Spira Footwear

Fitness is an ever growing concern in the United States. With so many adults and children labeled as "obese," it's vital for Americans to start concentrating on getting out and getting active. Walking and running are two of the most popular means of getting exercise because, well, they're free.

But despite the fact that homo-erectus has been ambling about on two legs for eons, we still face problems when foot meets road. All that pounding, slamming impact can take its toll on not just the feet but the entire body. Heavy, repeated impact can cause back soreness, shin splints and other painful signs that your body isn't taking well to the wear and tear.

Spira has has introduced several shoe lines mean to take the brunt of the impact so that you can have all of the benefits of walking and running without the negative...well, impact.

Shoes such as the men's Vortex, one of Spira's line of stylish running shoes, come with their trademarked WaveSpring technology in the heel and forefoot. The WaveSpring translates the impact of your foot striking the ground into an energy return. The cushioning keeps the jarring of running or walking to a minimum, result in easier recovery, better stamina and an over-all better experience.

Runners and walkers who are just starting out will immediately feel the difference between Spira's shoes and other commercially available running or walking shoes. For one thing, they're incredibly comfortable. Every step you take feels like you're about to bound up into the air for the best long-jump of your life. These shoes are so responsive that when you remove them you're left feeling as if you've just donned a set of ankle weights.

Improved technology is one thing, but ask any high school kid and you'll immediately know what's really important about the shoes you wear -- the style. Spira offers several styles of running and walking shoes for both men and women, and they're easily as cool as anything else on the market. During the testing of three different styles, all three of our reviewers were met with comments of, "Nice shoes," and "Where can I get a pair of those?"

Comfort and style... two things that are on everyone's list of must-haves and Spira has managed to incorporate both in a very versatile shoe.

The two most important aspects of running are your finishing time and how you look getting it. Luckily for you, those crafty cobblers at Spira Shoes have you covered in both departments with their Vortex running shoes. The big idea: coiled steel springs in the heel and forefoot. This “WaveSpring” technology stores and disperses energy with every footfall, returning 87 to 96 percent of the energy back into your stride. This means you can run greater distances with less effort and with less wear and tear on joints and muscles.

And the good news is that the technology actually works. I tried a pair of size 10.5 men’s Vortexes and was amazed at how comfortable and controlled my footstrikes were. They definitely put more pep in the step. With well-designed and strategically reinforced uppers, they feel great right out of the box and are just as comfortable during your cooldown as they are during the warmup. As awesome as they feel and react, the real advantage of the Vortexes comes the next morning when you don’t feel nearly as sore and beat up. It also doesn’t hurt that they are quite easy on the eyes.

Spira’s Vortexes are a must have for any runner interested in performance enhancement without compromising comfort and style.

For about one hundred dollars and change, you can pick up a pair just about anywhere running shoes are sold, or online at SpiraFootwear.com.