“The Dream Shoe”: A Partnership with Xero Shoes & Born to Run 2 Authors
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Good luck to our Xero Shoes Olympians!
Did you know we are the footwear provider for a couple Olympic teams?Yup.We got a write up about this in the Denver Business Journal.We provide footwear for USA Artistic Swimming (formerly "synchronized swimming") and USA Archery.Here's a fun pic of the swimmers wearing their Colorado. No, they don't actually wear our shoes when they're competing. They did this for fun.We also got them some Z-Trail sandals to wear to and from the pool, some Aqua X Sport water shoes, and some HFS for when they are (HOPEFULLY) on the podium any time they win a competitionAnd here's a pic of archer, Brady Ellison from his Instagram. He's in the Mesa Trail which, while it was designed for trail running, gives great grip for archers (and, we hear, golf, Frisbee golf, and ultimate Frisbee, too).While we love the idea that we're on a world stage along with multi-billion dollar brands, we're happier that these athletes think they're performing better thanks to Xero Shoes.Look for Xero Shoes when you're watching the Tokyo Summer Games.And BEST OF LUCK to the Xero Shoes wearing athletes.
Barefoot MYTHS debunked on Fox31 Denver
What are the Myths and TRUTH about being barefoot (whether you're walking, running, climbing, lifting, or just getting into a store)?Xero Shoes CEO, Steven Sashen, takes a look at a few of these on @KDVRDenver* MYTH -- being barefoot is dangerous. TRUTH -- for a looong time, humans have been barefoot on terrains WAY worse than anything you'll encounter. BUT... if you feel you want some protection and still have that fun, natural, barefoot-like experience, that's why we made Xero Shoes.* MYTH -- you can't go into public places, stores, and restaurants barefoot. TRUTH -- while some of those may have *rules* about wearing shoes, there's no law against it.* MYTH -- you can't drive in bare feet. TRUTH -- 100% false. There is no law in any state preventing you from doing so. It's totally legal.For those times where you want a bit of protection, some traction, and a stylish way to have a barefoot-inspired feeling, check out the performance and casual shoes, boots, and sandals at https://xeroshoes.com/shop/
XeroShoesCanada.com and cheap Xero Shoes on eBay - FRAUD!
DO NOT BUY Xero Shoes from these sellers!In short, if you see NEW Xero Shoes for sale at significant discounts, they are not authorized sellers and you will most likely be giving your credit card information to thieves who are engaged in various types of ecommerce and credit card fraud.The latest site to be violating our copyrights and stealing from potential customers is XeroShoesCanada.com. This is NOT an authorized seller of Xero Shoes. They do not own the product they claim to sell. If you purchase from them, you are putting your credit card data at riskNOTE: If you do not see a retailer listed at https://xeroshoes.com/stores/ there is a high likelihood they are engaged in some sort of fraud. If you're not sure, email our Customer Happiness Team -- support@xeroshoes.com.Similarly, there are a number of eBay "sellers" offering New Xero Shoes at significant savings. You can spot them because they're offering multiple sizes and/or colors. They are engaging in fraudulent behavior, and do not own the product they claim to be selling. If you purchase from them, you will not receive your product and could be putting your identity at risk.
