Donald Buraglio and Michael Dove's Blog, page 27
June 2, 2011
Merrell Barefoot Tough Glove Review
Despite the recent explosion in minimalist athletic shoe options over the couple of years, the dress shoe market has been very slow to keep pace. Prior to this spring, that market was essentially dominated by VIVOBAREFOOT's extensive collection, along with a few single-model options from various manufacturers such as the Sanuk Boardroom, the Simple Gumshoe, or the Patagonia Pau (review coming soon) that offer reasonable crossover appeal for natural movement proponents.
Merrell Barefoot Tough Glove, in Honey Brown
A few months ago Merrell entered the dress shoe game, and just as they did with their outstanding running shoes, they hit a home run on their first time at bat. The Merrell Barefoot Tough Glove is good looking enough to wear in practically any formal setting, comfortable enough to wear all day long, and has all the features and biomechanics that minimalist users desire.
Full-grain leather upper; yellow antimicrobial insole
The uppers are constructed of full grain leather that's available in three colors: black, aluminum, and honey brown. The colors are somewhat oddly named, as you can see on this Merrell product page: the aluminum actually has kind of a beige tint, the honey brown looks more like dark chocolate, and the black … well, OK – it looks black. Both the black and brown colors are very office friendly, and go quite nicely with a shirt, tie, and khakis, or even formal slacks and a jacket. Having leather uppers instead of mesh doesn't add a whole lot of weight, as the Tough Glove weighs in at 7.1 oz compared to 6.2 for the Trail Glove.
Thin ankle collar padding; anti-microbial footbed
The thin leather also happens to be super comfortable, and softens very nicely around the contours of your foot as it gets worn in. The shape of the upper is similar to Merrell's Trail Glove, with a relatively narrow midfoot area secured by the same Omni-Fit lacing system that the trail runners have. Putting the Tough Gloves on isn't as tricky as I described with the Trail Glove, perhaps due to the fact that my dress socks tend to be very thin compared to running socks, and very slick compared to bare feet. Just like the Trail Glove, the toe box of the Tough Glove has plenty of room for your toes to move around unimpeded, and there's a 2mm antimicrobial footbed underfoot to provide comfort and to help diminish the stink factor.
Super-flexible midsole and outsole
From the midsole down, all models in the Merrell Barefoot line are essentially the same: there is 4mm of compression-molded EVA with a 1mm forefoot shock absorption plate in the midsole, and zero drop from heel to forefoot. The entire shoe is highly flexible and allows natural foot movement in all directions. Standing height (outsole, midsole, plate, and insole) is approximately 12mm, which is the one major aspect where Merrell compares unfavorably to VIVOBAREFOOT, whose pure minimalist dress shoes are typically 3 to 5mm off the ground. I discussed this issue in my Trail Glove review: basically, the height and material construction of Merrell's Barefoot line places it in an ideal crossover position between the minimalist crowd and more mainstream users who want natural mechanics without sacrificing comfort.
Rugged Vibram outsole
Keeping you in contact with the ground is the same outstanding Vibram outsole that Merrell uses on its trail running models. Honestly, the amount of traction this outsole provides is complete overkill when it comes to casual shoes – but I have to say that it's kind of cool to zip around the corporate office in them. I can stop on a dime in the slate hallway, make a sharp pivot on the linoleum in the break room, or cut tight corners around the long conference room table. And I can grip the asphalt like a gecko when I need to race across the parking lot to beat my co-workers to the lunch truck.
If the midsole was Merrell's drawback compared to VIVOBAREFOOT, the outsole completely blows it out of the water. Vivos have a shallower tread and can occasionally be slippery on wet surfaces; with the Tough Gloves, you'll never be in danger of losing your footing, regardless of the weather or any terrain you encounter. Lifespan of the outsole is most likely well over several hundred miles; my Trail Gloves have a couple of hundred miles on them without showing any significant signs of wear.
Essentially, you're showing up at the office in a pair of shoes that's capable of running a mountain ultra, so to say that the outsole and midsole are durable for everyday wear is a significant understatement. Combined with the resilient leather uppers, these shoes are built to take just about anything. They'd also be rugged enough to use as hiking shoes, but with their great styling I suspect most people will choose them for business wear – and the pricing of the Tough Glove indicates that this is Merrell's intended use as well.
Too stylish for the trails!
Retail price of the Tough Glove is $120, which is 10 to 20 dollars more than other models in the Merrell Barefoot line. However, the price is very comparable with most office wear – and since they'll last you so long, their longevity will rival and possibly surpass the most well-constructed dress shoes from any manufacturer. If you just want a good general-purpose outdoor shoe, save yourself a few bucks and go with the Trail Gloves – but if you want great style along with your natural stride, spend a little extra for the Tough Glove. It's a great investment to help you look sharp for years to come.
The Merrell Barefoot Tough Glove retails for $120 from TravelCountry.com, a great outdoor supplier who also provided the shoes for this review. They have plenty of stock of the Tough Glove as well as the Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove for men and Merrell Barefoot Pace Glove for women.
*Product provided by TravelCountry.com
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
Merrell Barefoot Tough Glove, in Honey Brown
A few months ago Merrell entered the dress shoe game, and just as they did with their outstanding running shoes, they hit a home run on their first time at bat. The Merrell Barefoot Tough Glove is good looking enough to wear in practically any formal setting, comfortable enough to wear all day long, and has all the features and biomechanics that minimalist users desire.
Full-grain leather upper; yellow antimicrobial insole
The uppers are constructed of full grain leather that's available in three colors: black, aluminum, and honey brown. The colors are somewhat oddly named, as you can see on this Merrell product page: the aluminum actually has kind of a beige tint, the honey brown looks more like dark chocolate, and the black … well, OK – it looks black. Both the black and brown colors are very office friendly, and go quite nicely with a shirt, tie, and khakis, or even formal slacks and a jacket. Having leather uppers instead of mesh doesn't add a whole lot of weight, as the Tough Glove weighs in at 7.1 oz compared to 6.2 for the Trail Glove.
Thin ankle collar padding; anti-microbial footbed
The thin leather also happens to be super comfortable, and softens very nicely around the contours of your foot as it gets worn in. The shape of the upper is similar to Merrell's Trail Glove, with a relatively narrow midfoot area secured by the same Omni-Fit lacing system that the trail runners have. Putting the Tough Gloves on isn't as tricky as I described with the Trail Glove, perhaps due to the fact that my dress socks tend to be very thin compared to running socks, and very slick compared to bare feet. Just like the Trail Glove, the toe box of the Tough Glove has plenty of room for your toes to move around unimpeded, and there's a 2mm antimicrobial footbed underfoot to provide comfort and to help diminish the stink factor.
Super-flexible midsole and outsole
From the midsole down, all models in the Merrell Barefoot line are essentially the same: there is 4mm of compression-molded EVA with a 1mm forefoot shock absorption plate in the midsole, and zero drop from heel to forefoot. The entire shoe is highly flexible and allows natural foot movement in all directions. Standing height (outsole, midsole, plate, and insole) is approximately 12mm, which is the one major aspect where Merrell compares unfavorably to VIVOBAREFOOT, whose pure minimalist dress shoes are typically 3 to 5mm off the ground. I discussed this issue in my Trail Glove review: basically, the height and material construction of Merrell's Barefoot line places it in an ideal crossover position between the minimalist crowd and more mainstream users who want natural mechanics without sacrificing comfort.
Rugged Vibram outsole
Keeping you in contact with the ground is the same outstanding Vibram outsole that Merrell uses on its trail running models. Honestly, the amount of traction this outsole provides is complete overkill when it comes to casual shoes – but I have to say that it's kind of cool to zip around the corporate office in them. I can stop on a dime in the slate hallway, make a sharp pivot on the linoleum in the break room, or cut tight corners around the long conference room table. And I can grip the asphalt like a gecko when I need to race across the parking lot to beat my co-workers to the lunch truck.
If the midsole was Merrell's drawback compared to VIVOBAREFOOT, the outsole completely blows it out of the water. Vivos have a shallower tread and can occasionally be slippery on wet surfaces; with the Tough Gloves, you'll never be in danger of losing your footing, regardless of the weather or any terrain you encounter. Lifespan of the outsole is most likely well over several hundred miles; my Trail Gloves have a couple of hundred miles on them without showing any significant signs of wear.
Essentially, you're showing up at the office in a pair of shoes that's capable of running a mountain ultra, so to say that the outsole and midsole are durable for everyday wear is a significant understatement. Combined with the resilient leather uppers, these shoes are built to take just about anything. They'd also be rugged enough to use as hiking shoes, but with their great styling I suspect most people will choose them for business wear – and the pricing of the Tough Glove indicates that this is Merrell's intended use as well.
Too stylish for the trails!
Retail price of the Tough Glove is $120, which is 10 to 20 dollars more than other models in the Merrell Barefoot line. However, the price is very comparable with most office wear – and since they'll last you so long, their longevity will rival and possibly surpass the most well-constructed dress shoes from any manufacturer. If you just want a good general-purpose outdoor shoe, save yourself a few bucks and go with the Trail Gloves – but if you want great style along with your natural stride, spend a little extra for the Tough Glove. It's a great investment to help you look sharp for years to come.
The Merrell Barefoot Tough Glove retails for $120 from TravelCountry.com, a great outdoor supplier who also provided the shoes for this review. They have plenty of stock of the Tough Glove as well as the Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove for men and Merrell Barefoot Pace Glove for women.
*Product provided by TravelCountry.com
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 31, 2011
Soft Star RunAmoc Dash Review
Before today's review, a disclaimer is in order: there shouldn't be any misunderstanding around these parts about my level of affection for the Soft Star company.
I first developed a crush on them after testing their Roo slippers, then fell head over heels in love when they introduced the RunAmoc last spring. Best of all, those feelings were reciprocated, as the company invited me into their product development process, provided prototype moccasins for me to test, and incorporated my feedback into what would eventually become my favorite minimalist running shoe. This spring I even started calling myself Team Soft Star, and wearing their logo on my shirt like a smitten schoolgirl wearing her boyfriend's football jersey. You could say we had a thing.
