Review : VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trail

Important
Before transitioning to minimalist (or “barefoot”) footwear, make sure you understand what the whole concept entails. Here’s an intro text if you need it.

• Type : Barefoot / Minimal
• Use : Trail Running
• Price : About $140 (unverified)
  
  
  
  

Introduction
There have been so many new products in the minimal / barefoot market recently, I find it hard to even keep track. It’s a blessing, on one side; because a wider choice is often a good thing (provided the offered products are well-conceived). On the other hand, there seems to be many crappy, confusing, nonsensical products which have hit the shelves, and they are not bringing anything of interest to the table (The Fila Skeletoe is just one example of the latter).

So when I opened the box to check out the VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trail, I did it with a healthy dose of scepticism. I had been searching for a viable shoe fit for serious trail running for some time now, and aside from the Merrell Trail glove (reviewed here), which is a sound choice but doesn’t offer enough grip for single-trail conditions and harsh terrain, I had found nothing.

First impression
I usually don’t analyze packaging or marketing, for obvious reasons, but I have to make an exception here. First of all, VIVOBAREFOOT uses recycled materials for some of the shoe’s parts, like the inner lining. Second, the shoes are guaranteed not to be produced in sweatshops, something commendable, which every apparel maker out there should be doing. Finally, your shoes come wrapped not in throw-away plastic or paper, but in individual, washable, reusable bags that work wonders when you have to carry your mud-stained shoes in a backpack.

The shoe
At 8,25 oz, the Neo trail is light but not a featherweight. This didn’t bug me, as the shoe feels tough and ready for action. It is built with a very wide toe box and a fairly flat end, something I think is now the proven way to go for any minimalist shoe. With that said, however, the sizing is a little tricky, as it relies on the European charts and the shoes run about one size short. (For example, I’m typically a size 7.5 and was advised to get a size 42, which was too big and had to be replaced with a size 41).

The lacing on the pair I got was done from the outside in, which I changed for a more straightforward, pull-to-tighten approach. The shoe doesn’t slim down at the arch section like other barefoot shoes do and leaves ample room for up to 7 diagonal rubber lugs on the outsole and a rock plate under the arch. This is where the Neo Trail really expresses itself: it screams trail.

Trail test
I wore the Neo Trails for a full day at the office before trying them out for a run (I’ve learned that trick from blistering experience). Turns out they didn’t need a break-in. Then I wore the shoes for an outside walk, then a light trail run, then a single-trail cross-fit run, and finally a full-fledge mountain trail run.

The Neo Trail delivered beyond my expectations. At first, I thought the aggressive sole pattern would take away some ground feel for sure, but somehow it doesn’t. You will feel as much terrain as you do in a pair of VFF Komodos, but with the proper protection against protruding rocks and other trail hazards. I was amazed to step in deep mud and feel every inch of the experience, while in the meantime being able to run hard in very rocky downhills relying on the excellent protection of the rockplate and rubber studs.

The grip of this shoe is amazing. I was lucky to run one of my tests with a Training Mobs group wearing regular running shoes and trail shoes and my Neo Trails outperformed the former and were definitely on par with the latter, if not better. The low-to-the-ground, zero-drop 6.5mm sole clearly puts you at an advantage while it not only lets your foot twist and turn like it should, but offers aggressive traction even on wet surfaces.

The upper fabric seems to be truly 100% waterproof, as I stepped in puddles of water, mud patches and ran on trails thickly covered in damp leaves and never got my feet wet. This is fantastic for Canadian runners, as we have to face harsh snowy winters and slushy paths. The combined water resistance and traction of the Neo Trail makes it a serious choice for multiple running conditions throughout the seasons, something not a lot of minimal shoes can pretend to offer.

Conclusion
This is one solid trail running shoe, and thus far my choice when it comes to serious single-trail running. With the excellent proprioception of a true minimal shoe and the traction / protection of a standard trail runner, The Neo Trail offers the best of both worlds. I am very impressed with it and will keep using it for many more happy trail miles in the future.

High points

• One of very few serious minimal trail runners
• Sturdy, yet flexible outsole with excellent traction
• Offers plenty of protection on harsh single trails
• Roomy toe box for free movement
• Zero-drop construction with removable insole
• Waterproof

Low points

• Sizing's a little tricky

The equipment for this personal review was supplied by VIVOBAREFOOT, free of charge, without any conditions.

Last Time I Checked

I don’t care what you think of the Occupy Wall Street movement. It doesn’t matter whether you think they have it all right by standing up against social injustice or they are just a bunch of jobless freeloaders.

