The Other Toe Shoes
Vibram Five Fingers are generally now ubiquitously known as THE toe shoes. They have patents on several aspects of their VFFs making it incredibly hard for other shoe companies to make similar shoes. However, there are a few that have prevailed and one that is entering the market soon (although there is a lawsuit against Fila for patent infringement right now so this may change). Here's a quick compilation of the ones currently out and coming out.
Inov- 8 Evoskin
Website: Inov-8.com
Blogosphere:
Description: "Connect with the earth and experience a freedom that was previously the reserve of barefoot purists. With only a single layer of silicone between your foot and the ground, the evoskin™ behaves like a second skin, protecting the foot but allowing you to feel the motion of running like never before. With added health benefits, incorporating the evoskin™ into your training program will help strengthen your foot muscles. For maximum proprioceptive feedback and gecko like grip, the evoskin™ is ideal for a range of activities including water sports, treadmill workouts and barefoot training sessions. Discover an alternative way to experience earth. Removable sports performance strap included (+10g)."
Fila Skele-Toes
Website: Fila.com
Blogosphere:
Description: "Fila Skele-Toes lightweight, form fitting shoes simulate the natural,flexible motion of running barefoot! An EZ Slide feature combines smallest 2 toes for easy access while adjustable straps & bungee cords provide customized fit & ease of entry. Polyurethane."
Adidas AdiPure Trainer (Coming Soon)
Website: Adidas.com
Blogosphere:
Unofficial Description: "Designed to mimic the experience of exercising barefoot while providing the protection, traction and durability of a shoe. The Adipure Trainer, which is a cross between a glove for the feet and a traditional shoe, hits U.S. stores in November priced at $90."
And lastly, a message from our favorite:
NB Minimus WT10/WT20, WR10
I've been talking about these shoes for more than a year now and I still do not have a pair of my own (nor do I need them). I really just want them!
See pictures and descriptions below:
NB WT10 (2 new colors added since this line was originally released):
WT10 Minimus Trail takes the proven versatile durability of a Vibram outsole and combines it with a fitted, minimalist upper that's comfortable with or without socks.
NB WT20 (2011 upgrade to the WT10 line):
WT20 New Balance Minimus Trail takes the proven versatile durability of a Vibram® outsole and combines it with a fitted, extremely minimalist upper that's comfortable with or without socks. This companion to the WT10 Minimus Trail features a modified upper on the same comfortable sole unit as its popular counterpart, creating a near-barefoot experience on the trail.
NB WT10 Minimus Road:
The Minimus Road running shoe is engineered for use on pavement and other varied running surfaces. Supremely comfortable and extremely lightweight, the WR10 is taking the running world by storm.
They're all so stylish, it kills me. All models are available for $99.99.
In other news, the VIVOBAREFOOT Neos have still yet to be shipped and I ordered them 2 weeks ago! I have a serious shoe problem.
Gmap-Pedometer 2.0!
A few days ago Gmap-Pedometer 2.0 went live tapping into many of the features readily available on dailymile. V2.0 takes the social networking aspect out of dailymile and sets its primary function for logging routes and workouts in an organized fashion.
In their own words:
What is this?
This is a Web app designed to let you track the precise distance of your workouts, and track and log your activity. It started life as a little hack that uses Google's superb mapping application to help record distances traveled during a running or walking workout, and has grown since then.
Why?
As a runner training for a marathon for the first time, I found myself wishing I had an easy way to know the exact distance a certain course is, without having to drag a GPS or pedometer around on my runs. Looking at Google Maps, and knowing there was a vibrant community of geeks hacking it, I knew there had to be a way. So here it is. I placed the a link to my Web app on a couple of running message boards, and the rest was history.
Following Eric Raymond's first law, I proceeded to add features designed to scratch all the personal itches I felt over the years. Features have included: an Openstreetmap overlay, the ability to follow roads as you create routes, create an elevation graph, and log and chart your workouts. The site continues to be under active (if not always rapid!) development.
Here are their new features with some screenshots:
Expandable Map
Create Account/Personal Profiles
Save/Bookmark Routes - Name + Descriptions (v1.0 gave you a URL link for saved routes, now they let you keep it as a bookmark in a list)
Add Workouts
Workout Logs (Calendar, List, Chart)
Although it has a 90s amateur feel to it, progress is progress and I look forward to more updates in the future!
The Clymb and VIVOBAREFOOT
Every few days or so I get an email from The Clymb which offers member-exclusive sales on premium brands specializing in outdoor and recreational products. Sales usually last up to 3 days and are around 50-60% off with a flat shipping rate of $7.95. I can't remember when or how I signed up to be a member, but I have been for a while now. Although I have only taken advantage of its sales once before -- I believe it was a CamelBak sale -- I do think it's worth joining. [Click here for an invite to join!]
