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

Not-so-fun reality: You are in all probability carrying the fallacious strolling sneakers. Whereas over half of Individuals are strolling between 1-5 miles extra every day than they had been pre-pandemic (thanks, Scorching Woman Walks!), almost 70 % are doing so whereas carrying ill-fitting footwear, apparently. This is not excellent: be it from incorrect sizing or improper assist, strolling within the fallacious sneaks may cause a litany of foot well being points. Plus, it may well simply really feel actually uncomfortable.

Which is why we’re *eager* on Eager’s new strolling sneakers, the colourful WK400 Strolling Footwear ($165). The legacy out of doors footwear model that podiatrists advocate for mountain climbing and recreation simply made its debut within the strolling class with sneakers which might be—get this— good on 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 massive followers. So are podiatrists, because of the sneakers’ 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. Wanting on the WK400 Strolling Footwear, he says the rounded outsole helps propel the foot, making it simpler to stroll ahead. “This curved design is paying homage 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 just lately been adopted in lots of latest walking-specific designs (assume: Hoka’s Bondi 8 and Asics’ Walkride FF) because of 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 sneakers 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 frequent foot illnesses, akin to plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and metatarsalgia,” says Dr. Pinker.

The WK400s are chock filled with different options podiatrists say to search for in a supportive strolling shoe. Samantha Landau, DPM, MPH, scientific teacher and doctor and the New York Faculty of Podiatric Drugs, says that the Eager’s sneakers have a formidable outsole, which is produced from a high-traction, all-terrain rubber for grip on all types 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).

“Typically, a very good strolling shoe ought to have a stiff counter across the heel, minimal torque, and bend solely on the forefoot,” Dr. Landau says. “I might keep away from ‘smooth’ sneakers and sneakers that bend on the midfoot versus the forefoot, as this offers much less stability to the shoe.

It is clear that Eager has poured their blood, sweat, and tears into making a purposeful strolling shoe—however does it maintain up? After testing the WK400s 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 massive doubts. Out of the 4 ladies’s colorways, I acquired the intense yellow/black combo which I used to be hesitant to lace up. The yellow is loud. Lots louder than the black, smooth fawn/peach whip (a light-weight pink) and crisp vapor/azure blue (white) shade choices.

Colour apart, I might inform these had been going to offer 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 had been designed for working and understanding on the fitness center—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 large 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 sneakers 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 stay in Lake Placid, NY which is regularly coated in snow and ice. The high-traction soles are steady in slick, slippery situations (sure, even black ice, which I’ve gingerly strolled over after an in a single day freeze). On as of late, I simply put on a thicker sock. (The WK400 Strolling Footwear 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 offer my slender toes higher assist than conventional laces.  I additionally love the two-finger loop pull behind 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 in all probability a recipe for catastrophe. You should not both—Dr. Landau mentions that the damaging heel might probably trigger instability, particularly if heel strike shouldn’t be 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 damaging heel, or rearfoot rocker, can probably result in unsteadiness.” Moreover, the low ankle is regarded as a bit minimalistic, too. As somebody who severely over-pronates, I like my sneakers to have a excessive, sturdy ankle collar. The WK400s are positively on the low facet, which is one thing to bear in mind if you happen to additionally choose one thing extra supportive.

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