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| Product Review Wednesdays: 2016 Shoe Trends To Watch Out For |
So I was just browsing online for new running shoes and researching what the best shoe might provide to know what to look out for. I found an article from RunnersWorld.com, by Jonathan Beverly, Martyn Shorten, and Warren Greene, that was titled "3 Shoe Trends to Watch in 2016". The subheading in the article stated that "Better connection to cushioning, more bounce, and greater durability are things to look forward to."Here are the three things they said to watch for:
Foam:
"Comfort is increasingly king in running shoes, and companies are trying new methods to improve the feel underfoot. If you lift the sock liner out of your shoe, you’ll see that the upper is stitched to a flat piece of fabric that is glued to the sole. This piece is called a “strobel board,” and is a big improvement over the rigid, cardboard-like boards that used to hold the upper to the sole. But, in order to hold the upper securely when it is being stretched over the last (a 3-D foot-shaped mold) during construction, the strobel needs to be made of a robust, non-stretch material. After being saturated in glue, this fabric layer still blocks some of the feel of high-tech squishy and bouncy material that makes up the midsole."
"Nearly every company is now working to minimize the impact of the strobel. The simplest is to simply make the strobel thinner and more flexible, like Pearl Izumi is doing to let runners connect to their smooth-rolling eMotion soles. Adidas is cutting holes in the strobel, such as under the heel bone, to let you feel the cushioned bounce of the Boost material underneath. Not new is inserting foam between layers of fabric in the strobel or making the board itself out of a strip of foam, as Nike and New Balance do in much of their line."
Bounce:
"Not long ago, we thought of shoes as either cushioned—providing comfort—or firm—giving a fast, responsive ride. Now, we’re increasingly seeing companies marketing nuances in the cushioned end of the spectrum, promising shoes that offer responsive, bouncy cushioning as well as those with soft, coddling rides. Adidas defined this new bouncy category with its Boost models, and now is inserting the game-changing material in all of their styles. While such materials don’t actually add energy to the propulsion of your stride, they may provide savings in the energy cost of landing and taking off, making you more efficient (adequate research has yet to prove this). In any event, these midsoles create a different sensation, one that many runners appreciate."
"At Outdoor Retailer, we saw more companies looking to compete in this category. Saucony, for example, is introducing Everun foam, a new compound that doesn’t sink like traditional foams, thus it disperses forces and provides energy return, speeding your stride along. You’ll find it in their award-winning Triumph ISO and Hurricane ISO, both in a full-length layer directly under the foot (see above) and inserted in midsole on the outside of the heel where most people have the highest landing forces. New Balance also is touting a “bouncier” midsole compound in their Vazee Breath. Puma is expanding its Ignite line with full-length, rubbery midsoles that have excellent flex and cushion scores while delivering Super Ball-like rebound"
Rubber:
"Remember when most shoes had thin little strips of rubber over mostly exposed midsoles? With oil prices low and a renewed emphasis on traction and durability, we’re seeing more rubber and high quality compounds. Nearly every company has its “proprietary” rubber, a synthetic blend that promises to grip the road or trail and/or wear longer, or they are partnering with a high-end rubber manufacturer like Vibram or Continental. Road shoes are getting substantial rubber triangles and wavy patterns that harken back to early running shoes of the 70s."
"Nowhere is this trend more apparent than in trail shoes. Adidas, The North Face, La Sportiva, Merrel, Scarpa, and Salomon all showed off shoes with quarter-inch-deep rubber lugs for aggressive trail and mud running. Saucony is putting its grippy Powertrak outsole, first seen in the Nomad, on the popular Peregrine. And Skechers replaced the small circles of rubber on their notoriously quick-wearing Ultra Trail with a full-length carbon rubber sole."
** To read the full article, please visit Runner's World.
Tune in next Wednesday for more products and reviews on Product Review Wednesdays!
Also, check in tomorrow to see my third installment of Nutrition Thursdays!
