Let's Bark About Clarks

   As I headed to school this year I knew one thing was required ... a good pair of durable brown shoes.  I was, and am now, trekking all over not just BYU campus but all over Provo.  When gas is so expensive I end up putting a lot of miles on my shoes.  In addition, I am also working a sales job where I am literally on my feet all day.  Clearly you can see a good pair of shoes is definitively needed by me.  So what did I get ...I won't keep you in suspense any longer ... Wallabees by Clarks.  

    There is a very simple reason I choose Wallabees for my everyday brown shoe; THEY ARE AWESOME!!!   Wallabees have a long history and to have a history that lasts you must first have a shoe that lasts.  Clarks originally designed shoes for the Eighth Army.  Well the army didn't really dig the look but the people at the 1949 Chicago Shoe Fair sure did.  

    Clarks blew the runway away with a "raw, unstructured, unlined boot [and] crepe soles."  They provided a signature look with a simple design and a production process that made every single shoe unique.  And guess what ... they still do that today.  Clarks is still able to achieve the same original style that graced the runway in the 50's today in the 21st century.

    Every generation has come across Clarks Wallabees one way or another.  They're like bell-bottoms; a style that will never die out because it keeps getting resurrected every so often.  In my opinion, now being a true customer, Clarks Wallabees are shoes that are just good with everything.  And personally, I love the retro vibe that comes from them.  Not may people have to courage to attempt to pull off a pair of Wallabees but you know what I say, GO FOR IT!  Dare to be a bit different and get something truly...

Happy Trails :)  

Bear-foot, human-foot...how about Merrell barefoot?

    So I am sure by now all of you know i have a little thing for barefoot running.  I am really starting to get into and I am loving every step of it.  Right now, I have just been doing forward running (as I described in an earlier post) in traditional running shoes.  Well...I have decided to take the plunge and actually splurge to get a pair of barefoot shoes!  I am so excited!!!  After much research and deliberation I have decided to go with the Merrell Women's Barefoot Pace Glove.  The video below is produced by Merrell to advertise their new barefoot technology.

    Andrea from Merrell does a great job of explaining all the amazing features of the Barefoot Pace Glove.  Another thing that makes this shoe so fantastic is that the women's version is ESPECIALLY designed for women!   Not that we're particular or anything ;)  The women's version comes to a total weight of 4.7 ozs per shoe.  This light weight allows runners to not be bogged down with heavy shoes; allowing for faster recovery with each step in their gait.

    I wanted to go more in depth on the 0mm ball to heel drop and what exactly that means.  Even though the shoe is slightly built up (just millimeters) a persons foot is still able to be level within the shoe.  A shoe does not have to have individual cubbies for each toe in order for it to be barefoot; the only requirement is a zero degree drop from heel to toe.  The Barefoot Pace Glove achieves this making it "barefoot" even though it is a shoe.  With the Barefoot Pace Glove a runner can really feel connected with the ground their running on.

    The Barefoot Pace Glove allows a runner to return back to their natural stride the way humans were designed to run.  You wont just feel like a kid running around barefoot again but also a primitive cro-magnon!

OK, now I am just getting way to excited...I should stop.  Well, I will be ordering my shoes this coming Thursday (when I get paid) and I will let you all know when they come in and how my running is going.  I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Happy Trails :)

If the SHOE fits...

      So my last entry was about the foot.  Well, one could say this is the squeal to that entry.  Today I am not going to talk about the foot but instead the typical shoe (not too uncommon if you look at my earlier entries) and its usual parts.  Below I have included a couple of labeled diagrams so you can visually see what I am referencing when I speak of certain parts.  

http://www.shoeguide.org/Shoe_Anatomy

    There is no better place to start than the bottom and work your way up. The outsole is the outermost part of the shoe that is in direct contact with the ground.  For very formal dress shoes it is made of compressed leather and for most other shoes it is made of a durable rubber.  Next is the midsole; the midsole lies between the outsole and the insole. "It is made of a variety of materials to give the shoe various characteristics of cushioning, support and flexibility." (http://walking.about.com/od/shoes/g/midsole.htm) And as far as soles are concerned the last one to mention is the insole.  The insole is a thin strip of material that is usually removable and lies directly under the foot for additional comfort.       

http://www.webefit.com/articles/article_47a_RunningShoes.html

    Now that we have discussed the bottom of the shoe let's move on to the upper parts of the shoe.  The upper just refers to all the top parts of the shoe put together.  Most people are familiar with the following parts of the upper:

• Toe Cap/ Toe Box: "
  The toe box is the part of a shoe that covers and protects your toes. Toe boxes come in a variety of shapes and styles, but they should be wide enough and long enough to accommodate the toes comfortably."
• Tongue: "
  The tongue of a shoe is a strip that runs up the top-center of the shoe and sits on the top part of the foot. Nearly always found on shoes with laces, the purpose of a shoe tongue is to protect the top of the foot, and to keep the laces from rubbing the foot."
• Eyelets: "
  The eyelet is the smooth circular piece that laces are thread through. Eyelets can be made of metal or plastic, and are used to cover the edges of holes made in shoes or clothing."
• Heel Counter: "
  The counter of a shoe sits behind the heel of the foot, and is used to stiffen the back part of the shoe, and to give it structure.

