Skora Shoes Review

What are Skora Shoes?

Pictured below are the two images of Skora's pilot shoes, due for release late 2011. I believe this will be one of the hottest minimalist shoes on the market when they are released.

Skoras mission is to help runners stay injury-free for life. We like the sound of that.

Skora states that runners will be able to relate to our product because it will have everything it needs and nothing more. We aren’t cutting corners, so the mission isn’t to keep the price point down, but to create a high quality minimalist shoe that is designed for performance.
One of the things I’m most excited about is the leather that we will be using. It is one of the most breathable, high performance leather that dries in half the time of the leather that current shoe manufacturers use, but is also more expensive than regular leather.

Listen to this, the will create a vegan version with a synthetic mesh.

The Following is from the Skora site:

Our philosophy is a modest one; create footwear that encourages biomechanically correct performance with as little interference as possible. It is not about mimicking, influencing or improving a runner's natural gait, but rather celebrating it and letting nature do what it does best. Skora approaches every problem differently than the status-quo. Guided by a desire to lead, not to follow, Skora is constantly looking for alternative ways of doing things in design, business practices founded in common sense. Skora is free-thinking and challenges conventional wisdom. Founded in these principles our footwear approaches design and performance from a rational, practical, honest and realistic understanding of a runner's real needs. We don't cling to doctrine new or old, or hold ideology over practicality.

Skora is designed for the real runner in the real world. Simply put, Skora exists because we think we can make footwear better.

Forefoot. Heel strike. Barefoot running. Minimal running. There's a lot of terminology flying around and it's not a big surprise that more than a few people are simply confused about what all this means. Of course, everyone is going to have an opinion. So what does this all mean?

RUNNING REVOLUTION

Barefoot and barefoot-style running are taking the world by storm. Running shoes today have the most advanced technology, but people are still getting hurt. There is something inherently wrong with that. Barefoot and barefoot-style running are as real as it gets. We're talking about minimal interference. It's not just the running community that feels this way; science has documented the mastery of nature.

Nature is smart. "To help prove this point, Dr. Steven Robbins and Dr. Edward Waked of McGill University, Montreal, performed a series of lengthy tests on gymnasts. They found that the thicker the landing mat, the harder the gymnasts landed. Instinctively, the gymnasts were searching for stability. When they sensed a soft surface underfoot, they slapped down hard to ensure balance. Runners do the same thing. When you run in cushioned shoes, your feet are pushing through the soles in search of a hard, stable platform." ¹ ²

THE REALITY OF BAREFOOT & BAREFOOT-STYLE RUNNING

Barefoot

This is where it starts. Barefoot running is best. You get the full and immediate mind-body connection that is lacking from the traditional running shoe. Barefoot running does require a few things from you. Your barefoot training has to be very consistent. The soles of your feet will toughen up and become stronger with barefoot training, but even just a short time off can mean softer soles and the potential for injury if you try to come back and do too much barefoot running too soon.

Barefoot-Style

Barefoot-style running offers a much closer connection to the ground than the conventional 'cushioned' running shoe. The highly cushioned and restrictive footwear that is widely available actually increases the harsh impact to your hips, knees and feet. Your feet are searching for that connection to the ground and barefoot-style brings you as close as you can possibly get while wearing a running shoe.
Barefoot-style running is a viable option through a truly minimalist running shoe such as Skora, which allows for the transitional impact from heel-strike to mid-foot landing.

What We Think

Barefoot running is the transition point to barefoot-style running. Understanding how to run properly barefoot is essential to injury-free and enjoyable barefoot-style running. We recommend incorporating barefoot running at least once a week into your barefoot-style running routine to re-set that mind-body-feet connection.

WHERE WE STAND

At Skora, we don't think our shoes are going to solve every problem, prevent every issue. Injury-free running is a part of a bigger puzzle. You'll need a comprehensive running plan which includes things such as nutrition, a prudent training schedule that includes cross-training and of course, proper equipment when needed. Run Real.