Shoes Of The Day

It’s time for another trail running shoe review.

Meet Keith.

See Keith at at 11,722 feet.

Meet Keith’s shoes that got him to the top.

Keith’s shoes of choice, Montrail Vitesse Trail Running Shoe.

He likes Montrail shoes and here’s why: “since purchasing my Montrails in July I’ve run the Bair Gutsman trail race, numerous trail training runs, and a 6-mile off-road section of the Red Rock Relay in them.  This past weekend he had the opportunity to pace a friend over the final 25 miles of the Wasatch 100-mile Race in Utah’s Wasatch Mountain Range from Layton to the Homestead Resort.”
Here are some specifics from Kieth about his Montrails:

• Thick and stiff outsole protects my foot against rocks
• Gusseted tongue helps keep dirt and debris out
• An outrigger feature on the outside of the sole helps prevent ankle rolling on uneven trails
• Light weight means I get all the protective features with minimal fatigue

Thanks Keith and happy running!

Happy Labor Day from Shoes Of The Day.  There isn’t a better time to get out and trail run - the leaves are changing, the air is perfectly crisp, and soon there will be snow.  This September we are going to exclusively review trail running shoes, and we wanted to share 10 tips for finding the perfect trail running shoe for you and your feet.

1. Breatheability.  Let’s be honest, your feet are already pretty cool - that’s why you’re here.  No need for your feet to heat up on your trail runs.  Look for a lightweight mesh or some other breathable material in an upper.  Not only will your shoes be cooler for you when you run, but when you step in water, they will dry out much quicker.  Get breatheability.  If you can’t stay out of the water, abandon this bullet-point altogether and get something that’s stuffy and waterproof.

2. Integrated tongue. If you like dirt, rocks and other debris snuggled up with your feet, stick your tongue out.  For those who don’t, make sure your next trail running shoe has an integrated tongue.  Extra padding in the tongue will make the top of your foot happy.

3. Toe protection.  No steel toe is required, just some nice tough rubber, urethane or other material to protect your toes.  When trail running, chances are you will kick some rocks or tree stumps.  To reduce the risk of angry toes, keep them happy and protected with extra on the front of the toebox.

4. Cushion.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Find the right amount of cushion for you depending on the terrain that you run on.

5. Traction.  Bowling shoes are meant to slide.  Your trail shoes shouldn’t.   Remember pavement is flat, the trail isn’t.  Look for an outsole with climbing and descending traction. You need something that has some “meat on the bone” and offers durability in the high wear areas - look for meaty lugs!  Also, consider the variety of surfaces that you will encounter - rocks, mud, grass and dirt.  You never know what mother nature will toss your way - make sure your shoes are ready with adequate traction.

6. Light-weight.  You’re carrying enough, that might be why you’re running.  The last thing you want is clunky heavy shoes to add weight to your ascent or descent.  Lighten up, and you can start with your shoes.  Most good light-weight trail running shoes are between 11-15 ounces.

7.  Notice the laces.  Think seatbelt.  Right, I didn’t wear one in the 70’s either.  But think how nice it would have been to stay in one place when that vinyl seat heated up in the Chevelle and you started to slip.  The same goes for your feet; you don’t want your feet moving around without your permission.  Look for integrated lacing for your foot’s safety and security.  Buckle up, it’s also the law.

8. Leave some room for the toes.  Think first-class in an airplane - make them comfortable and they’ll become frequent fliers.  Remember, when you run, your feet will swell and when it heats up in the toebox, its like flying coach…you didn’t claim the armrests and it’s a 4-hour flight.  Typically you want a trail shoe that is 1/2 size larger than you normally wear.

9.  Gotta have the look.  Pick the right color, even if you have to pay a little more.  Guys, those hot pink shoes are probably on sale for a reason.  You need to like to look at them on the shelf and especially when you’re running.

10. Above all, gotta love the way they fit and feel.  Try a pair on.  Get the right fit.  Buy Shoes at Zappos.com and take advantage of Free Overnight Shipping - you like ‘em, keep ‘em - you don’t, send them back.

Now go put them to use and Happy Trails.

