SHOES
Proper footwear provides the foundation needed for healthy sporting activity and quality performance. In addition to some of the world's top selling running shoes, we can offer you a full range of active footwear to suit your every need, whether hiking through rain-forests, heading out on a winter trekking adventure or blasting out a session at the gym. Whatever you're into, indoor, outdoor, non-marking or casual,
we've got the soles for you.
THE ANATOMY OF A SHOE
Upper
The shoe upper gives shape and life to a shoe by determining its overall appearance. The upper also has a functional role, it protects the foot from potential harm by acting as a protective layer for the foot. Uppers can be made from several materials:
Mesh - Commonly used in sport shoes to maintain comfort inside the shoe during physical activity. The upper, in this case, may or may not have water resistant properties.
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Synthetic materials and fabrics - Lightweight and breathable with relatively high resistance to wear and tear. These materials may have to be treated from time to time with a water repellent coating to maintain their water resistance.
Leather - A very durable natural material which is used in the construction of many types of footwear. Leather may also be of the synthetic variety. The disadvantage to leather footwear is that it is susceptible to water damage and is not a permeable membrane. Leather also requires more maintenance.
Lining
Along with insoles, the interior lining found in the upper provides comfort for your feet, allows for ventilation and improves hygiene inside the shoe. The lining can also act as a thermal insulation layer and will aid in preventing damage of the upper from the inside. Insoles provide cushioning for your feet as well.
Midsole
This is the layer of a shoe that is located between the out-sole and insole. The mid-sole provides cushioning from the impact realized by your feet when walking over a hard-pack surface. A typical mid-sole is constructed from a material known as EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). When combined with various other technologies, the mid-sole is designed to improve shock absorption, reinforcement of the shoe foot-bed and to protect your feet from possible puncture of the out-sole.
Membrane
A membrane typically refers to a waterproof or water-resistant layer which is incorporated into the construction of a shoe and provides excellent protection against water. This technology is mainly used in hiking and winter footwear and occasionally in running shoes. Several types of membranes are available on the market these days, one of which is widely used by manufacturers, that membrane is called GORE-TEX. The membrane is a single layer of material that is placed into the interior of a shoe between the upper and the inner lining. In the case of GORE-TEX, it's an elasticized layer or "film" perforated with microscopic pores. The pores prevent water penetration and allow the foot to "breathe". Footwear equipped with a membrane requires proper care to maintain its performance and water repellent qualities.
Outsole
The out-sole protects a shoe and your feet from below, providing durability, traction and acts as the first shock absorption layer.
Running shoes
Running shoes protect your joints and dampen the impact. Road models will be used mainly on Asphalt or strengthened roads. Neutral running shoes can be worn in a variety of running conditions or in other activities and sports. Trail running shoes with a coarser pattern on the sole are suitable for running on unfurnished terrain.
Trekking shoes
Trekking shoes are suitable for a wide variety of outdoor activities, including family excursions or alpine hiking. Low-cut trekking boots are suitable for everyday wear and light terrain and offer enough support even with light or medium hiking. High-cut trekking boots with strengthened ankle protection are suitable for medium size hiking and increased load carrying and more demanding outdoor activities.
Indoor shoes
The hall shoes are characterized by specific properties, such as the non-marking sole. Indoor shoes are suitable for all sports in the hall and on surfaces inside. In our offer you can find indoor shoes for basketball, floorball, futsal, volleyball, indoor shoes for tennis, squash or badminton. You can also use the shoes in the fitness center or for fitness.
Lacing
Laces keep your feet firmly
in place inside your shoes. Shoes may be fitted with either a
drawstring, Velcro or other fastening systems or a combination of these.
But tying your shoes isn't about pulling your laces as tight as can be
to ensure your shoes are snug and then finishing the process off with
the tying of a bow. There is a science to shoe tying that most of us are
unaware of.
The
universal shoe tying technique of starting out by forming two rabbit
ears works great when you're 5. However, as most runners have
experienced, shoes can be a source of discomfort and even sometimes
pain. Changing the way you lace up your kicks can completely change the
way you feel about your running shoes. We've listed some of the most
common shoe issues, and the solutions in lace form. Read on and your
arches, heels and toes will thank you.
High arches
Start by lacing your shoe at the bottom like you normally would, evening up the laces through the bottom eyelets. Cross the laces and thread them to the second eyelets normally. Now, here is the crucial part – take the laces directly up the shoe (not crossing the tongue) into the next row of eyelets, leaving an open area in the middle of the shoe. Just keep lacing crisscross style until you reach the top.
Heel slip
No one wants to feel like they are running on banana peels. This one is fairly straightforward as you lace your shoes normally until one eyelet remains on each side. Lace each side straight up the outside of the shoe into the last eyelet, leaving a loop on either side. Criss-cross each lace across the shoe and pull it through the opposite loop and tie as normal. These loops help pull up the shoe material around your ankle to secure your heel in place without tightening the rest of your shoe differently.
Shoes feel too tight
This one looks simple, but can be a bit tricky. Start by lacing the first two eyelets on the same side on the big toe side of your shoe. From here we are going to follow a pattern. Take the lower lace and cross it to the other bottom eyelet and put the lace down through it. Take that same lace, skip the second eyelet and thread it up through the third eyelet, then cross it over the tongue and down through the opposite side eyelet. Follow this pattern up the shoe. Do the same pattern with the other side of the lace on the remaining eyelets. You’ll notice at the top that one of the laces will go right in perfectly with the top eyelet and the other is a tad short. Just pull up the remaining lace along the same side of the shoe to the top eyelet and you will be all done. Avoiding the standard criss-cross pattern in this style allows the top of the foot to have more room, giving you much more comfort while still getting support.
Wide forefoot
Get some air down there! This one is similar to what we did with High Arches, but placing the gap lower. Start by lacing your shoes evenly at the bottom, then start working up the outside. Lace each side into the first eyelet up the side of the shoe. Do this twice to the middle of the shoe to the third eyelet on each respective side. Then just lace up normally and your feet will have plenty of room to work with while you run.
Black toenails/toe pain
This is a common problem with an interesting technique to help your toes. Start by threading one side of your laces at the top of your shoe on the opposite side of your big toe. Make sure to leave enough lace to tie your shoes. Then take the lace down to the end of your shoe closest to your big toe to the bottom eyelet making a diagonal line. Now simply lace up your shoe with this single long lace normally in a zig zag fashion. You’ll notice now when tying each shoe that the bit of shoe above your big toe gets pulled away from your nail while allowing the rest of your shoe to be tied up tight.
