Category Archives: Footwear

PUMA Running Returns in 2021

Disrupt. Break away. Change the game. That’s how PUMA runs things  and in 2021, PUMA Running is coming back—hard.  

PUMA NITRO Deviate Women’s

PUMA’s history is packed with nearly 75 years of world records, firsts, and only from Abebe Bikila to Bill  Rogers to Sabrina Mockenhaubt to Usain Bolt. In industry years, this makes us faster since forever, and  we believe now is the time for us to pick up speed again and spark change from the most sought-after  marathon finish lines to local run communities. 

We overhauled our products and developed new technologies to create an effortless run. Years of research and testing have gone into four new key styles — Deviate, Velocity, Liberate, and Eternity — all featuring our cutting-edge supercritical foam technology, NITRO. 

“With PUMA Running, we set out to create an effortless run for runners,” said Erin Longin, Global  Director of the Running and Training business unit at PUMA. “Our new running shoes feature our most  innovative technologies, like NITRO foam, making the shoes extremely lightweight and responsive, to  help you use less energy and run comfortably so you can reach your goals.” 

The new PUMA Running range includes specially engineered designs for female runners including a  brand-new women’s last developed for the female foot in all four styles. PUMA believes women are the future of running which is why we’ve signed some of the top distance athletes in the sport — Molly  Seidel, Gesa Krouse, Aisha Praught Leer, Fiona O’Keefe, and Taylor Werner.  

“The more we researched our consumer we learned that the idea of change resonates with runners,”  Longin said. “Runners always strive for change, to better themselves and the greater good so we landed  on the concept of SPARK CHANGE to bring meaning and energy to everything we do in running.”

In addition to the four new styles launching, PUMA Running is providing the spark for a new generation  of runners and engaging the running community through purpose-led initiatives. In partnership with  Women Win and our athletes, PUMA is donating to foundations aimed at furthering women in sport.  The PUMA Running Spark Change Fund will help to support charities with the greatest need in an effort  to establish greater gender equity in the sport of running. 

Deviate, Velocity, Liberate, and Eternity styles are available starting February 4 (in Asia with selected styles)  and March 4 (globally) on PUMA.com, PUMA Stores, and selected retailers worldwide. 

PUMA brings the uncatchable PUMA ULTRA to Malaysia

Sports company PUMA has launched the revolutionary ULTRA 1.1 football boot, bringing groundbreaking innovation and uncatchable speed to the world of football. Speed is in PUMA’s DNA, continuing this legacy PUMA introduce the next generation of speed. The ULTRA 1.1 features PUMA exclusive MATRYXEVO® technology, providing elite-level stability, durability and traction. The speed boots are launched in Malaysia today following the global launch recently.

Following years of testing and player feedback from some of the world’s best attacking players, including Antoine Griezmann, Sergio Agüero and Nikita Parris, the PUMA ULTRA 1.1 is engineered to deliver the game’s fastest football boot. Combining a dynamic silhouette that utilizes a fully engineered and technologically advanced, lightweight MATRYXEVO® upper with an instinctive running spike outsole to create the ultimate weapon for speed.

The MATRYXEVO® upper enables PUMA to utilize a single layer of material that is closer to the foot, whilst providing outstanding support at an extraordinary light weight. This signals the first time this material has ever been utilized in a football boot. 

“A key feature of the new MATRYXEVO® material is that it is one layer. We wanted to embed all the functionality into one upper material to make it as foot-friendly as possible. This helps to create a superior fit without perforating the material to keep it lightweight, strong and durable. The feedback from our professional players and our consumer testing has been exceptional,” said Roman Girard, Senior Head of Innovation, PUMA.

After years of testing the materials properties, PUMA has worked with its partners to develop a method to coat each individual fiber – an industry first, and constructed the perfect blend of polyester yarns, carbon yarns and aramid fibers. The extremely strong aramid fibers run through the lateral side of the upper. Player feedback identified that players needed more support on the lateral side to keep them locked in, preventing the material stretching over the tooling. The carbon yarns provide superior lightweight benefits and additional foot support to ignite explosive forward motion.