5 Last Minute Fantasy Gifts (and the shoes to go with them)
I don't need to tell you that 2020 has been unbelievably challenging and stressful.And while I'm a big fan of facing reality head-on, every now and then it's nice to take a mental break and imagine things being better than they are. Sometimes MUCH, MUCH better.So, to give your brain some things to fantasize about, here are some super luxurious last-minute holiday gifts that you can imagine enjoying.Plus, of course, the shoes that perfectly match ;-)The Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, SwitzerlandPrice - $80,000/nightWhen you stay at the royal penthouse suite, you have the eighth floor of the President Wilson Hotel all to yourself. No luxury is spared here — from the living room filled with a grand piano, billiards, and rare book collection, to the bathroom that features Hermès toiletries, and a Jacuzzi overlooking Lake Geneva. In true Swiss fashion, the penthouse also boasts a state-of- the-art security system, with cameras, bulletproof windows, and a panic button.Recommended Shoe -- If you go in the winter you'll want something warm, like the Alpine (when they're back in stock!), or the Mika or Denver Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition SuitPrice: $892,500Even if you only go outside once a week to get groceries, now you can do it in style in the most expensive suit in the world. Stuart Hughes from Liverpool in the UK and world-famous tailor Richard Jewels from Manchester, teamed up to create just three of these dark grey suits (I hope one of them is your size).Nearly a thousand hours went into making these works of art. It comes with almost five hundred diamonds on the jackets…That’s two hundred and forty carats worth of diamonds right there. This ultimate example of decadent luxury is made from wool, silk, and cashmere.Recommended shoe -- The subtle and comfy leather Hana Graff - Classic Butterfly WatchPrice - $125,000 millionWhat time is it? Time to hire a bodyguard for when you wear this watch!Apparently inspired by the delicate symmetry and poise of a butterfly, this watch is features a kaleidoscope of diamond butterflies that appear to effortlessly float upon an underlying pavé diamond dial (and, no, I don't know what "pavé" is).Powered by a reliable quartz movement and presented on a black satin strap, a miniature dial in the center of the watch face reveals the time (in case you didn't know how a watch worked).Recommended shoe -- Match the bling on your wrist with the Jessie plus the Swarovski Dazzle kit North Island in SeychellesPrice - $11,000/nightWho wouldn't want to quarantine on a private island resort?Well, in this one there are only 11 villas, ensuring that it’s possible to get far, far away from the rest of the world.The Villa North Island is the most exclusive at the resort, Within the villa’s 8,000 square feet there’s a series of wooden decks, a coconut grove, and even a private entrance to a secluded beach.Recommended shoe -- hey, you're at the beach, so Z-Trail, Z-Trek, or Genesis Bugatti CentodieciPrice - $9,000,000When you're making that weekly grocery run, do it FAST and in style. Bugatti’s only making ten of these luxurious Centodieci and each has found a happy buyer already, so you may only find it used at Carmax.With a 1577-hp quad-turbo W-16, Bugatti has posted a claimed 0-62mph (or just over 0-100kph) acceleration of 2.4 seconds. The Centodieci will have a top speed of 236 mph, or 379 kph – distinctly less than the Chiron, but this hypercar makes up for it with its distinct modern aesthetic.Recommended shoe -- needless to say, the perfect hypercar driving shoe is the Speed Force Got any other fantasy fantasies? Share them below (with the shoes to match!)
"The Infinite Race" - A meta-review about the 30-by-30 Documentary
The new 30-by-30 documentary, "The Infinite Race" about the Tarahumara premieres on December 15th.Outside magazine reviewed the movie and here's a review of the review... which is important to understand to, well, understand the movie.I'll be reviewing the movie, too, but this "meta-analysis" might put things into context for you.I'm not completely debunking the "debunking" that this review says the movie does... and, in fact, even the review doesn't do so, despite the claim of the headline.Find out more, I think you'll think it's interesting.One thing I didn't mention in my review: Why now? Born to Run came out 11+ years ago. The "barefoot boom" has, according to many, faded. So why is this important now?Not to suggest questions of cultural appropriation or that the unintended consequences of publicity might be worse than the benefits of that publicity. But the review suggest that the movie is attacking some "straw men" rather than addressing some of the bigger, more valuable questions.I'm looking forward to seeing the film to find out for myself and I hope you do the same.We were inspired by Born To Run and the Tarahumara and, happily, have donated a % of our revenue to support the Tarahumara through the Tarahumara Childrens Hospital Fund -- www.tchforegon.orgWhat do you think? Leave a comment, below.
Do Running Shoes Make You Stupid?