The last review was about a shoe with rich history.  Today’s shoe review is more about the future.  No, we’re not talking the Nike McFly, we’re talking TNF (The North Face) glue-less kicks.  Glue is not for shoes according to a press release issued today by The North Face.  You’ll have to wait until 2010 to slip your feet into a pair of these sweethearts.  So, how do they do it?  We’re glad you asked.  It’s a little secret TNF calls “snap-and-lock TPU connectors”.  What this means in shoe-English, they don’t use glue - they sew everything together.  The Shoes of the Day along with the Environment, want to congratulate TNF in doing their part to drive oil prices down by removing the need for petroleum-based shoes.

Now for the names of these glue-less shoes.  Women can choose two styles from The North Face Suzy Q-Zy collection.  Men, well you get a name that is more fitting and not so cute-z.  Men deserve a nice strong bruit name like “Kyoto”.  The Kyoto collection features two flavors in a lace-up and slip-on.  Enough with the everyday shoes, I am excited for the new release of their technical trail running shoes, multisport shoes and hiking shoes.

Do you think glue belongs in shoes or should it just stay in the classroom?  Personally, I like the glitter glue.  The Shoezy-Q-Zy’s of the day, TNF Suzy Q-Zy and Kyoto-Quasimodo.  You can read the press release here.  For more information on The North Face, check out thenorthface.com.

Now I really feel justified, I’m going to test drive that big sport utility vehicle.

Happy Earth Day!  Well, we made it!  You felt okay walking up to that tree and giving it a long deserved hug, didn’t you?  Tomorrow you won’t have to feel guilty driving to work watching all of those earth-conscious bike riders pedaling alongside you, thinking you should be doing the same. Or continue to worry about all of the plastic-wear you used in the break room to make that single cup of whatever that stuff was – as long as it was thrown in the recycling bin.  You know, we are all for saving the earth and we are trying to do our part.  In fact, today we kept the office lights off all day!  Now we want to help you to do your part and feel good about your next shoe purchase, buying a shoe that keeps on giving, giving back to you and to our mother earth.  We decided to review a pair of eco-friendly and earth friendly shoes.  Because we care about you, your feet and the one and only planet that we share, Earth.  The organic, natural, farm-fresh, vegan, and fungal in color, shoes of the day: The Macbeth* - Eliot Vegan (Fungi/Black) – Footwear

•    Vegan friendly textile uppers
•    Original pennant logo
•    Contrast cable stitching
•    Vegan icon art on heel pennant
•    Vulcanized construction
•    Synthetic outsole for traction
*We have no historical proof that Macbeth was vegan  – what we do know is that the famous play written by Shakespeare has been adapted to several entertainment mediums including: television, opera, comic books and now shoes!

Happy Presidents Day!  Each Monday, we go back to work and address our own individual business challenges – your shoes shouldn’t be one of those challenges.   So, each Monday we are going to review shoes that will make your feet look and feel great on the first day of the week.  However, today I was thinking about the oval office and what shoes I would want on my feet if I were the President.  If I were the President for one day, I would want a pair of shoes that would offer a few fantastic features:

• Lighten my load.  I would want shoes that would help lighten the load and evenly distribute the weight which would be on the shoulders of a president.

• Look cool walking around.  I would welcome the increased style in my posture and gait.  Besides, isn’t there plenty of sitting that goes on in Washington already.  A pair of shoes where I could get up, walk around, and look good doing it.

• Built-in wake up calls.  The promised activation of neglected muscles – now that’s a stimulus package that I could believe in!

• Help with the numbers. Increased rear-end( buttock) muscle activity – as I am sure it (the rear-end) gets its share of lactic acid build up and a fair share of kicking.

• Help! my back!  I would love shoes that would strengthen my spine subconsciously.  Consciously, don’t we need more strong spines in Washington?  Well, more spines in Washington would be great, period!  Don’t you agree?

• Consensus - something my whole body could agree on.  A shoe that would activate my whole body while in use.  Let’s get everyone in the House and Senate some of these shoes!

