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In today's running shoe market, carbon plate racing shoes have almost become synonymous with high-end and high-tech, and carbon plate running shoes have almost become the flagship model of running shoes of various brands.
So can carbon plate running shoes really provide super rebound as advertised and give people the feeling of flying in the clouds?
Are running shoes without carbon plates considered second-rate running shoes?
We have thought deeply about this issue from the perspective of sports science.
What is the core function of carbon plate?
carbon plate is carbon fiber composite material . It is a composite material formed by epoxy resin and carbon fiber filament after heat treatment and bonding. Carbon plate is a new material with excellent mechanical properties.
Its advantages include light weight, good toughness and high strength. It is a new generation of reinforced fiber.
The application of carbon plates makes the shoes less likely to twist and bend significantly, so you will find that all full-length carbon plate running shoes have a characteristic, that is, it is difficult to bend the soles, which can enhance the resistance to torsion and support. This improves the stability of the foot during exercise, which is the core function of the carbon plate.
If a pair of running shoes can bend like the picture below, then we usually say that this pair of shoes has good cushioning performance because it can fully deform and thus cushion the force. In other words, the more flexible the shoe, the more cushioning it will tend to The better, and the stiffer the shoe, the better the torsion resistance and support.
Carbon plate running shoes can hardly be bent
The initial application of carbon plate
is not for rebound
In fact, the earliest application of carbon plate materials was not running shoes, but basketball shoes, because basketball is different from running.
The torsion of the foot caused by running is limited, while basketball requires athletes to constantly perform sudden stops, sudden accelerations, sharp turns, changes of direction, etc., which can easily lead to excessive torsion of the foot. In order to reduce excessive torsion of the foot, In order to prevent injuries, carbon plate technology has begun to be applied in basketball shoes. When
AJ11 came out in 1996, Nike used carbon plate materials in basketball shoes for the first time.
The gray part is the carbon plate with multiple holes in the peculiar shape of AJ11
According to the theoretical mechanical simulation of the carbon plate of AJ11 done by the Tongji University Structural Performance Laboratory, if you want to provide better support and anti-torsion protection for the feet, roughly It is an "X" shaped carbon plate shape.
The reason why the shape of AJ11 is so weird just shows that it has been carefully tested and calculated. The carbon plate of AJ11 fully supports the arch of the foot and extends backward to the heel and forward to the toes, which can better limit the unreasonable deformation of the foot. Provide adequate support at the same time.
And some hollow groove designs reduce unnecessary carbon plate area, reduce quality, and ensure normal and moderate deformation of the foot, rather than blindly limiting deformation.
carbon plate running shoes are actually
for stable support. Mainly
Carbon plate running shoes are easily misunderstood by runners as providing strong rebound assistance. Coupled with some excessive publicity by manufacturers, wearing carbon plate running shoes seems to be like a god's help. In fact, most carbon plate running shoes provide the primary function It is anti-torsion and supportive, so it is more appropriate to call it an adjustable and stable carbon plate running shoe.
There are actually not many carbon plate running shoes that can truly provide rebound. Only a few carbon plate running shoes can be called propulsive rebound carbon plate running shoes. Propulsive rebound carbon plate running shoes must meet specific requirements in terms of carbon plate design. Specifically What are the requirements?
The main purpose of adding carbon plates to basketball shoes is to prevent torsion, reduce ankle injuries and support the arch of the foot to relieve excessive pulling of the arch, because basketball involves a lot of sudden stops, acceleration, and turns, but during running, the feet There are some twists, such as the foot turning outward when landing, but in general, non-directional twisting of the feet at any time during running is almost non-existent, and running generally does not involve sudden stops and changes of direction.
At present, the overall shape of most carbon plate racing running shoes is the full palm (from the heel to the forefoot), a spoon shape, and also presents an S shape (some people call it a shovel shape). The full palm is to provide for the entire foot. Supportive and anti-torsion, the scoop shape is adapted to the shape of the foot, and the S-shape is designed to adapt to the heel-toe drop (the heel is slightly higher than the forefoot) while providing more powerful rebound.
