Volume 5, Issue 12a, December 2005
John Vonhof, Footwork Publications
Copyright, December 2005, All rights reserved
THIS ISSUE IN SUMMARY
My editorial is on the Reebok Pump Wrapshear shoe. But for fun, I start
by giving you my favorite good stuff to put on your Christmas list or
to buy for your friends. There’s two foot care tips, an important note on energy
drinks, one non-feet good stuff item, and a simply must have stupid
gift for the person who has everything.
PURPOSE
The Fixing Your Feet E-zine is published twice a month to inform and
educate athletes and non-athletes about proper foot care skills and
techniques, provide tips on foot care, review foot care products, and
highlight problems people have with their feet.
Good Stuff for Christmas
by John Vonhof
If you are like me, you have a hard time coming up with good Christmas gift ideas. Well, here are some of the best items I’ve told you about over the past year, and a few I have not talked about. Put one or two on your list or buy one or two for your partner, mate, family member, or friend.
Blister Prevention Products
Blist-O-Ban
Engo Patches
Sport Blister Pads
Foot Care
Give Your mate a pedicure with instructions from eHow.com
Lubricants & Powders
Two Toms BlisterShield Powder and SportsShield Roll-On
BodyGlide
Hydropel Sports Ointment from ARGear and AREquip
Gaiters
Dirty Girl Gaiters in great lively colors
Joe TrailMan Gaiters
Books and Information
– A subscription to BackpackingLight.com
– A subscription to Backpacking Light the quarterly print magazine
– The book Lightweight Backpacking & Camping: A Field Guide to Wilderness Equipment, Technique, and Style edited by Ryan Jordan, the cofounder and publisher of BackpackingLight.com
– The book Fixing Your Feet: Prevention and Treatments for Athletes through my website, Amazon, or ZombieRunner.com
– Happy Feet! Foot Care Advice for Walkers and Travelers, my new booklet from my website. More inforation later in the newsletter.
Good Stuff from ZombieRunner.com
Environmentally friendly Teko socks
Gerber LX 3.0 flashlight
ZombieRunner Foot Care Kits – 3 different kits
Poles
Komperdell Carbon C-2 Duolock poles (amazing at 5.5 ounces each)
Have a favorite item to share, email me here.
EDITORIAL: Pump Up Your Shoes for a Perfect Fit
by John Vonhof
The new Reebok Pump 2.0 Wrapshear Cushion Running Shoe is a fast, lightweight running shoe that combines the evolutionary Pump automatic custom fit technology with an auto/off smart valve that allows The Pump system can be turned to auto or off, depending on your performance needs. This is an improved update to the old pump shoe. Its features include:
• A unique laceless Pump automatic custom fit system.
• The Pump Auto/Off Smart Valve technology provides two settings for two unique fits in one shoe. Switching the smart valve to the "Auto" position activates the automatic custom fit features. The Smart Valve ensures that the shoe will not over-inflate. Switching the valve to the "off" position de-activates the system and allows for a relaxed, slipper-like, casual feel.
• The Pump Chamber: Controlled by the smart valve, the bladder inflates and releases based on the needs of each individual foot and activity with each step.
• Pump Actuator: Located under the sockliner in the rear of the shoe compresses with each step, inflating the Pump chamber around the foot. The actuator replaces the role of the original pump ball with a new automatic inflation system.
• DMX Shear offers vertical and horizontal cushioning to absorb and smooth out heel impact.
Lets’ look at a detailed explanation from Reebok’s PR folks posted at Dexigner:
In 1989, Reebok introduced the original Pump performance shoe and within four years sold more than 20 million pairs. Today, fifteen years later, Reebok unveils the Pump 2.0 — the first shoe that automatically custom fits to the foot. The evolution of the original Pump, the Pump 2.0 features groundbreaking customization technology to truly revolutionize the sport of running.
“In today’s world of customization, consumers want products that easily adapt to their active lifestyle," said Dennis Baldwin, Reebok’s chief marketing officer. "Reebok responds to this need for true customization with the Pump 2.0 — a shoe that not only automatically custom forms to the consumers foot, but more importantly perfectly fits the consumers way of life."
Athletes are consistently looking for a shoe that offers the "perfect fit." However, because all feet are different, performance shoes of the past have not been able to offer this individualized customization. In spring 2005, Reebok makes this seemingly impossible feat possible with the introduction of Pump 2.0. Created by NASA and MIT-trained engineers, the Pump 2.0 provides runners with a customized fit for all foot shapes by surrounding the athlete’s foot with an automatic form-fitting air chamber.
How does the Pump 2.0 work? – The Pump provides a custom fit by surrounding the foot with an automatic, form fitting air chamber. Inflating the chamber causes the shoe to form to the exact shape of the athlete’s foot. A large volume Pump actuator is located inside the heel of the shoe. When the athlete takes approximately five steps the Pump actuator is compressed and causes the shoe to automatically inflate. The shoe pumps up until the air chamber is inflated enough to form a custom fit around the runner’s foot. This inflation causes the shoe to form to the exact fit of the runner’s foot. Through this cutting-edge customization technology, runners simply insert their foot and go, with no lacing required.