Well President, on this special day that is dedicated to you, we looked long and hard and found a pair of shoes that will do all of the above and more for you!  We recommend the new “business on top, party on the bottom” Karani shoes by MBT.  The MBT Karani’s have a rocking chair style bottom which will keep you rocking all day long.  President Barack Obama already has a pretty district strut – imagine what these MBT’s would do to add to it!  Here is a word of caution, there is required break-in time with these shoes – MBT recommends that you work up to wearing them all day,  take a few hours the first week and get your body used to the unique sole.

Do you want to look Presidential in all that you do, buy a suit and tie and a pair of MBT shoes and you are on your way.   Don’t forget to mention this helpful shoe recommendation from your friends at shoes of the day when you run in 2012.

Take a closer look by clicking on the MBT shoe below:

Happy Valentine’s Day from  the shoes of the day.  Since today is a day filled with hearts and love, it reminded me of an ad that I saw recently.  The ad compared the cost for a new pair of shoes to the cost for major heart surgery.  A pair of walking or running shoes: $80-100 .  Bypass Heart Surgery: $20,000.  Go and buy some shoes - as you can see, a new pair of shoes is much cheaper than any future medical treatment.  Looking for another benefit?  Just think, if you wear out your shoes you can also justify staying current with the newest shoe fashion trends.

Back to hearts.  Here is an idea for you: if you need some additional inspiration or motivation to work out, take your current shoes, get out a red marker and draw a big heart on your shoes.  This will remind you every time you lace these sweethearts up, your heart and maybe the love of your life will thank you.  If neither of those are a good enough option for you, then just think it will make for a great conversational piece, especially if you are looking for love.  Send us a picture of the hearts on your shoes, a story of why you put hearts on your shoes and the reaction.  Your shoes may even be featured on shoesoftheday.com

Back to shoes.  Here is a picture of my shoes, I am committed - for the love of shoes!  Enjoy the shoes of the day: Shoes that I Heart!

These are the ShoesOfTheDay….probably for the entire month of April. Amazing.  Thanks Treehugger!

No, we’re not talking Wayne Newton, if so this would be a cowboy boot review. We’re talking Sir Isaac Newton and a company that has built their shoe brand around Newton’s first law of Motion. Yeah, the law that states that an object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion remains in motion…etc. Shoes that remain in motion?

I don’t know about you, but I have yet to wear a pair of running shoes that say, “come-on, keep on going, you’re not tired, you feel great.” These days, I get tired just lacing up my running shoes. I just want to know, where were these shoes when I had to run the timed mile run in 7th grade 20+ years ago– probably in Coach Swenson’s “secret closet.” Jeff, you were there. Yeah, that’s for another day.

It is interesting to read and hear about trends and buzz-words in the news: “green” in building, “organic” in food, and “barefoot” in shoes. Get off your heels and run on your forefoot - that is what they say at Newton Running. (Running-man stick-figures not included.) However, if you run in cowboy boots, stay on your heels and just be careful to not damage your spurs.

Be prepared to spend a minimum of a Benjamin and a Grant for this shoe technology. Better yet, get your grant, pay for these shoes, and go running.

Enjoy the shoes of the day that stay in motion….the MEN’S CUSHION RACER by Newton Running.

Breaking Shoe News: Under Armour, the performance apparel company looks to the future with footwear claiming “the game has changed and the future is ours.” Can’t wait to see these shoes.

The new Under Armour shoe touts the following: Power. Power meaning “domination and explosion.” Further power is defined by “The ultimate power player trains for maximum vertical performance” Dwight Schrute needs this Shoe! Speed. Speed meaning the “fastest in the game.” Fastest? I wonder how they tested this. With automobiles it is obvious, bigger engine, more horse power and worse gas mileage = faster. Not sure how they are going to get more ponies under the tongue! Finally Evade. Evade meaning “lateral supremacy, the player who dominates with quick cuts trains for lateral supremacy.” Yes, this is definitely Dwight Schrute’s Shoe!

Under Armour will be running a commercial during the Super Bowl this year — and if your looking for comedy, you won’t find it here, they don’t want to do funny this year. Stay tuned because the first ad will come about one week before the Super Bowl and the new Under Armour shoe makes its debut on May the 3rd.

See the UA Evade Proto here.

If Under Armour is really making a shoe, shouldn’t it be called “OA” — for Outer Armour?