Super shoes for trail runners? | S2E18: Trail Science

You asked & we listened. This weeks episode with @dewaal.simon is a hot topic. We unpack some of need to knows around super shoes. We talk about advanced footwear technology (AFT), what we learn from road runners, what research on super shoes tells us & more 💥What you’ll gain from this episode:🌟 Insights into the research on super shoes for both trail & road💡 Tips on what to consider when getting a pair of super shoes🏞️ Inspiration to follow the research on super shoes in the trail running space🎥 Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Welcome to 2025: Season 2 continues 03:07 Vapor flies: Personal dabbling in the super shoe scene 06:50 - Shoes vs Barefoot: Why should we care about our footwear 10:27 - Design & definition: Advanced footwear technology (AFT) 14:35 - Super shoe benefits: Are they real or perceived? 19:15 - The carbon plate: Potential energy & carbon improvements 22:21 - Early research: The 4% benefit & Nikes research 30:12 - The influence of speed: How much of a role does speed play 35:20 - Running environment : Is there a place for super shoes on trail 40:30 - The Salomon study: Current research for the trail space 55:05 - Windlass Mechanism: Foot mechanics in an uphill condition 59:18 - Future research: Making it more trail specific