First of all I would like to apologize for not writing any post for a looong time… sorry guys, I just went on a trip and I didn’t have any time to write
So here’s the trends post, which I recognize I should have done it a while ago…but no worries now that am back I’ll be posting at least once a week.

Autumn/Winter 2009

Online Shoe Stores

It’s difficult to believe that in a world where most people actually like to try their shoes on before buying them, online shoe stores have become so popular.
The reasons why ’s more than obvious, the wide variety (sizes, colors, styles), the price,
the opportunity to save yourself a trip to a “real” store and to make your purchase from
the comfort of your house.

However, sometimes it’s difficult to find a good online shoe store that offers a decent service and reasonable prices, that is why in this post we’ll list and analyze online shoes stores.

Why People buy Online?

Why are people buying shoes online? It’s easy, variety, price and convenience.

Some online stores offer the largest selection of shoes anywhere with 250 top brands of the most styles per brand, the broadest range of materials, colors, sizes, and widths, and with the most up to date fashions. Find shoes in sizes ranging from a women’s size 2 to a size 17 or a men’s size 1 to a size 20, with width’s running from extra narrow to extra wide.

In addition, you can find online discounts that provide savings of up to 65% off plus free shipping with live customer service and free returns. But if you still you don’t feel so sure about online shoes stores on some websites you can see what other customers think by checking out customer’s reviews and ratings on the thousands of shoes and accessories.

There are great savings every day online and with these great savings, you won’t be hit with any additional sales charges or fees with free shipping and free return shipping anywhere in the United States and you will receive your order within three to ten business days. Some sites offer first time customers an additional 10% off their purchase and the opportunity to save more on future purchases. Whether you’re a first time buyer or not you can review other customer’s ratings from the thousands of products across the website. Find out if a shoe runs a little wide or narrow from others who have bought the same item.

The choice is simple, with the advantages of purchasing without any sales tax, and enjoying great sales and discounts from your own home, secure purchasing, live customer service, and free shipping, you can see why everyone is shopping online.

Online Shoe Stores

1) Bakershoes.com

Sorry guys, this store its only for us women
I came across this store a week ago, and I really like it…
Bakers Shoes carries a lot of hot brand names, sort of stylish shoe variety, it also offers some really nice handbags.
The prices are reasonable, no free shipping ($6.95 standard shipping plus $2 for any additional item), the customer service is not a real help there’s only a toll free number for returns, so you have to assist yourself in this page, no live chat, however this it is an attractive site to visit.

2)  BuyAndWalk.com
This site it’s still a toddler giving the first steps compared with some of the giants online shoe stores.
I think they’ve been around for over a year now, and they have made some changes like changing the page
resolution from 800×600 to 1280×124, and adding some features to  accomplish an easier shopping experience.

I’m a regular customer from this site since I buy most of my Converse shoes from here (trust me I do buy a looooot of shoes), since they have a lot of Converse styles to pick from and I get special discount for being a regular.
This site offers free shipping, free shipping return and no sales tax, you can order online or by phone.
The customer service is really good, the people there are sincerely willing to help both by phone or by live chat.
The site is quite easy to use as well as the return and exchange process, great prices, not a huge selection of brands but if what your looking for are sneakers both for women, children and men I strongly recommend you this site.

3) DSW.com

This site has been around since Spring 2008 when it was it launched, I actually haven’t had the opportunity to buy shoes but I’ll try it as soon as I can.
The site its OK, not really sure about the black background thought, I know that it’s to add a sophisticated touch but it makes me feel unease while I navigate the site.
A large variety of brands and styles are available for women and men, prices are OK, no free shipping ( $7.95 standard shipping 7-10 business days), no free shipping return ( the shipping return fee will be deducted from your refund), returns and exchanges may take up to 14 days.
Overall it’s a good site but despite the variety of shoes there are better sites that offer free shipping & free shipping return, not one of my favorites but it has some very nice shoes.

4) Ebay.com

I’m sure everyone have at least visited ebay.com at least once, but I have to admit that having so much brands and styles sometimes makes it to difficult to find what you want, that is why I prefer small online shoe stores.
The site is really nice and cozy, its easy to navigate, it provides Live chat but its quite slow (I had to wait like 5 minutes for a customer service representative), free shipping depends on the seller since ebay its not involved with the shipping and returns.
Overall its a recommendable site.

5)  Endless.com

In case you’ve been living under ground Endless.com belongs to Amazon.com, so its different to visit a site
knowing that was created by a giant as Amazon.com.  Hands down to Endless.com, it offers free overnight shipping, free return, 365 day return and 100% price guaranteed.
Wide selection of brands and styles, from dress shoes to athletic shoes, products available for women, men and kids.
Prices are reasonable, depending on the kind of shoe your interested in. It’s an attractive site, and has a lot of features that are quite helpful, such as search by color, price, size and more.
If am not mistaken Endless.com has been around since 2006 but despite its short years of existence it has the backup of one of my favorite sites.
In the end this site its highly recommendable.

6) OnlineShoes.com
Here’s another online store that has a lot of brands and styles to choose from, available for women, kids and men.
Its a friendly and easy to navigate site, with the toll free number right above in case you need help (not like some other that practically hide the phone number!), it offers free shipping, free 90 days return.
Prices are…OK, but some shoes cost for example 20 dollars more than other sites.
Overall its an interesting site to visit.

7) ShoeBuy.com

Shoebuy.com offers free shipping, free shipping return no sales taxes and 100% price guaranteed.
There is a wide selection of brands (over 650) and styles, for women men and kids.
The site is quite easy to use, unlike other sites they manage to distribute the 650 brands to make the navigation easier; toll free number.
Overall, its a good site but sometimes I find the prices a little bit to expensive.

* Well that’s all for this week, maybe I’ll write about some other online shoe stores next week.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post as much as I did, and please feel free to comment telling us about a good or bad shopping experience or you also can send us an email to shoesobessions@live.com or suscribe to our RSS FEED the get the latest news about our site.

Check our other resources

New Balance Technologies

Achieving your best performance depends on shoes that fit – that conform to the unique architecture of your foot and offer the support, motion control and shock absorption you need to excel.

The New Balance TEC System offers a range of widths, sizes, configurations and technologies that add up to the perfect shoe for your individual needs.

Acteva ™ Lite

Lighter foam means no tiring out on running so quickly.
Extremely durable and 24% lighter than standard, this midsole foam really keeps you going.

Acteva ™ Ultra Lite

Ultra Lite means 32% lighter than standard midsole foam, which means lighter feet and longer runs.

NB Zip ™

A responsive cushioning technology supported with shock-absorbing struts and designed to get a better performance.

Acteva ™

12% lighter than standard midsole foam with Dupont Engage for durability, it helps both runner and shoe last a little longer.

Click to watch Video

NB’s top of the line foam material with excellent cushioning and compression set properties.
A blend of Dupont ™ Engage ®, Isoprene rubber and proprietary materials provides the ultimate ride.

Click to Watch Video

Abzorb® EX

A combination of New Balance’s premium Abzorb ® foam and a peripheral pocket of non-pressurized
air that is encapsulated in an engineered thermoplastic.

Click to Watch Video

Abzorb ® DTS

Dynamic Transition System (D.T.S) combines Abzorb ® foam and Abzorb ® SBS to provide optimal
cushioning and a smooth transition on heel strike.

Click to Watch Video

C-Cap ®

Lightweight midsole adds cushion without sacrificing flexibility.

Abzorb ® SBS

Engineered non-cellular elastomer designed to provide optimal shock absorption and no compression set.

Click to Watch Video

Abzorb ® FL

An excellent cushioning system that resists compression will allow you to run more and more often.

N-Fuse ™

The perfect combination of two midsole foams: one soft for added cushioning, one structured
for full-stride support.

Click to Watch Video

TS2 ®

Multi-density medial support creates a smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Click to Watch Video

Extended Web ™

Structured light weight arch support that extends into the medial heel and provides midfoot rigidity (preventing midfoot flex) and medial rearfoot support.

Rollbar ®

TPU medial and or lateral post with composite plate designed to minimize rearfoot movement
(pronation and supination). When combined with TS2 ® provides the ultimate in motion control.

Click to Watch Video

Encap  ®

A core of EVA encapsulated within a shell of polyurethane for added stability and shock dispersion.

Click to Watch Video

AT Tread ®

Outsole tread designed to provide optimal traction for both on and off-road use.

RockStop ®

Protects feet by dispersing the shock from landing on rocks and debris across your foot.

Click to Watch Video

NGrip ®

Outsole material which provides slip resistance and oil resistance beyond industry standards.

Click to Watch Video

NDurance ®

Rubber compound for maximum durability in high wear areas.

Walking Strike Path ®

Outsole feature that stabilize and guides the foot through the walking gait cycle.

Sure Lace ™

Sure Lace is a computer knit lace/chord designed with a reciprocating wave pattern that will not
untie under high performance or inclement conditions.
The lace’s design also provides the ability to variable lace (tight at the bottom of the throat-loose at the top)
their shoe therefore providing optimal fit.

