Minimus Vs. Zems

These are too tight with a thicker sock now that the colder weather has arrived. Time to say goodbye to the Minimus until next spring. This caused a bit of panic as I didn't want to go back to the old running shoes. I did that last year and found I reverted back to my old stride when it came time to change shoes in the Spring.

These are the zems from last year. Not impressed that the bottoms wore through after a few outside runs. These were made to be used in the sand so I shouldn't have been surprised.

Here is the newer running version. It accomodated a thicker sock without any discomfort. The bottom has a durable rubber so I took them for a run....



..and HOLY GEEZ WOW these are great! The tops provide much more freedom and this led to an all together better running experience. I did not realize how confined my feet were until wearing these. Zems are not going to cut it when the weather gets even colder but for now I am having much fun discovering the freedom of movement again!

Note: I have feet that get cold easily. Some of you more hearty footed people may not have to switch footwear for awhile yet. Especially Bob as I expect he will be running 'naked' until Decemer!

ZEMgear shoes - Winter Running Review

Getting ready to head out to complete the Winnipeg Resolution Run on Jan 1, 2011 in my Zems. Its a balmy -29 degrees Celcius with the windchill, and yes I am wearing a kilt.

Winter running was going to be a different type of challenge for me then your average runner. I have found my running bliss in utilizing my au' natural soles, and did not want to resort to going back to running shoes to conquer the snow and ice of a typical Canadian winter. Even though I was planning to complete the occasional bare foot run through the winter, realistically once the temperature drops, or the snow on the trails was to deep, I knew I would have to utilize some type of footwear. This being said, I started on my journey of researching numerous types of minimalistic footwear, to find what would work best for me and my challenging requirements.

My first thought, was to utilize my current minimalistic footwear, the 'toe shoes' for my winter runs, but decided this would not be feasible since my toes were currently getting cold and numb in them, and we have barely started into the cold temperatures yet. I found a few other options, but I really did not like the looks of them or felt they were not minimalistic enough to suit my needs. At this point, it was looking like I would be going back to my old water shoes for the winter, not my first choice as they fit very loosely on my feet, which I do not like at all.

A few days later, I was reviewing some postings on the Barefoot Runners Society web page (www.barefootrunners.org ), and I came across a post regarding these shoes by ZEMgear, that some of our members were using. I will admit, I was drawn to the name first of all, so I thought I would read some of the postings and see what they were about. After reading some of the comments, I was intrigued, and decided that it was worth taking a closer look and accessed the ZEMgear website (www.zemgear.com). After spending a couple of minutes on the site and looking at the shoes closely, the hamster wheel in between my ears starting whirling with reckless abandonment, Zem's would be my winter running shoes.

All filled with excitement I contacted ZEMgear by email, expressing my interest in their product as well as what I wanted to use them for, I honestly felt like a little kid in a candy store with thoughts of grandeur and anticipation of things to come. I must of intrigued someone at ZEMgear, because a couple of hours later I got a return email from one of the co-founders of the company, that's what I call personal touch. They were intrigued by the idea as well, to see how their product would hold up to the cold Canadian winters.

So with this a new adventure has begun.

My new Zem's (I was utilizing the Lo Boot Round Toe model), arrived in mid October, and I started utilizing them for my everyday activities as much as possible. Because this fall was unseasonably warm and we did not get snow until mid November , I did not want to give up my barefoot running until I had too, so the running trials for the Zem's did not start until that point. But when they officially started they started with a bang.

The Review - Concerns

Taking into account that Zems were originally designed as beach volleyball shoes, I honestly did not know how they would hold up to everyday use in the cold and snow with a mix of salt and chemicals from the sanding trucks that are typically utilized to keep the roads clear, etc. Throw in asphalt and concrete sidewalks and the thin sole and the unique wrap around fastening point of the uppers of the shoe to the bottom would be truly tested for endurance and stability in the winter. The other concerns I had are listed below and would be tested and graded along the way:
Warmth - if you ever spend anytime outdoors in the cold in Winnipeg in the winter, this is always a concern, even winter boots can sometimes not keep the feet warm enough. Toes get mighty cold at -30 degrees and lower.

Traction - The soles of the shoes are thin (this was one of the things I was drawn too), and traction is minimal at best.

Resistance to Salt and Chemicals - As noted above the city uses a combination of salt, sand and chemicals to keep the roads and sidewalks clear and from becoming a icy skating rink.

