GearScout Spring Preview Extra- Footwear

Feelmax Panka

Available now, $70

Barefoot is getting traction. As running has become more and more a technical sport, athletes are revolting in the face of footwear manufacturers dictating the way their feet hit the ground. Some runners complain that heel cups, cushion zones and arch support are all crutches that run counter to the body’s natural biomechanics. They feel barefoot training is healthier and more effective.

Aside from training, going barefoot casually can have similar health benefits. There are a few shoes that appeal to the barefooter. Among them is a European brand called Feelmax. Thier Panka is one of the lightest shoes on the market, weighing hardly more than a sock. The soles are 1 mm thick Keprotec, a rubber-like fabric used in high abrassion areas of outerwear and luggage. The upper is mostly mesh with some thin leather and a slight cushion that lets air move around the foot. The whole effect feels like wearing a sock that looks like a black sneaker. The Panka protects your foot from the ground and gives you the benfit of going barefoot.

Salomon XAPro 5

Spring 2010, $140

If it ain’t broke, tweak it; So says Salomon referencing their  stalwart XA Pro line. The beloved trail-runner gets updated with an air mesh upper, a TPU toe cap, heel guard and a new lacing system. The upper is 2 layers, an open breathable mesh over mesh lining. Size 9s clock in at 12.9 oz.

Vasque Wasatch

Jan 2010, $150

Vasque is releasing a non-Gore-Tex version of the all-leather Wasatch hiking boot next year. The membraneless boot will breathe better and be less clammy for desert hikers. The protos are being worn within a few military units around the world and Vasque claims they’re doing well with some of our friends in the Negev.