It may seem hard to imagine, especially if you’re in the United States with COVID-19 rates steadily rising as we stumble into the (happier) new year, but we will be travelling again. We will be— like David Bronkie, founder of Koya got tired of doing— awkwardly packing dirty runners into carry-on luggage, stuffed in plastic bags or wrapped in something weird. Bronkie came up with the Koya system of trail running sneakers (the Rove) that can be folded relatively flat and packed neatly into a carrying case (the Roam) that resembles a CD envelope. Check out the video:
Koya is presently in the crowdfunding stage, which appears to be running far past its goal. The presentation is comprehensive and impressive so it’s no surprise other trail-running light-packing travel bugs seem to agree. We look forward to following the journey of this innovative offering into 2021 and beyond.
Sometimes I feel like the only one- the only one who is never content with the length of shoelaces that come stock with some footwear. Laces always seem way too long right? Shoe shops never seem to have a great selection of laces, but I was pleasantly surprised that behind the counter of Journeys Shoes and Clothing hung this pair of 39-inch laces that fit a pair of my Mauris perfectly. 36’s were too short, 45’s too long so yes, a pair of shoelaces made me happy.
Thanks to a gigantic attention-getting promotional Skechers sneaker on a table at a volunteer fair I happen to be walking by the other day, I came to learn about an organization called Back on My Feet.
Back on My Feet works to combat homelessness by directing resources toward specific housing and employment initiatives, while fostering self-esteem in homeless individuals (many who are veterans) through the communal act of getting together for a run. Big city marathons to small morning groups- keep an eye out for them. There are chapters in 12 major US cities. I encourage anyone to check out their sitefor more information. Wicked-cool shout out to the staff from the NYC chapter.
Vans Bike Grips
I needed some new grips for my mountain bike. I used to love the ODI mushroom grips back in my BMX Freestyle days- were they still making grips? (searches web) Hell yeah they are.
For someone who grew up wearing Vans, these rubber grips featuring the classic waffle-sole pattern, also made-in-the-USA like the old Vans used to be- bought ’em faster than a wheel spin.
What the heck- just a few little things that made me happy recently
I hope you all had a happy International Fluevog Day last Friday. Pardon the sneezes; the pollen count has been high in the northeast this week. Heavy boot season is about done and I’ve been wearing sneakers a bit more along the northeast corridor. What about you?
Doug from Jersey City, New Jersey tipped me off to this swell video that went around on the webs heavy last week:
I’d been wondering about that extra set of holes lately, and since I’m not a runner (I just walk a lot), never bothered to look into it. I’m sure there are a google ways to use the extra holes. My New Balance 498s have this extra set, and I usually skip it, or obtain some 45-inch laces that don’t leave as much tip. I did lace up as instructed in the video above and it felt pretty solid, but I found this lacing a pain to untie quickly. Locking might be preferable for competition runners, but I’d avoid using the technique while air traveling or going on dates.
Speaking of New Balance, they opened a new factory outlet shop on April 4th in Avon, Massachusetts*. As a former Bostonian who’d been visiting the main NB outlet in Brighton, (Boston, Massachusetts) since it was located on North Beacon Street, I was curious to see how it would compare. The regular New Balance running shops, like on 5th Ave in New York City or Boylston St. in Boston are fun to visit for the latest and greatest New Balance, plus customization stations, but at an outlet we expect to see older models, deadstock, and totally random oddballs that you can’t even find on the Internet.
The new new is located on Stockwell Drive, and is definitely stocked well. They did have plenty of brand new older models, with a split down the middle for women and men.
You had your insole and accessory endcaps, with some try-on benches toward the back, lots to look through. Hockey players could even get gear from NB’s Warrior brand.
There were a couple Brannock foot measuring devices at the store. When I’m considering buying a shoe, I like to try all sizes above, below and wide to make sure I’m getting the best fit. Some irregularities could be in sizing, and that could be the reason the sneaks ended up at an outlet anyway.
Chock-full clearance racks lined the back walls. This is where you find the oddball randos. I ended up purchasing some Minimus MX20v3s for $40 out of said racks.
I first tried them with socks, and proceeded to break them in later that day via a batting cage session, some field frisbee, and even a turn playing drums. Remember that cartoon Laff-A-Lympics?
I ended up preferring wearing the MX20v3s without socks; much less squishy-feels, more sure-footedness. The shoe itself can nearly be compared to a padded sock with laces. The MX20s have no removable insole and feature antimicrobial treated inners much like minimalist offerings from Vibram and others.
