You’re Grounded! ‘Earthing Sandals’ Provide Electrical Link To Planet
Sandals from Earth Runners use conductive materials in the laces and soles to quite literally ground the wearer with the planet.
Shoelace of the Future? Tour of Boa Technology in Denver
“Build a better shoelace and the world will beat a path to your door.” That’s the plan with Boa Technology, which launched more than 10 years ago and is slowing taking over in parts of the outdoor world…
Stomping Grounds: Photo Shoot and Shoe Test in ‘Urban Outdoors’
Our home state of Minnesota is bursting into spring, and with it we used the occasion to get away from our daytime duties for a bit and into the urban outdoors right from the GearJunkie office back door…
50 Miles in Flip-Flops? Luna sells sandals to ultra-running market
Luna sandals are made with distance runners in mind. Crazy as it sounds, a subset of runners and ultra athletes now tackle great distances in shoes most people wear to the beach.
Under Armour Shoe Inspired by Poison Dart Frog
The Toxic Six from Under Armour ranks as one of the most aesthetically “aggressive” shoes we’ve ever come across. In terms of performance, it’s not a half-bad introduction to minimalist running. But could you bear to wear it in public?
Moccasin-like Merrell is ‘most minimal shoe’ ever built by brand
With a thin sole and an extra-minimal build our tester “could feel each stone underfoot” as he scampered up a steep bank on a rough trail. Here’s our full review.
First Look: Teva ‘Pivot’ clipless bike shoe
Teva is further diversifying its footwear offerings with the Pivot, a clipless, freeride mountain bike shoe set to hit stores this fall. We got a pair in to test.
2nd Biggest Shoe company in World (celebrating 50 years in business)
Believe it or not, Danish brand ECCO calls itself the second-biggest shoe manufacturer in the world. The company has produced more than 350 million pair since its founding in 1963.
Boston shoe has glow-in-dark stars, Nocturnal motif
Made for this year’s Boston Marathon, a custom New Balance shoe is said to have been inspired by Paul Revere and his long-ago middle of the night ride.
BIOM shoe represents ‘one of the weirdest footwear trends’
They look like hip leather shoes for work or a casual setting. A running shoe might be the last thing you think. But the BIOM Lite 1.1 are built for outdoor sports, hiking, and running.
‘Work Boots’ By Chrome Industries
Put away your fixed-gear bike. Jump on a skateboard? Chrome is a bike brand, but this week the company unveiled a boot made for skateboarders, the moto crowd, and flat-pedal cyclists.
10 Years Old: KEEN ‘Franken-Shoe’ an unlikely footwear success
Ten years ago this month, a startup footwear brand launched in California. KEEN Inc. offered a hard-to-categorize shoe with a beefy outsole, a cutout webbing pattern body, and an oversize bumper at the toe.
Tread Lightly: 20 low-profile KEEN shoes
KEEN is slimming down for spring. In a major launch, the company unveils 20 lighter, lower-profile models under its CNX line.
Video Reveals American-made Boots, Century-old Technique
Wolverine’s American-made “1000 Mile” heritage boot collection utilizes a construction technique that dates back to 1870 to produce high-end footwear that performs, and looks good doing it.
FiveFingers for ‘Tweens’: Youth-size Barefoot Shoes
Vibram FiveFingers shoes let you run the way you did when you were a kid. So, it makes sense that the company is expanding its youth size offerings.
First Look: Foam-sole ‘Virrata’ running shoe
Saucony’s latest lightweight running shoe has a sole made of foam and a promise to be “the most cushioned shoe for its weight on the market.” We took it for a test run.
Mountain Boots to ‘Glowing’ Shoes: Peek at Footwear for 2013
Highlighting tech-heavy shoes, a ski boot, and handmade footwear from Africa, this spread includes 10 to-be-released shoe products coming to stores later this year.
‘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 draw buzz in the minimalist-running world. We got a sneak peek.
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 ground as you run.
‘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 model made for temps more often dedicated to winter boots.
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 Jordanelle Boots, which our writer tested this month.
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 company tag line of “feel the world” is definitely apt.
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 in to absorb shock on each stride. We gave the shoes a month-long test.
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 the company’s line. Our writer put them to the test on the tough Patagonian International Marathon last month.
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 has made a leather oxford-style model to debut in 2013.
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 too much but ‘barefoot-style’ shoes too light.”
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 in a desert long ago.
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.
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 now going to the extreme.
‘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 in 2013.
‘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 an island, our writer jumps fully back into running, and he’s testing a few “exotic” shoes along the way. . .
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