Imagine then – if I can continue my tortured analogy – if you were that girl, and one day your boyfriend showed up with goth makeup, a terrible new haircut, about 6 crazy facial piercings, and said he was thinking of quitting the football team. You'd be a little bit concerned, wouldn't you? That's sort of how I felt when I first laid eyes on the new RunAmoc Dash. The shoe was ugly, way too metallic-looking, and had significant performance limitations. Even worse, the initial plan was to for it replace the RunAmoc I fell in love with; it makes sense now that I felt like a scorned lover, right? (Um … right?)
Soft Star RunAmoc Dash
Fortunately, as I described in this preview post, Soft Star never lost its ability to listen, and it never gave up caring about me (and by "me", I really mean runners in general … but it's much more romantic if I just say me.) They were agreeable to some makeover advice, and the revamped moccasin that I once considered a goth freak slacker version of its earlier self is now a very respectable partner that you'd be proud to be seen with in public – and in some ways, it's actually a nice improvement over the original. I felt secure enough in our relationship to wear them through 53 muddy miles at Woodside in March, but I'd still rank them one notch below my first love, for reasons I'll explain shortly.
Fun in the mud at Woodside
The good news is that instead of replacing its predecessor, the Dash is now simply an addition to the existing Soft Star catalog, so there should be a style of RunAmoc to satisfy just about anybody.
So how is the Dash different? Most folks will describe it in four words: A RunAmoc With Laces. However, the addition of laces to an old-school moccasin design has some significant ramifications, both from an aesthetic and functional perspective.
2mm street outsole
From a spec standpoint, the Dash is pretty much identical to the previous model, which for clarity is now referred to as the Original RunAmoc. Its weight is roughly 6oz, slightly variable depending on the size and outsole thickness. They are available in non-perforated leather – called the Dash Smooth – or in perforated leather, called the Dash Lite. Suede uppers or custom colors are available for an additional charge. All styles are available with either a 2mm Vibram street outsole or a 5mm Vibram trail outsole, and 100% of the ground feel and flexibility of the Originals are preserved in the Dash. Retail price is slightly more expensive, at $97 for the Dash compared to $87 for the Original.
Perhaps the addition of a simple set of laces, which give the Dash a more shoe-like appearance, shouldn't be such a big deal to me, but I have to say that I dwelt on this aspect for a long time. Part of what I loved so much about the Original was its primitive simplicity: a rubber slab, two pieces of leather, and a string around the ankle holding everything in place. This might sound corny, but there's a very native, ancestral vibe about wearing Original RunAmocs that's lacking with the Dash. If I want minimalist footwear that looks like a regular shoe, I have plenty of choices out there – but if I want an old-school moccasin, there's only one option. In that regard, I felt like Soft Star was moving away from its identity just a bit by adding laces.
However, I fully concede that I'm in the minority with this opinion, and that the addition of the laces addresses two important points of feedback from many RunAmoc users. The most frequent comments Soft Star received were either that 1) they wanted a moc that looked slightly more formal in hopes of wearing them to work or social gatherings without attracting attention, or 2) they reported that the midfoot and forefoot areas of the moc were too loose and floppy for running. With one design change, both of these concerns are fully resolved in the Dash.
Yes, they look more like shoes – I guess whether that's good news or not is up to you. If you get a black leather version, they could certainly pass in most work settings without people thinking you're an elf or a Hobbit. And when the laces are tightened across the midfoot, the upper of the Dash stays nice and snug against the foot, even when swinging it forward during the running stride. You no longer have to trust that the upper will stay correctly in place with each footfall; thanks to the dialed-in fit, you're much more confident of this in the Dash.
There are subtle construction details that further improve the fit of the Dash through the midfoot and forefoot. The last is slightly narrower than it was on the Original RunAmoc, although there is still plenty of room in the toebox for natural toe splay. There's also a lateral overlay of leather that's continuous with the eyelet panel, so when you tighten the laces, the tension on either side of the upper increases as well. When tightened properly, the Dash actually curves to the contour of your foot, especially through the arch; this enhanced fit is a significant upgrade from both a comfort and performance standpoint.
With a traditional lacing system in place, the Dash lacks the lace through the ankle collar that was employed on the Original RunAmoc – and for me, this has been a source of some frustration, in part because I'm something of an oddball. During prototype testing, the fit of the heel cup was the last piece to fall into place; early versions were too loose, or too floppy, or just didn't sit right on or around the ankle. On the final version, the fit of the heelcup is very comfortable around the ankle, and generally stays in place very well, unless you happen to have a strange stride like me.
Here's what I mean: I tend to land on the inside of my heels - even with my practiced midfoot strike – especially on the right side. With an ankle strap to hold the heel section in place, I could secure the Original RunAmoc well enough that I landed consistently on the middle of the outsole – but with that heel strap removed, I tend to roll inward on the Dash.
As you can see in the photo above, the Dash does have a heel cup that should keep most users properly aligned, but for me, my right heel lands about a half-inch to the inside. I did all kinds of experimentation with the front lacing in an attempt to make the rear area more stable, but there wasn't much carryover from lace tension to heel stability.
Consequently, I slide off the inside of the designated landing area - so after about 100 total miles, I start riding directly on the leather to the inside of the heel rather than on the outsole. This causes some comfort issues on multi-hour training runs, and ultimately limits the life span of the moccasin.
Right heel rolling inward after 53 miles at Woodside
Between the aesthetic preference and the heel issue, the Dash isn't ready to overtake the Original RunAmoc as the love of my life, but it certainly has some compelling aspects that other users might prefer. If you found the Original too loose or unpredictable through the forefoot, or if you're interested in a moccasin that can pass for an everyday shoe, the Dash was made for you. If you have heel alignment issues or prefer the tribal style of the Original, you're better off sticking with that one.
So here are your shopping links for both the Dash and the Original models:
Soft Star Original RunAmoc Lite with perforated leather
Soft Star Original RunAmoc Smooth with chocolate suede
Soft Star RunAmoc Dash Lite with perforated leather
Soft Star RunAmoc Dash Smooth with black leather
Remember that custom colors and materials are available for all of the options above. Pick a style and color, and get your elf on!
*Product provided by Soft Star
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
I first developed a crush on them after testing their Roo slippers, then fell head over heels in love when they introduced the RunAmoc last spring. Best of all, those feelings were reciprocated, as the company invited me into their product development process, provided prototype moccasins for me to test, and incorporated my feedback into what would eventually become my favorite minimalist running shoe. This spring I even started calling myself Team Soft Star, and wearing their logo on my shirt like a smitten schoolgirl wearing her boyfriend's football jersey. You could say we had a thing.
Imagine then – if I can continue my tortured analogy – if you were that girl, and one day your boyfriend showed up with goth makeup, a terrible new haircut, about 6 crazy facial piercings, and said he was thinking of quitting the football team. You'd be a little bit concerned, wouldn't you? That's sort of how I felt when I first laid eyes on the new RunAmoc Dash. The shoe was ugly, way too metallic-looking, and had significant performance limitations. Even worse, the initial plan was to for it replace the RunAmoc I fell in love with; it makes sense now that I felt like a scorned lover, right? (Um … right?)
Soft Star RunAmoc Dash
Fortunately, as I described in this preview post, Soft Star never lost its ability to listen, and it never gave up caring about me (and by "me", I really mean runners in general … but it's much more romantic if I just say me.) They were agreeable to some makeover advice, and the revamped moccasin that I once considered a goth freak slacker version of its earlier self is now a very respectable partner that you'd be proud to be seen with in public – and in some ways, it's actually a nice improvement over the original. I felt secure enough in our relationship to wear them through 53 muddy miles at Woodside in March, but I'd still rank them one notch below my first love, for reasons I'll explain shortly.
Fun in the mud at Woodside
The good news is that instead of replacing its predecessor, the Dash is now simply an addition to the existing Soft Star catalog, so there should be a style of RunAmoc to satisfy just about anybody.
So how is the Dash different? Most folks will describe it in four words: A RunAmoc With Laces. However, the addition of laces to an old-school moccasin design has some significant ramifications, both from an aesthetic and functional perspective.
2mm street outsole
From a spec standpoint, the Dash is pretty much identical to the previous model, which for clarity is now referred to as the Original RunAmoc. Its weight is roughly 6oz, slightly variable depending on the size and outsole thickness. They are available in non-perforated leather – called the Dash Smooth – or in perforated leather, called the Dash Lite. Suede uppers or custom colors are available for an additional charge. All styles are available with either a 2mm Vibram street outsole or a 5mm Vibram trail outsole, and 100% of the ground feel and flexibility of the Originals are preserved in the Dash. Retail price is slightly more expensive, at $97 for the Dash compared to $87 for the Original.
Perhaps the addition of a simple set of laces, which give the Dash a more shoe-like appearance, shouldn't be such a big deal to me, but I have to say that I dwelt on this aspect for a long time. Part of what I loved so much about the Original was its primitive simplicity: a rubber slab, two pieces of leather, and a string around the ankle holding everything in place. This might sound corny, but there's a very native, ancestral vibe about wearing Original RunAmocs that's lacking with the Dash. If I want minimalist footwear that looks like a regular shoe, I have plenty of choices out there – but if I want an old-school moccasin, there's only one option. In that regard, I felt like Soft Star was moving away from its identity just a bit by adding laces.
However, I fully concede that I'm in the minority with this opinion, and that the addition of the laces addresses two important points of feedback from many RunAmoc users. The most frequent comments Soft Star received were either that 1) they wanted a moc that looked slightly more formal in hopes of wearing them to work or social gatherings without attracting attention, or 2) they reported that the midfoot and forefoot areas of the moc were too loose and floppy for running. With one design change, both of these concerns are fully resolved in the Dash.
Yes, they look more like shoes – I guess whether that's good news or not is up to you. If you get a black leather version, they could certainly pass in most work settings without people thinking you're an elf or a Hobbit. And when the laces are tightened across the midfoot, the upper of the Dash stays nice and snug against the foot, even when swinging it forward during the running stride. You no longer have to trust that the upper will stay correctly in place with each footfall; thanks to the dialed-in fit, you're much more confident of this in the Dash.