What matters is you are an informed citizen. You have done your civil duties if you have researched, questioned or discussed the subjects they bring up and made your own mind. What matters is you have the informational tools to make such a decision, and that the protesters have a platform to peacefully express themselves and try to be heard.

This morning, before daylight, the Occupy Wall Street movement was evicted by force from Zucotti Park by fully-armoured riot police using pepper spray, batons and abundant force. A non-violent movement that successfully managed to rally tens of thousands of people from all across the spectrum of society was bulldozed, handcuffed and silenced. A united voice, coming from the very base of society and peacefully asking for justice, a better use of common wealth and the end of political corruption in the offices of government has been muzzled unilaterally by the very owners of power being questioned.

What ever happened to democracy? Last time I checked, we were supposed to live in one of the freest parts of the world, a shining beacon of freedom of speech, individual liberty and equality. Well, it seems like the last time I checked was way, way too long ago.

I was too busy trying to have a career. My mind was on my money and my money was on my mind. I was caught in a never-ending spiral of consumption that blinded me from the important things in life, such as sharing, pursuing true happiness and actively participating in the values of my society. I was watching TV. I was believing it.

The truth jumped at me like a blinding flash-grenade this morning. We are not free. We do not have the right to voice concerns anymore, even if we do so peacefully, even when aggression is used against us. We do not have the right to contest authority and ask for change. We do not have the right to think for ourselves. We do not have the right to oppose the powers in place, even when they blatantly disregard the population they are supposed to serve.

The message cannot be clearer. You are expected to shut up, suit up and go to work without question. You do not exceed the value of your productivity, and only as long as you maintain it. Your voice does not count, nor do your values or your opinions. You are expected to be thankful for whatever it is decided you will get. You are a faceless number. You must conform.

I don’t care what you think of the Occupy Wall Street movement. What I care about is the right for anyone to liberty, to free speech and to participate in the development of society. Much more so when it is done non-violently, by people from all walks of life who simply want to make use of democracy.

Wake up and smell the tear gas.

We are not free.

Hope

The air is crisp, but the weather is very nice for a November Sunday morning. I’m with my Love, walking briskly down Mount Royal park to “the statue”, everybody’s meeting point. The ultra runners have already started doing 11-km laps up and down the mountain.

I have been injured and off training for over 4 weeks now, with a still undiagnosed, weird ailment that affects my left knee with a pain very similar to IT Band Syndrome, without being just that. Sports therapist told me I had a weak right gluteus, while my osteo said I’m too anxious about my big event and run too stiff. No matter who’s right, the fact remains: I haven’t been running in what feels like ages.

We meet Geneviève and LP, who just came down to support the runners. It feels wonderful to see them again, and the hugs abound. We have only a couple minutes to chat before the first runners start coming down the last stretch, ready for another lap.

Josée quickly shows up, with no else than the great Pierre Lequient by her side. Pierre is one of the people responsible for my jump into the ultra marathon world last summer, as he inspired me while running his first-ever 100K like there was nothing to it. Another round of happy hugs.

And, just like that, Pierre is on his way and my Louise and I tag along with Josée for her next lap. We have about 5,5K uphill, a quick turnaround and another 5,5K downhill to complete a full loop. Louise is nervous, because she never ran more than 10K. I am nervous, because the last time I tried to run anything, I had to quit before the 3K mark and limp my way down to the office.

The pace is slow and friendly and the spirits are high. I haven’t seen Josée for a bit now and we have lots of stuff to catch up on. She looks awesome, with her cheeks blushed by her first loop. She shuffles effortlessly and fills me in on what happened in the running world while I was busy being miserable, and I’m just happy to be there. Every time I turn around to look at Louise, she is smiling and breathing in the beautiful autumn air.

Things went really well. We trotted up and down the mountain, slow and happy. My fear of feeling my knee give in slowly faded away, and I even tried a couple faster strides to see just how that would feel. Even the downhill was a breeze.

It’s obvious that the weight-lifting and the exercises my coach gave me during recovery were a tremendous help. My running form has improved. I feel stronger, I stand firmer and my legs have a better turnover, even more in downhill. My foot fall is brisk and light and I don’t seem to have lost too much cardio.

We decided to get wise and call it a day after one loop, reluctantly leaving Josée to her happy trails. It was a great long run for Louise, and a fantastic comeback for me. Having been away from the sport I love for what felt like an eternity, this run was the breath of fresh air I had been longing for.

