Footwear Archives

‘Split-Toe’ shoe launched by former CEO of Vibram

Lighter weight than an iPhone, and with a unique split design at the big toe, a new shoe concept from startup Topo Athletics promises to…

Written by Stephen Regenold January 15, 2013

Foot in Armor? Chainmail Running Shoes now a Reality

Holy chrome-moly is right. These barefoot-style “shoes,” made by a German brand, employ thousands of tiny, interlocking stainless-steel rings for protection and “sensation” on the…

Written by Stephen Regenold December 31, 2012

‘Barefoot’ Running Season is Year-round with New Winter Vibram

Snow and ice used to keep Vibram FiveFingers wearers and other “barefoot”-style runners indoors. No longer. The FiveFingers Lontra, new last month, is an insulated…

Written by Patrick Murphy December 20, 2012

New-School Snow Boot: Light, packable (bootie ‘slipper’ inside)

Where is it written that winter boots have to be heavy, boring toboggans for your feet? That’s a question Teva poses to introduce its new…

Written by Stephen Regenold December 11, 2012

A Flap of rubber and some Cord: Meet the Xero Shoe

Xero sandals are at the extreme end of the “barefoot” footwear spectrum. A flap of rubber and a bit of cord complete the shoe. The…

Written by Stephen Regenold December 06, 2012

Shock-Absorbing Shoes touted as ‘World’s Fastest’

Switzerland-based On AG puts shock absorbers on its line of running shoes. The rubber circles, called “clouds,” act as tread but also flex and cave…

Written by Stephen Regenold November 16, 2012

Speed, Cushion, Minimal Build: Sense shoes are Rare Breed

“Low, light and fast.” Salomon picked those adjectives to describe its S-Lab Sense, a racing shoe new this year that is the most minimal in…

Written by Stephen Regenold October 02, 2012

Oxford Leather Shoes from Keen (part of ‘Minimal’ line)

The minimalist craze has impacted footwear in virtually every realm over the past few years. It appears the workplace is no exception, for which Keen…

Written by Stephen Regenold September 18, 2012

Shoe is Lightweight, not ‘Minimal’ in build

Climbing-oriented footwear brand Scarpa has leaped into trail running. We test the Spark, a shoe our reviewer says “shines in places where hiking boots are…

Written by Stephen Regenold September 07, 2012

Thick Straps, Old-School Look for Lizard Sandals

Though new for 2012, we’ve been calling the Kiota H2Os our “Biblical sandals.” We swear the strap-heavy sandals are something Saul of Tarsus could’ve worn…

Written by Stephen Regenold August 31, 2012

Teva to go Clipless with new Bike Shoes

Teva currently has free-ride mountain biking shoes made for use with flat pedals in its line. Next year, the company is going clipless.

Written by Stephen Regenold August 28, 2012

Hiking Boots go Minimal, Get Weird

The trend of minimal footwear is not lost on hiking boot manufacturers. After years of boots getting lighter and more flexible, a few companies are…

Written by Stephen Regenold August 16, 2012

‘Barefoot Boots’ new Trend at Merrell

The barefoot craze has made its way to hiking boots. Merrell will offer multiple “barefoot-influenced” boot models with lighter weights and low-drop, flexible builds beginning…

Written by Stephen Regenold July 18, 2012

‘Exotic Creature’ Trail Shoe Woos Longtime Latent Runner

Says our correspondent, “In a former life, I was a runner. Then the Caribbean happened.” After a decade hiatus from the sport while living on…

Written by Stephen Regenold July 13, 2012

Factory Tour: Leather Boots, Made in USA, at Danner

Founded in 1932, Danner Boots of Portland, Ore., still makes footwear in the USA like it has for decades. Our editor got a look inside…

Written by Stephen Regenold July 10, 2012

‘Ultimate Ultra-Light, Semi-Oversized’ (Yep, that’s what they call ’em)

Beefy and padded but still ultra-light? That’s the premise put out by Tecnica with its new Inferno X-LITE trail-running shoe.

Written by Stephen Regenold June 27, 2012

New VFF Shoe Touted as ‘Fashion Conscious’

The unlikely footwear phenomenon rages on! Vibram FiveFingers this week announced a new “foot glove” model to debut this fall that’s advertised as a “stylish…

Written by Stephen Regenold June 19, 2012

Boot Test! Hike to High Falls in Iceland

In Iceland last week, a GearJunkie editor laced into a new pair of hiking boots and trekked uphill to a high falls. Here’s a look…

Written by Stephen Regenold June 11, 2012

Fast, Light ‘Mountain Slipper’ Shoe

In a lineup of minimal shoes, the Vertical Ks from La Sportiva are unique. They offer a flexible, lightweight build plus a low heel-to-toe drop…

Written by T.C. Worley May 30, 2012

Illuminated Feet: Test of ‘Glow in the Dark’ Sandals

Teva came out with its light-equipped Illum sandals last year. We test a new model, the Illum 2, and give them a try in the…

Written by Stephen Regenold May 29, 2012

Beefy ‘Zero Drop’ Shoe is Crusher on Trails

A retro look and a deliberately under-engineered design set Altra Running’s Lone Peak shoes apart. We give the zero-drop running shoes a trail test.

Written by Stephen Regenold May 02, 2012

Toe-Shoes with Tread: Vibram FiveFingers ‘Spyridon’ Test

Vibram adds tread to sole and a rock guard to protect on FiveFingers shoe, markets the result to trail runners. We give it a test…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 30, 2012

Goat Leather, Minimal Build set Running Shoes Apart

A minimal athletic shoe made with goat leather? A $195 price tag? Yep, meet Skora Inc. of Portland, Ore., a startup looking to build a…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 20, 2012

Swanky Vibram ‘Barefoot Boutique’ to open in Boston

Vibram’s ubiquitous FiveFingers “foot gloves” have sold like mad in recent years. This weekend, the company opens its first and flagship store dedicated to FiveFingers…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 13, 2012

Flip-Flop Sandal has ‘Five Fingers’

Breed a flip-flop sandal with a Vibram FiveFingers shoe and you might get something like the Sazzi. This new line of sandals have straps that…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 11, 2012

Yaktrax and Frankenspikes: Gear for Running Uphill on Snow

Footwear for running uphill on snow — that’s the topic of this post, which highlights a GearJunkie editor’s equipment picks and overall experience in a…

Written by Stephen Regenold February 29, 2012

Street-Legal ‘Bootmobile’ to Tour USA in Celebration of 100 Yrs. in Business

To commemorate 100 years in business, L.L. Bean will tour the USA in a boot. Oh, and the Maine brand is running free outdoor programs…

Written by Stephen Regenold February 22, 2012

Salomon Uma Trois Boots are ‘Sporty, Sexy, Sleek’

The problem: A boot that can brave the winter elements as well as look good out on the town. The solution: Salomon’s Uma Trois women’s…

Written by Stephen Regenold January 11, 2012

Coming in 2012: Amorphous Rubber Boots!

Neoprene and rubber are main ingredients for a new type of winter boot coming to market from multiple brands. Here we look at to-be-released rubber…

Written by Stephen Regenold December 30, 2011

Tour de Herzogenaurach: Peek inside Adidas HQ

This fall a GearJunkie reporter traveled to Herzogenaurach, Germany, and the headquarters of the Adidas Group to gain perspective on the athletics giant’s big move…

Written by Stephen Regenold December 13, 2011

Top 10

Sponsored, Backpacking

Search

Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now