Reaction to Getting Wet - As you go into a warm area then go back out into the cold, there is a large possibility that the shoes will get wet, and then have to endure freezing.

Reaction and Performance of the Tech Bands - Would the tech bands hold their shape and perform as intended with the added stress of the cold.

Flexibility - With the cold temperatures will the flexibility of the shoe remain, or will they become stiff and rigid subject to cracking or outright breaking?

The Feel of the Ground - This is my most important test, will I loose the feel of the terrain as the weather, the shoe and ultimately my feet get colder?

First I have to say, I have been wearing my Zem's as my where ever I go shoe (other than work) since I have received them, and they have quickly become my favorite to date. These are definitely the closest to barefoot that I have come across, that still give me protection from the frozen ground that I was seeking. I wanted to put them through the worst conditions that our climate has to offer so I could get a true test of what they could handle and where the shortcomings are. Yes they have worn through in places, but considering what they have been used for and what surfaces they are being utilized on they are performing well beyond my expectations.

I have used them for everyday use so far this winter including snow shovelling, tobogganing, walking, travelling back and forth to work, driving, etc. I have also used the same pair as my running shoes since the snow got to deep and the temperatures have dropped below -20 degrees Celsius. Overall the one pair of Zems have been subjected to 2 plus months of Canadian winter abuse (Nov and Dec and parts of October), and more than 100 miles of running mileage thru snow, ice, drifts, frozen concrete sidewalks, asphalt, chemicals, salt, puddles, slush and numerous freeze/thaw/freeze scenarios and conditions. I made a point of not avoiding anything that was in my path of travel to ensure I could give a truly objective review.

Back to the questions above, these are my findings:
(Ratings are out of 10)

Warmth: I first starting wearing the Zems outside without socks to see how low the temperature could go before I would resort to them, I was pleasantly surprised that -10 degrees Celsius could be achieved for a reasonable period of time. Once below this temperature I could comfortably wear the Zems with a pair of ankle high sport socks and as long as my feet were moving they were comfortable (similar to a pair of running shoes), so far I have hit -31 with the windchill for reasonable periods of time. Note when you stop moving, your feet do get cold fairly quickly due to the thin layer of sole between your feet and the ground. So in short, movement is a must. For running, I have utilized my toe socks and a pair of thermal socks over top to assist in regulating my foot temperature with great success. Even bounding thru snow drifts and pounding the pavement per say have kept my feet quite warm, with no loss of feel for the ground. Overall rating of this category is a 7.0.

Traction - This one is a little harder to evaluate, as when I run, I lift my legs instead of the typical leg swing that most runners utilize, so traction does not affect myself or most barefoot runners quite as much. But this being said, I also used these for day to day use as well, and the general consensus is there is little to no traction available. Going up hills can be a challenge, but if you tread lightly and walk on the mid to front of your foot, you can accommodate for this. Overall rating of this category is a 3.0.

Salt and Chemical Resistance - I really was not sure how the Zems were going to hold up with the onslaught of salt and chemicals that are put all over the roads and sidewalks of Winnipeg, especially since there really is no buffer zone between the upper shoe fabric and the ground surface. I figured that the chemicals and salts would eat away at the upper materials as well as the tech bands and I would be scrambling to find a product to keep them together and function able. Not the case, although there is definitely some visible wear around the edges of the shoes, the tops and tech bands are holding their own. Also with the wash ability of these shoes, the lasting effects of salt is not a factor. Overall rating of this category is a 8.0.

Getting Wet - I was expecting good things from the shoes in this regard, and here I was a little surprised with how they performed. I figured with the existing uppers current material (a four way stretch Lycra), and that they are used quite frequently in water sports, they would far exceed the standard running shoe in this category. Unfortunately, in the cold conditions when they get wet, they hold the moisture in and freeze quite easily (no wicking that I noticed). They perform on about the same level as a typical shoe, but will get wet quicker due to the closer proximity to the ground. Thermal socks do give added protection from the moisture but Gortex socks would be a must for early spring and the snow melting season. Overall rating of this category is 4.0 (same rating I would give a standard running shoe).

The Tech Bands - I was pleasantly surprised at the performance of these features, as they definitely create a secure feeling for the shoe to the foot, and they did not lose any of their performance in the cold or when switching from barefoot in the shoe to socks or a couple of layers of socks. The shoes never felt loose or felt like they were slipping no matter the conditions at hand. Overall rating of this category is 9.0.