This post is NOT what you think.But then again, it kinda is. ;-)Check out this video and let me know if you're a SMART runner.In short, there are two aspects to wearing running shoes from "Big Shoe" (note how that = "B.S.") which could not only affect your brain, but whether you're able to safely and enjoyably run, walk, hike, workout, or do pretty much anything else on your feet.One has to do with natural movement. The other has to do with your brain.Whether you wear traditional running shoes or minimalist or barefoot shoes, I think you'll get a kick out of this and I'd love to hear your comments, below.
Make your own Tyvek Envelope Wallet - Free Plans Inside
The video below shows you how to make your own Tyvek® wallet envelope in just a few minutes. Or download these FREE PLANS for The ULTIMATE DIY Minimalist Tyvek Envelope WalletWe can't wait to see your creation. A minimalist wallet to match your minimalist Xero Shoes ;-)
Raving about Xero Shoes in Wired.com
I have a small number of fantasies.One that I've had since 1993 is to be in Wired magazine.I've been a subscriber since issue #1 and, back in the 90s I was more actively involved in the tech world, which was Wired's domain.But as technology became more ubiquitous, Wired expanded its reach into more lifestyle-oriented content.So, given the "non-technology technology" of Xero Shoes, I hoped that, one day, they'd write about the value of natural movement.Well, that day is upon us!Scott Gilbertson just published a WONDERFUL article about his experiences in Xero Shoes titled "The Best Shoes I've Ever Worn Are Hardly Shoes at All"Click on that link and check it out. Add your comments here and on Wired.com.And if you want to see the shoes Scott raves about, click here for the Z-Trail sandal, and here for the HFS running shoe.
Running Form - learning from robots, kids, and ice
Physics. It's not just a good idea, it's the law.Want to improve your running technique?I have three suggestions: Watch robots run Watch little kids run Learn to run on ice! Running RobotsThe gang at Boston Dynamics are creating robots that do AMAZING things. For one, check out this one:Oh, sure, it's not going to win any races, but what do you notice about its running form?Look at where the foot lands in relation to the body.Is it reaching out in front of the body ("overstriding")? Nope.It's landing, basically, with the foot under the center of mass.This is the most important thing to emulate.You may also notice that this robot contacts the ground with its forefoot first. It doesn't land heel-first. It doesn't land flat footed.Research from Harvard's Dr. Irene Davis suggests that this is the optimal way for humans to land also. Why? Because you're putting the foot and ankle in the optimal position to give you strength, structure, and shock absorption.You know who else runs like this?KIDS!Especially kids who haven't spent much (or any) time in shoes.Take a look at this video. Especially the youngest, littlest kids at the back. Not every stride is perfect (nor should it be... they are, after all, on a non-flat surface), but you'll see that they're landing much like the way the robot does.Forefoot first. Foot under their center of mass.And, perhaps more importantly, it looks like they're having FUN!I also love when the littlest one stops for a few moments because he's "done," then starts again when he's ready to go.Running on Ice!I'm often asked how to run/walk/hike without slipping.Actually, what I'm asked is "Can you make a shoe or sandal that's totally slip resistant?"In short, No.Like I said at the start of this post: Physics is the law.There is no material that can prevent slipping under all conditions.Even the materials that help have limitations and trade-offs. For example, typically, the grippier the sole, the faster it wears out.But you can prevent slipping almost regardless of the sole's composition, or even the surface you're on.How?By doing the same thing that robots and little kids do: Land with your foot UNDER your center of mass (or as close as you can get).One demonstration of this is running on ice.Check out these two videos:In the first video, the runner builds to his full speed on carpet, then holds that speed on ice. In the second, the runner is even able to build speed with proper foot placement.This works because landing with your foot under your body reduces horizontal forces enough to eliminate slipping.A word about slipping in sandalsSometimes people will tell me that their sandal doesn't slip, but their foot slips across the sandal.This is caused by the same issue -- landing with your foot too far away from your body.In that case, the sandal hits the ground and stops while your foot is continuing to move.Landing with your foot under your body, like our kids, robots, and ice-runners, will take care of this, too. Let me know what you discover as you become a child-like robot on ice!