Peter Stappen, Lead Product Line Manager, PUMA said: “Our goal was not to create the lightest boot possible, but to create a speed boot with optimal weight for speed to ensure features such as control, traction and comfort were not compromised. We were not about chasing grams, but about chasing adrenaline. When we put all the components together, the boot had all the essential properties we wanted; comfort, stability and durability but maintained an exceptionally light weight.”

A GripControl Pro skin has been applied to key areas of the upper to provide complete and decisive control of the ball when moving at uncatchable speeds. Bonded to the upper is a lightweight PEBA SpeedUnit outsole, featuring a split sole design inspired by PUMA running spike DNA for dynamic acceleration. The sole plate combines subtle ‘spikes’ in the forefoot and V-shaped blades for added aerodynamics, configured for explosive speed.

The PUMA ULTRA 1.1, retailing for RM829, is now available across major PUMA stores, Football Republic, and TFC outlets nationwide. 

“THE KING IS BACK”: PUMA signs long-term partnership with football star Neymar Jr.

Global sports company PUMA has signed a long-term partnership with Brazilian football player Neymar Jr., represented by NR Sports*, one of the most successful athletes of his generation, who will wear PUMA’s legendary PUMA King football boot.  

Neymar will not only wear the PUMA King on pitch, but will be a brand ambassador off-pitch, wearing PUMA’s most important lifestyle, training, and sport-inspired footwear and apparel products.

“Neymar Jr. joining our PUMA Family is fantastic”, said Bjørn Gulden, CEO of PUMA. “He is one of the best players in the world and extremely relevant for the global football and youth culture. We are very excited and look forward to working with him both on and off the pitch.”

In a message to his fans on his social media channels entitled “The King is Back”, Neymar Jr. spoke about the impact that football greats such as Pelé and Maradona have had on his life, and his decision to follow in their footsteps by partnering with PUMA. 

“I grew up watching videos of great football legends such as Pelé, Cruyff, Eusebio and Maradona,” Neymar Jr. said. “These were the kings of the pitch, the kings of my sport. I wish to bring back the legacy that those athletes created on the pitch. They each played in PUMA, and each of them created their magic in The KING.”  

He continued: “Every time I lace my boots, my KING boots, I will do anything to achieve all of my dreams to honor my name and that of all those great ones who wore the KING before me. This will be my PUMA history. The KING is back!”

Neymar has won several trophies in Brazil, Spain and France, as well as the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores. He also won the Olympic Gold Medal with the Brazilian National Team in 2016. He has scored 61 goals in 101 matches for Brazil, making him the third highest goal scorer for his national team.  

He currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and has won three French league titles, two Coupe de France, and two Coupe de la Ligue. He played an important role in leading the club to its first ever Champions League Final in 2020.

*the company which holds the image rights of the athlete

PUMA Enters New Era With Cushioning Technology XETIC

Global sports brand PUMA, as part of a sponsored research collaboration with MIT Design Lab, has created XETIC, a cushioning technology. Today marks a new era where mechanical cushioning and foam come together. This ultramodern performance innovation provides excellent comfort for walking and is introduced in a new street-ready sneaker called Calibrate Runner.

https://youtu.be/R5e-ON-NxUA
Calibrate Runner, Puma’s latest shoe with XETIC technology

The futuristic looking XETIC material may first appear like it’s 3D printed, but it is in fact made of foam with its named derived from “auxetic materials”. When subjected to mechanical stress like compression, XETIC shows off a certain behaviour and cushioning which provides an excellent means of comfort.

“PUMA’s innovation department teamed up with MIT Design Lab because we needed their high-expert engineering capabilities,” said Romain Girard, Senior Head of Innovation at PUMA. “MIT has computer simulation possibilities, which enabled us to see the behavior of the material and
quickly find the optimal structure for calculated cushioning.”
PUMA and MIT Design Lab worked with an extensive runner community to analyze individual running specifics, such as pressure points, and they then took the data to develop a specifically shaped structure that allows for progressive cushioning. The result was a structure shaped like the horizontal number 8, which is characteristic for the XETIC.

