Sunday, December 12, 2010

Running shoe review: Skecher's Resistor Run SRR

Nothing minimal about Skechers' SRR's
Skechers Resistance Runner- Resistor Run SRR
MSRP: $130
Company: http://www.skechers.com/

If someone had told me a few months ago that I would soon be the happy owner of a pair of Skechers running shoes I might have called them crazy. Skechers was not a brand I'd ever associated with athletic shoes, let alone running shoes. I actually found the concept laughable. When Skechers announced the Resistance Runners (part of their Shape Ups line) I had some fun with the idea, mocking the look and the efficacy of the unstable design. The Resistance Runner was not my only target in that post but I did specifically say I'd only run with them in the dark. Soon after my post, Skecher's offered to send me a pair to review. I asked for my size (10.5) in D width and got a call later that day from the company saying they didn't make their shoes in wide sizes. I told woman that if Skechers is going to be in the running shoe business they better learn that D is not a wide size.

My Resistance Runners arrived in a big fancy box with the shoes tucked into foam cutouts and lots of marketing copy. The shoes don't look like any running shoes that I own but they're attractive in their own way. The black and silver motif is a bit over the top but many running shoes, even the top performing models, sometimes suffer from gaudy design. What struck me first was the weight of the shoes. I couldn't find an official weight on any website but I'd guess that these shoes weigh between 14 and 16 ounces. Compare that to the 7.7 oz. Saucony Kinvaras and right away you know it will be a different running experience.

When I first put on the shoes I found that they were tight compared to other size 10.5 shoes I own, especially in the toe box. I like a more open fit at the front and I was concerned that I'd develop blisters from having my toes restricted. Standing in the shoes was interesting and novel. The asymmetrical mid-sole creates an unstable rocking experience when standing still. Unlike my minimal Kinvaras, the shoe is highly engineered. The mid-sole and out-sole are constructed like a counter-lever and the ride is high. I didn't know what to expect before taking off on my first run but I knew the experience would be different.

My first run with the SRR's actually surprised me. I was prepared to dislike them but instead I found them...interesting. The following is from an EmergingRunner.com post in mid October:

"The SRRs are beefy and you notice them when you run. It reminds me of the articles I've read about soldiers who run marathons with a field pack and combat boots. The shoes are clunky and the stride is a little awkward, yet I found myself appreciating them for this purpose. I could feel the shifting pressure on my legs and calves and I noted that my right upper hamstring did not feel as sore as it has of late. That may not be related to the shoes but it's clear that the SRRs do distribute force differently than a standard shoe.
Between the rain and the heavy running shoes I might have expected to dislike this morning's run. Instead, I found the cool temperatures and light rain refreshing, as well as the feeling that I was gaining some additional training benefits from the more challenging footwear. I guess "not unpleasant" is a pretty good way of putting it."
I've now run with the SRR's half a dozen times and I even wore them during the Nissequogue Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day.  I purposely wore the SRR's to help me mitigate my pace while I ran with my wife and kids. The shoes performed well that day although I had a scare when I landed on the sloped edge of a blacktop path that twisted my foot and ankle sharply. The high ride of the shoes invite these opportunities for unstable misseps. Needless to say, I won't be running with the SRR's on the trails.

While the unstable platform can lead to stumbles I've come to see that the SRR's, with their constantly shifting center of gravity and soft cushioning underfoot, remind me of the trail running experience. I was originally concerned that the unstable SRR's would affect my running form, hurt my knees or aggravate my leg muscles. So far the experience has been the opposite and my legs usually feel energized after a run. I'll continue to run (and occasionally walk) with the SRR's, using them as a tool to cultivate leg strength and flexibility. I wouldn't recommend these shoes as a replacement for a daily trainer and I doubt I'll ever use them for runs longer than four miles but I do think they add value to a runner's routine.

Skechers Resistance Runner - Resistor Run SRR

What's good:
Unstable mid-sole facilitates variable leg and ankle workout
Weight of shoes contributes to strength training
Running experience is fun and unusual


What could be improved:
Narrow fit in toe box
Less bulk and more minimal construction
Price point


This review by the Emerging Runner
Posted by The Emerging Runner at 4:34 AM 0 comments
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Moji Knee - Field Test

Website: GoMoji

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcchicago.com/video


The Moji Knee is is an innovative system for athletes who are looking for a way to ice a knee injury without giving up any mobility. We received a sample unit from the company so that we could perform a field test during race and then test under less rigorous conditions.

Our original plan was to field test the Moji cold compression system during a 180+ mile relay run over a 24-hour period. We quickly encountered a problem keeping the Moji's frozen gel cold cell frozen as it needed to be transported without a cooling source for three hours prior to the race. Over this duration, the cell thawed and it was no longer cold enough to use. So, the first lesson is that it's important to use the Moji system within 20 to 30 minutes of removal of the cell from the freezer.

Due to this limitation the first Runner's Tech Review field test with the Moji was performed a week later, by two women who had completed a grueling hike/run. One of the reviewers was suffering from severe knee pain and the other utilized the system solely for preventative joint maintenance. Let's call the first reviewer A and the second B.

A had been using frozen ice packs off and on throughout the day before transitioning to Moji. She immediately declared it a significant upgrade and remarked that she particularly appreciated the simultaneous application of cold to both sides of her knee. In addition, A found she was able to comfortably move around the house while wearing the Moji. As someone who experiences chronic knee pain, A indicated an interest in investing in a Moji (or two -- as she experiences pain in both knees).