Click here to watch Video

Lightning Dry ®

By managing moisture transfer, this superior fabric helps keep skin dry and comfortable.

NLock ®

Integrated lacing and webbing system that provides optimal fit, support and security.

Click to watch video

TruTrak ®

Outsole designed to provide maximum traction and surface contact.

Other Technologies already seen:

Adidas Technology
Asics Technology
Brooks Technology
Mizuno Technology
Nike Technology
Saucony Technology

Mizuno is a well recognized brand for making some of the top running shoes for athletes. This brand has its origins in Japan, Tokyo in 1906 when two brothers founded the first Mizuno Shop. Mizuno has not only develop excellent technologies for their shoes but also for any other piece of apparel they made.

Mizuno Shoe Technologies:

The AirMesh technology allows the running shoes to have a high capability for breathing, maintaining your feet dry and coll at all times, which prevent problems like: Strong Odor, hyperhydrosis, bad fungus among others. We have discussed some of this problems in one of our previous posts –> Foot Problems

The AP Midsole technology provides a lightweight and responsive base for the shoes, which means more control over your foot while running.

The BioLock technology its a simple technology which allows the shoes to absorb the heel shape for maximum comfort, it also enhances performance by eliminating heel slippage to reduce wasted motion. Great for overpronators.

The Gore-Tex is an upper technology applied to most of Mizuno shoes, which is a special material that prevents weather factors to act in your feet, keeping them at an optimal conditions at all conditions, this material is also water resistance.

The Intercool technology its a full lenght ventilation system in the core of the sole that removes heat and humidity from the foot  through its ventilation channels. Between the intercool system and the airmesh you will find a perfect fit for your needs in case you have hyperhydrosis problems.

The SensorPoint gives the shoes more stability and traction in all surfaces. Mizuno’s revolutionary suspension system which uses studs that connect the Wave plate directly to the ground.

The VS-1 technology is an exclusive shock absorption system which provides more cushioning,  resisting compression allows the shoes to extend the cushioning life of running shoes.

The Wet Traction system is a Bi-Directional outsole rubber synthetic leather compound that breaks through water, improving grip in all conditions and all surfaces.

The X-10 technology provides the most durable carbonrubber that allows for longer wear in high impact areas and provides more traction at heel strike during the gait cycle. Excellent combination with the BioLock technology for overpronators.

The Smooth Ride technology provides maximum comfort, ultimate feel, unsurpassed performance this system was designed at the Mizuno’s Sozo Studio. Designed to minimise the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the foot through the phases of the running cycle by reducing shock and increasing flexibility. This allows Mizuno to create running footwear that provides an extremely comfortable running experience through an even smoother ride.

The Sozo Engineering division was created with the only purpose of achieving the maximum standards in shoe technologies. Responsible for the Smooth Ride technology is the spirit with which Mizuno has created a revolutionary design studio to cultivate cutting-edge concepts and methodologies for the development of sports equipment. Using innovative computer simulation which replicates physical characteristics, such as bone structure and muscle mass and then analyses the impact forces generated by various physical traits and running styles, Mizuno is able to determine the exact quantity and positioning of cushioning and stability materials within the midsole of a shoe.

The Mizuno Wave is a unique technology that combines two elements that are both necessary for a great running shoes, cushion and stability.The Wave department studies all the forces that are applied to the human body while running, that’s why Mizuno study all compositions and possible combinations of materials to have the correct blend of cushioning and stability and therefore minimise the risk of injury.

The wave plate provides excellent cushioning by dispersing the force of impact across a larger surface area. The stability aspect of Wave technology is gained by the construction differing between the outside (lateral) and the inside (medial) of the shoe, therefore resisting the compression of the midsole in high pressure areas.

Other Brands:

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Asics Logo

As you know every footwear maker has its own ways to deal with running shoes that’s why we have choose to put all technologies applied to our daily running shoes.

Athletes have different needs and therefore they require different shoes that better suit their style, technique and also some pronation, cushion issues when running.

Before even thinking about categories Asics has study the human body while in motion, beacuse of this they focused all eforts on studying the Cardinal Body Planes, Gait Cycle and of course the Gender differences. After a serious study Asics has develop some unique categories for its shoes.

Asics Categories:

Health: Walking shoes with the whole purpose of helping people with Diabetes.

Fitness: Walking shoes focused on cushioning, stability and performance designed for those people that enjoy long walks.

Comfort: Walking shoes for superior comfort, cushioning and safety.

Structured Cushioning: Running shoes with a well balanced blend of cushioning and stability. Most recommended shoe for running.

Cushioning: A category of running shoes with an emphasis on cushioning and flexibility, for runners with relatively few biomechanical problems.

Maximum Support: Running shoes with a relatively high degree of support and cushioning technologies, blended to enhance the natural motion of the foot. This running shoes are a must if you have some problems of overpronation.

Trail: Running shoes for comfortable and safe off the road running. This shoes were focused on traction, flexibility and durability.

Asics Technologies:

The IGS or (Impact Guidance System)  is a technical design based on the philosophy of the human body that allows the foot to perform a more natural heel to toe movement. This technology is based on 3 priciples: Contact, MidStance and  Propulsion.

The RearFoot GEL Cushioning System is a silycon based cushinong system which provides a lower shock when the heel impacts on the ground offering a better cushioning.

The ForeFoot GEL Cushioning System, is a similar technology as the rear one which is placed in the forefoot of the shoes. It reduces shear forces and also helps the foot when propulsing.

The SpeVa Midsole technology, is a material that improves bounce back characteristics and decreases midsole breakdown when running. Some of the features that provides this technology are: Better shock attenuation, improves durability.

The Solyte Midsole technology, is even a lighter midsole than the Speva without loosing all the other properties. Some of the benefits of using this technology woulb be: more cushioning, durablity, responsive and of course lightweight.

The Speva Lasting enhances stability, cushioning and comfort. Though the years Asics has managed to improve its technology so now they have 3 types of Speva Lastings which differ one to another on its density: Lasting technology, through the use of three different densities: 45 density for high cushion
and flexibility, 55 density for increased stiffness to boost the spring rate, and 65 density for increased stiffness thus limiting midsole deformation.

The DuoMax technology is a higher density EVA material which helps to reduce the effect of overpronations and also enhances the normal movement of the foot. Exclusive stabilising technology.

The Trusstic System technology, its a midfoot technology which links the rearfoot with the frontfoot. It also shores the midfoot  as it prepares for propulsion.

This is the Space Trusstic System a variable from the Trusstic Sysytem seen above which provides Windlass Mechanics.

The Dynamic Cradle, is a a technology based in the guidance of the Toe-Off. This technology is placed in the midsole and helps balance the foot while it moves through the gait cycle.

The Stability Cradle, is a reinforced EVA component contoured to provide medial and lateral stability.

The Biomorphic Fit technology, ita a special technology which allows the upper to move equally to the foot in the gait cycle which reduces the friction between the material and the foot, preventing the athletes from getting blisters.

The Dousole technology allows a better flexibility, an incredible grip in most surfaces and also adds more lightweight to the shoe.

The PHF technology was develop for a personalized hell fit. Its build of High density self-moding foam which mading a perfect shape for the heel and the achilles tendom. Decreases slipagge and also gives more comfort to the heel.

As well as New Balance, Asics has a variety of widths depending on gender and width size. This helps the athlete to a better fit when using their shoes and also a stable platform for running, and also a proper framing of the foot.

The Ahar technology, or ASICS High Abrasion Rubber, is a tough rubber compound used at the heavy-contact. Helps cut down on excessive wear.

The DuraSponge technology of the ASICS shoes Blown abrasion-resistant rubber outsole material, adding durability while still supplying a comfortable ride.

The 3M, is a reflective material produce by the 3M company for night safety.

This means MultiFunction Cleats, providing responsiveness on turf/grass surfaces. A unique design which allows the cleat to “cut and rotate” through the turf, whilst still providing exceptional grip and stability. Excellent grip in these kinf of surfaces.

The ComfortDry Sockliner, is a A unique dual layer cushioning system combining the support of base foam with the slow recovery of lazy foam, for a customised insole. Also contains anti-microbial properties for a cooler, drier and healthier foot environment.

The Removable Sockliner, is an EVA sockliner moulded to the shape of the foot, which can be removed to accommodate a medical orthotic.

The Two last technologies: EVA and Californian last. The Californian technology unifies he upper is stitched to a canvas board and directly attached to the midsole for stability and comfort.

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Check other Shoe Technology Posts:

Brooks Technology

Brooks Shoes Technology:

The Brooks shoes are divided into different categories for specific technologies and performances.

1)._Cushioned Shoes:

Customized designed shoes for runners who want a more flexible and responsive feel when running.

2)._Motion Control Shoes:

This shoes are built for the larger runner with overpronation, or a person who needs extreme pronation control. If you need further info about overpronation you can check our Problems Post.

3)._Performance Shoes:

(Cushion + Motion Control= Performance) This shoes are a mix between the cushioned and motion control shoes. Designed for runners who need to control their pronation and also want a more flexible, responsive feel.