My most recent email from them caught my attention more so than most days. This week they offered member pricing on the following: ARC'TERYX, VIVOBAREFOOT, HIGHGEAR, KELTY, Slumberjack, ICON, and Jacob Bromwell. I'm pretty sure you know exactly what caught my attention! VIVOBAREFOOT. I've read many great things about this shoe company that is committed solely to producing barefoot/minimalist style shoes.
Here's what I'm SUPER excited about: VIVOBAREFOOT Neo L - on sale for $54.98, originally $120. What a steal.
I'm excited because they are multi-purpose! They can be used for running, cross-training, and casual wear. I especially love the color ways offered for this line, they don't even look like running shoes. Full review to come as soon as I can get my feet in them and some mileage going.
More on VIVOBAREFOOT:
As I briefly mentioned in the previous post, the 2011 Outdoor Retailer Trade Show was just this past week and ended today. ToeSalad.com was nice enough to put up a few videos on some of the 2012 shoe lines. The one below is an interview with the VIVOBAREFOOT International Sales Director, Ben Le Vesconte. Two things in particular that interest me: first barefoot hiking shoe and trail shoes with 2mm plugs!
2012 is looking good
Here's why:
Runner's World Magazine just returned from the 2011 Outdoor Retail Trade Show with pictures of the 2012 gear. Click here to see their Facebook album: 2012 Gear Preview
Below are the ones I'm particularly excited about (all photos courtesy of Runner's World Magazine) --
Merrell Road Glove: $110
Vibram Seeya: $100
New Balance 110: $85
VIVOBAREFOOT Breath O Trail: $90
I'm such an addict, can't wait!
[Update] Merrell Women’s Pace Glove
I finally got the chance to take the Pace Gloves out on a trail this past weekend (post on Old Rag Mountain to come). So how did they fair against traditional hiking shoes?
In my opinion, not too shabby! I am completely aware that hiking shoes are important in preventing injury from rolling your ankle while hiking across rocks and the like. But... I don't have hiking shoes and I do have these awesome trail shoes.
Findings:
- Agility and Flexibility
- Comfort
- Increased Awareness (of surroundings)
The first time I climbed Old Rag, I wore a pair of old sneakers. I was scared to do the rock scrambling and the small jumps that are required to get across. This time around, since I was so light, I felt like Spiderman jumping around. There is also this two mile path to get back to the parking lot that can get pretty boring. We decided to run the last half mile of it in order to get through it faster and this was the perfect opportunity for me to truly test out the Pace Gloves as trail running shoes. The verdict? They worked beautifully. Although I still felt close to the ground, the small rocks beneath me didn't hurt my feet. Barefoot, but not! Just as advertised. No wonder Shape Magazine named it the Best Trail Running Shoe of 2011!
They've add a bunch of new colorways to this line, so be sure to check them out!
New Balance in the media
Washington Post: New Balance struggles as sole remaining major U.S. athletic shoe manufacturer
hrmm.. time to by me a pair of the NB Minimus Trails??
Chia, the new Flax?
Flaxseed will always hold a special place in my healthy heart, but there's a new seed in town. Enter: chia. I bet what comes to mind first is, "ch-ch-ch-chia!" And yes, chia seed sprouts are the same sprouts that form Chia Pets! I'll give you a moment to digest that revelation.
I first discovered chia seeds while reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall and was intrigued how ubiquitously it was being used by runners. I wanted to try them for myself, here are my initial thoughts:
Uses:
- Drink: 1 tablespoon in a glass of water will turn it into a gel.
- Eat: Sprinkled over anything (oatmeal, salad, eggs, spaghetti, etc)
- Just as I had expected, chia does not have any flavor! So I don't mind sprinkling it onto my meals as it does not alter the taste.
- I do not like drinking it with water, the seeds get stuck all over my teeth and when it turns to get, I feel like I should be chewing it, but I can't at the same time. It's a very awkward and somewhat unpleasant experience.
Benefits:
- High water retention (keeps you hydrated longer - beneficial for endurance activities)
- High calcium content
- High fiber content
- Low-sodium
- Good source of antioxidants
- Great source for omega-3 and omega-6 cholesterol lowering fatty acids
Where to Buy:
Other Comments:
For daily consumption and the health benefits, I love eating them knowing that I am doing good to my body. My one complaint is that with its high fiber content, I cannot eat them before a race. Twice now I've had to run to the bathroom minutes before the race to get rid of the previous night's dinner. In the future, I definitely don't want to risk the need to go mid-race. That would be absolutely horrific.