Flexibility - In normal conditions the flexibility of the Zem shoes is unbelievable, you can roll a shoe into a ball if you want too, this is one of the reasons that I like them so much, because they form to the ground so well. With colder conditions you would naturally expect the flexibility to be reduced and become more rigid, and with the decrease in temperature you would expect the soles to be subjected to cracking or even up to even breakage. Boy was I surprised, I have taken my Zems out in weather approaching -40 degrees Celsius with the wind chill and i have felt no sign of drastically reduced flexibility and there is no evidence of crackage over the period of time they have been in use. Even going from the cold outside to room temperature inside have produced no weakening of the soles nor reduction in flexibility that I have noticed. Now this being said, I am only inspecting with my eyes and touch, so this should not be assumed that there has been no damage done by the cold, but I am impressed none the less. Overall rating of 9.5.

Feel of the Ground (Comparison of Barefoot) - Well it should be said, that there is no comparison to the feel of your barefoot in contact with the numerous different types of ground conditions, but Zem's performance are quite impressive indeed. I find they have a better ground feel than the toe shoes, and some others that I have tried previously. So taking this into account, and especially in cold conditions. Overall rating of this category is 9.0 (no product can receive a 10.0 in my books, but these take a close 2nd).

In summary, the Zem's have performed very well so far based on my current winter experiences with a Total Rating of 7.0 out of 10.0, not bad for a shoe that was designed for Beach Volleyball in Southern Florida.

I have included some pictures of my Zems based on almost 3 months of more that typical abusive use in Winnipeg. Also note I have done no repairs or modifications to the existing shoes, all wear and tear shown in the pictures have not been touched up. Considering the abusive nature of the conditions that I put the shoes through over the last 3 months, I expect them to last for the next 3 months of Winnipeg winter prior to having to break in a new pair. To me that is very impressive, and this being said, in my opinion, with normal use I would expect them to perform admirably.

My Zems after 3 months of abuse. Still holding up very well.

Some small visible wear spots thru the sole at the big toe from running with a front foot strike

Larger wear area of sole at big toe (I must have a heavier right foot) from running. Also note the wear at the heel, this from the miles of walking on concrete and asphalt, no repairs done period.
Tech band fastening points and shape holding up as required.

Another shot of the Zems from above, you can see the wear areas at the heels a little clearly. And yes that would be a lot of snow the Zems are sitting on a planter that is about 24" high.

First Frozen Ass Run of the Season

Wonder why only 2 of us showed up....!

This is what some of us are wearing on our feet at -40C. Running in mukluks makes for a pleasant run. The ground is softer beneath your feet when you run on snow and I think this might be the best time of year to start minimalist running for those intrigued with the idea. Nicole made the black mukluks herself with a unique lace up design. Normally mukluks have a looser fit on the calf but it is better if they are more fitted to prevent sliding down when running. If you look closely you can see I tied leather laces around my calf to prevent this from happening and to prevent the pom poms from bouncing around.  A sprinkle of mukluk history while we are on the topic....traditionally women did not wear fur or pom poms on their mukluks so Nicole's  creation has some tradition to it as well as fashion.

There are beautiful places everywhere.  Sometimes they can be noticed more easily when the rest of the city is still asleep.    We are on the edge of the river and behind the sign there were 2 canada Geese in an open area of water. I don't know why some geese hang on like that but have heard some will stick around as long as there is open water. 

In this shot I tried to capture the frosted ice that had collected on Nicole's eyelashes but it didn't turn out.  Near the end of the run  my vision was getting blurry from the frost build up.


...the camera taking its last shot before freezing up.

Winter Footwear Update

Running in an old worn out pair of running still gives you more cushioning than desired, as I discovered Jan 20th after I slipped on a  pair of mukluks and went for a 6 mile run.  This felt like running in barefeet for the first time all over again.  I haven't worn the shoes since  (except for one race  on a river with choppy chunks of ice).  The mukluks are too big which I didn't notice until running  in them.  Plus the pom poms drive me a little batty.

This routine works for me:

0C to -20ish with cleared pathways:
 Thin layer of socks, Gortex socks, followed by wool thicker socks. Swim shoes.

-25ish ( depends on the windchill) and Colder OR running in lots of snow without cleared paths:
swimshoes inside  a big pair of socks, mukluks ( so they fit better).  Take a big piece of leather lace and wrap it up the calf of the mukluk to prevent pom poms from moving around, and reinforces the mukluk from slipping down the calf.