There are subtle construction details that further improve the fit of the Dash through the midfoot and forefoot. The last is slightly narrower than it was on the Original RunAmoc, although there is still plenty of room in the toebox for natural toe splay. There's also a lateral overlay of leather that's continuous with the eyelet panel, so when you tighten the laces, the tension on either side of the upper increases as well. When tightened properly, the Dash actually curves to the contour of your foot, especially through the arch; this enhanced fit is a significant upgrade from both a comfort and performance standpoint.
With a traditional lacing system in place, the Dash lacks the lace through the ankle collar that was employed on the Original RunAmoc – and for me, this has been a source of some frustration, in part because I'm something of an oddball. During prototype testing, the fit of the heel cup was the last piece to fall into place; early versions were too loose, or too floppy, or just didn't sit right on or around the ankle. On the final version, the fit of the heelcup is very comfortable around the ankle, and generally stays in place very well, unless you happen to have a strange stride like me.
Here's what I mean: I tend to land on the inside of my heels - even with my practiced midfoot strike – especially on the right side. With an ankle strap to hold the heel section in place, I could secure the Original RunAmoc well enough that I landed consistently on the middle of the outsole – but with that heel strap removed, I tend to roll inward on the Dash.
As you can see in the photo above, the Dash does have a heel cup that should keep most users properly aligned, but for me, my right heel lands about a half-inch to the inside. I did all kinds of experimentation with the front lacing in an attempt to make the rear area more stable, but there wasn't much carryover from lace tension to heel stability.
Consequently, I slide off the inside of the designated landing area - so after about 100 total miles, I start riding directly on the leather to the inside of the heel rather than on the outsole. This causes some comfort issues on multi-hour training runs, and ultimately limits the life span of the moccasin.
Right heel rolling inward after 53 miles at Woodside
Between the aesthetic preference and the heel issue, the Dash isn't ready to overtake the Original RunAmoc as the love of my life, but it certainly has some compelling aspects that other users might prefer. If you found the Original too loose or unpredictable through the forefoot, or if you're interested in a moccasin that can pass for an everyday shoe, the Dash was made for you. If you have heel alignment issues or prefer the tribal style of the Original, you're better off sticking with that one.
So here are your shopping links for both the Dash and the Original models:
Soft Star Original RunAmoc Lite with perforated leather
Soft Star Original RunAmoc Smooth with chocolate suede
Soft Star RunAmoc Dash Lite with perforated leather
Soft Star RunAmoc Dash Smooth with black leather
Remember that custom colors and materials are available for all of the options above. Pick a style and color, and get your elf on!
*Product provided by Soft Star
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 28, 2011
Running Life Book Review; Monkey Shakes for Sale; Random Shots of Beauty
A couple of quick announcements – one happy, one sad - before this weekend's regularly scheduled RSOB:
First, the good one: Jennefer from a website called Good Reads published one of the best reviews I've seen of my Running Life book - a review that you can read right here. Also, in an effort to sell off our own supply of the book more rapidly, Mike and I have decided to keep the discounted price permanent on our dedicated Running Life website. It's now cheaper on our site than on Amazon.com, and we're happy to oblige specific requests for signed copies or anything else you like. Get your copy now, just in time for summer reading season.
*
The next announcement was a complete bummer to me: the Monkey Shake company that I've reviewed and promoted in the past is probably going out of business in the very near future. Owner Chris Hughes distributed an e-mail to his supporters announcing that life events have prevented him from continuing normal business operations.
He's putting the business up for sale dirt cheap on eBay, where anyone with an entrepreneur's heart, some e-commerce and marketing skills, and an appreciation for the nutritional needs of endurance athletes could potentially build the brand into something huge. His request to us was, if you know of anyone who's a little crazy (visionary), has a lot of energy, and a little bit of cash, have them check out the offer on eBay.
Who knows – maybe you'll be the next nutritional rags to riches success like the CLIF company. Chris is a great guy, and Monkey Shakes are an awesome product, so I hope this whole situation works out well for everybody involved.
**
This weekend's Random Shots of Beauty come from the Salinas Valley, where my favorite agricultural season, the strawberry harvest, is in full swing:
(Click to enlarge)
Seeing workers in the fields is always a stark reminder for me that the simple pleasures I enjoy don't come without a cost. I've written about this before – and whenever I run past the laborers in the campos, I feel almost guilty with gratitude for the blessings I've been given.
Also, in honor of the holiday weekend, and continuing on the same theme of good things that come with a cost, here's one more shot from a Salinas farm stand:
Because freedom isn't free ... and many have paid the greatest price of all in protecting it.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
First, the good one: Jennefer from a website called Good Reads published one of the best reviews I've seen of my Running Life book - a review that you can read right here. Also, in an effort to sell off our own supply of the book more rapidly, Mike and I have decided to keep the discounted price permanent on our dedicated Running Life website. It's now cheaper on our site than on Amazon.com, and we're happy to oblige specific requests for signed copies or anything else you like. Get your copy now, just in time for summer reading season.
*
The next announcement was a complete bummer to me: the Monkey Shake company that I've reviewed and promoted in the past is probably going out of business in the very near future. Owner Chris Hughes distributed an e-mail to his supporters announcing that life events have prevented him from continuing normal business operations.
He's putting the business up for sale dirt cheap on eBay, where anyone with an entrepreneur's heart, some e-commerce and marketing skills, and an appreciation for the nutritional needs of endurance athletes could potentially build the brand into something huge. His request to us was, if you know of anyone who's a little crazy (visionary), has a lot of energy, and a little bit of cash, have them check out the offer on eBay.
Who knows – maybe you'll be the next nutritional rags to riches success like the CLIF company. Chris is a great guy, and Monkey Shakes are an awesome product, so I hope this whole situation works out well for everybody involved.
**
This weekend's Random Shots of Beauty come from the Salinas Valley, where my favorite agricultural season, the strawberry harvest, is in full swing:
(Click to enlarge)
Seeing workers in the fields is always a stark reminder for me that the simple pleasures I enjoy don't come without a cost. I've written about this before – and whenever I run past the laborers in the campos, I feel almost guilty with gratitude for the blessings I've been given.
Also, in honor of the holiday weekend, and continuing on the same theme of good things that come with a cost, here's one more shot from a Salinas farm stand:
Because freedom isn't free ... and many have paid the greatest price of all in protecting it.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 26, 2011
Beautiful Barefoot Running Style: Dr Mark Cucuzzella
I had grand intentions for this post, which was originally scheduled to be an in-depth review of a product I've gradually warmed up to over the past several weeks. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in one of those time vortexes (or is it vortices? Anyone?) where everything throughout the day is a blur, until I finally look up at the clock and realize it's two hours past my bedtime, and I have to wake up again in five more hours. Sleep, wake up, repeat – and so it goes.
Accordingly, I'm delaying that review for a few days, which gives me an opportunity to share a tremendous video that I've been saving for just such an "I gotta make this quick before I fall asleep at my keyboard" occasion. It's been making the Internet rounds over the past several weeks, and features Dr Mark Cucuzzella, who is gradually becoming one of the most well-respected proponents of barefoot running in the United States.
Along with being a family practice physician, clinical researcher, race director, Air Force Lt. Colonel, and remarkable barefoot runner, Dr Cucuzzella is also the founder of Two Rivers Treads Center, the nation's first all-minimalist shoe store. In the mesmerizing video that follows, brief snippets of natural running advice are superimposed over continuous scenes of him (as well as 19-year-old Cody Marsh) running at full speed with naked feet. Some of the tidbits are overly pedantic – unless you happen to use phrases like "impact transient" in everyday conversation – but for the most part, the film is the video equivalent of a picture being worth a thousand words. In just over four minutes, you'll probably have a similar appreciation of natural running as you'd get by reading a whole textbook on the subject.
Truthfully, I'm not sure what aspect of this video is more delightful: the tranquil and historic backdrop of Maryland's Antietam National Battlefield, the beautifully playful violin soundtrack, or the wonder of observing somebody run so fast and seemingly effortlessly while going completely barefoot. I will say that I've watched it several times now, and still find something new to impress me each time. Hopefully you'll find it equally instructive and impressive.
"Barefoot Running Style" by Jason Smith (click to play):
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
Accordingly, I'm delaying that review for a few days, which gives me an opportunity to share a tremendous video that I've been saving for just such an "I gotta make this quick before I fall asleep at my keyboard" occasion. It's been making the Internet rounds over the past several weeks, and features Dr Mark Cucuzzella, who is gradually becoming one of the most well-respected proponents of barefoot running in the United States.
Along with being a family practice physician, clinical researcher, race director, Air Force Lt. Colonel, and remarkable barefoot runner, Dr Cucuzzella is also the founder of Two Rivers Treads Center, the nation's first all-minimalist shoe store. In the mesmerizing video that follows, brief snippets of natural running advice are superimposed over continuous scenes of him (as well as 19-year-old Cody Marsh) running at full speed with naked feet. Some of the tidbits are overly pedantic – unless you happen to use phrases like "impact transient" in everyday conversation – but for the most part, the film is the video equivalent of a picture being worth a thousand words. In just over four minutes, you'll probably have a similar appreciation of natural running as you'd get by reading a whole textbook on the subject.
Truthfully, I'm not sure what aspect of this video is more delightful: the tranquil and historic backdrop of Maryland's Antietam National Battlefield, the beautifully playful violin soundtrack, or the wonder of observing somebody run so fast and seemingly effortlessly while going completely barefoot. I will say that I've watched it several times now, and still find something new to impress me each time. Hopefully you'll find it equally instructive and impressive.
"Barefoot Running Style" by Jason Smith (click to play):
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 24, 2011
Elevation Confusion
A few years ago my friend Mike and I wrote a facetious Monterey Herald article that was a somewhat fictionalized account of our frustrations with using GPS devices in everyday training. Last month, we had occasion to write more seriously on the topic, but the outcome was no less frustrating than the first time around - in fact, it was probably worse.
