Textile Insight

textileinsight.com November/December 2017 ~ Textile Insight • 31 When You're Focused on the Finish Line (or Do Anything but Run) Sometimes you need a vacation from the run — if you're thinking of nothing but what you'll put on your feet post-race. Perhaps your idea of a destination run vacation involves strolling around, sitting by a campfire, or a yoga-style retreat, you need protection but nothing extra. For Spring '18, Vibram is redesigning the quirky $110 Furoshiki wrap shoe it debuted in 2016. The unisex style, which features a stretch upper the wearer wraps around the foot paired with a Vibram sole, is minimalistic (no midsole!), flexible and the ultimate packable style. It works as a camp shoe, a slipper or a fashion travel shoe — the ultimate multi-tool for slipping on when the run is over. O When You're a Fitness Addict Doing a Night Run Swiss brand On Running is debuting their first style made for running- plus for 2018. The $139.99 Cloud X style is designed to do it all: Run, hit the gym, take a class or conquer your local Crossfit Box. The men's and women's style features the brand's Zero Gravity cushioning, which is meant to help cushion the foot as it pounds through a run or a workout and add propulsive energy to takeoffs. A versatile 6mm offset and a seam- less tongue help the Cloud X work smoothly when you're on the run and when you're taking a fitness class. And a sleek engineered mesh upper and reflective detail make the shoe an eye-catcher day or night — but really stand out while you're doing a night race. An added bonus? With fully elastic lacing, the Cloud X is ready for the through-TSA-dash-for- the-gate speed event. O When You Want to Run but You Don't Just Want to Run For athletes who want to run on their vacation but aren't making it the main event, Hoka One One has a proposal: behold the lightweight, versatile, wallet-friendly Cavu trainer. As part of the brand's new Fly collection designed to appeal to fitness runners, the $110 Cavu is a neutral trainer that's been lightened up and streamlined for more mass appeal. With less volume than Hoka's original models, the Cavu still offers the characteristic cushioned foot landing with the ProFly midsole technology, that marries a springier forefoot with the soft heel zone characteristic of Hoka styles. O When You're Going Long and Looking to PR If the longest part of your trip is the ultra you're planning and not the ride to the race, you need a shoe that will hold up. And if you're looking to go fast, you need a shoe that's designed for racing. The North Face thinks it has the answer in the $157 Flight RTK, designed in conjunction with North Face athlete and ultra-runner Rob Krar. A lightweight engineered mesh upper, multidirectional lugs and smart placement sticky rubber on the outsole keeps the weight down while amping up breathability and grip. The dual density "Bathtub" con- struction means the shoe helps keep your stride on track even when the miles pile up, and the FastFoam EVA cushioning has a responsive feel that resists packing out even under pressure. O DESTINATION RUN

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