Ever get preconceived notions about gear? You just see the name, or hear the concept, and think, NOPE.
I, too, am guilty of carrying a gear prejudice from time to time, and the following products just made me want to hate them from the beginning. But after hard use, each has won me over and proven a valuable piece of my kit.
Huge Shoes: Hoka One One Mafate Speed
As a diehard footwear minimalist, “fat” shoes were never of interest to me — until a severe heel injury left me unable to run normally due to pain. With a big race looming, I grabbed a pair of Hoka One One’s Mafate Speed in desperation.
The shoes are surprisingly light, and they felt less bulky than I imagined. They suffered a bit (compared to my usual shoes) during off-trail travel — sliding around in wet, dewey bush, and they were not nearly as nimble for rock scrambling or quick technical foot placements. But for general trail running they were more than adequate, with good grip, agility, and stability underfoot. And when it came to downhill running, the uber-cushioned Mafates were an absolute dream.
Seven days and more than 100,000 feet of vertical later, I was a believer.
Fancy Applesauce: Powerbar Performance Energy Blend
Aaargh! I hate myself for liking this one. C’mon. Powerbar markets this new “performance food” as having a “dual source energy blend.” Ingredients? Pureed apples and sugar.