4)._Trail Shoes:

This advanced built shoes offers stability, responsiveness and traction all what you need for an all-time season. Built for trial or roads running sessions.

Brooks Terms and Materials:

DRB Accel:

Enhances motion control in the midsole area.

Substance 257:

For the best combination in durability and cushioning, Brooks has taken 25% rubber and 75% EVA to make a midsole compound that is super-durable and comfortable.

HPR:

This outsole is more dense than the regular ones, with a higher carbon content to provide a longer duration of wear.

Bi-Directional Lug Pattern:

This pattern provides superior traction from heel to toe. Ideal for off-road and outdoor adventures.

Arch Lug:

Reduces the rate of pronation while continuing to bring additional support to the shoe.

Podular Technology:

For a more flexible and comfortable bending of the forefoot. Brooks´unique designed dividing the midsole and outsole into smaller sections. It also increases cushioning and responsiveness.

Forefoot HydroFlow®:

The fluid flow found in the forefoot protects the bones and maintains the cushioning. The flow of the liquid filled pads add shock absorption when running.

HydroFlow ST®:

This liquid filled pad is found in the rearfoot to help the cushioning upon impact. The movement of fluid to the outer ring increases stability as it swells to cup the heel.

Breathable Air Mesh:

Mesh material (which we talk about in other previous post) lets your feet stay cool and comfortable, by providing breathability.

Microfiber Synthetic Leather:

A more lightweight and breathable material which Brooks use in their performance shoes.

Diagonal Rollbar™:

Used In the midsole, this wedge-shaped components delivers stability and minimizes pronation. The high density EVA of the Diagonal Rollbar™ resists compression and protects the runner from serious injuries.

HyperPod:

For performance in a shoe, the number of pods and the configuration of flex grooves direct the shoe to flex in a more natural, forward motion.(similar to the Forefoot HydroFlow)

StablePod:

Instead of using a multiple pod configuration the StablePods run from the forefoot through to the rearfoot at the sides adding stability to the runner.

CushPod:

The mapping of the flex grooves and the number of pods create superior cushioning and forefoot flexibility.

MC-Pod:

The MC-Pod is for adding flexibility without compromising motion control. Flex grooves are run from medial to lateral side of the foot, as to decrease the amount of movement from side to side.

TerraPod:

Over-sized pods which provides the best traction possible with an outsole that continues to bend and flex naturally.

Their LAST TECHNOLOGY BIOGO:

On 24th July, Brooks Sports, Inc. announced that BioMoGo, the world’s first biodegradable midsole, is now available to consumers in the new Trance(TM) 8 premium support shoe. Brooks designed BioMoGo to biodegrade 50 times faster than conventional athletic shoe midsoles, making it one of the most significant sustainable technologies to hit the running footwear market.

BioMoGo midsoles include a non-toxic, natural additive that exponentially increases the rate of biodegradation by encouraging anaerobic microbes to break down nutrients into reusable byproducts. While traditional Ethylene Vinyl Acetate(TM) (EVA) midsoles can last up to 1,000 years in an enclosed landfill, extensive tests have proven that BioMoGo can biodegrade in roughly 20 years when placed in the same environment. By using BioMoGo in its shoes, Brooks will save nearly 30 million pounds of landfill waste over a 20-year period.
Although the application of BioMoGo technology to footwear involves valuable intellectual property, Brooks decided at the outset that it would treat its new midsole discovery as an “open source” innovation and share it with other footwear manufacturers and interested industries.
“Environmental stewardship is an important business pillar for Brooks, and we’re committed to creating products that help preserve and, whenever possible, enhance the environment,” said Jim Weber, president and CEO of Brooks. “Sharing BioMoGo presents a chance for greater environmental impact beyond Brooks and supports the spirit with which it was created.”
Without losing durability or performance, BioMoGo will begin to break down only when retired shoes encounter the “triple convergence” of high microbial load, low oxygen, and adequate moisture found in active, enclosed landfills. These three environmental conditions cannot be found in places where shoes are worn or stored. Once shoes have been thrown away and buried deep in an active, enclosed landfill, BioMoGo begins to break down into its component nutrients and releases carbon that plants and animals can use for growth.
“BioMoGo is one of the first cradle-to-cradle product solutions developed for athletic gear,” said Derek Campbell, materials engineer for Brooks’ Future Concepts team. “With the success of BioMoGo, we’re continuing to explore additional sustainable materials and production solutions that will benefit the earth for generations to come.”

In addition to landfill reduction, BioMoGo’s production process is derived from the same Compression Molded Preform (CMP) midsole manufacturing process used to produce Brooks’ industry-leading MoGo midsole. CMP is an efficient, environmentally friendly production method that reduces material waste by 50 percent and increases material consistency by 200 percent.
Brooks chose to launch BioMoGo in the Trance(TM) 8 due to its wealth of high-performance footwear technologies, which won its predecessor, the Trance(TM) 7, the coveted “Editor’s Choice” award from Runner’s World in August 2007. All Brooks performance running shoes featuring MoGo will inherit ground-breaking BioMoGo by the end of 2009.
“With new eco-friendly enhancements and the popularity of the previous model, the Trance(TM) 8 has received enthusiastic response from our key retail partners,” said Rick Wilhelm, vice president of sales for Brooks. “Runners want performance gear that not only feels good when running, but also instills pride in the brand they’re sporting.”
BioMoGo is the latest project Brooks has initiated to support its sustainability focus. Other examples include incorporating the CMP process, introducing HPR Green rubber, reducing PVC, developing a new environmentally friendly shoe box, and scrutinizing printed collateral pieces and vendor partners for their environmental impact.
The Trance(TM) 8 with BioMoGo is now available at specialty running retailers worldwide and on the Brooks Sports Web site at http://www.brooksrunning.com. For additional information about BioMoGo and other social responsibility and environmental stewardship programs from Brooks, please visit Brooks Sports’ “Green Room” at http://www.brooksrunning.com/greenroom.

Source: PRNewswire

Nike Technologies

Nike, Inc. has a history of developing innovative and new impact protection systems.
Starting with the Waffle Trainer to the Shox columns developed in 2001, certain technologies can only be found in genuine Nike shoes.
Since it early stages, Nike research facilities had evolved to the present 13,000 square feet building designated to the constant improvements of technologies, where research is divided into three parts:

*Biomechanics: how the body moves
*Physiology: how the body works specially under stress.
*Sensory/Perception: the evaluation of how a product works, feels and wears.

Nike products undergo a rigorous testing process that covers a wide variety of testing surfaces (regular basketball hardwood, soccer turf, running tracks and endless outdoor testing on various terrains), and four important factors are taking into account, geography, gender, age and skill level.
All of this combined with the results of about a dozen other tests are used to develop new, user-friendly products.

Impact Protection:

Nike employs a variety of cushioning systems in their products. Cushioning systems need to reduce shock, distribute pressure, protect from impact and offer comfort.
The four cushioning systems pioneered and sold by Nike are Nike Air, Nike Air Max, Nike Air Zoom, and Nike Shox.

Nike Air

Nike Air was the first air technology developed at Nike, and it changed the way people thought about cushioning. It remains a standard for impact protection more than 20 years after its creation. The Nike Air made from pressurized gas inside a tough yet flexible urethane plastic capsule. The large molecules of gas prevent it from escaping the bag. The Air-Sole units are encapsulated in the midsole beneath the heel, forefoot, or in both locations depending on the shoe and the needs of the athlete for whom the shoe was designed. The Air-Sole works to cushion the foot by compressing and reduces the force of the impact and then immediately recovers its original shape, ready for the next impact.

Nike Max Air / Air Max

Nike Max Air, the maximum in impact cushioning, is designed to take brutal, repetitive impacts and minimize their effects on the body and your performance. Air Max units are made through a technique called “blow-molding”, allowing for the greatest volume of Nike Air without weakening the Air-Sole unit. Duel-pressure cushioning addresses the need for protection and rear foot stability. The hallmark of the Air Max technology is a visible air unit in the heel. The Air Max provides athletes with full-length impact protection.

Nike Zoom Air/Air Zoom

This lightweight, super-responsive, and ultra thin Air unit brings the foot closer to the ground for the ultimate feel and great maneuverability. Used primarily for basketball shoes, shoes built with the Air Zoom tend to be light and responsive with excellent “ground-feel”.

The Air Zoom unit starts with two fabric layers connected by thousands of vertical fibers, each attached at both ends to a fabric layer. These fibers are then surrounded with pressurized gas inside a Nike Air unit. While the pressurized air exerts and outward force, like a full balloon, the fibers are placed in tension and exert an opposing inward force to keep the air bag from popping or bulging. On impact, the air bag compresses to relieve the tension on the fibers. After impact, the pressurize gas expands the air bag and places tension on those fibers. The fibers compress on impact and then spring back immediately. The advantage to the Air Zoom is that it is incredibly thin and light, but it provides excellent impact cushioning while allowing the wearer to feel the surface he or she is in.

