a year and suddenly decides not to publish anything. Maybe they are good after all? ;)
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After reading through the runners magazine I notices the Biom shoes and the Newtons running shoes. I read both of their site to get as much information as i could and then decided to do a test run. I ran just like it was advice in the Newton’s shoes web site midfoot push off and landing and i notice that i did not have any heel pain but my calfs where sore and also i had no back pain. so my question is which shoes should i get? I would like a shoe that is light and supportive.
i am looking forward to review of this.
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While checking out a small running store recently, I walked straight to this shoe since it literally jumped out at me as very cool. I LOVE shoes. I have been running up to 14 km for two years three to four times a week. I do interval training and all kinds of things to keep fit and happy. I have a pair of Nike Free 5.0s which I ran in all last summer and currently wear as casual shoes. This year I bought a pair of Saucony Water Proof shoes, some New Balance 747 s ( I think that’s the model) and a pair of Adidas Climawarm with adiprene. Of these I love the Adidas. I love the Nike for running around town but they always pick up large rocks so aren’t the best for running. Oh and I also have a pair of Sketcher’s Shape Ups which I wear for walking. I have been researching the Ecco Biom all weekend. What I found really interesting is that the Yak leather is from Tibet and would otherwise be thrown out. The Yaks are raised for work and meat. Ecco is actually doing a good thing by using a product which would be discarded. That alone and the look of the shoe make me want to buy a pair. So once I go and buy some (which I very likely will), I will give my feed back. I did try a pair on in the store and they felt really great. I am a neutral runner. My only concern is my knees which I take really good care of by doing yoga. Once in awhile they do hurt a bit. As I said, I love shoes and at least when I buy running shoes I can honestly say I NEED them! Yes there are worse addictions! Even if I don’t like these for running, they are quite stunning. I will find some use for them:)
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David Helter said “I have written on this blog many times and recently sent an email or two to your personal email address. You acknowledged receiving the BIOM shoes we sent you and committed to writting a review on this website. Do you still intend to do this? I look forward to your response.”
Considering this article is dated Nov 23rd, 2008, ans now it’s 2010, there still doesn’t appear to be ‘the review’ of these shoes. What happened?
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