[How do you exercise while injured?] Results of using Mizuno's "Aqua Walking II" for pool training using buoyancy
Written by Saito Titoce
When asked, "Why do you run?", the only answer I can give these days is, "Because I feel uncomfortable if I don't exercise." I would love to run every day if possible, but an injury meant I could no longer run, so I started walking in the pool and bought Mizuno's Aqua Walking II shoes. I'll explain why and how effective they are
table of contents
What is Mizuno's "Aqua Walking II"?
These shoes were developed specifically for walking in a pool, so they are made almost entirely of mesh material to allow water to drain easily
These shoes will help you walk with larger strides and movements even in the pool
Mizuno's aqua walking shoes, "Aqua Walking II," are said to be shoes developed for underwater walking in a pool
Naturally, buoyancy comes into play in water, making it difficult to stand on your toes, a movement that is similar to walking on land. Mizuno's Aqua Walking II shoes were developed and designed to protect the heel from impact while allowing you to land on your heel and push off with your toes smoothly in water
Wearing the "Aqua Walking II" allows you to take longer strides while walking in water, allowing you to move your body more widely, which leads to more efficient exercise
In addition, underwater walking puts less impact on various parts of the body than jogging, making it an easy exercise for people who have difficulty exercising on land due to obesity or who have concerns about their joints
Recommended points
- It significantly reduces slipping on the pool floor
- Firm grip allows for large walking movements
- Unlike bare feet, your toes won't hurt
- Reasonably priced for professional sports shoes
Points of interest
- Occasionally slips without good grip
- Cannot be used by the pool
Main specifications and evaluation
| item | Mizuno Aqua Walking II |
|---|---|
| the purpose | For aqua walking |
| weight | Approximately 150g (one small size) |
| size | 3S (21.5-22.0cm) / 2S (22.5-23.0cm) / S (23.5-24.0cm) / M (24.5-25.0cm) / L (25.5-26.0cm) / 2L (26.5-27.0cm) |
| Shoe width | For those with 2E equivalent |
| color | 09: Black |
| material | Upper material: Synthetic fiber, artificial leather; Sole material: Synthetic resin, rubber sole |
| country of origin | Vietnam |
| Actual price | Around 4,500 yen |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| No slipping in the pool | ★★★★☆ |
| When your toes no longer hurt | ★★★★★ |
| Ability to walk quickly | ★★★★☆ |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Cost performance | ★★★★★ |
I broke down while running so I tried walking in the pool
Water walking has many benefits and puts less strain on your body
The sole is designed to provide a firm grip on the bottom of the pool, and the thickness of the sole itself provides excellent protection for the soles and toes
The author, whose hobby is jogging, got too carried away and injured himself. Roughly speaking, it's a pulled calf muscle. It will take about two months to fully heal. It was a huge shock, as I had just started to get into the habit of jogging
What's more, I'm worried I'll gain weight again while I'm unable to exercise. However, if I push myself too hard, my legs will hurt and it could make the situation worse. So I decided to start water walking in the pool at the fitness club I usually go to
The biggest reason is that it is thought that the buoyancy of water reduces the load on the joints. When you jump on land, it is said that the knees are subjected to a load of two to three times your body weight at the moment you land. However, when you are submerged up to your neck in water, your body weight is reduced to about one-tenth of what it would be on land, so the impact of the jump is almost eliminated
I thought this would allow me to exercise without putting stress on my injured calf. Of course, depending on the condition of the injury, you should consult with a doctor before exercising
In addition, underwater walking is effective for improving cardiopulmonary function, as a person of average build is subjected to a water pressure of about 1.3 tons. Furthermore, the resistance of water creates an effect on muscle strength, and the water temperature takes away body heat, so the body consumes energy to compensate, resulting in a significant shape-up effect
I started underwater walking because it puts less strain on injuries and has many benefits
My toes hurt a lot when I walk in water
The system is fastened with a single Velcro strap, but it fits more securely than I expected. I'm a bit nostalgic about Velcro shoes
When I first started underwater walking, I would walk around the pool barefoot for about 30 to 60 minutes. It wasn't quite jogging, but I thought walking at a fairly fast pace would be more effective, so I walked with a lot of determination
Then, buoyancy comes into play, and there is resistance from the water, making it difficult to move as you want. I want to swing my arms widely and take long strides to walk quickly, but it's just not possible. Also, the bottom of the pool is covered with tiles, but since I'm walking barefoot, the unevenness is quite painful. What's more, sometimes I can't get a good grip and I slip. This is uncomfortable