Nike Shox

Nike Free technology is a combination of impact protection and outsole technology. This light-weight, highly flexible shoe simulates the effects of barefoot running and distributes the landing pressure over a larger area to reduce stress on the legs, knees, and back.

Biomechanical studies show that allowing your feet the full range of its natural movement builds strength and reduces injury. In answer to the demand of would-be barefoot runners worried about protecting their feet from the elements, Nike created an outsole with deeply segmented grooves that mimic the natural pressure patterns of a barefoot landing. The forefoot area allows a greater flex of the toes for a natural grip that creates stability and pinpoint turns.

Nike Free

Nike Free technology is a combination of impact protection and outsole technology. This light-weight, highly flexible shoe simulates the effects of barefoot running and distributes the landing pressure over a larger area to reduce stress on the legs, knees, and back.

Biomechanical studies show that allowing your feet the full range of its natural movement builds strength and reduces injury. In answer to the demand of would-be barefoot runners worried about protecting their feet from the elements, Nike created an outsole with deeply segmented grooves that mimic the natural pressure patterns of a barefoot landing. The forefoot area allows a greater flex of the toes for a natural grip that creates stability and pinpoint turns.

Nike Sphere React:

Nike Sphere React fabric is built to breathe. When an athlete sweats, this highly breathable fabric opens up, increasing airflow across the skin and reducing cling. The result is a cooling effect on the skin that allows athletes to perform in greater comfort. With three different Sphere React fabrics to suit your workout style, you’ll stay cool, dry and protected from the elements.

Nike Sphere Dry:

This double-brushed microfiber fleece retains energy and resists heat loss. It provides maximum insulation from cold and wind with minimal weight and bulk, and is ideal for any cold weather activities that require insulation. Can be worn alone or as part of a multi-layering system.

Nike Dri-FIT:

This high-performance microfiber polyester fabric actually pulls sweat away from the body and transports it to the fabric surface – where it evaporates and leaves the skin cool and dry. It’s all you need for hot days, and a critical base layer for cold days.

Nike Therma-FIT:

This double-brushed microfiber fleece retains energy and resists heat loss. It provides maximum insulation from cold and wind with minimal weight and bulk, and is ideal for any cold weather activities that require insulation. Can be worn alone or as part of a multi-layering system.

FlyWire

Nike used suspension bridge design as inspiration to create
FlyWire, a system that uses powerful Vectran ™ fibre cables to support the foot.

Unlike typical shoes that allow the foot to slide inside the
shoe, FlyWire keeps the foot locked down tight, eliminating
millimeters of movement with each stride.
FlyWire cables wrap around your foot much like tendons.
Any extra material is only there to keep out rocks and dirt. It’s an innovation that allows Nike designers to cut shoe weight by up to 50%.

“Vectran” is used to make FlyWire cables, it’s a high
performance multifilament yarn spun from liquid crystal polymer.
Pound for pound, it’s five times stronger than steel yet is extremely flexible.

LunarLite

Designer Kevin Hoffer found himself looking at images of astronauts bouncing around in space and wanted to recreate this feeling in a shoe.
So he turned to the aerospace industry to help develop Nike’s lightest, most responsive cushioning material ever.

Nike Sports Research Lab studies show that LunarLite Foam spread pressure across the whole foot, thus
reducing impact on fragile bones.
LunarLite Foam cushioning is compared to Phylon, Nike’s next lightest performance foam.

Well like in a live broadcasting we seem to have a NEWS FLASH!!!

BASS EXETER SHOES FOR ONLY $19.50

It seems that Buyandwalk.com has a huge discount price for one special pair of shoes. The Bass Exeter Oxfords for ladies is being sold at $19.50.

They are up to 60 dollars in some places, the real question would be are they original, if this price if for real they must be stealing from somewhere. (Just Kidding)

Bass Exeter Sale <— This is the link of the shoes.

Buyandwalk is most known for selling sport shoes, but with this kind of deals they should think about getting more casual shoes or high end shoes.

Details of the Offer:

Shoes: Bass Exeter

Gender: Female

Color: Beige

Price: Used to be around $56 // Now $19.50

FREE SHIPPING ALSO !! I just contacted them.

Bass Exeter Shoes

You can see that this offer was made at SlickDeals.net and Lazydesis.com

We have left some other Saucony technologies to talk about in our previous post. So we are going to discuss the remaining technologies in this one. First of all lets talk about some materials used in the following technologies:

EVA: (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) A midsole material which is durable, lightweight, and provides cushioning.
PU: (PolyUrethane) A durable, long-lasting midsole material, which gives a firmer ride.

HRC – High Rebound Compound:

This is the premier Saucony Cushioning system, made of a responsive EVA/rubber compound which provides cushioning through the later stages of the gait cycle. Whilst Grid provides shock absorption in the rearfoot of the shoe, HRC is a dynamic compound which is used in the forefoot and/or the rearfoot. It is specifically designed to follow the centre of pressure beneath the metatarsal heads during toe off.
Some features of thios techonology are:

- Shock Absorption
- Resist Compression
- Cushioning and flexibility
- Smooth toe-off

HRC Strobel Board:

A layer of HRC running the full length of the shoe, underneath the sockliner. HRC is used in the forefoot of almost all of Saucony technical running shoes.

SRC – Super Rebound Compound:

Super Rebound Compound is an upgraded EVA which not only provides 15% more resilience but 10% greater durability too.

Impulse EVA:

A upgraded high-end EVA with better compression set. Up to 15% more durable, which means that it returns to it’s original shape. For this reason your cushioning system last longer.

Dual and Triple Density Midsole:

The dual density midsole provides a firmer density of EVA located on the medial side of the shoes which slows the rate and controls the maximum angle of over-pronation. By reducing the moments of pronation, this kind of shoes reduces the rotation transmitted up the lower leg to help reduce the risk of injuries.
The triple density midsole provides further control and also take cares of the maximum angle of over-pronation when running.

B/CR (Blown and Carbon Rubber):

This material combination created by Saucony is one of his best. This lightweight, flexible outsole material provides added cushioning while maintaining durability.

Arch-Lock™:

The Saucony Arch-Locks are built in a simple but efficient manner that wraps around the midfoot area and keeps it snugly in position on the midsole keeping the arch where it belongs.

Impact Interface™:

Embedded between the EVA and the SRC™, the Impact Interface isolates and cushions heel-strike impact so the heel can compress without bottoming out, preventing some injuries that may occur when running long distances.

Comfortemp®:

Technology which let the Saucony shoes monitors heat/cold to keep your feet at a comfortable temperaure.

Ortholite®:

The Ortholine sockliner is a breathable, moisture wicking, anti odor and anti-microbial Ortholite insole that provides improved step-in comfort with rebound properties.

Outsole Fabrics:

XT-600: A carbon rubber outsole material which offers outstanding abrasion and traction properties.

XT-900: Saucony’s carbon rubber outsole material which offers exceptional traction properties without sacrificing durability.

XT-1200: Saucony’s exclusive Super-Abrasion carbon rubber outsole material which offers superior durability.

GO TO —> SAUCONY TECHNOLOGIES – PART 1

Saucony Technology

If this is the first time you visit in our blog you may want to get our RSS Feed. Just click here and suscribe for free. First we talk about Adidas Technology now is the turn of the Saucony running shoes. Which technologies are applied to the Saucony shoes?

Saucony Running Technology:

Shoe Lasts:

(In case you wanted to know what “last” means check our Shoe parts post)
As you may realize every single person has different shapes of feet that´s why Saucony has built several different shapes for their shoes. Women and men have different last as an example.
Saucony recognise that feet can be different shapes, and our shoes need to reflect this.

Standard Last:

Saucony’s classic semi-curved last, “the classic Saucony fit”. Some characteristics are that these shoes are wide in the forefoot, narrow in the heel able for every single runner.

Contour Last:

Saucony’s semi-curved last. The Contour Last offers a tapered and sculpted profile which provides an anatomically correct representation of the foot.

Modified Contour Last:

Saucony’s newest last. With all new technology for better grip and offering an anatomically shape to adapt to your feet.

Straight Last:

Saucony’s straight last is designed for runners with flatter feet while maintaining the fit and feel for which Saucony is known. Primarily found in Motion Control shoes that are designed to address extreme foot pronation.

Performance Last:

A curved last which allows fastest possible heel-to-toe transition.

GRID Technology:

The Grid technology is a woven configuration of Hytrel™ filaments which provide superior cushioning and stability by centring the heel when impacting the floor.
Saucony uses the GRID system because unlike other cushioning systems seen in technical running shoes, it offers stable cushioning. If you notice that when running the first part of the foot hitting the ground is the heel, so this is vital to the health of a runner due to the fact that when the heel touches the ground a force of up to three times body weight (3G) is generated. This force acts not only in the heel but also it is transmitted up the lower leg and into the back, affecting the ankle, knee and hip joints.
The GRID cassette fits into the rearfoot section of the midsole (as shown on picture below), as the impact occurs, the interwoven Hytrel strands bend to the shape of the heel, while the midsole compresses, thus providing cushioning.