The whole team was delighted with the ability to work on a project that allowed them to explore such a new space and to see all the efforts culminating in the creation of the Calibrate Runner.

Over the course of the project qualitative and quantitative user testing was used, a novel finite element analysis simulation, and parametric design to find the perfect pattern, which was named ‘Recurve’.

Calibrate Runner has a unique futuristic aesthetic with the visible XETIC technology, and will appeal to the techiest of streetwear collectors, while giving athletes access to a new era of cushioning. Straight from the lab, into the future.

PUMA’s new Calibrate Runner featuring XETIC technology will be available in Asia Pacific from 15 Oct 2020 and retailing at MYR659.

Nasi Lemak Shoes by ASICS

The Nasi Lemak has been a staple of Malaysian food for years and you can find it almost anywhere in the country, at any time of the day. There have been a few variations of the famous dish but shoes is a new one.

ASICS Malaysia has announced its first-ever foray into the local sneaker scene with a special rendition of the GEL-KAYANO 5 OG, inspired by the Nasi Lemak dish, presented by local multi-label retail store, Hundred% (hundred percent) and Malaysia’s biggest sneaker event, SneakerLAH, held on 5 – 6 October 2019.

Giving a local twist to the famed retro silhouette of the GEL-KAYANO 5 OG, it transformed an ordinary sneaker into something close to the hearts of many Malaysians by taking inspiration from the nation’s popular dish.

Not quite yummy in the tummy but is as delicious for your feet

This special edition of the GEL-KAYANO 5 OG design represents the vibrant colours of the Nasi Lemak dish to reflect the unity amongst the diverse cultures in Malaysia. Off-white represents the rice and egg white, while green  signifies cucumber. Red reflects the chilli paste, while yellow takes the form of the yolk. The whole palette is finished off with a hint of brown, reflecting the nuts and anchovies.

“What we love about the shoe colourway re-design is that; it centres around the nasi lemak which is a dish that everyone likes and a societal knot that all Malaysians can relate to and instantly love,” said Boon Tib Soom Nik, Country Manager of ASICS Malaysia.

“Through this shoe, we hope to share with everyone that feeling of unity, and to spread the love to all corners of the globe,” he added.

The GEL-KAYANO 5 OG ‘Nasi Lemak Shoe’ was available for purchase at SneakerLAH 2019 for RM599 and had only a limited quantity of 500.

 

Getting Tired Just Got Harder with ASICS GLIDERIDE

Saving runners energy: ASICS has revealed how the eagerly awaited GLIDERIDE™ has successfully adapted the GUIDESOLE™ technology, first introduced in the METARIDE™ concept, and placed it on the feet of more runners in a unique race featuring participants of different abilities from around the world.  

AN ENERGY REVOLUTION

The human-centric GUIDESOLE™ technology is an ergonomic precision-shaped curved sole that reduces energy loss.  It works by minimizing lower leg movement through the stride – giving a feeling of effortless coasting – to make it easier for runners to keep going for longer.

Increasing the accessibility of the GUIDESOLE™ technology was the inspiration behind the new shoe. Engineered by a team of scientific experts and designers at ASICS Institute of Sport Science (ISS), the development of GLIDERIDE™ was fast-tracked to get the new technology to more runners as quickly as possible. 

The result? The new GLIDERIDE™ has taken the category-leading GUIDESOLE™ technology a further step forward.  Whilst providing maximum energy saving, it is lighter, with a less extreme curve and more cushioning than the concept shoe – increased comfort. 

