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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Sockwa G2 Minimalist Shoe Review

This article was originally published in the blog section ofwww.barefoot-running.us. Enjoy!

As a barefoot/minimalist runner, I run over 85% of my miles barefoot. Iam very particular about any “shoes” that I wear for a run. In extremeweather (hot or cold), I will run in huaraches. For very rugged trails orgravel levees I might wear Vibram KSOs. The Sockwa G2 offerssomething in-between.

When the Sockwa G2s arrived, my first thought was that they werebasically water shoes. One of my co-workers that I train with runs inwater shoes. Her shoes and the ones I examined in the local mega-storehave fairly thick, inflexible soles. Water shoes are difficult to fold inhalf. The Sockwas can be rolled into a small tube. There is also anoticeable weight difference.

The first evening I had them, I wore them around the house. They are

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MinimalistShoe Review

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very comfortable. They quite literally feel like you are wearing socks. Imade sure to trim my toenails. Because of the snug fit, I was concernedthat any sharp nails might wear quickly on the neoprene uppers.

Construction:

The G2 has a ultra-thin 1.2 mm TPU sole. (For comparison, myhuaraches are 4 mm.) The snug neoprene uppers offer some protectionfrom debris that might be kicked up on the road or trail. The top of theshoe has a breathable spandex-type material.

Fit:

Like the name implies, the Sockwa G2 fits like a sock. It is snug, butvery comfortable. Due to the ultra-thin sole, the shoe is extremelyflexible. I was concerned that the snugness of the upper material wouldinhibit toe splay. However, during my runs my feet did not feelrestrained.

Footbed:

The foot bed has a very thin layer of neoprene material. It is cushy, butnot overly padded.

First Test Run:

I took the G2s out for their first trial on a 10-mile morning training run. My intention was to only wear them for about a mile. They turned out tobe so lightweight and comfortable that they stayed on for the first fourmiles. At that point, I felt a slight hot spot developing on the tops of mytwo smallest toes on my right foot. I removed them for 2 miles and thenI tried them again for another mile. Another light hot spot developedunder the inside ball of my right foot. So, I figured that was enough fortheir first trial.

Additional testing:

A couple days following the first run, I took them out for a 4-mile nightrun. I wanted to determine the cause of the “hot spot” issue. I started outwith a quick mile (7:45 pace – fast for me). Next I did 2 miles very easy(12-minute pace). I closed out the run with another fast mile. Not oncedid I sense a hot spot developing anywhere on either foot. It appears thatthe initial “hot spot” issue on my toes could have been from somerubbing against the stitching toward the outside of the shoe. However,there were no issues on this and subsequent runs with the stitching.

In addition to my first two runs, I took them out several more times onruns as well as wearing them for an afternoon at work. They providedprotection from warm/hot asphalt on an 80-degree California afternoon. You can feel the warmth of the asphalt or concrete through the soles. The G2s are very comfortable to wear at work if nobody minds youwearing moccasin/sock-like shoes.

The G2s can give a slight measure of protection from chip-seal asphalt. The chip-seal that these were tested on was pretty horrific and barely

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Posted by Terry Orsi at 10:50 AM

tolerable in bare feet. Since the Sockwas have excellent ground feel, youdefinitely feel the gravel. However, the shoes give some relief from thereally sharp stuff.

I did receive one blister on the ball of my foot during testing. However,in all fairness, I must state that the blister developed after I finishedrunning a barefoot half marathon. I had gone back to run some friends tothe finish during the last mile. The G2s had gotten wet and my feet werealready slightly tender.

Pros: Cons:

Extremely lightweightUltra-thin, flexible soleComfortable feel

Possible blistering

Overall, I feel that the Sockwa G2 is an excellent addition to abarefoot/minimalist runner’s arsenal of shoes. They allow for excellentground feel and are extremely flexible – both musts for a barefootrunner. The G2s offer a thin layer of protection from general abrasionsduring road running.

If you are a regular road-runner who is looking for minimal protectionfrom the surface and are not satisfied by the weight of other minimalistoptions, you will likely be pleased with the Sockwa G2. For those whoare not ready or able to make the barefoot leap, this might be just the toget that maximum barefoot-feel without being truly barefoot.

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2 comments:

Janice November 15, 2011 4:04 PM

You've piqued my interest in these shoes. I may get a pair to tuck ina pocket for a long barefoot run where I might want to throwsomething on at some point. Hmmmm. Food for thought.

Reply

David Zasloff December 13, 2011 8:53 PM

We are glad that you like the Sockwa G2. It has a super thin, 1.2mm base thickness of the sole. This allows extreme tactile feelwhen navigating anywhere.

We have just announced the introduction of our Sockwa G3 that willship in February 2012. It has 5 New Colors and 3 NEW sizes.

Now Women size 9 and Men size 12 and 13 have a barefootfootwear solution.

Stay tuned for more, as we are always listening, creating, andselling.

David ZasloffFounderwww.sockwa.comwww.sockwablog.com

Reply

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