Saucony GRID Technology

Which let this technology be one of the best for running is that the actual user is more in control of the cushioning movement. “GRID Technology = Controlled Cushioning”

Different GRID Techonolgies:

GRID: The Grid technology was introduced in 1991, a whole generation of runners has become addicted to this kind of shoes. It uses woven Hytrel™ filaments.The physics work a bit like a tennis racquet for a runner’s foot, absorbing and deflecting impacts and protecting the body from the force of the road.

PROGRID: The latest of all GRID techs, built closer to the foot, it provides greater cushioning without compromising support and durability. ProGrid is created with Respon-Tek™, our latest impact deflection technology, which is made from a blend of foams and synthetic rubbers.

3D GRID: Soft grade Hytrel™ filaments wrapped around the midsole form a platform for heel strike cushioning and shock absorption. On the 3D Grid Hurricane, the lateral strands of the 3D Grid are angled at 30° to optimize heel strike cushioning and reduce the rate of pronation. 90° strands on the medial side provide structural support and limit over-pronation.

I-GRID: The difference with this one is that is built with EVA. I-Grid is a super-lightweight cushioning system used in our lightest racing shoes.

Active GRID Cushioning: Active Grid is a further development of Saucony’s premier cushioning technology. The Hytrel strands are arranged in a Vector Shape which provides hinge-like compression whilst the softer material allows for shock attenuation. By gradiating the angle of the strands a smooth and controlled transition from heel strike is provided along with some gentle pronation control.

FleXion Plate:

The Flexion Plate technology allows the runner to move from the heel to the forefoot as efficiently as
The Flexion Plate is a TPU based structure that guides the foot from heel strike to forefoot letting the runner up onto their toes as quickly as possible. The Flexion Plate creates a platform which cushions and controls but does not allow as much deflection into the midsole. By promoting forward direction, and disallowing injury-encouraging, energy wasting lateral motion, the transition to the forefoot occurs without using as much energy as a typical high cushion, low response running shoe.

Ionic Cushioning System: (ICS)

In some Saucony shoes, you’ll find the famous Ionic Cushioning System, or I.C.S. Another important Saucony innovation that contributes substantially to comfort and control, it is composed of moulded triangular pillars at the rear of the midsole and provides additional cushioning for the heel-strike phase of each running stride.

Check our next post for more Saucony running technologies. STAY TUNED

GO TO —> SAUCONY TECHNOLOGY – PART2

Adidas Technology – Part 2

PowerPulse ™ Technology

The PowerPulse™ concept offers footballers a significant increase in ball speed compared to conventional boots when shooting or passing. Materials are concentrated toward the front of the boot to generate maximum momentum and power from the forward swing of the foot as it contacts the ball.

Pro-moderator ™ Technology

Pro-moderator is an extremely lightweight midsole support system. The material used is a thermoplastic
urethane (TPU) with a thickness of 1.55mm which significantly reduces the overall shoe weight compared
to a 10-15mm second density.

AdiTuff ™ Technology

AdiTuff is an abrasion-resistant material that provides exceptional durability in the toe and prevents
abrasion. This unique material prolongs the life of the shoe through its ability withstand wear for a longer time period. AdiTuff compounds offer better abrasion resistance than any other comparative material.

Traxion ™ Technology

The Traxion ® outsole design was originally developed for football, for which its tapered shape provides
excellent ground penetration without the typical stud pressure that football boots place on the foot.
The wide, narrow profile of Traxion lugs grips without slippage, making it ideal for use in any outdoor
sport requiring maximum outsole grip.

Adiwear ® Technology

An extremely durable non-marking rubber used primarily for tennis shoe outsoles and for other high-
abrasion applications which offers the optimal balance of excellent abrasion resistance, traction and flexibility.
In linear sports (such as running or golf), adiWear is used to reduce wear in the heel landing area and
the toe-off area. In court sports such as tennis, it offers durability while still allowing pivoting and sliding.

Formotion ® Technology

Formotion ™ it’s a three dimensional engineering advance that creates shaped garments that follow the curves of the body and mimics the motions of sport for better fit, greater comfort and amplified freedom of
movements.

Z-Traxion ™ Technology

Z-Traxion is specifically engineered to deliver superior traction and stability for your golf swing.
It combines lateral lugs for grip when swinging, and linear lugs for comfort and grip while walking.
Z-shaped lugs are positioned in the pattern of the shoe resulting in 168 points of contact between the sole and the turf.

a³ ®Energy Management System (a3 Technology)

The a³® Energy Management System is a comprehensive midsole cushioning and control system.
From initial impact through toe-off, every phase of the foot strike is addressed through specific materials,
geometry and levels of firmness.

ClimaLite ® Technology

ClimaLite® fabric pull sweat away from the skin to the outer fabric face for quick evaporation,
enhancing the body’s natural temperature regulation.

Quickstrike™ Technology

Quickstrike™ outsole construction provides a light, durable outsole. The synthetic used for Quickstrike™
lugs has higher abrasion resistance than traditional expanded rubber and out performs heavier carbon rubber. The material is molded directly onto a thin textile base, which functions the same as
traditional, heavier rubber base.

GeoFit® Technology

GeoFit® is an internal footwear technology that enhances fit and comfort by placing padding where you need it. Offering greater stability, more effective distribution of pressure, a higher level of protection and better heel fit and functional location.

GO TO —> ADIDAS TECHNOLOGY – PART 1

SHOES TECHNOLOGIES

I would like to thanks my dear friend Lucy for all the time that she spent writing this wonderful post for all of us enthusiastic of athletic shoes . . .

The inspiration for this post came to me on Monday, as I was looking for some Adidas shoes.
After 6 minutes of just watching soccer shoes for my brother, I finally choose the one I wanted, a Predator PowerSwerve in Green, which I liked because of its design…
While I searched inside my tote for my wallet, I spotted a pair of metallic blue ones an F50.8 Tunit; I got to them as quickly as I could since a tall and creepy looking guy was looking at them from a distance with the intention of buying them.
Once I got them I couldn’t help to turn around and look at the tall man with my victory smile of “I got to them first”. (Obviously there were more at the store but it was fun anyway!)

With both pairs of shoes in front of me, I was in a dilemma, which one should I pick?
To me the only difference was the color, so I look for some male advice and asked one of the salesclerk at the shoes store, he told me that the green ones were better and I obviously asked why, he responded saying
“ Cause they have PowerPulse technology ” I asked him what was that and he just told me “It’s a technology” ….?#@_? ¿

With that answer I wasn’t convinced at all of taking the green ones, so I bought the F.50 Tunit in metallic blue.

I would like to dedicate this post to my favorite salesclerk!!, and of course to all of those who just want to know what a3,EVA,Clima Cool means in Adidas shoes…
Enjoy!

*Since Adidas technologies are quite a lot, I’ll have to leave Nike and other brands for another post…otherwise I would be typing forever”

Shoe Parts and technologies

When it comes to sneaker technology, shoes are divided into three major areas: the upper, the midsole, and the outsole (for further information check our shoe parts post). Depending on the materials and combinations used, one model of sneaker can vary greatly from another.

The Upper

Uppers, the top part of the shoe with the laces, fancy designs and bright colors that holds the shoe together, usually come in one of three materials, leather, synthetic leather, and mesh.
Special editions, retro and vintage models, Converse and casual shoes like the Nike Vandal, the Air Force 1, and the Nike After Party for women may have a canvas upper. The most famous shoes to have an all canvas upper are the Converse All Stars.

The Midsole

Midsoles are used to cushion and provide support and protection for the foot. There are four types of materials used in commercially produced sneakers. Midsoles are often constructed of a combination of materials. Midsole materials are Phylon, polyurethane, Phylite, and EVA.

Phylon

Phylon is very lightweight, low-profile and responsive. Phylon is made of EVA foam pellets that are compressed, heat expanded and then cooled in a mold. Compression-molded Phylon Midsoles can be sculpted into a variety of designs that are identified by their fine wrinkles.

PU or Polyurethane

PU is the most dense, durable and stable midsole material. PU is poured into a mold to create a firm midsole that provides maximum protection from impact. PU is identified by its smooth rubbery feel and tendency to turn yellow with age. PU is the heaviest midsole material, but it is also the most durable

Phylite

Phylite is an injection-molded unit made of a combination of 60% Phylon and 40% rubber. Phylite is lighter than rubber, but heavier than Phylon and functions as both midsole and outsole. By eliminating a separate midsole and outsole the weight of the shoe is greatly reduced and flexibility is increased.

EVA

EVA is soft, light and flexible. It is the least expensive midsole material and is often used in entry-level shoes. Midsoles are cut and shaped from flat sheets of EVA foam. EVA will compress and become flat over time as the air trapped within the foam is squeezed out. Once EVA is compacted, it does not return to its original shape and no longer provides cushioning. EVA compresses faster than other midsole materials.

Adidas Technology

ClimaCool ™ Technology

ClimaCool™ is the adidas technology designed to keep feet cooler and drier. It combines maximum functionality through a unique 360° ventilation system with progressive and stylish design.
Each part of the shoe “breathes”, combining moisture management and maximum ventilation. The result is a shoe that helps the foot maintain its optimal temperature. With a new and highly visible technology, ClimaCool™ is adidas keystone.