Furthermore, by the time I finished walking, my toes hurt, probably because I was putting unnecessary pressure on them, rather than just feeling tired all over. And I was frustrated that I couldn't move my body as much as I'd hoped. If I couldn't do something about this, I wouldn't be able to continue with underwater walking, and it would be boring
Aqua Walking II was the only shoe designed for underwater walking
The Mizuno Lambard logo is featured at the end of the Velcro strap, and there are also logos on the heel and sole, but they are all small
I thought about buying special shoes because I couldn't move around much and my toes hurt. If possible, I wanted normal shoes that would allow me to walk in the pool with a feeling that was not much different from walking on land
However, when browsing online shops, most of the products that come up are either thick socks with non-slip soles or marine shoes for swimming in the ocean, and there are hardly any products specifically designed for walking in a pool. Among these, Mizuno's "Aqua Walking II" is a shoe specifically designed for walking in a pool
To what extent are these shoes designed for walking in a pool? The warning on the product page reads, "Not for use around the pool." Since these shoes are designed specifically for walking around the pool, they should at least be designed for walking around the pool
The Aqua Walking II has a sturdy sole that protects the soles and heels from impacts. Its design is more like a shoe made entirely of mesh than a sandal
I was impressed with the specialized features of this product, which is for walking in a pool, and its sturdy shoe-like design, so I decided to try out the Aqua Walking II
I can walk fairly normally in the pool
The Aqua Walking II features a pull strap attached to the heel, making it convenient for carrying and putting on shoes
My impression after actually using the "Aqua Walking II" is that I can now walk in the pool quite normally. Obviously, you can't reduce the buoyancy or resistance of the water, so you can't walk in the same way as on land, but the shoes still have a fairly good grip on the bottom of the pool, making it easy to walk in, and the soles protect my toes well, so I rarely get sore feet after walking in the pool
Whenever possible, I would walk as fast as I could in a 25m pool for about an hour, and I noticed that my feet would slip and the unpleasant pressure on my toes would decrease dramatically. Thanks to this, I was able to continue walking in the pool, which can be quite monotonous
It goes without saying that the stress of walking around the pool has been greatly reduced. The market price of around 4,500 yen is reasonable for a highly specialized sports shoe, which is another reason for the high level of satisfaction
Summary: It's handy to have a pair for pool walking when you're out of order
The faster you walk, the more slippery it becomes and the more your feet hurt, so be careful
These are highly specialized shoes designed for pool walking, but what's great is that they're surprisingly affordable
Pool walking, which involves walking continuously through a pool, can easily become quite monotonous and difficult. Moreover, unlike jogging, it's hard to get a sense of fulfillment from your heart rate rising and breaking out in a sweat, so I personally find it difficult to continue
Furthermore, before I started using the Aqua Walking II, I would feel pain every time I slipped on the bottom of the pool with my bare feet, and I felt frustrated because I couldn't grip and transfer force, but this has been greatly reduced. As a result, I've managed to continue walking in the pool, and I can say that I've managed to make up for my lack of exercise to the bare minimum
As I recovered from my injury, I gradually started swimming instead of walking in the pool, so I didn't stick to pool walking for very long. However, if you want to walk enough to get a decent amount of exercise in the pool, Aqua Walking II is a must
If you're thinking of starting pool walking after an injury, or if you're starting with exercise that puts less strain on your body and joints, we highly recommend Mizuno's Aqua Walking II. Purchasing the dedicated equipment will also boost your motivation
Mizuno Aqua Walking II details and purchase information
For more product details, please visit Mizuno's official website
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Chitose Saito
A former editor of a monthly camera magazine, he became immersed in the outdoor lifestyle of campervans and car camping while pursuing Hokkaido's spectacular scenery and wildlife. He is currently a photographer and writer who travels all over Hokkaido with his wife and two-year-old son, capturing and writing about everything he experiences, from cameras and lenses to outdoor activities, camping, child-rearing, PC gadgets, cooking, and even dieting. For OUTDOOR GEARZINE, he plans to write a variety of articles, primarily for the "QOCL (Quality of camping life) Improvement Committee," which aims to improve the quality of life while camping and in a campervan