What started as a simple inquiry about the modified Big Sur Marathon course turned into a trip down the analytical rabbit hole, where we saw and learned more information than we possibly imagined – not to mention about 100 times more than we wanted. Fortunately we had a pretty reliable tour guide to help us make partial sense of this strange new world, but despite his best efforts, the whole process was something that Mike and I couldn't escape quickly enough.
We stuck around long enough to make an article out of it, though, which follows below. One more note about this post which has nothing to do with the topic at hand: Mike wrote the first draft of this one, and took a page from my playbook by opening with a song quote. I don't know if he purposely picked a tune that accompanies one of my favorite music videos of all time, but that's the way it turned out. The video is after the post.
**
Running Life 5/5/11 "Elevation Confusion"
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."
- Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (video after post)
Any runner will tell you that it's easy to figure out when you are running into a headwind, or to determine whether you are headed uphill or downhill. You can also be relatively certain about the distance you've traveled, especially if there are mile markers on the road or if you're wearing a GPS device.
But how high are those hills you climbed? And how much climbing have you done over all the miles you've measured? Answering those questions sometimes requires an advanced degree – and even then, you're probably not certain of your accuracy.
Case in point: prior to our Big Sur Marathon preview article, we attempted to quantify the differences in climbing between the traditional course that features Hurricane Point and the out-and-back course that includes the rolling hills of Carmel Highlands twice. Researching the subject was one of the most mind-boggling ordeals we've experienced lately.
We started with the elevation profile on the race website (admin note: this page has now been taken down), which indicated that the total climbing over the new course was 2400 feet. The data came from a Naval Postgraduate School scientist who used a USA Track and Field website mapping tool. He explained to us that the elevation information is stored in US Geological Survey NED database tables, and then extrapolated over a known distance (in this case, 26.2 miles). He also said that this could differ from GPS measurements, as hand-held GPS units update position and elevation on a scheduled interval which might impact the fidelity of the data (seriously – those are his words).
Another tech-savvy (our polite way of saying geeky) friend of ours used his Garmin GPS watch for two previous Big Sur Marathons as well as this year's modified course, and shared with us his GPX files, which plot latitude and longitude points alongside data from the USGS database. His readings showed approximately 1750' of climbing for the standard course, and 1630' on the new course. He disputed the idea of inaccuracy due to delayed reporting, and noted that his dataset contained 3425 points in it – approximately one measurement every three seconds, or every 40 feet of road.
3425 data points plotted over a 30m NED dataset ... or something like that
Then he shifted into high gear, and explained that position readings typically aren't updated on regular intervals, but are dependent on the rate of change. In other words, the faster your position or elevation is changing, the shorter the recording interval becomes in order to enhance accuracy. He also advised us that handheld devices rely on triangulation of satellites in the "GPS constellation" for accurate position reporting, as well as the visibility of a 4th satellite to add the elevation component. Finally, the fact that the dataset was taken on the side of a cliff (the race course on coastal Highway 1) might be problematic, since positions just a few meters away on either side of the road could have statistically significant differences in elevation.
It was right around here that our heads started to spin.
The discussion wasn't finished, however … because our friend's data from his two Big Sur Marathons on the standard route also deviated by about 100' from each other. When we asked him to account for this, we inadvertently opened the floodgates to a whole world of fractals, interpolations, calibrated barometric variables and fluctuating weather permutations, smoothing algorithms, and numerous other scientific conditions that we couldn't begin to comprehend. Suffice it to say that any elevation data you see in course profiles is going to have a degree of uncertainty – in some cases, quite a significant amount.
Fortunately, none of this distracted from the task at hand on race day for our tech-savvy friend, who ran 2:53:05 for 15th place overall at this year's Big Sur Marathon, using his Garmin GPS watch as usual. It's worth noting that his time this year was virtually identical to his personal record from the standard course, even though there was (according to his watch) slightly less climbing this year. External conditions such as wind and air temperature might have made an impact as well, but honestly, who the heck really knows?
All that the two of us learned for sure in this process is that we prefer to stick to simple considerations like knowing which way the wind is blowing. From now on we'll just refer to our local marathon as a hilly, challenging course, and leave the elevation claims for the scientists to figure out.
**
As for the video: this one is often imitated, but never duplicated. I've always considered both the song and video clip to be two of the best snapshots of Bob Dylan's overwhelming hipster genius in the prime of his career.
Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (click to play):
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
What started as a simple inquiry about the modified Big Sur Marathon course turned into a trip down the analytical rabbit hole, where we saw and learned more information than we possibly imagined – not to mention about 100 times more than we wanted. Fortunately we had a pretty reliable tour guide to help us make partial sense of this strange new world, but despite his best efforts, the whole process was something that Mike and I couldn't escape quickly enough.
We stuck around long enough to make an article out of it, though, which follows below. One more note about this post which has nothing to do with the topic at hand: Mike wrote the first draft of this one, and took a page from my playbook by opening with a song quote. I don't know if he purposely picked a tune that accompanies one of my favorite music videos of all time, but that's the way it turned out. The video is after the post.
**
Running Life 5/5/11 "Elevation Confusion"
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."
- Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (video after post)
Any runner will tell you that it's easy to figure out when you are running into a headwind, or to determine whether you are headed uphill or downhill. You can also be relatively certain about the distance you've traveled, especially if there are mile markers on the road or if you're wearing a GPS device.
But how high are those hills you climbed? And how much climbing have you done over all the miles you've measured? Answering those questions sometimes requires an advanced degree – and even then, you're probably not certain of your accuracy.
Case in point: prior to our Big Sur Marathon preview article, we attempted to quantify the differences in climbing between the traditional course that features Hurricane Point and the out-and-back course that includes the rolling hills of Carmel Highlands twice. Researching the subject was one of the most mind-boggling ordeals we've experienced lately.
We started with the elevation profile on the race website (admin note: this page has now been taken down), which indicated that the total climbing over the new course was 2400 feet. The data came from a Naval Postgraduate School scientist who used a USA Track and Field website mapping tool. He explained to us that the elevation information is stored in US Geological Survey NED database tables, and then extrapolated over a known distance (in this case, 26.2 miles). He also said that this could differ from GPS measurements, as hand-held GPS units update position and elevation on a scheduled interval which might impact the fidelity of the data (seriously – those are his words).
Another tech-savvy (our polite way of saying geeky) friend of ours used his Garmin GPS watch for two previous Big Sur Marathons as well as this year's modified course, and shared with us his GPX files, which plot latitude and longitude points alongside data from the USGS database. His readings showed approximately 1750' of climbing for the standard course, and 1630' on the new course. He disputed the idea of inaccuracy due to delayed reporting, and noted that his dataset contained 3425 points in it – approximately one measurement every three seconds, or every 40 feet of road.
3425 data points plotted over a 30m NED dataset ... or something like that
Then he shifted into high gear, and explained that position readings typically aren't updated on regular intervals, but are dependent on the rate of change. In other words, the faster your position or elevation is changing, the shorter the recording interval becomes in order to enhance accuracy. He also advised us that handheld devices rely on triangulation of satellites in the "GPS constellation" for accurate position reporting, as well as the visibility of a 4th satellite to add the elevation component. Finally, the fact that the dataset was taken on the side of a cliff (the race course on coastal Highway 1) might be problematic, since positions just a few meters away on either side of the road could have statistically significant differences in elevation.
It was right around here that our heads started to spin.
The discussion wasn't finished, however … because our friend's data from his two Big Sur Marathons on the standard route also deviated by about 100' from each other. When we asked him to account for this, we inadvertently opened the floodgates to a whole world of fractals, interpolations, calibrated barometric variables and fluctuating weather permutations, smoothing algorithms, and numerous other scientific conditions that we couldn't begin to comprehend. Suffice it to say that any elevation data you see in course profiles is going to have a degree of uncertainty – in some cases, quite a significant amount.
Fortunately, none of this distracted from the task at hand on race day for our tech-savvy friend, who ran 2:53:05 for 15th place overall at this year's Big Sur Marathon, using his Garmin GPS watch as usual. It's worth noting that his time this year was virtually identical to his personal record from the standard course, even though there was (according to his watch) slightly less climbing this year. External conditions such as wind and air temperature might have made an impact as well, but honestly, who the heck really knows?
All that the two of us learned for sure in this process is that we prefer to stick to simple considerations like knowing which way the wind is blowing. From now on we'll just refer to our local marathon as a hilly, challenging course, and leave the elevation claims for the scientists to figure out.
**
As for the video: this one is often imitated, but never duplicated. I've always considered both the song and video clip to be two of the best snapshots of Bob Dylan's overwhelming hipster genius in the prime of his career.
Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (click to play):
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 22, 2011
Sweepstakes Contest: Meet the Moment with CLIF Bar
I've mentioned in previous posts that one of the most admirable traits of the CLIF Bar company is their extensive charitable giving which impacts both their local neighborhoods and the global community. They also have a knack for inspiring grassroots involvement to increase awareness and support for various social or environmental causes.
Every now and then, they come up with an idea that not only encourages grassroots effort and gives a ton of money to charity, but also has the potential to turn a few participants into extremely fortunate people indeed. One such contest is going on right now: it's called Meet the Moment, and before the end of the summer it's going to completely fund the adventure of a lifetime for three grand prize winners.
In the meantime, here's what's going down: CLIF produced a video (embedded below) called "Meet the Moment", featuring ultrarunning stud Geoff Roes and several other hardcore outdoor athletes describing that magical feeling of being completely at one with the activities they love; the sense of being 100% focused in the moment, and how they push themselves toward new adventures in hopes of freezing that moment for as long as possible.
The video is part of a larger initiative called Protecting the Places We Play, CLIF's campaign to preserve trails, beaches, slopes, mountains, and similar locations outdoor enthusiasts love. At the end of the film, CLIF invites viewers to go to the Meet the Moment website and submit a photo and description of their own moment. For every person that submits an entry, CLIF will donate $5 to one of five non-profit projects (you get to choose which one) focused on environmental preservation. The entry process only takes a few minutes, and I've included my own entry below this post as an example of what the finished product looks like.
