Gear

The technophibian looks like an update to one of my favourite products from Salomon - the techamphibian.

I reviewed mine ages ago and they've only just started to fall apart after years of regular use. And from what I can see in this photo it looks like they might have addressed one of the weaknesses - the fact that the heel tension strap slides loose all the time. I'll certainly be looking out for these in the shops.

Strangely, the nominally upmarket ProAmphibian (which I also bought from TKMaxx) wasn't as comfortable and the heel slipped even more.

As for those recovery shoes... that's old fayre in the running world. New Balance for one have been making a slip on recovery shoe for the best part of a decade I reckon... and that was probably copied from somone else. Do they really help? No idea... but I can't see how they could be much better than a pair of crocs or some light sandals...

These are the ones I was thinking of from NB (these are the womens' 801HT)...

Either way, I don't think many people buy them for their intended purpose! They're just a slip on trainer for 'around town' usage from what I can tell!

I also just noticed that the article calls Salomon French. That's news to me. I had somehow always thought they were German - perhaps because of the Adidas ownership (now owned by Amer in Finland). Turns out they started in Annecy. There you go...

Probably a cunning plan by Salomon to make sure nobody knew they were French. Makes it much easier to sell their stuff in the US (and possibly everywhere else too...)!