Links:
Free Resources for Mapping out Running Routes
Web-based Tools:
This website uses Google Maps to map out any route you can possibly come up with. Sometimes I'll map my route out beforehand so I can know exactly how far I'm going and where exactly to turn. Other times I run wherever I please for as long as I please and go back to see what the actual distance was. It's a fairly accurate tool and I use it regularly.
Not only is this a great website to keep a log of any kind of workout, but when tracking your run or ride, they'll give you the option of mapping it out.
Mobile/GPS Apps:
The following apps can be used during your run for live tracking. As long as you have a GPS signal/location features enabled on your phone, it'll map out your route as you go.
Map My Run (also Map My Fitness and Map My Ride)
Available for iPhone, Blackberry and Android. Other features: Show Elevation, Live Tracking (friends can track your progress on a map while you work out), displays distance, time, pace and speed, Voice Feedback, Online Training Log and social media connectivity (Facebook, Twitter).
Available for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7. Other features: live stats (cals burned, average min/mi, current time, splits and total miles), real time photo upload, social media connectivity (Facebook, Twitter) and online activity log.
Where to Buy Vibrams Locally (DC Metro Area)
When I bought my first pair of VFFs in July 2010, the only stores selling them were REI, CitySports, and Hudson Trail Outfitters. But even then all these stores didn't have a large inventory and I had to call ahead of time to ask for availability. The specialty running stores hadn't yet bought in on the idea; when I asked a Potomac River Running representative for his thoughts on Vibrams, his response was that they wouldn't be good for long distance running. I'm glad I eventually proved him wrong! Besides, it looks like they agree with me now, right? They're now pretty abundant, but it's always good to call ahead of time to see if they have your size. Here's where you can find Vibrams (and a variety of other minimalist running shoes):
Online Store: REI
| Bailey’s Crossroad REI Store
3509 Carlin Springs Rd (703) 379-9400 Store Hours: M-F 10am-9pm |
Fairfax REI Store
11950 Grand Commons Ave (571) 522-6568 Store Hours: M-F 10am-9pm |
Rockville REI Store
1701 Rockville Pike (301) 230-7670 Store Hours: M-F 10am-9pm |
College Park REI Store
9801 Rhode Island Ave (301) 982-9681 Store Hours: M-F 10am-9pm |
Online Store: CitySports
| 19th Street
1111 19th Street NW Store Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-9pm
|
Gallery Place
715 7th St NW Store Hours: Mon-Wed: 10am-9:30pm |
Bethesda
7121 Arlington Road Store Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-9pm
|
Georgetown
3338 M Street NW Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm
|
Online Store: Hudson Trail Outfitters
| Tenley Circle
4530 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. 202-363-9810 Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm |
Rockville
2085 Rockville Pike 301-881-4955 Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-6pm
|
Fairfax
9488 Fairfax Boulevard 703-591-2950 Store Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm |
Pentagon Row
1101 South Joyce Street, Suite B29 Arlington VA 22202 703-415-4861 Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-6pm |
Online Store: Pacers (Free Shipping on ALL Shoes)
| Alexandria
1301 King St Store Hours:
|
Arlington
3100 Clarendon Blvd Store Hours: |
Fairfax
10427 North St Store Hours:
|
Pentagon Row
1101 South Joyce St #B12 Store Hours:
|
| Logan Circle
1427 P Street NW Store Hours: |
Silver Spring
8535 Fenton St Store Hours: |
Potomac River Running (Online store coming soon)
Arlington 3924 Wilson Blvd Store Hours: M-F: 11am-8pm
|
Ashburn 20630 Ashburn Rd. Store Hours: M-F: 10am-8pm
|
Burke 5715 Burke Centre Pkwy. Store Hours: M-F: 10am-8pm
|
Cleveland Park3513 Conn. Ave NW Store Hours: M-F: 10am-8pm |
Leesburg1601 Village Market Blvd. SE Store Hours: M-F: 10am-8pm |
Reston11911 Democracy Dr. Store Hours: M-F: 10am-9pm |
RockvilleRockville Town Square Store Hours: M-F: 10am-8pm |
Tysons7516 Leesburg Pike Store Hours: M-F: 10am-8pm |
According to the Vibram FiveFingers website, they are also available at: Fleet Feet and Richey and Co.
Happy Shopping!
Pages
Blogroll
Archives
- August 2011 (6)
- July 2011 (6)
- June 2011 (1)
- May 2011 (5)
- April 2011 (1)
- March 2011 (4)
- October 2010 (3)
- August 2010 (3)
- July 2010 (2)
- June 2010 (1)