What's with the extended heels in running shoes? Just adds length and weight. Looks stupid. Why?
What's with the extended heels in running shoes? Just adds length and weight. Looks stupid. Why?
It was introduced on a particular shoe specifically for long trail descents.
Then a suit in the marketing dept said Hey! this looks cool lets add it as an aesthetic element on other shoes.
I personally cant wait for the trend to end. It'll prob be another couple years tho...
it's a manufacturing defect that wasn't caught before the shoe released, so it stayed.
I can see the benefit in a couple scenarios. Heel strikers. Also really really long runs/races. One may start out mid/front striking, but say after 6hrs or so. May start to heel strike, and have 6hrs or more to go in a race. That is the way I am seeing it. Also the reason I have a pair. For an upcoming 12hr.
Extended heel was featured on the original 4% for aerodynamics. Featured on the pegasus 35 and others for aesthetics.