June 2009 retail figures* are showing that:
‘Motion Control’ shoe sales fell 13%, ‘Stability’ shoe sales fell 2%,
while ‘Neutral’ cushioned running shoe sales increased by 16%.
I think this is much more than seasonal trend, it’s proof that consumers and runners alike are searching for shoes that are ‘less‘ rather than ‘more’.
In a related post on Time, [...]
I find it amusing yet disturbing how mainstream running footwear brands try to enforce their belief that there’s something wrong with your body. Somehow you’re born with deficiencies that prevent you to run, thanks to running shoes a remedy was found. Too funny!
Running shoes or trainers are designed to minimize heel strike and maximize toe spring. Or so you thought… What actually ends up happening is we slam our heels on the pavement harder than necessary because we want to feel the feedback that is, ironically, cushioned by the shoes on our feet. Here are 5 things to look for when you’re buying a pair of runners…
I stumbled upon the company Soft Star Shoes. The info on the site leaves no doubt that the company is all about promoting natural shoes that support a healthy and unconstrained development of the foot. [Rated: 6/10 Toes]
Feelmax is the Finnish company that brought us the Feelmax toe socks. I have had very good experiences with these socks because of the fact that they keep your… [Rated: 6/10 Toes]
If we consider the design of the Fivefingers, there are several distinct features. They don’t look like any normal shoe, first and foremost due to the sole (which more or less makes the whole shoe). [Rated: 5/10 Toes]
Water shoes can be bought in malls or supermarkets and they are usually quite easy to acquire (otherwise: search the internet for “water shoes”, “water socks”, “surf shoes”, “bathing shoes”, or something similar). [Rated: 8/10 Toes]
Terra Plana is one of those interesting shoe companies that dare exploring more unconventional ideas. Among these are recycled shoes and minimal shoes. [Rated: 6/10 Toes]
Overall the upper material is very comfortable and the lack of an Achilles supporter (as mentioned the rear part is just soft fabric) is very nice because it makes your foot the master and not the shoe. [Rated: 5/10 Toes]
Original post on RailRiders.com/blog. Republished with author’s permission.
A very insightful post that captures the history and future of running footwear. Hope you like it. Happy trails, David.
