Saucony Hattori

By now, almost everyone in the universe is aware of the Vibram 5-Fingers and the Christopher McDougal book "Born to Run".  Like it or not, both have started a revolution in the running world.  The book brought into focus a debate about running form, and the "shoes" have allowed runners to explore barefoot running with a modicum of protection.  While the Vibrams are one of the best selling products EVER to hit the running industry, they are not without flaws.  Originally designed as boating shoes, they have zero cushioning, a grippy rubber outsole that tends to collect debris, and separate toe compartments that create a need for toe socks - or leave you with swampy feet from running sockless.

While Vibram has been extremely successful with the 5-Fingers, other companies have taken their time to develop sensible products with good science integrated into their designs.  How does a shoe accurately simulate the feel of running barefoot, yet protect the foot from injury in our paved-over world?  Leave it to the folks at Saucony to come up with the solution.

What does barefoot running do for you?  Why should you experiment with it?  Have you ever tried to run on a hard surface in your bare feet?  Instinctively, you find yourself activating muscles in your feet that you don't often use when wearing shoes, lifting your heels off the ground, and landing on your forefoot instead of your heel.  All of which can lead to faster, more efficient, and safer running form.  But running barefoot to learn good form can be likened to throwing someone off a boat 5 miles out to sea to teach them how to swim; some might survive unharmed, but most would not.

Enter the new Saucony Hattori.  The first thing you'll notice is that the Hattori is incredibly light.  At only 4.4 oz for a men's 9, it is about 20% lighter than the 5-Fingers Bikila.  The airy, breathable upper is as close to barefoot as anything we've tried.  The forefoot is roomy to allow your feet to flex and your toes to move naturally.  Most significant, though, is what's underneath.  There is no elevated heel - this shoe has a zero drop (or ramp angle, as it is often called.)  But the entire midsole is made of Saucony's new Powergrid cushioning, which provides wonderful shock absorption, yet still enables your feet to sense the ground.  That sensory awareness activates muscles in your feet that would be dormant in a more structured shoe.  Essentially, your foot moves as if it were barefoot, creating the natural shock absorbtion it was designed for.  The heel and forefoot are also reinforced with discs of extremely tough rubber that provide some added protection and durability without damping out the road feel.

The Hattori can be an incredible tool to help improve your form.  But that being said, it is still a tool.  Some runners will be able to use it as their everyday running shoe, but most will still want to do the majority of their training in something more cushioned.  But after running in this shoe you'll find yourself hating the bulk of traditional shoes, and seeking out footwear with lower heel heights, lighter weight, and a less structured upper.  One word of caution, however:  start small with these, as running your regular mileage will put strain on your achilles, calves, and hamstrings that your body is not yet conditioned for.  Build your mileage slowly over several weeks, and you'll quickly see changes in your stride that will enable you to run faster and with more spring in your step.

Saucony has delivered a terrific shoe that is on the cutting edge of running technology.  Read a book like Danny Abshire's Natural Running, and you'll quickly see why it makes sense.  For 2012, Saucony will be dropping the heel heights of most of their popular models several millimeters in order to promote safer midfoot and forefoot strikes, rather than ponderous heel striking.  Following on the success of the Kinvara and Mirage, they recently introduced a new super-shoe, the Cortana, which brings maximum cushioning to the low-profile table.  (We'll review the Cortana here soon, but so far it has been exceptionally well received.) 

No doubt about it, we're getting a glimpse of a brave new world.  And this is a world that is here to stay.  We're thrilled that runners are once again taking a hard look at their form and beginning to believe in positive change. 

SAUCONY HATTORI   $80.00  AVAILABLE AT ALL SNEAKER FACTORY LOCATIONS!