(definitions from: http://shoes.about.com/)

    So we have talked about the foot fitting and now we have talked about the shoe fitting, which means from now on when I mention the midsole of a shoe I expect all you faithful follows to know exactly what I am talking about.  This entry should be that last one that breaks from the usual routine of describing a specific shoe or shoe brand.  Just a preview for next week...Merrell Barefoots; I'll let you figure it out from there.  

Happy Trails :)  

If the Foot Fits...

     This post is dedicated not to the shoe but the foot that goes within it.  The foot deserves respect!  They support us day and night; whether we're short & fat or tall & skinny; whether we're running fast or walking slow.  The feet are always there.  

    Every person has two pedi (or feet), 10 metatarsals (or toes), arches per foot, insteps per foot and many many bones.  The foot is loaded with so many pieces and parts I can't even remember them all.  If you don't believe me just look at the diagram below.  

 

    
    Looking at this picture makes me so glad that I am not a medical students.  However, it is good to have a basic understanding of the foot so let explain some of the key terms (i mentioned several of these terms above).

• Pedi: 
• Variant(s): or pedi- or pedo-
• Function: combining form
• : foot : feet <pedicure>
• Instep: 
• Pronunciation: \ˈin-ˌstep\
• Function: noun
• : the arched middle portion of the human foot in front of the ankle joint
• ; especially : its upper surface
• Metatarsals:
• Pronunciation: \ˌmet-ə-ˈtär-səl\
• Function: adjective
• : of, relating to, or being the part of the human foot or of the hind foot in quadrupeds between the tarsus and the phalanges that in humans comprises five elongated bones which form the front of the instep and ball of the foot 

• Arch:
• Pronunciation: \ˈärch
• Function: noun
• 1 : an anatomical structure that resembles an arch in form or function: as
• a : either of two vaulted portions of the bony structure of the foot that impart elasticity to it: 
• (1) : a longitudinal arch supported posteriorly by the basal tuberosity of the calcaneus and anteriorly by the heads of the metatarsal bones 
• (2) : a transverse arch consisting of the metatarsals and first row of tarsals and resulting from elevation of the central anterior portion of the median longitudinal arch
• b : arch of the aorta 
• 2 : a fingerprint in which all the ridges run from side to side and make no backward turn
• Heel:
• Pronunciation: \ˈhē(ə)l\
• Function: noun
• 1 a : the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch b :the back of the hind limb of other vertebrates homologous with the human heel 
• 2 : an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel: as 
• a : the hind part of a hoof 
• b : either of the projections of a coffin bone 
• c : the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist

<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html>

    It is also important to note that people tend to have a half-size difference between their feet.  Listen to me as a shoe expert, or a person that works at a shoe store, fit your bigger foot!  A shoe that is too small will lead to tons of problems in a persons foot that you do not want.    

    Well I hope this brief post has helped illuminate your knowledge of the foot.  

Happy Trails :)

Blowfish Will BLOW You Away!

    So in case you couldn't tell by my earlier posts I am a very active person.  I especially tend to favor running.  So when it comes to learning about shoes I get really excited about the hottest new things for distance athletes.  However, based on my recent poll, that only two other people responded to (thank you Lexi and Liz!), I guess people want to hear about other shoes that are comfortable and as close to barefoot as you can get.  With that in mind I have decided to branch out and write about one of my favorite casual shoe brands and a hot new item of theirs for this upcoming fall.  

Say hello to...

  

    Several of my female followers may be familiar with this brand; for those who aren't and or the more testosterone favored, let me enlighten you... BLOWFISH IS AWESOME!!!  This brand is recognized by their traditionally wider and shorter toes as well as a distinct retro/original/vintage/unique/alternative/indie style (possibly too many adjectives there ... oh well).  Blowfish also tends too make more casual footwear favoring low heels or flats and is generally priced very reasonably.  You can find Blowfish shoes at most department stores or places like DSW.  

This fall Blowfish has come out with what they call the Hat Field or officially, BF-1798.   

    On Blowfish's official website (Blowfish) they describe the Hat Field: "The Hat Field bootie sits atop our rubber sole and features tons of cool details like a foldover cuff and laces all the way up."  The Hat Field comes in four color choices of black flannel, grey flannel, dark brown relax faux leather (shown above), or black relax faux leather.  

    If any of you are familiar with vintage boxing boots of the 40's and 50's the Hat Field is defiantly a throw back to those early days in the ring.  Although lets hope you wont have to throw any right hooks this fall, if you do, you'll look fabulous in these shoes.     

Happy Trails :)