CLIF's baseline financial commitment is pretty generous on its own, but here's the really cool part: if 10,000 people submit entries, the company will double everyone's contributions to $10 toward the charity they selected. That's the grassroots thing at work: if we all collectively step up, CLIF will step up in a huge way. So submit your own entry, then pass the word to your friends.
The contest ends July 31st, at which point CLIF will select three winners to receive up to $8000 to spend toward planning the 2-person outdoor adventure of their choice. Want to go rim to rim across the Grand Canyon? Travel to Mexico's Copper Canyons to run with the Tarahumara? Take a walkabout in Australia? You pick the adventure, and CLIF picks up the tab. They'll even throw in another $4000 in cash for some walking around money once you get there.
Is that enough to get you excited yet? Check out the CLIF video below, then follow the link to enter the contest on your own. If you should happen to win and need a partner to share your epic adventure with, you know where to find me.
"Meet the Moment", by CLIF Bar (click to play):
Now it's your turn! Go to the Meet the Moment website and submit your own entry. This is mine:
Good luck to everybody!
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
Every now and then, they come up with an idea that not only encourages grassroots effort and gives a ton of money to charity, but also has the potential to turn a few participants into extremely fortunate people indeed. One such contest is going on right now: it's called Meet the Moment, and before the end of the summer it's going to completely fund the adventure of a lifetime for three grand prize winners.
In the meantime, here's what's going down: CLIF produced a video (embedded below) called "Meet the Moment", featuring ultrarunning stud Geoff Roes and several other hardcore outdoor athletes describing that magical feeling of being completely at one with the activities they love; the sense of being 100% focused in the moment, and how they push themselves toward new adventures in hopes of freezing that moment for as long as possible.
The video is part of a larger initiative called Protecting the Places We Play, CLIF's campaign to preserve trails, beaches, slopes, mountains, and similar locations outdoor enthusiasts love. At the end of the film, CLIF invites viewers to go to the Meet the Moment website and submit a photo and description of their own moment. For every person that submits an entry, CLIF will donate $5 to one of five non-profit projects (you get to choose which one) focused on environmental preservation. The entry process only takes a few minutes, and I've included my own entry below this post as an example of what the finished product looks like.
CLIF's baseline financial commitment is pretty generous on its own, but here's the really cool part: if 10,000 people submit entries, the company will double everyone's contributions to $10 toward the charity they selected. That's the grassroots thing at work: if we all collectively step up, CLIF will step up in a huge way. So submit your own entry, then pass the word to your friends.
The contest ends July 31st, at which point CLIF will select three winners to receive up to $8000 to spend toward planning the 2-person outdoor adventure of their choice. Want to go rim to rim across the Grand Canyon? Travel to Mexico's Copper Canyons to run with the Tarahumara? Take a walkabout in Australia? You pick the adventure, and CLIF picks up the tab. They'll even throw in another $4000 in cash for some walking around money once you get there.
Is that enough to get you excited yet? Check out the CLIF video below, then follow the link to enter the contest on your own. If you should happen to win and need a partner to share your epic adventure with, you know where to find me.
"Meet the Moment", by CLIF Bar (click to play):
Now it's your turn! Go to the Meet the Moment website and submit your own entry. This is mine:
Good luck to everybody!
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 21, 2011
Random Shots of Beauty
Apparently today was supposed to be The Rapture. So, um ... is anybody else still around here besides me? We'll make this weekend's RSOB a brief one, on the slim chance that I'm unavailable shortly.
The beautiful symmetry of a Salinas Valley lettuce field, as seen during some lab testing for my recent Vibram Bikila LS review.
See you next week, heathens.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
The beautiful symmetry of a Salinas Valley lettuce field, as seen during some lab testing for my recent Vibram Bikila LS review.See you next week, heathens.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 19, 2011
New Jinga Original Shoe Review
When I first delved into minimalist shoe reviews a couple of years ago, one of the companies I had the most fun learning about was Jinga.
I suspect that's because I have a soft spot for small companies who manage to do everything right: those who build unique, high-quality products in the most socially conscious manner possible, and give back to their communities in meaningful ways.
Jinga is a Brazilian company that combines all those things – think of them as the South American equivalent of Soft Star or kigo – along with a healthy dose of the joyous, artistic flair that defines Brazilian culture. There's a one-word Portuguese colloquialism for this kind of exuberant, creative rhythm of life: ginga, the spelling of which was tweaked just slightly to provide the company name.
NEW Jinga Original shoe
I explained the company's background and social calling more extensively in my review of the original Jinga shoes, which were primarily designed as dance shoes but serendipitously gained some traction in the burgeoning minimalist community. Their shoes underwent a major facelift this spring, and the new style is a significant improvement in nearly every aspect – that is, aside from one sizeable drawback for running which I'll describe shortly.
(One other quirk is that the new models are still called Jinga Originals - but for the purposes of this review, "original" will refer to the older style. Entendeu?)
Super flexibility: one shoe curled in the other
Best of all, the primary features that make Jingas so attractive to minimalist fans are still there: the shoes weigh less than 150g each, and they're completely flexible in all directions. There is a cushioned 2mm insole that is removable, leaving a mere 4mm of outsole between your foot and the ground.
Removable insole; mesh and synthetic leather upper
Construction of the uppers is noticeably more durable this spring, with a more structured mesh and synthetic leather combination than the previous model. There is more lateral stability thanks to strategic placement and increased size of the synthetic overlays on either side. Previous Jingas would collapse something like a slipper when your foot was out of it; the new ones retain their shape better and therefore have more of a shoe "look" this year.
There's a little bit more padding around the ankle collar and throughout the upper on this new model, and since there wasn't a weight tradeoff to increase the structure or comfort, these changes are definite improvements. The uppers feel more comfortable against bare feet than their predecessors, and Jinga now crafts the shoes in separate mens and womens styles to provide a more natural fit.
The new models don't compromise Jinga's Brazilian flamboyance, either: I picked the white and gold shoes for review, which are actually one of the more subtle of the company's line of color combinations in both mens and womens styles. If you're looking for shoes that will blend into the crowd … well, maybe you can pick the all-black ones. Otherwise, Jingas are designed to let your colors fly.
So far, everything's a bonus on the new models … but here's the major change that is indeed an improvement, but also something of a limitation:
A brand new outsole, made from TPU instead of the original PVC material. It is substantially more durable and protective than the original, but maintains the same degree of flexibility. You'll also notice, however, that it's practically polished smooth; that design is intentional, and reflects Jinga's primary calling in the footwear market.
Jinga shoes were originally created as dance shoes, intended to help you get your Capoeira on when you hit the dance floor in Rio. From a dance standpoint, the new outsole is a remarkable improvement: the smooth surface is ideal for gliding across a hardwood floor, while maintaining just enough traction to help you stop easily, turn quickly, and twirl, um … more twirlingly, I guess.
As you can imagine, this doesn't exactly translate well to going out for a trail run. Instead, Jingas can be your everyday casual shoe, whether you're walking around the neighborhood or going out with a group of friends. Despite the outsole's appearance, it has good enough traction on concrete, asphalt, or carpet that you don't have to worry about slipping. And if you happen to step into a club on your way home, you'll be ready to dance the night away.
One final point to note about buying Jingas is that they're not available for sale in North American stores. You can shop for them on the Jinga website, where they retail for 55 pounds – which, thanks to a wretched US dollar, will put you out 90 bucks. American customers can purchase from the website, but the checkout program doesn't convert your charge to US dollars until after you've confirmed your purchase. I'd love to see Jingas enter the US market more effectively in the near future, because they're the kind of product from the kind of company that it feels good to support.
And if they can help me dance a little bit better, that would be a pretty cool bonus.
*Product provided by Jinga
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
I suspect that's because I have a soft spot for small companies who manage to do everything right: those who build unique, high-quality products in the most socially conscious manner possible, and give back to their communities in meaningful ways.
Jinga is a Brazilian company that combines all those things – think of them as the South American equivalent of Soft Star or kigo – along with a healthy dose of the joyous, artistic flair that defines Brazilian culture. There's a one-word Portuguese colloquialism for this kind of exuberant, creative rhythm of life: ginga, the spelling of which was tweaked just slightly to provide the company name.
NEW Jinga Original shoe
I explained the company's background and social calling more extensively in my review of the original Jinga shoes, which were primarily designed as dance shoes but serendipitously gained some traction in the burgeoning minimalist community. Their shoes underwent a major facelift this spring, and the new style is a significant improvement in nearly every aspect – that is, aside from one sizeable drawback for running which I'll describe shortly.
(One other quirk is that the new models are still called Jinga Originals - but for the purposes of this review, "original" will refer to the older style. Entendeu?)
Super flexibility: one shoe curled in the other
Best of all, the primary features that make Jingas so attractive to minimalist fans are still there: the shoes weigh less than 150g each, and they're completely flexible in all directions. There is a cushioned 2mm insole that is removable, leaving a mere 4mm of outsole between your foot and the ground.
Removable insole; mesh and synthetic leather upper
Construction of the uppers is noticeably more durable this spring, with a more structured mesh and synthetic leather combination than the previous model. There is more lateral stability thanks to strategic placement and increased size of the synthetic overlays on either side. Previous Jingas would collapse something like a slipper when your foot was out of it; the new ones retain their shape better and therefore have more of a shoe "look" this year.
There's a little bit more padding around the ankle collar and throughout the upper on this new model, and since there wasn't a weight tradeoff to increase the structure or comfort, these changes are definite improvements. The uppers feel more comfortable against bare feet than their predecessors, and Jinga now crafts the shoes in separate mens and womens styles to provide a more natural fit.The new models don't compromise Jinga's Brazilian flamboyance, either: I picked the white and gold shoes for review, which are actually one of the more subtle of the company's line of color combinations in both mens and womens styles. If you're looking for shoes that will blend into the crowd … well, maybe you can pick the all-black ones. Otherwise, Jingas are designed to let your colors fly.