Vibram actually provides the outsole under a thin layer of foam attached to the uppers. Sporting some bug-screen style mesh on the heel-sides, these measure a 4mm heel-to-toe drop and are made-in-USA from imported components.
#ImpulsePurchase
What else at the store? In line I spotted some sweet skull ‘n’ crossbones flat laces en route to checkout. The Minimus’s came stock with black 54″ athletic (oval) laces which I did try lace-locking and felt it was too constricting for this type of shoe. Without the extra holes laced, the tips sometimes swiped the ground (A Popdiatry no-no). I swapped them with the 45″ skulls and I’m a happy urban camper.
Rule of Toe: NB Minimus, no socks, 45″ laces
I use the Minimus’s for handball and other hard-ground excercises. I wouldn’t choose these to walk around all day in a big city, but I can definitely see packing them in luggage for use at a hotel gym. They’re definitely less attention-getting than toe-shoes, and I’d consider wearing them in close-range coffeeshop or foodshopping situations where I wouldn’t wear FiveFingers or SkeleToes.
HEADS
Elsewhere off the path, thanks to Michael from Cambridge Massachusetts for sending us pics of this ridiculously fresh made-in-USA “Birds” snapback.
If you’ve never seen the original Birds by Alfred Hitchcock, put it in your queue.
* Thanks to Kathy from Brockton for the tip on the New Balance store.
I own a pair of Vibram FiveFingers Classics that I bought myself four years ago.
I’m not a runner; I don’t wear these in the club, or to work. Living in NYC, I’m very fortunate to have a concrete backyard where I like to wear my Vibrams. Jumping rope, playing handball, doing push ups and stretches- all make me feel like more of a ninja with these on. Last week, as a result of a class action lawsuit settlement, Vibram proposed to pay out as much as $94 to anyone who bought some FiveFingers as far back as 2009. The plaintiffs say that Vibram made unsubstantiated claims that wearing FiveFingers could strengthen muscles and prevent injury. Writer James Fallows typed an excellent defense of Vibram in a recent piece. “If people actually bought these shoes for promised health benefits, then perhaps it’s fair for them to get their $94-per-pair back.” He’s not claiming a refund and neither am I. Vibram denies any wrongdoing. The proposed settlement is simply to avoid a prolonged legal battle. The company has better things to do- like make outsoles for just about every shoe company on the planet. Just like James, I have no business affiliation with Vibram beyond me buying them. I can’t help thinking someone wearing FiveFingers in an inappropriate social setting led to the suit. Perhaps a couple wore matching FiveFingers to a Met Gala, or a wedding reception in Massachusetts where some legal eagles were in attendance. Lawyer A looked at lawyer B and said “let’s make ’em pay”. Over the years I watched with interest as Vibram released more and more maximal versions of their minimalist shoes, but I continue to prefer the no-frills Classics. This legal settlement does nothing to change my view of toe shoes or Vibram. I’m sorry for those people you see wearing them at the airport/coffeeshop.
Speaking of health claims..
In the parallel universe of high-heels, magician David Copperfield’s fiance Chloe Gosselin is launching her own line of footwear later this year. The line is made in Italy from leather and “exotic skins”. At this time, there is no evidence that wearing some Chloes can decrease injuries and strengthen muscles, but Popdiatry recommends that you avoid running (fast) in them. Though be advised that the $850- $1600 price points may cause premature erosion to your savings account balance.
Ssssssssssssss Image from Chloe Gosselin
A research team at the MIT Media Labpublished a paper about a new exoskeleton boot project. Similar to how an electric bike helps you effortlessly pedal up hills, these exoskeletal boots may assist soldiers carrying heavy packs, or civilians carrying beer kegs to neighborhood parties through the use of sensors and motors that mechanically aid existing leg movements. According to the Lab’s Hugh Herr:“This is the first exoskeleton that actually augments human walking and significantly reduces metabolic cost.”
Exoskeletal prototypical boots being tested. Image: http://www.businessinsider.com
Puma linked with Alexander McQueen to create one hundred pairs of super-special (not-for-sale) soccer cleats to be given out to select associates of collaborating parties in recognition of Soccer’s World Cup in Brazil this summer.
There is still no word on the status of the stolen signed Usain Bolt Pumas which were lifted last month from an industrial estate in Croydon. The running star took to social media with an appeal to the perpetrator.