In tests, GLIDERIDE™ has been scientifically proven to:

  • Reduce total energy loss at the ankle joint, where runners expend the most energy 
  • Improve cushioning for increased comfort 
  • Reduce weight while maintaining stability to provide both performance and protection

Kenichi Harano, Executive Officer and Senior General Manager at ISS, said: “The positive reception and speed at which runners adopted the new technology spurred us on to develop GLIDERIDE™ in record time.  With no compromise on efficiency, it offers a cushier ride that we believe has the potential to help runners of every level significantly improve performance to go further than they thought possible”.

GET AHEAD WITH THE CURVE

To demonstrate what energy saving really means for runners, ASICS put the theory to the test in a unique race on the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah on 7 September 2019. 

The race, designed by an expert team of sports scientists, ASICS RUNKEEPER™ data analysts, elite coaches and engineers saw 22 runners of different abilities from around the world put the latest technology and theory in running performance to the test. Participants explored how energy saving technology can assist them in improving performance in the ultimate battle against themselves in a race without a finish line.

“We effectively took our research lab from Kobe to the Salt Flats to understand directly from runners how they can benefit from our energy saving technology in a real-life situation,” commented Harano.  “What we learnt proves the importance of optimizing energy and will fuel our next generation technologies beyond footwear.”   

Yasuhito Hirota, ASICS President and COO, said: “This latest innovation is a major milestone in achieving our goal to make our energy saving technology available to all runners. In Spring 2020, we will launch the next shoe in the family, EVORIDE™.  And it doesn’t finish there. ASICS commitment to this new category extends beyond footwear with the planned introduction of further innovations to our in-store and on-line services”.

Retails for MYR629, the GLIDERIDE™ will be available for men and women at selected ASICS retail stores and www.asics.com from 4 October 2019.

ASICS relaunches GEL-KINSEI™, its iconic early millennial runner

The GEL-KINSEI™ shoe is a renowned high mileage running shoe with superior comfor and bold look and ASICS is bringing it back after 10 years in further classic iterations. 

Available since September, the re-imagined sneaker features premium athletic wear and technical running products born from ASICS’ 70-year history of advanced technology and human-centric science.

The design of the GEL-KINSEI™ shoe was heavily inspired by the Samurai and their equipment

The designer of the GEL-KINSEI™ shoe, Hisanori Fujita, was heavily inspired by the Samurai and their equipment. From their armor, which protects the body while still allowing freedom of movement, to their Katana, which informed the shape of the heel on the GEL-KINSEI™ shoe. The shoe’s design blends traditional Japanese heritage in its ethos with the bold, technical, mechanical styling of the early Millennium.

“In school I knew of ASICS. Everyone does,” explained Fujita. “What I learned was that I could connect my love of sport and my love of design at ASICS.”

First released in 2006, the GEL-KINSEI™ shoe’s design was instantly lauded as advanced. One of the most technical running shoe on the market, it combined ASICS’ trademark I.G.S™ (IMPACT GUIDANCE SYSTEM) technology with a Discreet Heel Unit that featured three large sections of GEL™ technology bonded directly to it. Meanwhile, the weight-reducing TRUSSTIC™ technology, first presented in the GEL-KINSEI™ shoe and placed under the arch of the shoe, reduces the overall weight of the shoe thereby extending the life of the sole unit.

With its BIOMORPHIC FIT™ upper, the forefoot of the GEL-KINSEI™ shoe is identical to the GEL-KAYANO™ 12 shoe, with impressive comfort and flexibility. The magic of GEL–KINSEI™ shoe is, however, found in the heel. Three sections of GEL™ technology in the rearfoot cushion the foot at impact and adapt to the stability needs of the runner as the foot travels through the gait cycle. The GEL™ technology serves two separate roles here — a truly exceptional feat of engineering. The heel is held snugly in a plastic cradle, giving the shoe a good transition from foot impact to toe-off.

With its aggressive techno-modernist early-millennium styling, combined with the groundbreaking technology that made it such a pioneer in the first place, the 2019 GEL–KINSEI™ shoe brings back everything we loved about the OG, but for summer 2019.

Running debate: Bare or in shoes?