How does the Pump 2.0 know when to stop inflating? – The answer to this question has been engineered into the "smart valve" of the shoe. The "smart valve," located on the upper heel of the shoe, is designed to never allow inflation beyond 5 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure. Reebok’s team of scientists and engineers discovered that for most foot types, 5 PSI is the optimal pressure point when a form fitting custom fit is achieved. To take off the Pump 2.0, the athlete simply needs to press the "smart valve." The valve releases the air to loosen the shoe.
Priced around $100.00 at the Reebok store.
I have not seen this shoe but it intrigues me. Made without laces, you slide your foot in and adjust the pump to cradle your foot. It promises automatic cushion fit features, to inflate and release based on each runner’s feet and activity—with each step. If it delivers as promised, it could reduce the inside-your-shoe movement and friction that leads to hot spots and blisters. For many people prone to blisters, that’s important. If you have a pair or plan on buying a pair, please take a moment and email me your comments. I’d love to get your feedback to share with others.
I commend the shoe industry for trying new ideas. It’s only as they push each other to new levels of innovation that we’ll see shoes develop to where they are really the best they can be.
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FOOT CARE TIPS
When you are out on the road or trail and feel a hot spot, and don’t have any lubricant—but do have lip salve or balm, use it on the hot spot.
When the weather gets colder and you switch to warmer socks, be sure to make sure they fit in your shoes. Warmer socks may be thicker socks, with a combination of fabrics and possibly a denser weave. The problem is thicker socks squeezed into shoes not made for them, can cause constriction of blood vessels and impede circulation to the feet. Be sure you can wiggle your toes in the toe box and your heels are not too cramped.
NEW HAPPY FEET BOOKLET
After a long wait, my new booklet, Happy Feet! Foot Care Advice for Walkers and Travelers is in stock and ready for the walkers in your life. This booklet is 3.75 x 8.5 and 36 pages in length. In an easy read format, it gives advice on biomechanics and gait, buying footwear, fit, lacing, insole and toenail tips, skin care, powders and lubricants, blister care, sprains, foot care kits, and more. It’s a bargain at $5.00. Click here to read more.
GOT A STORY TO SHARE?
I am always on the look out for stories to share about their adventures with some type of connection to feet. If you have something to share, please send me an email.
YOU GOTTA WONDER WHAT THEY WERE THINKINGNew from an English company is a product you must have. From their website, “SprayOnMud is a specially formulated spray-on product for anyone that wants to give friends, neighbors, colleagues or just anyone at all, the impression that they have been off-road or, at the very least, out in the country for the weekend.” Just think, you can tell everyone you ran the trails—all day—when in fact, you were at the local sports bar or shopping mall. Spray it on your legs, mountain bike, car, dog, or friend. Check it out at SprayOnMud. The right Christmas gift for someone in your life!
NEWS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
You may have seen this elsewhere or read it in a listserv, but it is worth hearing again. Studies show that the energy drinks that are all the rage are hard on your teeth. Beverages like Red Bull, KMX, and Gatorade Lemon Lime can dissolve the enamel on your teeth. Recent studies have shown energy drinks are 11 times more corrosive to tooth enamel than cola due to their high citrus content. To counter the effects, don’t sip these drinks over extended periods and rinse your mouth and teeth with water after drinking.
NON-FEET GOOD STUFF
“What if you had an accident while running? What if you were hit by a car, tripped and knocked yourself unconscious, fainted, suffered from heat exhaustion or, heaven forbid, had a heart attack?” This is the question Edward Wimmer’s father asked him—and prompted the two of them to start their small company, RoadID. Anyone who is outdoors, whether on road or trails, can benefit from the RoadID. This is a personalized identification tag worn on your shoe, or around your neck, ankle or wrist. The id is engraved with your information and, if you chose, a logo or image. For around $20.00, you’ll have piece of mind in case of an accident while you are out and about. Check it out here.
THE HAPPY FEET BLOG
If you like to stay informed about foot care issues and information, check out my blog, Happy Feet: Expert Foot Care Advice for People Who Love Their Feet. This is different from this ezine. The Happy Feet blog will have a new short topic every other day. You’ll find it here.
READER FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS
Stephen Jackson, of the Sydney Striders comments, “BTW, your feet info is superb. As president of the Sydney Striders I make sure it is known through out the club.”
Reader feedback to this E-zine and its articles is welcome and encouraged. Please email any foot care ideas or tips that you have tried and would like to share with others, or ideas for an article for the e-zine to me by email.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
You are welcome to contact John Vonhof by email about this E-zine or the book Fixing Your Feet. Snail mail is welcome at 352 Fragrance Court, Manteca, CA 95337.