AdiPrene ® Technology

Protection for your heel. Exclusive to adidas, adiPRENE® is an elastic material which responds to the cushioning needs of your moving foot.

Torsion System ® Technology

FAKE/IMITATION VS ORIGINAL SHOES

Lets face it, not every one can afford to spend $1000 on a pair of designer shoes or $200 in a pair of Nike or
Adidas shoes, so that’s when the imitations start to look appealing(unfortunately).

YES I´M GUILTY . . .
I confess having owned some shoes inspired in other brands or designers, but I never owned the kind
of imitation that has “Addidos” written on the label instead of Adidas, not that I have something against them, I just think that those kind of knockoffs are not so…. attracting, not to mention these kind of imitation is illegal, since logos are trademarks of each company.
If you’re into products inspired by other brands or you are just not willing to spend your whole paycheck on a pair of shoes, then I strongly recommend you this post.

Differences

Maybe you don’t quite notice the difference but in my opinion there are indeed two kinds of imitations.

1)._ There are the ones that look exactly as the original brand and design, except for the label and sometimes the logo, there are also some shoes that are sold as the original and that it is illegal.
To sell a cheaper and lower quality product, claiming to be original is against the law, to buy or own
an imitation or a knockoff it’s not illegal.

Generally these ones are the ones that most of the times are too excessive.
Why? Because if you are not able to afford or simply think that there’s no need to wear expensive
shoes, it’s always better to wear shoes that are unique and not just a replica of other brands.

2)._ In other cases there are other shoe styles & brands that are not just a mere copy, they are innocently inspired in some of the most well-known brands.
These are the ones that I recommend, most importantly because they have some similarities with
popular brands but still maintain their uniqueness, and do not mimic the original company logo or brand
name.
I think it’s always better to wear designer inspired shoes instead of sneakers imitation, since these last ones are too obvious.

After all the price that you see on those fancy and well-known brands, is not only the price of the product, these brands sell the idea of exclusivity and social status.
But in the end you choose what to buy, and lets be honest sometimes the shoes that designers sell are hideous and overpriced!

Like these boots for example:

Maison Martin Margiela Boots (Ugly & Expensive)
$2,495 !!

“Knockoffs & Imitations”

IMITATION (Above) Gladiator Shoes $65

ORIGINAL Dior Extreme Platforms $770
(Yes, these are the ones that Sarah Jessica Parker used in the “Sex & The City” movie)

IMITATION (Above) Nine West Boots $145

ORIGINAL Chloé Pumps $550
(net-a-porter)

IMITATION (Above) Steve Madden black satin shoes $89.95

ORIGINAL Giuseppe Zanotti black shoes $550

IMITATION (Above) Steve Madden Ginn Sandal $199.95

ORIGINAL Givenchy Gladiator Shoes about $1000

IMITATION (Above) Puma wannabes or “simply inspired in” ?

ORIGINAL Puma Shoes

IMITATION (Above) “Addadis” Shoes…. ?#@_¿?¿?

ORIGINAL Adidas Shoes

How to spot fake shoes?

Some people might find the look-alike shoes very appealing and obviously they’re willing to buy
them, but what happens when we want to buy a real product and someone tries to sell us a fake one as a real one?
If you refused to be fooled here are some quick tips on how to avoid being scam.

* Well, first of all rely on your common sense and intelligence, if you happen not to posses any of these
simply follow this advice: If you are buying a pair of Dior shoes and the price its below $300 it’s not that
there’s a sale or you’re just lucky, they are FAKE. This applies to every designer shoe, if it’s too cheap, it is for a reason.

*However, to spot fake sneakers it’s a little bit more tricky….

(Pic from spotfakeadidas.com)
Genuine Adidas shoes have different serial numbers on each shoe

(Pic from spotfakeadidas.com)
Hang tags should always be attached thought the first lace hole on the
instep side of both shoes.

Fake Run DMC’s will often come with one shoe laced, neither should be laced.
Extra laces should be packed tightly in tough plastic packaging.

(Spotfakeadidas.com)

(Spotfakeadidas.com)

Genuine shoes don’t have signs of “heel tags”

(Spotfakeadidas.com)

Websites & Fake products

VARIANTS

These are fakes, several sites use this term but it is deliberately misleading.
Look carefully at the Policy section on the site, it might be hidden somewhere but will usually say “these shoes are factory variants”.

SAMPLES

Everyone knows about samples but briefly for the uninitiated, ‘samples’ come in Size 9 with no box, and are used to road test different looks for a shoe. You can come across some unusual samples, some of which might be valuable.

LOOKALIKES

These can be found in department stores, are made by an anonymous brand and are very cheap replicas. The Shelltoes and the Nike Presto have been badly ‘lookalike’ locally.

CUSTOMS

If you see a shoe in a non-original colourway, it is either a sample, a fake or a ‘custom.’ Customs are shoes that have been hand detailed in some way. There are quite a few well known custom designers out there who are quite famous in their own right. They take a legitimate shoe and jazz it up and then charge premium prices, so it is unlikely you’ll be buying these without being aware of it.
Some sites call their shoes ‘customs’ but they are fakes. Pretty much anything that has been structurally altered is fake, such as all the Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Burberry AF1’s.

_________________________________________________________________

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The Art of

Shoe Lacing

You tie your shoes every day, almost in a mechanical and unconscious way.
But with this post, you’ll learn the secrets of shoe lacing and you’ll see some fascinating ways of tying shoe laces.
You can even try to tie your shoes in some of the ways we’ll show, as long as you have the patience and the time that’s needed….

Shoelace Origins and History

The inventor of the modern shoelace is supposedly Harvey Kennedy, but several forms of shoelaces appear throughout history. Harvey Kennedy registered “his” invention in 1970, and received $2,500,000 from his patent of the shoelace.
Archaeological artifacts show us shoe fastening devices have been around in all cultures throughout the course of ancient and modern history. Even the defrosting of an authentic ancient “iceman”, showed the use of shoelaces, as he was wearing hide boots laced closed with bark thongs. British museums have on exhibit in their hallowed halls, boots and shoes using shoelaces as far back as the 12th century. Laces were used to keep many types of sandals on the feet of Greeks and Romans as many pictures depict and stories tell. Native Americans, over the centuries, used leather thongs and laces to secure animal hide moccasins and winter leg-gins to their feet and legs.

Shoelaces have never been just a modern method of securing a shoe to the foot.
History shows us for centuries humans have used leather, cotton, hemp and bark as shoelaces
and thongs to attach their shoes to their feet.

Math & Shoelacing

Burkard Polster, of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, used combinatorial mathematics to come up with his proof. This branch of maths is used to solve a huge variety of problems, including resource allocation and finding the best ways to lay chips in a computer.
Formulas describing the physics of pulleys were used to work out how much force is exerted on the sides of a shoe using different lacing techniques. The most widely used “criss-cross” and “straight” lacing patterns were identified as the strongest.
But criss-cross came out on top for a short, wide set of eyeholes – that is, when the vertical distance between eyeholes is low, and horizontal distance is high. Straight lacing came out tops for a long, skinny set of eyeholes.
Both sets of calculations, which ran to over 30 pages, were based on an idealised shoe. For example, the eyelets are perfectly aligned, and the shoe exists only in one plane. The proofs also ignore certain physical properties, such as the friction exerted by the lace on the eyehole.
Nonetheless, for an idealised shoe, the proofs cover every conceivable lacing pattern.There are 400 million different ways of lacing a shoe with only seven pairs of eyelets. “Even if God wears shoes with 100 eyelets, these proofs will predict the shortest and the strongest lacings,” says Polster.

Lacing Techniques

Lacing Technique: Over Under Lacing
1)._ The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and is fed into both bottom eyelets.
2)._ The ends are crossed over underneath and emerge from the next set of eyelets up the shoe, then crossed over on top and fed into the next set of eyelets.
3)._ Repeat step (2) until both ends reach the top eyelets.

(from Ian’s shoe lacing site)

Lacing Technique: Straight (Bar) Lacing
1)._ The lace runs straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed into both bottom eyelets.
2)._ One end of the lace (yellow end) runs straight up the right side, emerges and runs straight across the second set of eyelets.
3)._ Both ends now run straight up the left side, each skipping one eyelet before emerging two eyelets higher up.
4)._ Continue running both ends across the shoe, then straight up two eyelets at a time, until one end reaches the top.
5)._ The other end then runs straight across the second last set of eyelets, then straight up to the top.

(from Ian’s shoe lacing site)

Lacing Technique: Ladder Lacing
1)._ The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and emerges through both bottom eyelets.
2)._ The laces then go straight up and are fed into the next set of eyelets up the shoe.
3)._ The ends are crossed over and are fed under the vertical lace section on the opposite sides of the shoe before going straight up and into the next set of eyelets up the shoe.
4)._ At the top set of eyelets, the laces can once again cross over and pass under the straight section as shown. This not only looks consistent with the rest of the lacing but (as pointed out by Kyle B. in U.S.A.) this also forms a High Lace Lock, which tightens the lacing even more firmly.

