Happy Feet

What’s in Your Shoe?

The other day I had to walk to the BART (Bay Area Rapid transit) station to go a work seminar. It’s maybe 1/3 of a mile to the station, and then after the ride, about ½ mile to the building where the session was being held. Then after the session, the same distances back to my office.
     On the way to BART in the morning, I felt something in my shoe. Not something big, but something that let me know it was there. I ignored it on the way there and I ignored on the way back. You know how it is – it’s not that bad, just a small irritant and when we don’t feel it, we forget it.
     When I got back to my office, I finally stopped to shake out the offending “thing.” I found it was a very small piece of grit – no more than 1/16 of an inch in size! In fact, here’s a photo of the small piece of grit. Doesn’t it look imitating?
     It can be the same way whether running, hiking, adventure racing, or like me – just plain walking. When we feel something inside our shoe, we often put off getting rid of it. If in a race, it takes to long. If hiking, there’s nowhere to sit. If adventure racing, the whole team has to wait.
     What we need to remember is that these small irritants in our shoes can, over time, cause hot spots and blisters. They can also wear holes in socks. They can also cause us to change our gait, which can lead to physical problems up and down the body.
     So when you feel something in your shoe, take a moment and check it out. Your feet will thank you.

Rotten Shoes

I love to read about the yearly Rotten Sneakers Contest from Odor-Eaters. Although, honestly, I wonder why this seems to be limited to kids. Here is this year’s story from Odor-Eators.com.

Eight kids, ages seven to fifteen, from across the country, descended on the small town of Montpelier today wearing sneakers so decrepit and odorous, even the town dump wouldn't take them. Why? To participate in the annual National Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest. Each has won a regional contest and, therefore, earned a place in the national finals. In the end, Fifteen-year old Benjamin Russell took home the grand prize with a pair of two year-old sneakers that nearly caused the judges to pass out. You can watch the video here.
     Celebrating its 33rd year, the National Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest is the ultimate test of just how offensive sneakers can get when they're not taken care of properly. Sneakers are judged on the conditions of the sole, tongue, heel, toe, laces or velcro, eyelets/grommets, overall condition and most important ODOR, by a panel that includes NASA "Master Sniffer" George Aldrich, Chemical Specialist for NASA space missions, and Rachel Herz, Ph.D, author of The Scent of Desire, and is a professor at Brown University.
     This year, Ben Russell beat out seven other contestants, from - Flushing, MI, Tooele, UT, Newnan, GA, Livermore, CA, Branchville, NJ, Barre, VT, and Las Cruces, NM, to take home the grand prize of a $2,500.00.
     The Champion confessed that his sneakers got dirty and smelly because he plays very hard. He goes fishing, hunting and camping in his sneakers for the past two summers.
     Ben also received the Golden Sneaker Award trophy, plus an all expense paid trip to New York City to see the Broadway show The Lion King, and a supply of Odor-Eaters® products to kick out the odor from his sneakers. Although the maker of Odor-Eaters products sponsors the contest, it's clear that the contestants keep the product far from their willfully worn and torn warriors submitted for judging.
     Ben's sneakers will also be enshrined in the Odor-Eaters "Hall of Fumes" in Montpelier, VT.
     For more information about the Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest or Odor-Eaters products, visit www.odor-eaters.com.

Interchangeable Soles in Shoes?

Every once in a while we need a vacation. I recently took several weeks away from home and office – and spent time in Florida. That’s the reason for the time between posts.

     One of the things I enjoy while flying is to look through the SkyMall catalogue. Remember their catalogue? It contains lots of stuff that would be really fun to own – but you could also do without. In recent posts, I have written about shoes I have seen in their catalogue with a spring in the heel and shoes with a lift system that was highly cushioning. On this trip I found another interesting shoe.

     The Torrent shoes and Swift sandals are made with interchangeable outersoles. They are marketed as “Pack five pairs of shoes in the space of one.”

      Here is the text from the SkyMall catalogue: Save money and space with these "change the sole" shoes. Just buy the outsoles you need for the activities you love, from golf to fishing. Each rugged but lightweight sole locks securely in just 30 seconds with the Omnitrax sole system. The shoes are durable and extremely comfortable in any terrain. Adjustable ankle tension system allows for a glove like fit. Choose shoes in Brown-Maroon or Blue Bone. Choose sandals in Brown or Gray. Men's whole sizes in 6-14. Soles fit shoes and sandals. Hiking soles are included.  

     Extra interchangeable outersoles are offered for golf, river, boating, and fishing. The soles lock in place in the front of the shoe, then in several places along the sides of the soles, and then up the back of the heel. Certainly, if you travel, you know how much space footwear takes up in your bags. This could be a worthwhile investment. The Torrent shoes are $89.99, the Swift sandals are $79.99, and extra soles are $24.99.

     Korkers makes the shoes and sandals. Their website has a lot of good information about the shoes. Click here to watch a video of the shoes, which shows how to change the outersoles. In addition to the shoes and sandals, they offer Ultra-Lite Boots for hiking, three Wading Boots for fishing, and a cleat system for ice. Omnitrax Inc. makes the patented Omnitrax Interchangeable Sole Technology.

     Visit Korkers or SkyMall for more information. If you decide to try a pair, let me know.