You've come to terms with the idea of sock shoes. That's correct. Maybe they imagined Vibram's five-finger barefoot shoes? The forefoot running method, which involves running with bare-foot shoes, has the advantages of being able to run efficiently and less strain on your feet, and has become a boom for a while.
SKINNERS has been newly developed to evolve these barefoot shoes to make them "sturdy, lightweight, and washable in a washing machine."
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What kind of shoes?
So, what are sock shoes? As the name suggests, it looks socks and feels good (I actually wore them). But it's shoes. What exactly is the shoes? The secret is in the soles of their feet.
The soles of the feet are made of a special polyester polymer that is wear-resistant, so they are strong and sturdy even if they are thin. During manufacturer tests, it didn't tear even when stepping on a piece of glass. It hardly wears down like a rubber sole, has strong grip and is waterproof.
You might think, "If it's this strong, your legs will get stuffy..." Certainly, the polymer part on the sole of the foot is not breathable due to its strength. So you may feel that it may be a little sweaty. However, the rest of the parts are made of a unique knit material, so it is breathable and drains well, making it comfortable to use.
Once you've heard this much, you won't have to stop wearing them! So I tried wearing it in a variety of situations.
Main Specifications
| item | Specs |
|---|---|
| weight | Approximately 80g (one foot) |
| Size | Roll two pairs together about 5cm |
| material | 45% Polypropylene Silktex (Ag) 22% Piscose 22% Cotton 11% Lycra |
| Bottom layer part |
Two-layer phthalic acid-free abrasive |
I actually tried wearing it
Immediately after descending the mountain
We spent about nine hours climbing Mt. Takatsuma, where there is still snow, and after descending the mountain, we tried wearing Skinners with no physical strength and energy. I think it is during this situation that it is when it comes to true value. I went back to the car, took off my climbing boots (I first gave it a refreshing look), put on my ankle socks, and put on Skinners.
My impression was, "It's completely socks, not shoes... It's really easy (this is the second refreshing experience)." As it fits to your feet, it's now socks. There is no tightness on the ankles or insteps. The parking lot was just filled with pebbles, so I decided to walk around to try it out. I had imagined that my soles of my feet might hurt, but it was like I was doing a foot massage. This stimulation was pleasant (third exhilarating) and despite my legs getting exhausted, I ended up roaming the car park.
In the car - Day trip hot springs - Service area - At home
I get in the car with my Skinners on (passenger seat). I usually wear sandals and heelless shoes, so it feels like I'm not wearing anything, which is a strange feeling. Since I was firmly fixed with mountaineering boots, the feeling of openness is similar to the feeling of when I took off my underwear, making it easy to freely! You can feel this way (4th refreshing).
I went to a day trip to a hot spring, wiped my feet and entered the facility to try using it inside the facility. After bathing, I put it on again. It was a relaxing time, but I didn't mind the feeling of wearing it, and I felt a sense of security that I was protecting my feet with sock-like shoes. Even when my feet were warmed after taking a bath, I didn't feel any particularly sweaty.
On the way home, I got into the car with my Skinners on and stopped by a service area along the way to take a break. I went to the bathroom, but I was hesitant to go to the bathroom while wearing Skinners, so I changed into sandals. I returned to my car, changed into the Skinners again, and finally arrived home.
Skinners is said to be machine washable (you need to turn it over and put it in a net), but I was worried about washing the other laundry and shoes together, so I decided to wash it by hand in a bucket the next day.
Jogging by the sea
Next up is jogging. This is my first time jogging with bare-foot shoes, so I have a few questions that come to mind, such as how the impact from the ground that I have absorbed with shoe cushions resonates with my body, whether the soles of my feet do not hurt, and whether my feet tend to get tired easily.
However, even after thinking about it, nothing started, so I changed to Skinners and got 3, 2, 1, Go!
First, start from a hard soil near the shore. The temperature, humidity and softness of the soil can be directly transmitted to the soles of your feet. It feels good to feel like it's running directly on the soil. I haven't been barefoot at the beach lately, so it feels refreshing. I also ran in the watery areas after the waves had subsided, but the water never soaked into my shoes, and I was able to enjoy the numbing feel of the soil.
I'll also try running the sandy beach zone made from shells and rough sand. My feet get deep into the sand, making it difficult to run compared to the shores... I try to move forward somehow, and I realize that my calf muscles are trying to work hard. Next, try to balance your toes as well, bend your toes and grab the sand. I once again realized that my feet react so much to changes in the terrain.
Other than that, it didn't hurt when I stepped on a shell, and it felt so good when I stepped on a pebble. I was able to fully feel the comfort of running in nature, which I wouldn't feel when I was running in jogging shoes on a daily basis, and the movements of my own body.
Things to be bothered
Things that need to be changed
It's so comfortable that you'll want to wear it forever, but you'll need to change it when walking around concrete or other surfaces, and you'll be hesitant to go straight into the toilet, so you'll basically need to have a pair of different shoes.
I'm not comfortable washing it completely in the washing machine
It is also convenient to wash it completely in the washing machine, but I feel a little reluctant to wash shoes worn outside with clothes. However, I don't think there is a problem with washing Skinners alone.
Foreign objects enter the shoes
Basically, it fits perfectly on your feet, but depending on where you use it, sand or pebbles may enter your shoes, so you need to take off your shoes and take out what's inside.
After finishing the run along the sea, I walked through the rocks and entered the water to play in the rocks for a bit of a shore. The grip on the soles of the feet makes them less slippery than regular sandals, and the entire foot is covered, so there was no need to worry about getting hurt by pointed objects or rocks. However, if I were to be greedy, I thought that the quick-drying mesh part on the instep would make it even more comfortable after getting up from the sea.
Summary: For relaxing after a hard climb. Recommended for outdoor activities while feeling nature with the soles of your feet
As mentioned above, the pleasure of releasing your overworked feet from your climbing boots after walking for hours is as free. The convenience and sturdyness that allows you to freely spread your five toes, and it is not worth seeing them, so you can enjoy walking around, it is worth a look. The compact size of 80g per pair and 5cm rolled up is also not to be missed by hard trekkers.
If you're tired of normal jogging, you're new to barefoot shoes, or if you like playing around the water, try experiencing the temperature, humidity and terrain that nature has with your soles. You should be able to discover new comforts.
Currently, Skinners is crowdfunding to support the new collection, "Athleisure." "Athleisure" is an English coined word that combines athletic and leisure, and this model is a slightly lower cut, making it suitable for users looking for lighter and more active movements.
For more information on "Athleisure" here (Green Funding) , and for more information about the product and for inquiries, please also visit the SKINNERS official website