So far, everything's a bonus on the new models … but here's the major change that is indeed an improvement, but also something of a limitation:
A brand new outsole, made from TPU instead of the original PVC material. It is substantially more durable and protective than the original, but maintains the same degree of flexibility. You'll also notice, however, that it's practically polished smooth; that design is intentional, and reflects Jinga's primary calling in the footwear market.Jinga shoes were originally created as dance shoes, intended to help you get your Capoeira on when you hit the dance floor in Rio. From a dance standpoint, the new outsole is a remarkable improvement: the smooth surface is ideal for gliding across a hardwood floor, while maintaining just enough traction to help you stop easily, turn quickly, and twirl, um … more twirlingly, I guess.
As you can imagine, this doesn't exactly translate well to going out for a trail run. Instead, Jingas can be your everyday casual shoe, whether you're walking around the neighborhood or going out with a group of friends. Despite the outsole's appearance, it has good enough traction on concrete, asphalt, or carpet that you don't have to worry about slipping. And if you happen to step into a club on your way home, you'll be ready to dance the night away.
One final point to note about buying Jingas is that they're not available for sale in North American stores. You can shop for them on the Jinga website, where they retail for 55 pounds – which, thanks to a wretched US dollar, will put you out 90 bucks. American customers can purchase from the website, but the checkout program doesn't convert your charge to US dollars until after you've confirmed your purchase. I'd love to see Jingas enter the US market more effectively in the near future, because they're the kind of product from the kind of company that it feels good to support.
And if they can help me dance a little bit better, that would be a pretty cool bonus.
*Product provided by Jinga
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 17, 2011
Minimalist (and Affordable) Shoe Options for Kids
One of the biggest discrepancies – or hypocrisies, if you're more cynically-minded – about the minimalist shoe movement is this: virtually every manufacturer of natural footwear makes reference to walking or running "the way God made us" or "the way our bodies were designed to", often noting that in modern society, our feet start out strong and healthy as young children, only to be progressively weakened and deformed by using traditional shoes.
The problem is that if you actually subscribe to this notion (as I do), and are inspired to find footwear for your children in hopes that they can maintain healthy foot development and function throughout their lives, you'll be sorely disappointed at the options that are available. I've been searching and experimenting with various styles of minimalist footwear for my three children, and can attest that the process can be both cost-prohibitive and frustrating. In light of that, I thought a brief overview might help open some doors or create some new leads for anyone else out there who is facing a similar situation.
Before we proceed, some specifications and ground rules are in order. My 12-year-old son typically occupies the smallest size of the men's footwear range (size 7-8), as does my 10-year-old daughter in women's styles (size 6-7). My 7-year-old daughter is at the high end of most kids' size charts (3-3.5). Since they're all growing like beanpoles, they usually grow out of shoes before they can wear them out – so my wife and I try to be as budget-conscious as possible with shoe purchases. We typically look for shoes in the $20-30 range, and will only pay more than $40 if it's a durable shoe that we can buy big in hopes of getting a somewhat extended lifespan. We look for bargains wherever we can find them: on eBay, through Google searches, or any other coupon or discount offers we learn about.
Also, for the sake of this discussion, we're talking about all-purpose shoes that can be worn to school and used for any activity that comes up in the course of a kid's day. We're excluding any slippers (although my kids all love these) or any sport-specific demands aside from running, hiking, and climbing. It's a lot to think about, for sure.
So here's where we stand now, along with links to all of the products mentioned. I'll detail each kid individually, but before doing so, one particular shoe deserves mentioning, as they've been on the feet of all my kids this spring:
The Saucony Kilkenny XC flat (spikeless). These have attracted attention from minimalist runners over the past couple of years because of their lightweight (average 6oz for adult sizes) construction and relatively low profile - about 15mm in the heel and 10mm in the forefoot by my measurements. My wife and I were drawn to them because of their aggressive outsole, which we thought would come in handy while hiking in Yosemite. We found a deal on them (from 6PM.com, I believe) and got three pairs for about $30 each.
The Kilkenny is a fairly popular shoe with high school XC teams, so it's produced in large quantities; consequently, it's usually easy to find closeout deals on the previous year's model, especially in small sizes – for example, right now at the link I included above, you'll see them for $25 from the Saucony website. However, when purchasing, make sure you're getting the SPIKELESS version – otherwise your kids might end up accidentally aerating your carpet or inflicting harm upon themselves.
Fortunately, my son has worn a pair of Kilkennys throughout the school year, so we were already aware of the one major quirk with this shoe: it runs incredibly small. As in, at least one full size – in some cases more. In fact, the shoes run so small that my youngest daughter who normally wears a size 3 kids shoe was able to fit into the women's size 6 of the Kilkenny. They also run a bit narrow through the forefoot, so I don't like them as an all-day everyday shoe, but for high-demand activity they're really quite respectable. All of my kids now use these as their dedicated running shoes in addition to any hikes our family does.
Aside from the Kilkennys, here's what's in the shoe closet for each of my kids, from oldest to youngest:
My son loves his kigo edge shoes, which I reviewed here, and which typically retail for $70. The kigo blog often has coupon promotions, which is how I grabbed two pair of these for about $35 each. The second pair went to my middle daughter, who fits into the smallest women's size. kigos also tend to run a bit narrow and quite small as well, and they have unisex sizing that sometimes requires a jump of a full size (instead of half-sizes) into the next model.
These are my son's everything shoe – even for mountain biking - and he absolutely loves the minimalist construction and flexibility of them. However, you can see the wear he has put on them in about three months; for the price we paid, these were a great deal – but if we had to pay full price, they may not justify the cost.
Another shoe that my son wears on occasion is a Sockwa Amphibian that I received as a test pair, but never officially reviewed here (for various reasons, too complicated to go into now). I really like the Sockwa company, and I've had several discussions with the owner about the direction they're heading; I think they're on the verge of producing a great minimalist product, but the Amphibian wasn't quite it for me. My son likes it, however, and I'm eagerly awaiting Sockwa's next generation minimalist shoe.
My middle child's collection looks very similar to my son's:
She's got the Saucony Kilkennys - still sporting the race chip from her most recent 5K, which she wears like a badge of honor – as well as the same kigos that her brother uses. The edge is an everyday shoe that she alternates with the other model pictured: the Simple Satire, which I reviewed here after we scored a closeout pair for $20 from REI (whose inventory is currently limited, but I found them for $18 to $26 at Amazon.com). The shoe has a zero-drop platform with a standing height of approximately 1". It's not purely minimalist or super-flexible, but it bends well enough to allow natural foot movement, and it has a great fit and decent traction for P.E. class or just kicking around the neighborhood.
Simple makes grown up versions of the Satire as well, but my daughter still fits into the "big kid" sizing, which is nice because it saves you a few bucks. The kids shoes come in some cool color patterns such as a leopard print from REI or a giraffe print from Amazon - but before you buy any pair, make sure that you identify the right size in the Little Kid, Big Kid, or adult models, because a lot of the colors and patterns are the same in all three categories.
Considering that she's the youngest kid in the family, my 7-year-old has a shoe collection that puts her brother and sister to shame:
You see the aforementioned Kilkennys, as well as a pair of low-cut Converse Chuck Taylors that are very similar in construction to the Simple Satire, with a flat 1" platform, fair flexibility and good outsole traction. We got ours at Target for $20, and the Amazon link above has them for $18-$30 depending on size and color.
The pink shoes above are a pair of Speedo Surfwalker water shoes, which you can buy for less than $20 here at Amazon.com, and are definitely the most minimal shoes in the collection. They're super lightweight and completely flexible, and my daughter loves wearing them as an everyday shoe, even wearing them for day hikes before she had the Sauconys. The only caution I'd offer is that with excessively rugged activity like climbing trees or scrounging in the dirt, their durability shows some signs of strain, especially where the upper meets the outsole.
The other shoes in her assortment are from Terra Plana's VIVOBAREFOOT kids collection: the Pally model I reviewed here, and the Oaky model I reviewed here. Granted, we received both of these free of charge, and Terra Plana isn't exactly known for its bargain pricing – but to their credit, the kids' models aren't nearly as steep as their adult versions, and the company frequently has coupon offers like they did in conjunction with each of those review posts. If you had used the 50% off coupon that went along with my review, you could have picked up the very fashionable Pally for $30 – which is a fantastic deal when you consider how versatile and comfortable VIVOBAREFOOT shoes are.
The best case in point is my daughter's Oakys, which are noteworthy for a couple of reasons:
1) These are far and away her favorite everyday shoes, even after the laces have frayed and the insoles have holes in them thanks to constant use since she received them last October. She's worn them in the sandbox, in mud puddles and playing in the river, and for pretty much every activity you can imagine. When it comes to all-purpose durability, these have to rank near the top. However …
2) They've also been the topic of a year-long argument between me and the P.E. teacher at her elementary school, who sat her out of class a few times for having "improper footwear". During one phone conversation, when I asked the teacher why they weren't acceptable, she replied that they weren't athletic enough. When pressed, she clarified: you know, something with a heel and good support and cushioning. After a few back-and-forth exchanges, she was finally agreeable to let my daughter participate in P.E. class in the Oakys, but still directs occasional comments toward her like "maybe you should wear some regular sneakers next time." Needless to say, it's been a little bit frustrating.
A funny postscript to the whole story is that about a month ago, wearing the same Oakys that weren't athletic enough for elementary school PE class, my daughter took second place among all first-graders in a city track meet. No, she didn't bring her medal to school to show the teacher afterward … but the thought definitely crossed my mind.
The overall minimalist market for children continues to expand, with new entries from major players like Vibram and Merrell this spring, although they might be priced a bit too high (FiveFingers for kids are $60) for cost-conscious shoppers right off the bat. Hopefully after they've been on the market for a year or so, or if they get updated in the near-term, this spring's models will eventually become available at more affordable prices. In the meantime, the good news is that there are several good options out there if you're willing to do a little bit of bargain shopping.
