Move over super shoes – it’s the era of the super sandal
From On’s revolutionary LightSpray upper to Adidas’ groundbreaking, featherlight Adios Pro Evo 1, the world of performance running footwear is seeing innovation like never before. Cut to last Sunday’s Khon Kaen Marathon in Thailand and spectators bore witness to a new, unexpected twist in the trend of cutting-edge footwear – this time, in the form of a sandal.
Yes, you heard that right. Kenyan marathoner Barnabas Kiplimo broke the tape at Khon Kaen in a winning time of 2:18:55 while wearing the world’s first pair of carbon-plated running sandals. He outpaced second-place runner Ebisa Kure Takele (2:21:43) and third-place Fedadu Tesfaye Degefa (2:21:45), both from Ethiopia.
Dubbed Nirun, the sandals have been created by Thai running brand VING. They combine a flip-flop style upper with a foam heel strap for added stability, along with a full-length carbon fibre plate within a proprietary foam midsole. According to the brand’s website, the plate and foam work in tandem to increase your cadence and enhance energy return.
For now, the Nirun remains in the development phase – however, a small number of prototypes are currently available for purchase. VING has also launched a product testing camp in Iten, Kenya, the training ground of many high profile long-distance athletes, in order to trial the super sandal on elite marathoners under warm conditions.
But if a sub-2:19 marathon is already possible with a prototype sandal, VING could well be on track to redefine the boundaries of performance footwear and shake up an industry already racing to outdo itself.
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