(from Ian’s shoe lacing site)

Lacing Technique: Lattice Lacing
Method 1 – Shorter Laces:
1)._ The lace runs straight across the bottom (grey section) and emerges from both bottom eyelets.
2)._ Cross the ends over and feed into the 4th set of eyelets up the shoe (skip past 2 sets of eyelets).
3)._ Both ends now run straight up and emerge from the 5th set of eyelets.
4)._ Cross the ends over and feed into the 2nd set of eyelets up the shoe (skip past 2 sets of eyelets).
5)._ Both ends now run straight up and emerge from the 3rd set of eyelets.
6)._ Cross the ends over, feed under and emerge from the top set of eyelets (skip past 2 sets of eyelets). Alternatively, feed the laces into the top two eyelets; this makes for a neater lattice, though the knot is then a little more difficult to tie.

(from Ian’s shoe lacing site)

The Final Product

Lattice Lacing

Zipper lacing

FootBag Lacing

Checkboard Lacing

For more lacing techniques visit:www.shoe-lacing.com

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SUMMER SHE TRENDS

Summer has finally arrived; those long sunny days are here at last!
But let’s face it; few things are harder on shoes than a hot, sweaty summer day.
So, what better way to pamper our feet than offering them the latest fashion shoes trends?
We know that some of these stylish shoes might cost a whole lot of money, so why not approach summer with “disposable” shoes?

Make them colorful, fun, and most importantly, cheap.
Aim for the $100 or below, and buy a bunch – that way no single pair ever gets you bored, and the best part, they haven’t cost an arm and a leg.
Still, every now and then what woman can resist to at least having one designer pair of shoes?
That’s why you’ll find some nice “visual treats” in this post, with three or even four cipher price tags.

Most Popular Shoe Trends

In women’s shoes, the style of the season is still the platform, but thongs are always hot when the temperature climbs, and wedges are on their way back after a brief disappearing act over the last couple of seasons; of course Gladiator sandals are still present this season as well, bright colors, color-blocking, prints, patents … these are just a few of the hottest trends in women’s shoes for Spring and Summer 2008.

Keds Bravo Browns Browns ID

$49.98 – $59.98 – $99.98

www.brownshoes.com

$20 and under Feet First Collection

OldNavy.com

JLo David Dixon Town

$99.99 – $99.99 – $69.99

Townshoes.com

Sam Edelman- Gilda Black Snake $85 – Jildor

Women’s Gilda Gladiator Sandal $85 – Amazon

Sam Edelman – Pewter Snake Gilda Sandal $78 – Kitson

$870

net-a-porter.com

Giuseppe Zanotti
Rock flat sandals
$ 750

net-a-porter.com

Celebrity Sightings

Photo from:Instyle.com
Sarah Jessica Parker kicked of yet another shoe trend with her Roger Vivier pumps.

Photo from: Instyle.com

Kylie Minogue hit the bricks in sunshine-bright slides.

Photo from: Instyle.com

Kirsten Dunst kept her cool in black gladiator sandals with ankle ties.

Photo from: Instyle.com

Misha Barton

Men’s Fashion: It’s all about sandals

Sandals are no longer simply considered shower or beach shoes; they can take you from the office to the local happy hour, and from the boardwalk to the club. They have taken on a life of their own, and worked their way from the bottom to the top of the fashion chain. And since it’s all about survival of the fittest, you’ve got to prove that you have an eye for style if you want to catch the eye of the lovely ladies — who always seem to swarm the streets come summertime.

Check out some cool men sandals at: aldo.com

Adidas NBA Superstar shell-toes:

After Adidas became the official NBA sportswear brand I was hoping that they released some special edition shoes or other kind of equipment for a few teams. What they actually did really exceeded my expectations. They conbine the colors of the teams and put together 30 pair of custom sneakers for the whole NBA teams. Adidas choose one of their most iconic shoes to achieve the success a brand like Adidas could expect, the Superstar, which featured official NBA branding, team colors and logos. The adidas Originals NBA Superstars are the first ever sneaker range to feature all 30 teams in the NBA alongside the official NBA logo.

The NBA Shoes are divided into several distinct materials: Suede/Patent, Reflective, Reptile, Team Logo, Clear Stripes and Emboss, each with a suggested retail price of $100. This shoes are extremely hard to find not every shoe store has all the 30 shoes and sometimes you will be lucky if you find even one of them. Some retailers has amazing prices on these shoes like http://www.buyandwalk.com they offer the shoes at $69.99.

Suede/Patent:

New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Seattle Supesonics and New Jersey Nets

Reflective:

New Orleans Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards and Orlando Magics

Reptile:

San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Philadelfia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers

Team Logo:

Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers

Clear Stripes Mascots:

Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta Hawks

Emboss:

Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Portland TrailBlazers, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings.

Featuring the Championship Shoes:

Th Boston Celtics win their 17th Championship in 2008 after defeting LA Lakers by 131 – 95.

The Boston Celtics NBA Adidas Shoes are made of soft full grain leather upper in a low cut classic style, with textured rubber toe bumper, stitching and perforation accents Full lace up front with logo lace keeper charm, padded tongue and collar. Soft fabric lining and cushioned insole. Learn about parts of a shoe.

Check this Shoes here

Wedding Shoes

So many shoes… but just one wedding

The big day has finally arrived, but what style of shoes will you be wearing for your walk down the aisle?

Some brides choose strappy sandals or dyeable pumps, while others opt for less traditional footwear like wedding flip flops or even sneakers. Finding the perfect pair of wedding shoes doesn’t have to be stressful, but there are a few things to keep in mind before you buy:

1)._ Choose comfortable bridal shoes:

Sure, those four-inch white heels may be a perfect match for your dress style, and look fantastic on your feet in the store, but standing in them for hours on your wedding day is another story. You want to be focused on having fun with your new spouse, friends and family, not on keeping your balance as you teeter down the aisle or sit with aching feet. There are plenty of cute bridal shoes that take comfort into consideration as well as style: choose a white satin ballet flat, or a low sling back sandal.
Or another thing you can do is wearing those stunning four-inch high heels only for the ceremony, and then changing into a ballet flat.

2)._ Take wedding shoe fabrics into consideration:

There are numerous types of shoe fabrics out there, such as satin, silk, velvet and lace. Not only are wedding shoes a reflection of your personal taste, but they must also be compatible with your wedding venue. Silk wedding shoes can easily stain in grass or on wet ground, and leather pumps are unique but will be far too hot for a summer wedding.

3)._ Remember your dress:

Don’t fall in love with a particular pair of wedding shoes before you buy your bridal gown. Your dress fabric and any embellishments such as beads or pearls need to be considered while shopping for shoes. There are hundreds of styles of wedding shoes available to fit any type of season, bridal gown, and most importantly, the bride’s unique personality. By keeping all of these factors in mind while shopping, you’ll find the right pair of wedding shoes for your special day.

Wedding Shoes

Designer: Christian Louboutin
Price: $895
mycatwalk.com

Designer: Claudio Merazzi
Price: $880
Footcandyshoes.com

Designer: Giuseppe Zanotti
Price: $850
net-a-porter.com

Designer: Giuseppe Zanotti
Price: $650
eluxury.com
( I love these!!)

*Remember: You choose the kind of style you want, after all what is a wedding shoe?

More wedding shoes/shoes at:

www.bridalshoes.com
www.onewed.com
www.weddingshoesboutique.com
www.shoebuy.com

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Kobe Bryant shoes

Watching the NBA finals yesterday gives me the idea of making this “Behind the scenes” Kobe Bryant shoes post. Basketball shoes has been a selling icon since the first Michael Jordan Shoes. The “Air Jordan 1″. After the MJ signature shoes, basketball shoes has become an excellent way for companies such as: Nike, Adidas, Converse to boost their sales. Lets check the Kobe Bryant Shoe History.

Adidas

-2001-

The smooth, sleek style of the men’s Kobe two basketball shoes from Adidas® is expressed through an innovative midsole, molded pearlized skin with a brushed-metal look
and a hood-covered lacing system. The full-rubber outsole features a herringbone pattern for maximum traction on the court.
An integrated 3D Torsion® system helps deliver midfoot stability and support,
while an internal bootie is built-in for optimum comfort and support.

* Despite these Adidas Kobe Bryant shoes are not manufactured anymore, you can still buy them at ebay.com

Nike 2K5 & 2K4

-2005-

Perhaps the Huarache is one of the best basketball shoes Nike has ever made. It has tremendous durability in long hours of play and comfort is consistent.
Players do not have to worry about the weight for the Huarache provides maximum stability even if it is very light to wear.
Finally, centers, forwards and guards will highly appreciate this kind of shoe. Aside from its performance, the Huarache also has distinctive styles and color ways to match the owners.

Nike Zoom Kobe I

-2006-

The ZK1’s most striking feature is the carbon fiber spring plate on the outside of the midsole, which extends from the midfoot around the heel
all the way to the midfoot on the medial side, this feature contributes to the unmatched stability the total package provides.