Healthy foot development is indeed a gift we can bestow upon our children, and fortunately, it appears to be one that's becoming easier for parents to provide with each passing year.
**
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Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
The problem is that if you actually subscribe to this notion (as I do), and are inspired to find footwear for your children in hopes that they can maintain healthy foot development and function throughout their lives, you'll be sorely disappointed at the options that are available. I've been searching and experimenting with various styles of minimalist footwear for my three children, and can attest that the process can be both cost-prohibitive and frustrating. In light of that, I thought a brief overview might help open some doors or create some new leads for anyone else out there who is facing a similar situation.
Before we proceed, some specifications and ground rules are in order. My 12-year-old son typically occupies the smallest size of the men's footwear range (size 7-8), as does my 10-year-old daughter in women's styles (size 6-7). My 7-year-old daughter is at the high end of most kids' size charts (3-3.5). Since they're all growing like beanpoles, they usually grow out of shoes before they can wear them out – so my wife and I try to be as budget-conscious as possible with shoe purchases. We typically look for shoes in the $20-30 range, and will only pay more than $40 if it's a durable shoe that we can buy big in hopes of getting a somewhat extended lifespan. We look for bargains wherever we can find them: on eBay, through Google searches, or any other coupon or discount offers we learn about.
Also, for the sake of this discussion, we're talking about all-purpose shoes that can be worn to school and used for any activity that comes up in the course of a kid's day. We're excluding any slippers (although my kids all love these) or any sport-specific demands aside from running, hiking, and climbing. It's a lot to think about, for sure.
So here's where we stand now, along with links to all of the products mentioned. I'll detail each kid individually, but before doing so, one particular shoe deserves mentioning, as they've been on the feet of all my kids this spring:
The Saucony Kilkenny XC flat (spikeless). These have attracted attention from minimalist runners over the past couple of years because of their lightweight (average 6oz for adult sizes) construction and relatively low profile - about 15mm in the heel and 10mm in the forefoot by my measurements. My wife and I were drawn to them because of their aggressive outsole, which we thought would come in handy while hiking in Yosemite. We found a deal on them (from 6PM.com, I believe) and got three pairs for about $30 each.
The Kilkenny is a fairly popular shoe with high school XC teams, so it's produced in large quantities; consequently, it's usually easy to find closeout deals on the previous year's model, especially in small sizes – for example, right now at the link I included above, you'll see them for $25 from the Saucony website. However, when purchasing, make sure you're getting the SPIKELESS version – otherwise your kids might end up accidentally aerating your carpet or inflicting harm upon themselves.
Fortunately, my son has worn a pair of Kilkennys throughout the school year, so we were already aware of the one major quirk with this shoe: it runs incredibly small. As in, at least one full size – in some cases more. In fact, the shoes run so small that my youngest daughter who normally wears a size 3 kids shoe was able to fit into the women's size 6 of the Kilkenny. They also run a bit narrow through the forefoot, so I don't like them as an all-day everyday shoe, but for high-demand activity they're really quite respectable. All of my kids now use these as their dedicated running shoes in addition to any hikes our family does.
Aside from the Kilkennys, here's what's in the shoe closet for each of my kids, from oldest to youngest:
My son loves his kigo edge shoes, which I reviewed here, and which typically retail for $70. The kigo blog often has coupon promotions, which is how I grabbed two pair of these for about $35 each. The second pair went to my middle daughter, who fits into the smallest women's size. kigos also tend to run a bit narrow and quite small as well, and they have unisex sizing that sometimes requires a jump of a full size (instead of half-sizes) into the next model.
These are my son's everything shoe – even for mountain biking - and he absolutely loves the minimalist construction and flexibility of them. However, you can see the wear he has put on them in about three months; for the price we paid, these were a great deal – but if we had to pay full price, they may not justify the cost.
Another shoe that my son wears on occasion is a Sockwa Amphibian that I received as a test pair, but never officially reviewed here (for various reasons, too complicated to go into now). I really like the Sockwa company, and I've had several discussions with the owner about the direction they're heading; I think they're on the verge of producing a great minimalist product, but the Amphibian wasn't quite it for me. My son likes it, however, and I'm eagerly awaiting Sockwa's next generation minimalist shoe.
My middle child's collection looks very similar to my son's:
She's got the Saucony Kilkennys - still sporting the race chip from her most recent 5K, which she wears like a badge of honor – as well as the same kigos that her brother uses. The edge is an everyday shoe that she alternates with the other model pictured: the Simple Satire, which I reviewed here after we scored a closeout pair for $20 from REI (whose inventory is currently limited, but I found them for $18 to $26 at Amazon.com). The shoe has a zero-drop platform with a standing height of approximately 1". It's not purely minimalist or super-flexible, but it bends well enough to allow natural foot movement, and it has a great fit and decent traction for P.E. class or just kicking around the neighborhood.
Simple makes grown up versions of the Satire as well, but my daughter still fits into the "big kid" sizing, which is nice because it saves you a few bucks. The kids shoes come in some cool color patterns such as a leopard print from REI or a giraffe print from Amazon - but before you buy any pair, make sure that you identify the right size in the Little Kid, Big Kid, or adult models, because a lot of the colors and patterns are the same in all three categories.
Considering that she's the youngest kid in the family, my 7-year-old has a shoe collection that puts her brother and sister to shame:
You see the aforementioned Kilkennys, as well as a pair of low-cut Converse Chuck Taylors that are very similar in construction to the Simple Satire, with a flat 1" platform, fair flexibility and good outsole traction. We got ours at Target for $20, and the Amazon link above has them for $18-$30 depending on size and color.
The pink shoes above are a pair of Speedo Surfwalker water shoes, which you can buy for less than $20 here at Amazon.com, and are definitely the most minimal shoes in the collection. They're super lightweight and completely flexible, and my daughter loves wearing them as an everyday shoe, even wearing them for day hikes before she had the Sauconys. The only caution I'd offer is that with excessively rugged activity like climbing trees or scrounging in the dirt, their durability shows some signs of strain, especially where the upper meets the outsole.
The other shoes in her assortment are from Terra Plana's VIVOBAREFOOT kids collection: the Pally model I reviewed here, and the Oaky model I reviewed here. Granted, we received both of these free of charge, and Terra Plana isn't exactly known for its bargain pricing – but to their credit, the kids' models aren't nearly as steep as their adult versions, and the company frequently has coupon offers like they did in conjunction with each of those review posts. If you had used the 50% off coupon that went along with my review, you could have picked up the very fashionable Pally for $30 – which is a fantastic deal when you consider how versatile and comfortable VIVOBAREFOOT shoes are.
The best case in point is my daughter's Oakys, which are noteworthy for a couple of reasons:
1) These are far and away her favorite everyday shoes, even after the laces have frayed and the insoles have holes in them thanks to constant use since she received them last October. She's worn them in the sandbox, in mud puddles and playing in the river, and for pretty much every activity you can imagine. When it comes to all-purpose durability, these have to rank near the top. However …
2) They've also been the topic of a year-long argument between me and the P.E. teacher at her elementary school, who sat her out of class a few times for having "improper footwear". During one phone conversation, when I asked the teacher why they weren't acceptable, she replied that they weren't athletic enough. When pressed, she clarified: you know, something with a heel and good support and cushioning. After a few back-and-forth exchanges, she was finally agreeable to let my daughter participate in P.E. class in the Oakys, but still directs occasional comments toward her like "maybe you should wear some regular sneakers next time." Needless to say, it's been a little bit frustrating.
A funny postscript to the whole story is that about a month ago, wearing the same Oakys that weren't athletic enough for elementary school PE class, my daughter took second place among all first-graders in a city track meet. No, she didn't bring her medal to school to show the teacher afterward … but the thought definitely crossed my mind.
The overall minimalist market for children continues to expand, with new entries from major players like Vibram and Merrell this spring, although they might be priced a bit too high (FiveFingers for kids are $60) for cost-conscious shoppers right off the bat. Hopefully after they've been on the market for a year or so, or if they get updated in the near-term, this spring's models will eventually become available at more affordable prices. In the meantime, the good news is that there are several good options out there if you're willing to do a little bit of bargain shopping.
Healthy foot development is indeed a gift we can bestow upon our children, and fortunately, it appears to be one that's becoming easier for parents to provide with each passing year.
**
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 15, 2011
Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Review
It's fair to say that I was initially a little bit apprehensive about testing this particular shoe. After all, I'm the guy who raved about the Vibram FiveFingers Bikila when reviewing it last year, and who consequently referred to it (several times, in fact) as the gold standard for minimalist road running. From my experience, there simply wasn't very much to find fault with.
So when Vibram announced the release of the FiveFingers Bikila LS this spring, I envisioned two possible scenarios: 1) they'd make changes to the shoe that I didn't like, which would make for an awkward review, or 2) the changes wouldn't be significant enough to distinguish the Bikila LS from the original Bikila, in which case I'd have difficulty in deciding which model to recommend.
Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS
As it turns out, I was kind of an idiot, because I completely didn't expect scenario 3): that they'd make substantial changes which represent a noticeable improvement over the original, while making the shoes more accessible to a wider range of minimalist runners. But that's exactly what Vibram has done with the Bikila LS – and it's also a good reminder to me that this company might never cease to impress me.
Bikila LS on left, original Bikila on R
The best news of all is that even with notably altered appearance, Vibram maintained pretty much all of the construction aspects of the Bikila that I liked – and since most of those similarities are on the underside of the foot, we'll take this review in the opposite direction than usual, starting from the bottom up:
Bikila LS on top, original Bikila on bottom
I could also save us both a lot of time by referring you to my original Bikila review, where I describe the outsole and midsoles in greater detail. The Bikila LS shares the exact same 4mm anatomically podded outsole design, and the same 3mm polyurethane midsole that is thickest under the ball of the foot to support the impact zone of forefoot running. The midsole and sockliner are covered with the same soft Dri-Lex material for comfort and moisture-wicking performance. Standing height (outsole plus midsole) of the Bikila LS is 7mm, and its overall weight is 6.0 oz, which are identical specs to the original Bikila.
