Today GoLite Footwear announced their take on barefoot running.  Below is the press release:

August 11, 2010, Newmarket, NH – GoLite Footwear introduces a unique new approach to the barefoot running trend. The BareTech platform was created with Go Lite’s philosophy, which is based on the notion that footwear should complement the design of the human body. This humanistic approach to product design has led to the development of GoLite’s breakthrough BareTech platform. This idea is the basis for a line of footwear that works together with the natural human gait instead of trying to alter it.

Engineered to complement the mechanics of the human foot, but with functional protection and stability control, the BareTech concept fundamentally changes several established practices in performance footwear design: heel lift, heel flare, and midsole construction.

BareTech combines GoLite Footwear’s Soft Against the Ground Technology with a completely neutral last so that the heel is on the same plane as the metatarsals, as nature intended. The aggressively contoured design of the last spreads pressure evenly across the bottom of the foot, eliminating the need for thick midsoles. And the asymmetrical upper design works with the natural shape of the foot, allowing the toes to
splay naturally.

The elimination of heel flare and the undercut heel replicate the curve of an actual heel, delaying footstrike and reducing “foot flap” and instability.

Our new series of GoLite shoes designed on the Baretech platform provide the smoothest, most stable, most natural ride ever experienced in an outdoor performance shoe. BareTech is featured throughout the GoLite Footwear line, from the new Class 1 Trail Runners to Fastpacking, to Multi Sport to Travel, as everyone can benefit from a more natural stride.

Don’t go barefoot…go BareTech. It’s better than barefoot.

Complete BareTech Features:
• Completely neutral last
• No heel lift
• Anatomically contoured insole distributes pressure
• Undercut heel
• Anatomically correct last reflects foot shape
• Asymmetrical, anatomically correct upper
• Roomy toe box for metatarsals
• Soft Against the Ground Technology for comfort, stability and shock attenuation

Links
GoLite Footwear: http://www.golite-footwear.com (new site coming in September)
Soft Against the Ground Technology and BareTech video: http://bit.ly/cpMH6y

About GoLite Footwear
GoLite Footwear designs and manufactures “improbably light” shoes, especially for people who live to be in the outdoors. GoLite’s “Soft against the Ground” suspension system effectively turns the traditional shoe upside down to provide greater stability and traction while enhancing overall protection and performance. GoLite delivers a complete line of off road adventure shoes including trail runners, light hikers, technical travel shoes and rejuvenators. For information on the full line of GoLite footwear, please log onto http://www.golite-footwear.com or contact Vivian Lefebvre at 877-610-8870 or vlefebvre@newenglandfootwear.com

Visit GoLite here.

New England Footwear recently sent me a pair of GoLite “Fire” shoes to test and review.  Today I completed my final trail test-run with the recently released shoes.   This shoe review will contain mostly pictures and some commentary, in an effort to show you how these shoes performed in each circumstance; from packed trails, to slick sandstone and hard mountain rock.  We reviewed several other pairs of trail running shoes, but only one pair was chosen for an all-expenses paid road trip trail shoe review.

Let’s begin the review at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.  Ranger Bill at Arches told us that you must stay on the marked trails, otherwise you are “busting the crust.”  We assure you and Ranger Bill that there was no busted crust while at the park.  The GoLite Fires handled the slick rock, dirt and red sand without any slips.

Next we go to Goblin Valley, Utah.  This State Park is an incredible scene to behold.  The entire park is covered with small sandstone structures that look like thousands of aliens who set up shop in the middle of Utah for a family reunion.  You can’t help but run from structure to structure, scaling the dusty sandstone just to see if you can identify any of your relatives.

Next we go to the Manti LaSal National Forrest.  Three pictures show the topography that was thrown at the shoes this time.  The shoe proved to have incredible stability on the uneven surfaces, and yes, they handled the plain old packed trail just fine.

Next, Rock Canyon.  This canyon is well, rocky.  The shoes handled the uneven, rocky terrain with ease.

The final trail run was Grove Creek Canyon.  Every kind of terrain imaginable is on this trail: gravel, dirt, rocks and shale.  Of all the trail runs, this had the steepest terrain and the most rugged off-road conditions.  The shoes exceeded our expectations here, too.

Miles driven for this review: 880 miles.

National Parks: Three. (Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef.)

State Parks: Two.  (Dead Horse Point and Goblin Valley)

Shoe Test Miles: 29 total miles running, walking, scrambling and just looking good.

Now for the shoe highlights for all the non-visual people:

• We loved the customizable antimicrobial footbed, it provided the precise fit for my narrow foot.  The insole design allows for perfect customization for narrow, medium and wide feet.
• The all new “glove fit” integrated with the tongue and laces made my foot feel secure and snug.  At first, there’s a feeling to adjust your socks when you slide your foot in the shoe, but when you tie the laces, you’re glad it’s there.
• The shoe offers optimal balance of cushion and torsion.  GoLite’s trademark “NeoFoam” wraps around the entire shoe and offers protection and support.  It also cleans up nicely.
• The best “Trail Claws” and “Paw Pads” provide more surface contact with the ground.
• Gripstick™ rubber is an exclusive high-grip compound that offers extra traction on slick surfaces.
• The heel cradle keeps your heel right where it belongs.
• Ample toe protection – see the pictures!
• It has incredible light-weight performance: the shoe is true to the brand, weighing in at only 14.00 oz.

Shoes of the day: GoLite’s Fire.  We think even Smokey the Bear would like these Fires!  But don’t Go-lite any fires without his permission.