Month: May 2022

A good pair of shoes is necessary for running, but the sad news is that shoes won’t last forever, meaning you’ll need to replace and properly dispose of your old shoes. Lots of new running shoes are typically made from virgin plastics, nylon, polyester, polyurethane, synthetic rubber, and textile dyes, which all have a large carbon footprint because of the amount of energy needed to process the materials. In fact, a 2013 study from MIT found that a typical pair of running shoes creates about 30 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, most of which comes from manufacturing.1 But not all shoes are created equal, and lots of companies are creating more eco-friendly running shoes while battling carbon pollution. These Hokas Shoes are made from materials such as recycled plastics and...

Now up to five distinct models, the Specialized S-Works shoe portfolio is brimming with some of the best cycling shoes options, of both the lace-up and Boa dial variety. The brand's latest road shoe, however, serves more as a replacement rather than outright addition – it also represents something a little different to what we've come to expect from the fabled S-Works moniker with a special focus on comfort. Of course, this hasn't come at the expense of stiffness and outright performance but Specialized is touting it as its most comfortable S-Works shoe ever, 'crafted to disappear on your feet'. It's called the S-Works Torch and serves as a replacement Hoka One One for the long-serving S-Works 7 performance road shoe. The Torch name is nothing new to the Morgan Hill-based firm having fi...

There’s nothing quite like a seaside ceremony. If you’ve RSVP’d yes for a friend or family member’s upcoming nuptials and the dress code nods toward a beach-chic aesthetic, footwear will be a primary focus. Shoes for beach wedding guests can be a fashionable catch-22—you need to look presentable and polished at a venue you’d otherwise be barefoot in. Unlike terrain where stilettos bode well, sand is less friendly to severe heels. The solution? Leaning into silhouettes that thrive in a casual environment while also complementing a whimsical dress. It may come as a surprise that footwear staples such as Hoka Shoes flat sandals and even espadrilles can translate to an evening spent on the sand. You’ll see it at cult-favorite labels like Staud and Cult Gaia, where trendy shoe shapes like...

DMT has been making a name for itself with pioneering knit construction for cycling shoes. I’ve been testing their GK1 gravel shoe over the Canadian spring and appreciating the great fit and performance. Highlights: Knit design and no-tongue construction provides glove-like fit. Light weight. Stiff sole. Very resistant to mud suck! Considerations: No toe stud compatibility. Stiff sole does not skew its use towards bikepacking or extended hike-a-bike adventures. No shoe horn included with this model Overall: A beautifully fitting shoe that likely best serves dedicated gravel racing   Fit for Purpose One’s idea for an ideal off-road shoe varies greatly depending on your intended use for the shoe.  Are you gunning for CX or MTB XC racing ...

This is something of a strange question, so please bear with me, I tell Matt O’Toole, Reebok’s fit, athletic-looking president. An affable Midwest native with expressive blue eyes and an easy laugh, he smiles. Over the past few weeks, I explain, as I’ve worked on this story about Reebok, I’ve learned or been reminded of a lot about the company. Its out-of-nowhere rise to sneaker and athleticwear superstardom in the 1980s. The cultural buzz its shoes and athlete endorsers continued to generate in the 1990s and early 2000s. Its purchase by rival Adidas in 2006. The move from its longtime campus in Canton, 15 miles southwest of downtown, to cool new digs in the Seaport in 2017. But as I’ve immersed myself in Reebok-world, I’ve also found myself thinking a lot about my own sneaker histor...

Allbirds will start selling its shoes in select Nordstrom department stores next month, the companies announced Tuesday, as the sneaker brand seeks tie-ups with other retailers to broaden its reach and post a profit. Starting June 1, a selection of Allbirds shoes, including the company’s signature wool sneakers, will be available for sale in 14 Nordstrom locations. The assortment will expand to Nordstrom’s website and to additional stores later this year, the companies said. For Allbirds, the move is a chance to win new customers and become profitable. It’s also emblematic of a broader trend among retailers such as Allbirds and Warby Parker that started by selling products exclusively online directly to consumers.Increasingly, Skechers Outlets such direct-to-consumer companies — incl...