B used the Moji after hiking, running, and playing soccer. She cautioned against wearing the Moji on a bare knee without first thawing the gel pack a bit. Since B used the Moji as a preventative measure only, it was difficult to judge its effectiveness over a short duration of time, but, like A, she also indicated it evenly distributes cold temps across the entire knee, except for the backside. Since B's leg is slim, she didn't feel comfortable walking around because the Moji tended to slip down her leg, but it is important to note that the sample that was provided was sized for a larger person.

Both reviewers had difficulty correctly putting on Moji without referring to the instructions and both agreed that the device is made of very high quality materials. Other observers remarked about the quality and 'professional' appearance of the Moji Knee. The packaging was attractive and the reusable storage bag was useful for easy and clean transport.

The third test was performed by an active runner who used it to treat some minor knee pain and as a preventive measure after distance runs. The Moji Knee was easy to set up and it provided excellent cooling around the entire knee for the first 30 minutes. Once the gel began warm up from contact with the knee it became far less effective. It was also difficult to tighten the brace enough to keep the cold directly on the targeted part of the knee, especially when walking. Another benefit for the design is that it can be wrapped around the upper thigh to provide support and cooling to the quadriceps muscles.

Overall, we recommend the Moji as a high end therapeutic tool for those with chronic knee pain. Anyone undergoing physical therapy for the knee will find it extremely useful, and it could surely be worn during electro stim treatments. Just be aware that it won't be adequately cool for use after more than an hour outside of the freezer. For those who'd like to use Moji in situations where access to a freezer isn't available there is another product we didn't review, called Moji to Go, that might fulfill your needs.

The Moji Knee retails for under $85 and is available at http://www.gomoji.com/

Emerging Runner Labs Rates "MixMyGranola"

Website: MixMyGranola

MixMyGranola can be described as Web 2.0 for food. Consumer generated content on the web that you can eat. Interesting yes, but is it a good experience? I took it to the Emerging Running Advisory Board to see what they thought about this product. The raters were me, Sedentary Man and Adventure Girl and our rating criteria were based on quality, taste, freshness and value.

According to their website, the company started when the founders concluded "none of the ready-made granolas that [they] could find in supermarkets and grocery stores really fulfilled all of [their] granola dreams. They created MixMyGranola.com to allow customers to custom-make their own granola mixes.

I was happy to try it out. Raoul from the company provided a gift certificate that allowed me to create a pound of mix. There was a dollar limit so I needed to constrain my choices to allow me to choose a combination of ingredients that added up to less than the amount of the gift certificate so I could reserve for shipping. The MixMyGranola website is attractive and the process is made very clear. You choose your base granola and then choose dried fruits, nuts and grains. You can even choose non-traditional mix-ins like gummy bears although I can't imagine a person who is so interested in good granola would make such an unhealthy choice. But the Emerging Runner is not here to judge the customers, just the company.

The selection process was simple and I liked the fact that, with each step, you understand both the cost and the nutritional makeup of your choices (calories, fat, fiber, etc.). I chose a mix with a muesli base, dried strawberries, dates, walnuts and pecans. I entered my personal data, the certificate code and then submitted. I received an acknowledgement of my order and my mix showed up a few days later by Fedex in an attractively designed tube.

I divided the mix up and gave portions to SM and AG and asked them to rate it based upon the above criteria. On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being best) the three of us scored it as follows:

Quality: 4.7
Taste: 3.7
Freshness: 4.3
Value: 2.3

Impressions:

OVERALL
(ER) “I liked that I could specify every ingredient and I also liked the quality of the ingredients. Flavor (muesli) was slightly bitter and would have benefited from some balancing sweetness (dried fruit helped a little). I wished that I had chosen a granola base. Value questionable - can you justify paying $12/lb to get exactly what you want versus paying $8-9/lb at a high end market for a good quality mix?”

(AG) “Good website, fun process, nice packaging. Excellent fruit and overall quality. I think MixMyGranola is something I’d purchase as a treat or for consumption during a special race or event, not for everyday consumption and training.”

Criteria

QUALITY
(AG) “Definitely top-notch, as reflected in the below comments regarding taste and freshness.”

(ER) “I don’t have many points of comparison but this seems to be very good stuff. The pecans were huge and there was a generous amount of mixed-in ingredients.”

TASTE
(AG) “The muesli had a pleasant, oaty flavor that helped to counteract its dry, dusty nature. The fruit contributed the most vibrant flavors. The dates and strawberries alike were perfectly sweet, although I might have preferred more of both. The pecans were very good and counterbalanced the sweet fruits, although might have been better if toasted (roasted?).”

(ER) “I did not care for the muesli’s flavor but the rest of the ingredients tasted great. I added some brown sugar and heated the mix and I liked it much better.”

FRESHNESS
(AG) “Here MixMyGranola surpassed any other granola I have had recently. The fruit, in particular, wasn’t overly desiccated as you often find with dried fruits. Instead, they were moist and almost reminiscent of the texture of gummy bears. The strawberries were a quite surprisingly jewel-toned red that didn’t deviate too far from the natural color of a strawberry to be suspicious. The oats were too dry, but I think this is their nature. I added half of my portion to milk, and that improved the experience dramatically.”

(ER) “Certainly fresh, no complaints about that.”

VALUE
(AG) “The price is prohibitively steep. I think silver is trading at approximately $12 a pound, and this granola exceeds it by a few dollars. I might be willing to pay $15 for an entire pound of the delicious strawberries, but I think the sticker price is too high for a mix.

(ER) “Unless you are a dedicated granola fan with very little free time I question the cost against the work to buy high quality ingredients like these and mix them yourself. All the same, it’s a fun experience and a high quality product.”

 

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