Eager’s ‘Curved’ Strolling Sneakers Are a Delight for Toes

Not-so-fun truth: You are most likely carrying the flawed strolling footwear. Whereas over half of Individuals are strolling between 1-5 miles extra every day than they have been pre-pandemic (thanks, Scorching Woman Walks!), almost 70 p.c are doing so whereas carrying ill-fitting footwear, apparently. This is not best: be it from incorrect sizing or improper assist, strolling within the flawed sneaks could cause a litany of foot well being points. Plus, it could simply really feel actually uncomfortable.

Which is why we’re *eager* on Eager’s new strolling footwear, the colourful WK400 Strolling Sneakers ($165). The legacy outside footwear model that podiatrists advocate for mountain climbing and recreation simply made its debut within the strolling class with sneakers which can be—get this— good in your toes. It took three years, 10,000+ hours of R&D, and 5,000 miles, however the Eager WK400 sneakers are right here and we’re already huge followers. So are podiatrists, due to the footwear’ distinctive, curved design that propels you ahead with each step, making strolling really feel extra like rolling.

“The curved design can act as a rocker-bottom which assists in ambulation,” explains Bruce Pinker, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon in Nanuet, New York. Trying on the WK400 Strolling Sneakers, he says the rounded outsole helps propel the foot, making it simpler to stroll ahead. “This curved design is harking back to the MBT footwear, popularized over a decade in the past, which had a number of therapeutic qualities.”

Shoe design

As Dr. Pinker mentions, this “rocker outsole” has been round for greater than a decade and has not too long ago been adopted in lots of current walking-specific designs (assume: Hoka’s Bondi 8 and Asics’ Walkride FF) due to its results on the strolling movement. Eager’s expertise—aptly named the Eager.Curve™—follows the pure curve of the foot mid-stroll, swapping a flattened outsole for an arced one. Mixed with a high-rebound, cushion-y midsole and a propulsion-based plate, the WK400 strolling footwear give wearers momentum as they stroll, taking stress off the foot and joints (aka, what a correct strolling shoe ought to do). “This could presumably be helpful for a lot of walkers, particularly for individuals who expertise widespread foot illnesses, resembling plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and metatarsalgia,” says Dr. Pinker.

The MK400s are chock filled with different options podiatrists say to search for in a supportive strolling shoe. Samantha Landau, DPM, MPH, medical teacher and doctor and the New York Faculty of Podiatric Drugs, says that the Eager’s sneakers have a formidable outsole, which is constituted of a high-traction, all-terrain rubber for grip on all kinds of surfaces. The athletic match is supportive and contoured, stabilized by the addition of offset lacing (which additionally takes strain off the highest of your foot).

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“Usually, an excellent strolling shoe ought to have a stiff counter across the heel, minimal torque, and bend solely on the forefoot,” Dr. Landau says. “I’d keep away from ‘tender’ footwear and footwear that bend on the midfoot versus the forefoot, as this gives much less stability to the shoe.

It is clear that Eager has poured their blood, sweat, and tears into making a useful strolling shoe—however does it maintain up? After testing the MK400s for greater than two months, it is a resounding “sure” from me.

My expertise carrying the Eager WK400s

Eager was form sufficient to ship me a my very own pair of WK400s for testing, and at first look, I had huge doubts. Out of the 4 girls’s colorways, I acquired the intense yellow/black combo which I used to be hesitant to lace up. The yellow is loud. Loads louder than the black, tender fawn/peach whip (a light-weight pink) and crisp vapor/azure blue (white) coloration choices.

Colour apart, I might inform these have been going to present me severe elevate. This was the primary walking-specific shoe I had in my quiver, and in comparison with my different flat-soled sneakers—most of which have been designed for working and figuring out on the gymnasium—I might inform the curved, rocker backside and thick, mattress-like outsole was going to be a welcomed improve.

On my toes, the Eager.Curve™ makes a enormous completely different in sustaining momentum. Whether or not I am strolling round my neighborhood, across the lake, or on close by trails, the vitality return is important and, in comparison with my different sneaks, makes strolling a lot simpler. These footwear actually put a spring in my step, simulating the feeling of a fluid roll against a staggered, disjointed step. I like the how soft the soles are, particularly towards exhausting surfaces like pavement and sidewalk. I additionally love how grippy the outsoles are. I dwell in Lake Placid, NY which is often lined in snow and ice. The high-traction soles are steady in slick, slippery circumstances (sure, even black ice, which I’ve gingerly strolled over after an in a single day freeze). On lately, I simply put on a thicker sock. (The WK400 Strolling Sneakers aren’t insulated.)

As for the higher, I discover the “athletic match” to be snug and contoured to my toes. The offset lacing (which is a footwear function I’ve by no means come throughout as a commerce editor) appears to present my slender toes higher assist than conventional laces.  I additionally love the two-finger loop pull in the back of the heel since they’re a bit tighter and require a bit extra oomph to get on.

I do discover the stacked heel can be just a little a lot at time, particularly when strolling up or down steep inclines. I do not ever run in them—that is most likely a recipe for catastrophe. You should not both—Dr. Landau mentions that the adverse heel might doubtlessly trigger instability, particularly if heel strike isn’t exact. “The upper one is off the bottom, the tougher one can fall if there may be unsteadiness or an uneven floor,” she says. “Forefoot rockers are nice for arthritis or ligamentous accidents. The adverse heel, or rearfoot rocker, can doubtlessly result in unsteadiness.” Moreover, the low ankle is considered a bit minimalistic, too. As somebody who severely over-pronates, I like my footwear to have a excessive, sturdy ankle collar. The WK400s are positively on the low aspect, which is one thing to remember should you additionally favor one thing extra supportive.

However as my first-ever pair of strolling footwear, I get why walking-specific footwear—the best ones, at that—are such a factor now. (And totally personal that I have been within the 70 p.c strolling within the flawed pair group this entire time.) The bouncy, energy-return of those sneaks makes strolling so enjoyable and fewer tiring than any of my different footwear. It is taking me a bit to get used to the intense, bumblebee yellow, however in any other case, the Eager WK400 Strolling Sneakers make strolling a delight, the way in which it needs to be.