WARNING: Air Huarache's

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Question:

I’ve run in Huarache’s since 12/20/1991. They felt like slippers soft and cushioned. However I found that each time I did my long run, (15 miles), I received more muscle abuse. Sore toes, quads, calfs. The earlier injuries got worse and new ones started. Finally I decided the shoes actually aren’t soft. I bought the AIR ANODYNE(spelling?), and have one long run in them. Seems like the Huarache is at fault. I’ve run in SKYLON for a couple of years with no trouble, that I could attribute to the shoe. I used to run in SOCK TRAINERS and RACERS, I thought they were great. I don’t pronate, apparently, and don’t need shoe upper stability. But I do need a flat bottom or I have knee problems. That is why I switched to air shoes. They don’t crush under my high fore foot pressure, and remain flat till the end. Based on experience and previous articles, I feel changing shoe models during the week is the best prevention. Speed work in racing shoes, short runs in light weight trainers, long runs in cushy shoes. Too much of anything can be trouble. I should mention that I built up the HUARACHE arch, and all others, as mine collapses and causes knee, iliotibial, trouble. I like the HUARACHE as it has a reasonible arch support of its own.

Response:

(Raymond Mascia) says: the Huarache is at fault. I’ve run in SKYLON for a couple of years with no trouble, that I could attribute to the shoe.

I have mentioned this before. My experience with AIR SKYLON was a disaster. They broke down completely within 300 miles, and I normally get 5-800 miles out of a pair of shoes. I don’t pronate, either, and was very happy with them until I realized that they were like running in cardboard boxes. I think it must be fate. I have yet to own a pair of Nikes that I was happy with. Now Asics is a different story. I should mention that I built up the HUARACHE arch, and all others, as mine collapses and causes knee, iliotibial, trouble. I like the HUARACHE as it has a reasonible arch support of its own.

Arch support turned out to be my problem. I have a cavus foot and am prone to problems with the achilles tendons and the plantar fascia (sp?). I will have a pair of orthotics soon. Loyd Means Phoenix AZ

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hey now, A while back there was a discussion about what shoes to buy. I recommended the Nike Huarache’s. At that point in time, I had only been running in them for a few weeks and I thought they were the greatest. However, after talking with a bunch of folks over the weekend who are training for Boston, I feel it is necessary to provide a warning. I have never had knee problems, regardless of my weekly mileage. You have probably seen my "runner’s knee" message. Well, it turns out that there are others who have never had problems either that all of a sudden developed them. The one thing we all had in common was our shoes: Huarache’s. These folks (and I specifically met 2 of them – both excellent long-time runners) pinpointed the problem with the shoes. They switched to a different model, and away went their knee problems. They claim (I DON"T KNOW HOW VALID THIS IS) that the Air shoes deflect the impact away from your feet and move it to your knees and/or hips. One possible outcome: knee problems. Again, this may or may not hold for other folks but it could certainly explain my problem and theirs. So, now I am out $200 (2 pairs) and am back on a search for the "right" shoe for me. Oh, well…live and learn. Anyway, if you are considering

The reason you had problems with the Huraches is simple. The Huraches are made for people who are biomechanically perfect and efficient, they have VERY little in the way of support. If you have the slightest abnormality in your gait, eventually you are doomed. The AIR in the shoes has nothing to do with your knee problems, just the total lack of support. Jon

Response:

I also developed runner’s knee while using these shoes. I thought ice and ibuprofen with a few weeks off would help. Neither did so I stopped. Then I stopped using my orthotics, which I only would wear in my walking shoes, as the pain started about the time I worked up to wearing them all day. This helped get rid of the pain I had all day long, but when I would try to run, my knee would still hurt. I tried my old Saucony trainers and ran almost pain free the first time I tried them again. I’m now running pain free in Nike Skylons. If you need a shoe with support, don’t buy the Huarache – it feels great at first because it has some really good cushioning, but it doesn’t give any support to people who tend to pronate. Todd Jensen o AT&T Bell Labs ___^o_ __o <| (708) 979-1254 _ <_

Response:

I looked at this shoe some in the store and it seemed like it would be a very unstable shoe, only suitable for underpronators. I have not run in the shoe, so I can’t say for sure. The problem is usually not that impact is deflected away from the feet. Instead it is that the foot is allowed to move too much, which puts unusual stress on the knee. I have very flat feet and have had this problem with shoes like the Air Huarache. The shoe reminded me of the original Air Sock, a shoe so unstable I couldn’t even race in it. Charles Yeomans

Response:

hey now, A while back there was a discussion about what shoes to buy. I recommended the Nike Huarache’s. At that point in time, I had only been running in them for a few weeks and I thought they were the greatest. However, after talking with a bunch of folks over the weekend who are training for Boston, I feel it is necessary to provide a warning. I have never had knee problems, regardless of my weekly mileage. You have probably seen my "runner’s knee" message. Well, it turns out that there are others who have never had problems either that all of a sudden developed them. The one thing we all had in common was our shoes: Huarache’s. These folks (and I specifically met 2 of them – both excellent long-time runners) pinpointed the problem with the shoes. They switched to a different model, and away went their knee problems. They claim (I DON"T KNOW HOW VALID THIS IS) that the Air shoes deflect the impact away from your feet and move it to your knees and/or hips. One possible outcome: knee problems. Again, this may or may not hold for other folks but it could certainly explain my problem and theirs. So, now I am out $200 (2 pairs) and am back on a search for the "right" shoe for me. Oh, well…live and learn. Anyway, if you are considering

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