(CNN) — Terry Chiplin didn’t need a Harvard study to tell him what he’s known for years.

“Barefoot running, for me, is a lot less painful than wearing running shoes,” said the 55-year-old Brit, who competed in high school in thin-soled leather shoes and would run shoeless whenever he could.

After taking a break in early adulthood from the sport, Chiplin returned to it by buying a fancy pair of running shoes.

“I’d come home with blisters, my feet killing me,” he said. “So one day, I just said to myself, ‘Who cares what anybody thinks? I’m putting sole to earth.’ ”

Chiplin now teaches running and outdoor fitness in Estes Park, Colorado, and does it shoeless as often as possible.

He’s among many runners on blogs and list-servs who’ve been debating new studies about the most efficient running form. Should you go barefoot ? Land heel-first or on the balls of your feet? Are those fancy shoes hurting more than helping you?

The study stirring the most buzz was led by Harvard evolutionary biologist Dr. Daniel Lieberman.

It’s the first to compare how much impact the body takes when a runner is wearing shoes or is barefoot. Using high-speed video, the study revealed barefoot runners strike with their forefoot and suffer less jarring to their bodies. When you’re barefoot, you’re going to land with the portion of your foot that is most springy. And think of the barefoot run as a game of hot potato — if you know you have rocks and glass on that surface, you’re going to move more carefully and pick your feet up quicker.

Shoe wearers strike with their heel and deliver a shock to their overall body that is two to three times their body weight. Lieberman’s test subjects were Kenyan runners who had spent their lives running barefoot and the Harvard track team, which runs in shoes.

Use this shoes run like barefoot.

Watch the difference between barefoot and shoe running

“Runners are responding because they are always interested in the latest science of their sport, and they have a personal reaction to being told that their shoes are going to be taken away,” said D. Leif Rustvold, a Portland, Oregon, runner with a masters in anthropological biology who works for a health care provider.

Though he switched to barefooting a few years ago and saw an improvement in his efficiency, he predicts barefooting will remain a practice of a minority.

Runners are concerned first about injuries, and barefoot running can seem, at first, like it’s going to lead to injury,” he said. “Besides, we’ve been wearing shoes for years. No one is going to roll that back.”

The other study, focusing on walking form, comes from University of Utah biology professor David Carrier.

Carrier is well-known among distance runners for trying to run down a herd of antelope a few years ago to prove that humans were built to run great distances, their survival dependent on their ability to persistence hunt.

He found that while humans have evolved to run great distances, we’ve also evolved to become more efficient walkers than our ape ancestors by doing the very thing Lieberman’s study warns against — landing heel first. His test subjects were volunteers who were triathletes, runners and soccer players.

Most mammals — dogs, cats, raccoons — walk and run around on the balls of their feet, the study says. Few species land on their heel: bears, humans and great apes — chimps, gorillas, orangutans.

“Our study shows that the heel-down posture increases the economy of walking but not the economy of running,” says Carrier. “You consume more energy when you walk on the balls of your feet or your toes than when you walk heels first.”

So, run on your forefeet and walk on your heels?

“It can be complicated, but I don’t think what Lieberman concluded and what our study found conflicts at all with each other,” Carrier told CNN. “If anything it shows how complex our feet are, and how much we’re learning about the mechanics of movement.”

Lieberman said his study is not meant to be an argument for barefoot running.

“I’m afraid people have misunderstood me,” he said. “I’m not in the business of telling people what to do, what shoes to wear or whether to wear shoes at all.”

Amanda Musacchio, 35, of Wheaton, Illinois, is a member of one of the biggest running list-servs in the country. She and many other runners have interpreted the story as a round-about way to cheer barefoot running.

Musacchio wore thin-soled shoes when she was a sprinter in high school without injury. But when she started running longer distances in adulthood, she thought wearing a heavy-cushioned shoe would help. Instead, she racked up injuries. So she went bare again.

“I started barefoot running five minutes at a time,” she said. “I feel almost as good now as when I did 20 years ago when I was a sprinter. My feet seem to remember how to land properly, on my forefoot, and that improved form has changed my running tremendously.”