Wet Weather +2ish:
 When your run consists of constantly running through puddles from all the melting snow, running shoes are best.  They elevate your foot giving you a better chance of staying dry.  Don't forget the Gortex socks.  This kind of weather doesn't usually last long so in a few days you can be back to running free again.

About that run?.....

I guess I have been avoiding the "memorable run" story all week as it was I who took the 9.5 mile run and short cutt it to a 5 miler. Of course there is a lesson in all this, several actually. Some of which I will share with you all, and some that were ment just for me... I think.

So there we are, 0 degrees outside, a beautiful awesome and warm Sunday morning. Leaving Tim's at 6am to run to the forks. I have planned a great route full of interest and added length through the park, through downtown, and eventually to the forks. 1mile into the run and I was having footwear issues. I haven't really had issues yet, of course sore calves are usual, but here I am having a difficult time with my boots. I am running in my mukluks, which have been fantastic all winter long and now have decided to not stay on my foot. Of course when I really look at the situation...

1. it is 0 degrees out
2. it is slushy
3. it is warm
4. it is beautiful
5. my boots are soaking wet!
6. they weigh allot more than usual!
7. did I mention... they are soaking WET!
   

So after a couples of miles, I admit to my not thinking clearly as I woke up earlier than usual for our run. Finally admitting to the situation that my feet are soaking wet, up to my ankles. We are laughing as G mentions trench foot, and I give in to the defeat of footwear not well planned! I turned the garmin off here and we got to our destination short of all the miles I had planned in between. The picture above are my mukluks, soaking wet. They took two days to dry and I couldn't wear them until Wednesday.
Which led me to my very old runners, and from two days of wearing them out for little things like picking up the kids or the store, I have found my feet to feel cramped up. Could just be in my head? I did go out for a 5 mile run on Monday wearing the water shoes, with a thick thermal sock and found them to be very warm! In the future, like spring, I think I will get the gortex socks G has raved about and use them in the water shoes. Mukluks will not be used in the water again! Although this winter, in the cold they are fantastic. Much lighter than when they are wet!


I did feel awful that I took this really great run and made a mess of it, and I spent the afternoon trying to get over it. I don't mind when someone else gets to call it short, but I had a really hard time with this being MY FAULT?! and it was totally. Again another lesson in humility. I must be getting pretty big in the head or something?..... Or maybe this is just keeping me from going there. Or maybe I am forgetting to thank my creator for the awesome feet He provided me with?! hmmmmm, yup, it is all the above.
So here I will thank Him for my feet and the desire to run. I will let go of the awful run Sunday morning and I will again remember who it is that let's my every step hit solid ground, as long as I look to Him. (and of course He gets the credit as well! especially when I've run and not fallen...)
Nicole

The urge to feel the ground again was getting stronger,  yet I did not want to spend $200 on mukluks only to find they were not suitable for winter running, so  I compromised and bought these on Kijiji for $50.  It's not as gross as it sounds as they were only worn once or twice by the previous owner and looked new.

A Tarahumara quote came to mind as I took these out for a trial run yesterday, " When you run on the earth and run with the earth, you can run forever."  Wouldn't that be great...

The Next Level of Cold

I don't own a pair of mukluks yet but console myself with the fact that these old beasts have lost all the cushioning they once possessed which makes them a step closer to  being minimal.  Clear duct tape has been applied around the shoe and heated with a blow dryer to promote maximum adhesiveness.  For the tongue area I cut up a latex glove and applied fabric tape around the corners then sewed it into place.  This shoe surgery won't do much to keep the feet warm unless the feet are well protected to begin with.  First apply vaseline to feet then powder (otherwise they will feel squishy). I put on  a pair of wicking thin sports sock followed by a Gore-Tex sock  topped off with a pair of thick wool socks.  This will keep the feet warm.  It is important to bring extra socks.  If you warm up  indoors part way through your run your feet will quickly become wet with perspiration and you will need to change into dry socks before heading outdoors again.

Last year wrapping the shoes in duct tape allowed me to run  in  temperatures  to -56C ( with wind chill) for 5 miles.  With the Gore-Tex socks and latex applied to the tongue  I think the feet will stay warmer for a longer period of time.  We'll see tomorrow,  although it is supposed to be a balmy-48C.

Dress warm out there!