Run and Walk Better with "Instant Biofeedback"
Why do experts say that if you want to learn to run naturally, or barefoot, you should start on a smooth, hard surface?(Hear Harvard's Dr. Irene Davis talk about this on the podcast she did with Dr. Peter Attia here)The answer: Because that's how you get the most feedback about your form... and feedback leads to change.In short, doing it wrong hurts and your brain figures out how to move your body differently to stop the pain.It just so happens, those gait changes that get rid of running pain lead you to using your muscles, ligaments and tendons as the natural shock absorbers and springs -- better than any cushioned running shoe.Those gait changes lead to what we think of an Natural Movement.But what if you're not a runner?What if you don't want to be barefoot?Well, Xero Shoes wearer and auto technician, Scott Hogan (@greasemonkeyfitness), accidentally discovered a SUPER elegant solution for giving you the feedback your brain needs to adjust to a more natural -- and comfortable -- way of moving.Check it out here:Try out Scott's idea and let me know what you experience in the comments below.
NEW research - Shoes can make you weak and injured
It's time for another episode of "stupid research."Not that the research itself is stupid.But that those of us who understand the value and benefits of natural movement, and how most "normal" shoes get in the way of letting your feet do what's natural, are stunned that people need research to prove something obvious:Using your body naturally is better than restricting it.In this episode, Harvard's Dr. Daniel Lieberman, whose research showing about how barefoot runners put less force through their joints than runners in shoes kicked off the barefoot running boom in 2009, just published a new study about footwear.And the results are not good for "normal" shoes.In this study published in Nature and described on the Harvard website and Lieberman and others examined the effect of "toe spring."Toe spring is the upward curve in a shoe, from the ball of the foot to the tip, that's built into modern athletic shoes and many dress shoes as well.Shoe designers add toe spring to stiff-soled shoes to accommodate the fact that the sole prevents your toes from bending towards your knee as your foot is about to push off the ground.So, what did they discover?In short:By limiting the amount of movement in the foot, the foot gets weaker: “It stands to reason that if the foot muscles have to do less work, then they’re probably going to have less endurance given that many thousands of times a day you push off on your toes,” said Lieberman, the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Science and senior author on the paper. The work on toe springs is described in Scientific Reports. The researchers say this potential weakness could make people more susceptible to medical conditions like plantar fasciitis — a common, hard to repair, and painful inflammation of the thick, web-like band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. And this limitation could lead to injuries and medical problems: The researchers say this potential weakness could make people more susceptible to medical conditions like plantar fasciitis — a common, hard to repair, and painful inflammation of the thick, web-like band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. “One of the biggest problems in the world today of people’s feet is plantar fasciitis,” Lieberman said. “We think that what happens is that people are relying on their plantar fascia to do what muscles normally do. When you get weak muscles and the plantar fascia has to do more work, it’s not really evolved for that and so it gets inflamed.”
The Science and Research of Minimalist Footwear and Natural Running
"Where's the proof?"I'm asked this question often when I explain the benefits (and FUN) of natural movement, truly minimalist shoes and, whenever possible, barefoot living.Ironically, I never hear people asking that about footwear from "Big Shoe" even though the "modern" athletic shoe is the new kid on the block.It's only been about 50 years since the invention of the padded, motion-controlled, heel-elevated running shoe and there's no evidence that it's helped people reduce injury or even run faster.Well, if you want the proof about both points -- the problems that "normal" shoes have not solved and have probably caused, as well as the value of getting out of those shoes and into something like Xero Shoes, you'll love what I'm about to point you to.And if you know any skeptics -- people who INSIST that humans are better in whatever new form of cushioned shoe that's catching attention, pass this onto them.It's an interview by Dr. Peter Attia and the preeminent minimalist footwear researcher and clinician, Harvard's Dr. Irene Davis.Peter's been a big Xero Shoes fan for quite a while. I introduced him to Irene recently and here's the wonderful result:Click Here to listen to the podcastAnd, once you've listened, let me know what you think in the comments, below.
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