Among the skeptics is self-described “proud shoe wearer” runner Spurgeon Hendrick, who regularly hits the trails outside Atlanta, Georgia, for long runs.

He points out that Lieberman’s study was partly sponsored by Vibram USA, information that is clearly disclosed on every page. The company makes Vibram 5 Fingers, a thin latex shoe with individual toes that mimics barefoot running. The shoe has sold like hot cakes this past year after they and Lieberman’s work were featured in the 2009 best-selling book “Born to Run.”

“I couldn’t run barefooted, or in Vibrams, even if I wanted to,” Hendrick said. “I stub my toes on roots and rocks too much, and at my age, I don’t have time to wait on a broken toe to heal.”

Lieberman is adamant that Vibram sponsorship had nothing to do with the outcome of the study, which was also funded by the American School of Prehistoric Research, the Goelet Fund and Harvard University.

But many runners are saying that apart from the nitpicking about whether the studies are on the money is one basic lesson: Be more aware of your unique movement.

“I think it’s very hard, if not impossible, to change body mechanics,” said Dr. Perry Julien, a podiatrist who has treated Olympic runners and serves as the co-medical director of the world’s biggest 10K, the Atlanta Peachtree Road Race. “And people who try, or try too quickly and without care, are going to wind up in my office.”

If you’re a walker, being more conscious of how your feet hit the ground may make you more efficient. If you’re a 200-pound guy who hits the treadmill a couple times a week, barefoot running might not be worth the work necessary to build up the calf and Achilles strength to prevent injury, he said.

Stress fractures, tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, a hard-to-heal tissue inflammation that feels like needles driven into your foot, are likely to result for runners who dash out the gate barefoot without gradually working up to it.

The podiatrist pointed out that there are many examples of people who heel strike without problems, most famously Joan Benoit.

Benoit won the first women’s Olympics marathon in 1984, the same era of the record-breaking South African Zola Budd, who ran barefoot.

Reebok Used Digital Knitting Technology to Make These New Runner

Reebok’s Classic division is getting in on the knitted sneaker business with a new design.

The brand announced today the Zoku Runner, which Reebok calls a “brand new contemporary silhouette” inspired by the brand’s classic styles from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. According to Reebok, the name “Zoku” translates to “to be continued or to be part of a tribe.” The tagline is represented by culling inspiration from Reebok’s archives and reimagining the brand’s iconic Vector logo.

The Reebok Zoku Runner launches Thursday.Reebok

The Reebok Vector (or crosscheck) logo was created by the brand’s founders in 1980. Its look was inspired by a flock of birds and intended to symbolize momentum and movement. On the Zoku Runner, the logo gets a new design in the form of a molded TPU cage, which wraps the foot. Elsewhere, the shoe is constructed with Reebok’s Ultraknit digital knitting technology for a socklike feel that’s right on trend.

Available for both men and women, the sneakers will launch Thursday from reebok.com and select retailers in seven colorways, including the looks pictured here. The Zoku Runner retails for $115.

An on-foot look at the Reebok Zoku Runner.Reebok
The Reebok Zoku Runner retails for $150.Reebok
The Reebok Zoku Runner in gray.Reebok
The Reebok Zoku Runner in black.Reebok
The Reebok Zoku Runner in red.Reebok
The Reebok Zoku Runner in light red.Reebok
The Reebok Zoku Runner in blue.

INTRODUCING THE NIKE ZOOM VAPORFLY ELITE FEATURING NIKE ZOOMX MIDSOLE

The Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite radically redefines speed on the road — ultra-lightweight and ultra-responsive. Its radical look is also the latest example of Nike’s long-term mission to transform the athletic landscape.

Conventional wisdom dictates that distance racing shoes be lightweight and low to the ground. However, this wisdom also concedes some compromise. For example, with  limited cushion how can a shoe maximize energy return?