Another innovative feature of the ZK1 is its ankle collar design; the ZK1’s Dynamic Ankle Collar extends to the back of the heel and joins with the shoe’s sphere inner booty.
Inside the shoe, the where the ankle sits is a round piece of leather on both sides of the bone, which provides great comfort but sacrifices great fit.

* These shoes are available in ebay.com and other online stores.

Nike Zoom Kobe II

-2007-

Relentless innovation for a signature shoe, The Nike Zoom Kobe II provides the ultimate performance experience.
It’s not just another basketball shoe, it’s a line called “Weapons of War” and conformed by 3 basketball shoes: the Zoom Kobe Sheath, Strength, and Lite.
Kobe worked with the design team at Nike to ensure that his Zoom Kobe II, a product that demanded 18 months of design process, would cover his expectations:
a creative signature shoe to could also provide speed, strength, increased flexibility, traction, and support.

Nike Zoom Kobe III

-2008-

On February 2008 Kobe’s third shoes hit the streets. The pictures available show 3 color sets for the 2007-2008 NBA Season: black, grey and maize; grey, white and sky blue; and the All-Star edition with red and gold.
The new edition of Kobe Bryant signature shoes, the Nike Zoom Kobe III (3) feature:
• Stability: Carbon fiber plate provides the ultimate balance between stability and support, energy response and flexibility.
• Cushioning: Full-length Zoom Air unit in the midsole delivers protection, extreme responsiveness and quick motion on the court.
• Support: Injected cafte urethane on the upper forms the net shape for added support and adjustment on the foot.

Last and but definitely not least
Kobe Bryan Hyperdunks

Nike launched the Hyperdunk shoes, its “lightest and strongest basketball shoe ever”. Kobe and other olympic players like Manu Ginobili, Yi Jian Lian and Dirk Nowitzki will wear them in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The shoes, to be released in July will feature colorways and characters to represent each player.
Although there have been several presentations, and events to introduce the Hyperdunks, there’s no doubt that the most “eye-catching” was the internet release of a video,
featuring Kobe jumping over an Aston Martin, wearing of course the Hyperdunks.

CHECK THE VIDEO HERE

Check this site for more info on Kobe´s Shoes:

www.kb24.com
www.kobebryantshoes.com

First of all, I would like to say thanks to all the people that has written comments during our first posts. Bad and good comments are always appreciated. Thanks for your time, suggestions and good vibes

Like a Doctor diagnosing a patient and studying all the anatomy of the human body,
we are going to analize and explain every part of a running shoes.
With all the new technology and terms coming out for athletic shoes, confusion is something that may occur to some of us.
Get educated and become an expert customer when dealing with running shoes.

INSOLE/SOCKLINER: (11)

Many people confuse the function of the insole as being for cushioning. Some people believes that
the insole must be replaced when it flattens. While it is made of a foam like the midsole it is not
resilent. The whole purpose of the insole is to give you better traction inside the shoe and a better
fit.

MIDSOLE:

The midsole is what provides cushioning to the shoe and can be built in several materials,
such as: EVA or PU sheet. As the picture above shows, the insole is located directly under
the foot and can vary in thickness from the heel to the toe. In some cases the insole is
removable for washing. There are 4 types of Insole: Boardlasting, slip lasting, last and curved.

Boardlasting:

Is a construction technique in which the upper material is drawn around
the bottom of the foot form and attached to a cellulose or non-woven board found in
many less-expensive shoes. This construction technique is for stability purposes due to
a more firm platform.

Slip Lasting:

This technique is used to build a more flexible and lighter weight shoe,
as opposite from the board lasting technique it doesn´t use a board.

Last:

This is designed after the shape of the foot, the form is usually made of plastic ot other syntetic material such as polyester. The upper is pulled over this area to give the shoes its
overall shape. There are three shapes: Curved, semi-curved and straight for those that has over
pronation.

Curved:

More angled from heel to toe, this gives more pigeon-toe look. Ideal for supinated foot.

OUTSOLE:

This is what you see when you buy a pair of shoes, the upper part of the footwear can be built
or made of leather or some other quality syntetic material and can be combined with mesh for
reducting the weight of the shoe.

Toe Guard: (1)

Where manufacturers add extra rubber material to the front of a shoe for toe drag protection. It often wraps from the outside to the upper.

Vamp: (2)

The vamp is a a part of the toe box area. This area is flexible, breathable and often perforated, but not always to prevent clay from getting into the shoe. As we have seen in our Foot Problems post, keeping your feet dry and keeping your feet to breath is one of the best ways to keep your feet healthy.

Toe Cap: (3)

The toe piece above the toe guard for additional toe drag and/or medial (inside part of the shoe) foot drag protection. With some models, leather is used to retain a classic appearance.

Eyestay: (4)

Support area around the eyelets, usually made by a resistent material due to the preassure applied by the laces.

Eyelets: (5)

usually built in circle forms and made of metal or Ghillie loops(a woven polyester fabric). The top part of the eyelet is the most important since it is the onethat players need to hold and lock thier laces without coming undone.

Tongue: (6)

Tongues have become thicker to help pad top of the foot from pressure of the laces. A traditional loose tongue has a lace loop attached to keep the tongue from moving.

Collar Linnings: (7)

In the collar linning is where the ankle contact the shoe, foam is usually the
most common material when doing collar linnings such as tha ankle collar and the tongue.

Heel Rake: (8 )

Is the curved part at the cak of the shoe. The more curved the less slippage and the better fit but could be a little bit uncomfortable if you dont buy the appropiate shoe size for you.

Achilles Notch: (9)

Found at the back of the shoe, this part protects tha achilles tendon from irritation.

Heel Counter: (10)

Usually a plastic or composite material that stiffens and reinforces the heel area. A stiffened hell improves fit and stability.

Other Terms:

Laces:

Innnovations in the laces have been the introduction of round laces and a change in the type and number of eyelets. The whole purpose of the laces is to keep the shoe firmly on the midfoot.

Arch Support:

It was a time when the arch support was a separate item glued under the insole. After several years the arch support has being incorporated to the insole, and finally the arch support were addapted to fit the midsole.

DICTIONARY:

EVA: Ethylene Vinyl Acetate – Plastic Material
PU: Short for Polyurethane. It is highly variable in composition and usually includes a mix of different materials.
Over Pronation: Is when the feet roll inward too much.
Supinated/Under pronation: I think you´ll guess what this is.

Till Next post, thanks for visiting our blog.

UGLY SHOES

As we mentioned in one of our previous post, we will discuss and see many of the most outrageous and funny looking shoes ever. The whole idea of this post is to have some fun when looking to some really awful shoes, because wearing them its practically impossible. Many shoe brands are doing awful shoes so it´s time to ENJOY

” We are not responsible for any damages caused to your eyes for looking at this pictures to your eyes, if you are not healthy we do not recommend looking this pictures. What you are going to see are some of the most awful shoes designs ever. “

TOP 10 UGLY SHOES

Contestant number #1

A black sheep in Christian Dior. . .

Well it’s impossible to even describe this shoe, its awful combination of that belt detail oppressing the sheep fur explosion; make us think that anyone who’s willing to use this shoe has serious sight problems. As if its fury design wasn’t enough, the price of these sheep-like boots is $1,150!

Contestant #2

This next pair shares a common characteristic with all the other shoes here: It just impossible to understand how could anyone create this shoe or even worse who’s brave enough to wear them, or should I say insane? Take a look at them… to me they look like they were tossed into a shredding machine.

Contestant #3

Who said that you couldn’t make shoes out of duck tape?
Another weird looking shredded pair of “shoes”. They’re $180.95, courtesy of Irregular Choice (appropriate name, isn’t it?)

Contestant #4

Just when you thought you’ve seen just about everything, take a look at these…
Yeah…these shoes are distant relatives of “Cousin itt” from the Adams family and a Yorkshire terrier. Chewbacca original design maybe?

LOL

Contestant #5

Here’s a pair that Michelin man would buy for his wife…(no comments)

Contestant #6
The Frankenstein of shoes, what you are seeing here is a classic example of a “recession” pair of shoes, made by several pieces of other unsuccessful ones.

Contestant #7

One of my favourites, Cookie Monster shoes !!! From grammar to the retail industry, this funny character of the Muppets has succeeded on the fashion industry providing its exclusive line of shoes. If you don’t fell comfortable or you don´t even like them, the grammar lessons are free !!! Exclusive Offer !!!

Contestant #8

Something taken from the Zoolander movie, from Mugatu´s Derelict campaign we introduce special occasion shoes.

Contestant #9

Two tons shoes, this white monsters can terrify everyone in the street. You will surely be the attraction when walking on this ones.

Contestant #10

Midget shoes, did you ever feel how would it be to be taller than you are? Well, try this laaaaaarge shoes and grow a few inches more to see a new perspective of life.

For more ugly shoes check some of this excellent Blogs:

Shoewawa
TopSocialite

Till next post, thanks for coming by