My Salinas Valley test lab
One note about the outsole performance and durability: most readers are well aware that the vast majority of my mileage is done on dirt. One of the most frequent questions I had after reviewing the Bikila was how long its outsole would last on asphalt – and obviously, I'm not the most qualified person to speculate on that. However, many other people asked whether the outsole was sufficient for trail running, to which I'd say this: for smooth fire roads and groomed trails, it's fine. For technical trails or thickly gravelled fire roads, I do notice a decrease in both traction and protection compared to Vibram's KSO Trek or Trek Sport. I'd wager that the long-term durability is pretty good; my current Bikilas have at least 300 miles on them, and signs of wear on the outsole (see earlier photo) are relatively modest.
It's not until we get to the top of the shoe that you notice any difference between the Bikila and the Bikila LS. On that note, take a wild guess: do you know what LS stands for? Lace system! Because, you know … this one has laces. That's the big, obvious change in this updated version, and we'll return to it in a second – but first I'll point out some changes that are harder to see.
Sockless in Salinas
Material construction of the Bikila LS upper has the same Coconut Active Carbon fiber that's used on the Trek Sport, and which has natural breathability and odor resistance. It's a very comfortable material, but this change was kind of a wash for me; I really love the thin microfiber upper of the original Bikila, and I wouldn't say the LS is an improvement from a comfort standpoint. I wear both models without socks, and I've done marathon distances in each of them without any hot spots or irritation from the uppers.
Polyurethane dots on toes at left; TPU overlays on toes at right
Another subtle change is visible at the toes, where the tear-resistant TPU protection that looked like clear stickers on the Bikila has been replaced with a set of small raised abrasion-resistant polyurethane dots. I haven't had an issue with the clear TPU, but I've seen reports of them tearing along the edges on occasion, so I'm guessing this is Vibram's response to that known issue.
Thicker heel collar on LS at left; thin collar on original at right
Behind the heel, the collar of the Bikila LS is slightly thicker and wider than the more form-fitting Bikila, which is probably built to accommodate a wide variety of foot sizes and shapes. Speaking of variety …
Lace system and tongue allow for wide foot opening
… that is the main advantage the lacing system provides, and that's the main advantage of the Bikila LS over the Bikila. On the original, the upper had a very secure glove-like fit, but some users found it too constricting across the top of the foot in comparison to other FiveFingers models. People who had a wide midfoot or a high instep had difficulty with the fit of the Bikila, and there really wasn't any adjustability aside from the top strap that only made things tighter. Again, this wasn't an issue for me, but it was probably the biggest complaint I've heard about the Bikila.
With the Bikila LS, you open the top like a traditional shoe, and use the laces to customize the tightness however you like. It's significantly easier to put this model on your feet than having to wriggle your toes into the original Bikila. Once your feet are in, you tighten the laces against a thin tongue which sits very comfortably against the skin, with the same soft lining underneath as the rest of the sockliner.
Having a lace system also eliminates the strap loop on the outside of the foot, which some users had reported as a location of minor irritation when the strap was pulled too tightly.
For a couple of reasons, I love the fact that Vibram decided to go with speed laces on the LS rather than traditional tie laces. The main benefit is a functional one, as the elasticized laces are very effective at evenly distributing tension across the top of the foot. However, there's also a high-performance element to this system as well – namely, the ability to put the shoes on quickly.
Speed laces were born in the triathlon world to decrease transition time from bike cleats to running shoes; with the Bikila LS, whether they intended to or not, Vibram has created the world's first purely minimal triathlon shoe. They're super-light, incredibly comfortable without socks, and able to be put on in a flash; if I ever return to my triathlon background, I'm definitely using the Bikila LS as my race-day shoe.
Ready to race!
Needless to say, Vibram has raised the road minimalist shoe bar – one that was already set fairly high by the Bikila - substantially with the Bikila LS. It maintains all the ideal aspects of the Bikila, and incorporates a significant design innovation to successfully accommodate a larger variety of users. If you're currently happy with your Bikilas, I can't honestly say the lace system is sufficient reason to upgrade – but if you're on the fence between which one to buy, or if you suspect that you'd have a hard time fitting into the Bikila, the Bikila LS is an easy bet that doesn't cost you any more money than the original.
The Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS retails for $100 from TravelCountry.com.
*Product provided by Vibram
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling. Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
So when Vibram announced the release of the FiveFingers Bikila LS this spring, I envisioned two possible scenarios: 1) they'd make changes to the shoe that I didn't like, which would make for an awkward review, or 2) the changes wouldn't be significant enough to distinguish the Bikila LS from the original Bikila, in which case I'd have difficulty in deciding which model to recommend.
Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS
As it turns out, I was kind of an idiot, because I completely didn't expect scenario 3): that they'd make substantial changes which represent a noticeable improvement over the original, while making the shoes more accessible to a wider range of minimalist runners. But that's exactly what Vibram has done with the Bikila LS – and it's also a good reminder to me that this company might never cease to impress me.
Bikila LS on left, original Bikila on R
The best news of all is that even with notably altered appearance, Vibram maintained pretty much all of the construction aspects of the Bikila that I liked – and since most of those similarities are on the underside of the foot, we'll take this review in the opposite direction than usual, starting from the bottom up:
Bikila LS on top, original Bikila on bottom
I could also save us both a lot of time by referring you to my original Bikila review, where I describe the outsole and midsoles in greater detail. The Bikila LS shares the exact same 4mm anatomically podded outsole design, and the same 3mm polyurethane midsole that is thickest under the ball of the foot to support the impact zone of forefoot running. The midsole and sockliner are covered with the same soft Dri-Lex material for comfort and moisture-wicking performance. Standing height (outsole plus midsole) of the Bikila LS is 7mm, and its overall weight is 6.0 oz, which are identical specs to the original Bikila.
My Salinas Valley test lab
One note about the outsole performance and durability: most readers are well aware that the vast majority of my mileage is done on dirt. One of the most frequent questions I had after reviewing the Bikila was how long its outsole would last on asphalt – and obviously, I'm not the most qualified person to speculate on that. However, many other people asked whether the outsole was sufficient for trail running, to which I'd say this: for smooth fire roads and groomed trails, it's fine. For technical trails or thickly gravelled fire roads, I do notice a decrease in both traction and protection compared to Vibram's KSO Trek or Trek Sport. I'd wager that the long-term durability is pretty good; my current Bikilas have at least 300 miles on them, and signs of wear on the outsole (see earlier photo) are relatively modest.
It's not until we get to the top of the shoe that you notice any difference between the Bikila and the Bikila LS. On that note, take a wild guess: do you know what LS stands for? Lace system! Because, you know … this one has laces. That's the big, obvious change in this updated version, and we'll return to it in a second – but first I'll point out some changes that are harder to see.
Sockless in Salinas
Material construction of the Bikila LS upper has the same Coconut Active Carbon fiber that's used on the Trek Sport, and which has natural breathability and odor resistance. It's a very comfortable material, but this change was kind of a wash for me; I really love the thin microfiber upper of the original Bikila, and I wouldn't say the LS is an improvement from a comfort standpoint. I wear both models without socks, and I've done marathon distances in each of them without any hot spots or irritation from the uppers.
Polyurethane dots on toes at left; TPU overlays on toes at right
Another subtle change is visible at the toes, where the tear-resistant TPU protection that looked like clear stickers on the Bikila has been replaced with a set of small raised abrasion-resistant polyurethane dots. I haven't had an issue with the clear TPU, but I've seen reports of them tearing along the edges on occasion, so I'm guessing this is Vibram's response to that known issue.
Thicker heel collar on LS at left; thin collar on original at right
Behind the heel, the collar of the Bikila LS is slightly thicker and wider than the more form-fitting Bikila, which is probably built to accommodate a wide variety of foot sizes and shapes. Speaking of variety …
Lace system and tongue allow for wide foot opening
… that is the main advantage the lacing system provides, and that's the main advantage of the Bikila LS over the Bikila. On the original, the upper had a very secure glove-like fit, but some users found it too constricting across the top of the foot in comparison to other FiveFingers models. People who had a wide midfoot or a high instep had difficulty with the fit of the Bikila, and there really wasn't any adjustability aside from the top strap that only made things tighter. Again, this wasn't an issue for me, but it was probably the biggest complaint I've heard about the Bikila.
With the Bikila LS, you open the top like a traditional shoe, and use the laces to customize the tightness however you like. It's significantly easier to put this model on your feet than having to wriggle your toes into the original Bikila. Once your feet are in, you tighten the laces against a thin tongue which sits very comfortably against the skin, with the same soft lining underneath as the rest of the sockliner.
Having a lace system also eliminates the strap loop on the outside of the foot, which some users had reported as a location of minor irritation when the strap was pulled too tightly.
For a couple of reasons, I love the fact that Vibram decided to go with speed laces on the LS rather than traditional tie laces. The main benefit is a functional one, as the elasticized laces are very effective at evenly distributing tension across the top of the foot. However, there's also a high-performance element to this system as well – namely, the ability to put the shoes on quickly.
Speed laces were born in the triathlon world to decrease transition time from bike cleats to running shoes; with the Bikila LS, whether they intended to or not, Vibram has created the world's first purely minimal triathlon shoe. They're super-light, incredibly comfortable without socks, and able to be put on in a flash; if I ever return to my triathlon background, I'm definitely using the Bikila LS as my race-day shoe.
Ready to race!
Needless to say, Vibram has raised the road minimalist shoe bar – one that was already set fairly high by the Bikila - substantially with the Bikila LS. It maintains all the ideal aspects of the Bikila, and incorporates a significant design innovation to successfully accommodate a larger variety of users. If you're currently happy with your Bikilas, I can't honestly say the lace system is sufficient reason to upgrade – but if you're on the fence between which one to buy, or if you suspect that you'd have a hard time fitting into the Bikila, the Bikila LS is an easy bet that doesn't cost you any more money than the original.
The Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS retails for $100 from TravelCountry.com.
*Product provided by Vibram
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling. Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