The answers to these questions are critical to the success of Breaking2, Nike’s innovation moonshot to break the two-hour marathon barrier. As Eliud Kipchoge, Lelisa Desisa and Zersenay Tadese push to get the most out of every stride they will do so wearing the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite with Nike ZoomX midsole.

The concept shoe, individually-tuned for each athlete, highlights the product portion of a rigorously researched path to realizing Breaking2’s bold vision and a paradigm shift suggesting that while a “less is more” system has served the past, a “more is more” approach might define the future.

“Form must follow function. We leveraged aerodynamic insights to deliver a radical and iconic aesthetic that screams speed,” says Stefan Guest, Sr. Footwear Design Director, Innovation.

The disruptive design follows on the composite function of its components. Rather than totally reinvent the wheel, the shoe completely reimagines materials employed in racing footwear for decades but uses each more intelligently, and more purposefully than ever before.

While traditional racing shoes (flats) keep a low profile, the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite’s progressive Nike ZoomX midsole cushioning — remarkably lighter, softer and more responsive than traditional foams — is reflected in a distinctive 21mm forefoot stack height. Designed to give runners more energy return while simultaneously providing cushioning from the road, the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite combines athlete insight with biomechanics analysis and cutting-edge engineering.

This results in a brand-new tooling system comprised of the ultra-light, ultra-resilient Nike ZoomX midsole and a unidirectional carbon fiber plate, with an athlete-optimized stiffness profile. Finally, the flow of the heel, modeled for ultimate aerodynamics, adds an iconic flare that screams speed, and an athlete-tuned, 1:1 fit Flyknit upper contains the foot.

Nike ZoomX truly enables the innovation of the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite,” says Tony Bignell, VP of Footwear Innovation for Nike, Inc. “The groundbreaking new Nike ZoomX midsole and curved carbon fiber plate work together to provide responsive cushioning and minimized energy loss at toe off.”

In addition to the 21mm forefoot stack height, the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite has a 9mm offset, designed to minimize Achilles strain. This is also reflected in the unique “scooped-shaped” geometry of the carbon fiber plate — visible in the iconic sweep of the midsole coloring. In addition to providing a feeling of forward motion, the carbon fiber plate critically serves to add bending stiffness, tuned to improve stride-by-stride efficiency for the three athletes and minimize energy loss over the course of the race.

“We know stiffer shoes have a big benefit on running economy,” notes Bret Schoolmeester, Senior Director of Global Running Footwear, Fast. “However, too much stiffness can shift the workload from the foot up into the calf, which causes fatigue over distance. For the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite, we developed a very specific geometry to reduce that problem.”

Dr. Geng Luo, Nike Sport Research Lab Senior Researcher, Biomechanics, explains, “The goal of having a plate is to reduce how much energy loss happens when the runner bends at the toe. This curved plate is stiff enough to achieve that and because it has this geometry, it does so without increasing demand on the calf.”

The Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite featuring Nike ZoomX Midsoleanchors a system of performance fashioned to help Kipchoge, Desisa and Tadese challenge the 2-hour marathon barrier later this year in Monza.

The runner’s Breaking2 apparel completely rethinks the comfort, fit and weight of traditional marathon kit. It begins with the singlet, made with a Seamless Transfer Knit, allowing for enhanced ventilation where it is most needed. The approach also allows for a completely tailored fit — each athlete’s body scan data and personal preference accounted for. Similarly, the Short Tight — which deviates from the standard short — delivers individualized length and compression level. Additionally, the Short Tight leverages Nike Aeroblade texture to help reduce drag. Arm Sleeves help athletes combat cooler temperatures, while Nike Aeroblade tape helps reduce drag where most critical — the lower legs. Finally, the sock has been engineered to work with footwear to deliver more ventilation where needed and provide a higher level of arch support.

Beyond, the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite’s unique construction and game-changing midsole inform the future of Nike Zoom Running — a duo of racing shoes (the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% and Nike Zoom Fly) and the all-new Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34.