Heavily cushioned, thick-soled running shoes are the latest trend
The craze for minimalist running shoes has run its race and now those with heavily padded soles are all the rage. But are they any better for you, asks Rachel Jacqueline
There was a time not so long ago when less was more in the running shoe world. Shoes were stripped down to bare bones, touting thin rubber and feather-light features that were said to promote a more natural running style and help reduce injuries.
Toes wiggled in five-fingered glove-like shoes - or even nothing at all - as the craze in minimalism and barefoot running raged.
These days, the pendulum has swung the other way: more is more. The latest shoe trend is "maximalism". Cushioning is now oversized, boasting about 25mm of rubber between the foot and the ground.
It was obvious that shoes had not evolved to answer the needs of moving fast downhill on uneven surfaces, unlike fat skis or mountain bikes
The extra plushness is said to provide more support and comfort than traditional running shoes. Fans of these super-thick soled shoes find running in them is more relaxing and they are more comfortable for those with nagging injuries. They also say their recovery times are faster after long runs or races, and they are injured less often - however, these claims are not backed by independent scientific research.
Hoka One One, a running shoe brand founded by two French adventure athletes, is credited with starting the maximalist trend when its first thick-soled shoe, the Mafate, went on sale in July 2010.
Since then, other brands have followed suit, including mainstream brands such as Brooks and New Balance, and lesser known ones such as Vasque and Altra.
The rising popularity of maximalist shoes come at a time when the credibility of minimalist shoes has taken a hit.
In May, Vibram, the maker of FiveFingers barefoot running shoes that started the minimalist trend, agreed to a US$3.75 million class-action settlement over misleading claims that the shoes could strengthen muscles and reduce injury.