Would you run a mile in sandals? How about a marathon, or 50 miles even?
Crazy as it sounds, a subset of runners and ultra athletes now tackle great distances in shoes most people wear to the beach.
(See more images of the Luna sandals on this page.)
Luna Sandals, a Seattle brand founded in 2010, is a leader in the sandal-running movement. Indeed, its founder, Ted McDonald, is something of a cult figure, a man known as “Barefoot Ted” who was featured in the bestselling book “Born to Run.”
In 2006, McDonald traveled to Mexico to run with the Tarahumara, a tribe known for its distance-running prowess. Some members of the tribe made footwear out of the rubber from discarded car tires.
The sandals made by Luna today are more refined. But with just a thin slab of rubber and simple straps they remain among the more basic shoes you can buy.
I got a pair of the company’s Venado sandals to test. They cost $65 and consist of narrow nylon straps, a single buckle, and a flexible piece of foot-shape rubber for the sole.
The company touts the Venado as “great for running or walking on paved surfaces and moderate trails.”
On my first test trail run a rock wedged under my heel. I stopped to remove it then squinted ahead. The route was rocky and included puddles and mud.
But the soft rubber sole gripped well on stones and dirt. The laces, made of 5/8-inch webbing, were more comfortable than they look.