With all these health claims and lawsuits flying around, I would like to stress that Popdiatry.com is not a substitute for medical advice or medical attention. If you are experiencing foot problems of any kind, please feel free to read Popdiatry.com for information and entertainment while you are in the waiting room of a real doctor or podiatrist. Thanks.
Last weekend this 700-balloon sculpture of a running shoe created by Ryan Oelrich was displayed during the annual Bloomsday race and trade show in Spokane, Washington.
Image: http://downtownspokane.kxly.com
What about a running sneaker in a toaster oven?
Heating the soles off for inspiration
Golden Harper, founder of running shoe company Altra, came up with the idea for his specialty line of trainers after doing modifications to existing running shoes. He would heat sneakers in a toaster oven to melt the glues in order to pull the chunky soles off to create minimalist prototypes. These became the precursors to Altra, which employs a thin, flat sole that is equally thick from toe to heel. In 2014, Altras can be found in over 700 running shoe stores nationwide.
Footwear brand Skechers added two-time Olympian distance runner Kara Goucher to their sponsored roster.
Feel free to start a rumor that you are interested in buying Rockport. Rockport’s parent company Adidas, is reportedly looking to sell off the dressy brand that it acquired when it bought Reebok back in ’05.
Danner Boots opened their first store outside their home state of Oregon in Renton, Washington. It will stock a huge collection of Danners, including many models which are made in the USA.
Here at Popdiatry, we advocate seeking out the ultimate in footwear comfort. This often means being cognizant of your foot’s width, which often leads to buying wider footwear. It tickled my pinky toes to learn that there is a mini-chain of shoe shops in Washington state called Wide Shoes Only. Read the article about them here.
Lina Ahn, owner of Wide Shoes Only, poses with some size 18 New Balances. Image from Heraldnet.com
By law of averages, someone we interact with today wears footwear manufactured at a Yue Yuen Industrial production facility- most likely in China. Yue Yuen is the world’s biggest branded shoe and sneaker maker- think 3 stripes and the swoosh. For the past week, thousands of workers at a couple Chinese Yue Yuen factories have been in various stages of a strike; the biggest being estimated at 30,000 at a Y.Y. in Guangdong province. The issue seems on its way to being resolved in favor of the workers’ concerns. Meanwhile, Nike and Adidas look towards Vietnam as the place where a majority of their shoes will be made as wages and working conditions (hopefully) improve in China.
The guy who won the Boston Marathon wasn’t wearing Nikes, Adidas, New Balances, Under Armours, Newtons, or Altras while crossing the finish line. Wicked fast runner Meb Keflezighi has been sponsored by Skechers since 2011, and was wearing a pair from the company’s performance line of sneaks when he broke the tape on Boylston Street Monday. Next year I’d love to see him do a repeat while wearing a pair of Skechers’s infamous Shape Ups shoes.
TMZ is reporting that Chicago Bull Joakim Noah sued his former sneaker sponsor Le Coq Sportif last year. Le Coq countersued. The issue was settled last month. Noah now balls with Adidas. Today he was named the 2014 NBA defensive player of the year.
Pop boy act One Direction now have their own sneaker-shoes. Country singer Miranda Lambert debuted her own line of footwear. Brown Shoe Co. (act like you never had some Buster Browns) just celebrated 100 years on the New York Stock Exchange. Brown even had a little celebration at the NYSE building where Black Eyed Pea Fergie (has her own line with Brown) rang the closing bell Wednesday. Former prez George H.W. Bush has his own line of striped, colorful signature socks. What ? Check out GeorgeBushSocks.com
Those Bush socks are a little too loud for my tastes. In efforts to step up my sock game though- I did visit the REI store in SOHO last week and spent an inordinate amount of time in their impressively-stocked sock isles. I walked out with a purchase of Injinji toe socks- my first ever purchase of this type of sock. Look for a quick review in a future Popdiatribe.
Speaking of commanders-in-chief, the U.S. Armed forces are in the process of testing some new boot models. Last month I wrote about the Berry Amendment – that mandates the U.S. Department of Defense must give preference to domestically-produced items. For footwear this means that government-issued soldier boots must be made in America. A push to be Berry-compliant has created a little healthy competition amongst American manufacturers. Who can make the most comfortable, durable, quickest-drying boot that service members will love? Time shall tell. I’m not even sure at this time which brand produced the model below. The results of all these prototypes will certainly lead to civilian consumers getting some fresh boot options down the road.
Image from Army.mil
I couldn’t resist posting another still from that Dr. Scholl’s DreamWalk ad campaign. The special effects people did a great job making the womens’ shoes morph into monsters.