I got up this morning and didn’t feel any pain or soreness. I have other slow comeback runs planned this week, and I just can’t wait. I feel incredibly well and happy. I can start daydreaming of my trip to the Canyons and how my run with the Raramuri and Mas Locos will inspire my running for years to come.

I now have hope.

Kourage : Running Gear That Changes Lives in Kenya

I learned about Kourage Running a couple weeks ago, by stumbling on a fellow runner’s tweet. A couple clicks later, I was discovering a beautiful company with a noble goal: changing lives in Kenya. How? Simply put; “By playing by the rules”.

I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling a pang of anxiety when buying mainstream running gear, wondering where and how it was produced. In this day and age, we can’t just go around shopping, oblivious to the impact we have on our fellow humans and our home. We can’t blindly support a commercial system of exploitation, on one side, and pretend to care for the people in underprivileged countries, on the other one. Our actions and our values must be consistent.

Kourage Running is a new technical clothing company that aims at making commercial sense by helping local Kenyan people improve their lives through sound, safe and fair work. It is not a charity, it’s a business. Because that’s how you can truly make a difference in a developing country; by giving everyday people access to proper work and conditions.

After purchasing shirts in an enthusiastic show of support, I wanted to learn more about Kourage and got into an e-mail conversation with Chris, the creator of the company. He further explained Kourage’s vision and goals.


FL - How and when was the company created?

CH - Kourage was founded in 2008. I started it as a response to what I saw as an inadequacy of the fair trade movement. Fair trade is focused entirely on manufacturing. But there is much more that goes in to creating garments then actual production. I feel that to have a large impact in a developing country one must concentrate as many operations as possible within that country. I'm a runner, thus the fact there was no Kenyan running apparel brand felt like a great fit.


FL – Who’s behind the company?

Chris – Founder and Chief of American Operations
Laal – Production Manager
Joseph – Fashion Designer
Makumi – Photography
Fady – Photography
Hus – Graphics, Kenyan Operations


FL - What is your mission? Your objective?

CH - Our mission is to inject as much money possible into Kenya. Economic growth is created through goods flowing out of a country and revenue flowing in and remaining within the country. Our objectives are simple, create jobs, inject foreign revenue and investment, and show the world that developing countries have brilliant entrepreneurs!


FL - How does Kourage benefit Kenyans?

CH - We are a very small organization and we embody what it means to be a small business. Right now, our impact is extremely limited. But we have the potential to inject millions of dollars into Kenya and create many high-end jobs.

Kourage isn't a handout. We aren't 'aid'. Giving money has a role as many individuals in Kenya are unable to feed themselves or find healthcare. But aid isn't the only solution. Instead, if we want to truly develop Africa, we must do business there! This is what Kourage does. We seek to hire as many Kenyan businesses as possible to increase their wealth. Through hiring them, these firms will create beautiful products that we will sell throughout the world and return revenues back into Kenya.

What we do isn’t as dramatic as feeding a hungry child, but if we look at the major cities throughout the world, like New York and Tokyo, they were built through commerce, not through aid.


FL - You have operations both in the USA and Kenya. What is the role of each?

CH - Our mission is to turn Kenya into the global hub for running apparel. We would love to ship directly from Kenya to consumers throughout the world but because of customs issues, this isn’t feasible. Thus we need operations outside of Kenya to facilitate international trade. I handle press outside of Kenya, ship shirts etc., but again we always want to concentrate more and more operations within Kenya.


FL - In what way(s) are your products fair and ethical?

CH - Our clothes are produced in a factory that plays by the rules. 45-hour work week, pays at least minimum wage, offers an hour lunch break, in a well-lit, safe, non-oppressive facility. As a result of these fantastic conditions, a worker rarely quits their job.


FL - Where do you see Kourage in the next 5, 10 years?

CH - Kenyan athletes will be wearing Kourage gear at the olympics, we will have a headquarters and factory in downtown Nairobi, selling everything from shoes to tracksuits. We want to turn Kenya into the running apparel capital of the world.


FL - Do you currently sponsor athletes? Is it part of your plans?

CH - Nike and others pay Kenyan runners millions of dollars. We want to focus on sponsoring Kenyan workers.


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Kenya is the home of running legends. Let’s hope it also becomes the home of a new, improved way of sharing the wealth. Kourage is working hard to show us the way. So next time you buy a technical running shirt, get one that looks awesome and does something which will truly help other humans.

Be consistent. Buy Kourage.