So upon waking early (without the help from an alarm) and thinking it would be nice to just get up and go for a run...( not really, I actually had to spend 10 minutes convincing myself to get up, and I did wonder why I was awake in the first place, being 5:30 am).

Out I went, into our cold. Not checking the actual temperature, (don't try this at home) just thinking about how cold it has been,-20 to -23ish. Let's stop here and talk about how important layering is, as this is CANADA! One layer is not enough at this time of year, two layers can be enough (two weeks ago was nice for this at -10) if the sun is shining and there is no wind chill and it is not any colder than -20, three layers may be enough if you have the right type of layers. This is how it went.....

Head: hat, ear warmer,scarf, neck warmer.
This was great layering, even a bit warm after 20 min.

Upper Body: thermal long sleeve under armor, long sleeve thick running top, heavy running shell.
This worked very well, after 4 miles the arms began to get a bit chilled, but not bad.

Lower body: winter running pant, wind pant.
As you can tell this is where I forgot to add a thermal layer. After 2 miles the quads were very chilled and by mile 3 I was looking to get home and get warm. Although by mile 4 I was wondering if that part of my leg was there still, so I was happy to arrive home after 5 miles and very cold quads! Yes the, glutes were cold as well!

Feet: thermal socks, muck lucks.
My feet were awesome! This is the way I think I will go for the winter running as my feet were nice and cozy!

Now upon arriving home and getting my legs warmed up I turned on the weather station only to find I had been out in -28! Which is not that bad, considering how crazy we got last year. But I have decided that anything colder than -20 is going to need the added thermal base layer!

Life lesson #62: check the weather BEFORE you go outside! (especially in the winter) and then listen to your mother, (even if she is that voice in your head) and dress appropriately!

Last years winter running we found that the glutes and the quads were the 2 items we had a hard time keeping warm, so the search is on and we will have as much fun experimenting with the clothing this winter I am sure. On another note I do hope we can find something quickly to keep these areas warm as I think it would help us get out there for a longer time, or more often.... and maybe it is still all about the shopping for the gear?

Nicole

Barrier Sock #2

These are the most expensive socks I will ever buy.

 They are Gore-Tex socks and they will one day go inside the mukluks I don't own yet.  Until then I will see if I can get away with putting them inside  swimming shoes. The seams are sewn around the foot and not on the underside  and they are supposed to be waterproof and windproof.

Vapor Barrier Sock Review

 The husband greeted me with " What the hell did you do to yourself?"  as I hobbled through the door after a 20 min hill run and 2 mile easy run.  Indeed I wondered the same thing.  Then it dawned on me.  What felt like a minor wrinkle on the underside of my feet halfway through Sunday's  run was actually the seam of the vapour barrier sock that runs from heel to toe, down the middle of the foot!  Horrible painful blisters have made a home on the underside of my feet as a result.  Although these socks worked well for 4-5 mile runs,   they get a thumbs down for a 3 hour run.

Gail

October footwear

So out we went for our fist official long run sunday in as close to barefoot as we dare to go. 12.8 miles in 3 hours was a nice long slow distance as we will begin to train for longer distances soon. We have now hit the four week mark of our barefoot adventure and are feeling confident in our new strides.

This is Winnipeg, and we recieved our first snowfall October 9th this year. So in preparation for the winter we began to experiment with our footwear. See picture of our ideas, they include sandals, watershoes with vapour barrier socks, and mukluks. The mukluks are too warm for this weather of -4, but should come in usefull in the -20 to -46 cold we get.
Our route was a new one and the area was nice, it is one we will return too. Thank you C for the trails we didn't know about, they will be useful in the future, and away from the exhaust of traffic. We enjoyed the company and new information on some exciting runs that happen here in Manitoba.

Nicole

Vapour Barrier Sock

  With 20 cm of snow it is time to ramp up the foot wear. The weather is still mild at -2C.  These vapour barrier liner socks worked well  in between 2 pairs of socks and they fit nicely into the swim shoes.  They worked very well in the morning when the snow and ice were still frozen.  Nearing the end of the run when the ice melted I had to run through a couple puddles and soft snow but my feet were still toasty warm. I was pleasantly surprised.

Gail

Winter Footwear

See last paragraph of last post for Sunday Nov 11th  run schedule.

The vibram's are being put away  until next summer.  They are not suitable for anything colder than -4C, even with wool toe socks underneath.  We can push on with swim shoes for a little while longer as you can stuff 2 pairs of socks in them.

Gail