How do carbon plate running shoes exert their rebound effect?
During the process of pushing on the ground, the forefoot pushes on the ground and the heel is lifted. At this time, the foot will bend. Of course, it will also cause the shoe to bend, and the carbon plate will also bend accordingly. However, because the carbon plate itself has a lot of The carbon plate with good toughness and elasticity and slight bending is like a seesaw when one end is pressed down and the other end will lift up. This lifting is equivalent to giving the heel propulsion force, which is the so-called "rebound".
Material Technology + Carbon Plate
makes running shoes even more powerful
Although runners can understand the rebound of carbon plates as the seesaw principle, the application of carbon plate technology in running shoes does not mean that everything will be fine if a hard carbon plate is added to the traditional EVA midsole material.
In fact, it is precisely the advancement of running shoe cushioning materials that has prompted the application of carbon plate technology in running shoes. The addition of carbon plates to running shoes greatly increases the difficulty of the shoemaking process. Why do you say this?
Although the elasticity of the carbon plate is very good, which means it rebounds fully when bent, its texture is very hard when it is not bent. Adding a piece of hard material to the midsole requires good cushioning Materials are used to reduce the hard impact of the hard carbon plate on the foot, thereby preventing the shoe's compliance from decreasing and hardness increasing after adding the carbon plate, which greatly reduces the comfort of the shoe.
If the midsole is not thick enough, then such carbon plate running shoes will be very uncomfortable to wear. If carbon plates are added to traditional EVA materials, it is necessary to increase the thickness of EVA, but once the EVA is thickened , on the one hand, the weight increases significantly, and on the other hand, the thickened EVA exactly offsets the rebound of the carbon plate, making the carbon plate unable to play its role. Because EVA has good cushioning but poor rebound performance, it can be understood as one cushioning material plus one rebound The combination of elastic materials does not provide cushioning and rebound, but neither cushioning nor rebound, which is completely different.
Therefore, the prerequisite for adding carbon plates to the midsole is to have better and more advanced cushioning and rebound materials. This material must be able to fully cushion and fully rebound. Together with the carbon plate, it is compatible with each other. mutual Offset;
At the same time, this material must be thick enough to avoid the loss of elasticity and compliance of running shoes due to the addition of carbon plates, but it must also avoid the increase in weight of the shoes caused by the increase in thickness, and the new generation of nylon foam material Pebax material has done this.
In other words, it is the cushioning material that makes the carbon plate technology possible. Therefore, many racing carbon plate running shoes can achieve very thick midsoles but become lighter in weight.
carbon plate running shoes also added
Injury risk
Carbon plate running shoes, on the one hand, the placement of the carbon plate further reduces the toughness of the shoe, and on the other hand, due to the large heel toe drop (heel to toe offset) may cause further increased traction on the plantar fascia.
This may lead to an increase in propulsion during the landing process, and this increase in propulsion relies more on the seesaw effect of the carbon plate and the rebound effect of the midsole material, rather than It is achieved by muscle contraction and relaxation, and due to the increase in sole stiffness, the hoisting effect caused by the passive pulling of the plantar fascia may be further enhanced, resulting in the passive arch maintenance system (the fascia belongs to the passive arch maintenance system, and the muscles belong to active arch maintenance system).
This is also an important reason why many runners feel more tired when running after wearing NEXT%, but after running, the deep parts of the calves, ankles, and soles of the feet feel tired. The muscles may use less force, but The traction load on the fascia structure is increased.
Increased tension in the plantar fascia reduces muscle force
So to sum up, modern running shoes, while providing more advanced functions, will also weaken the body's own response to exercise. Control, because running shoes seem to be developing in the direction of making people run more effortlessly and easily;
but its negative impact is that it destroys the natural laws of human movement itself, causing damage to some human structures such as the plantar fascia. This kind of excessive stretching increases the risk of plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy.
It is not recommended that runners
usually wear carbon plate running shoes
Carbon plate running shoes have their benefits but also have disadvantages, so it is recommended that runners do not wear high-end racing carbon plate running shoes for daily training.
It is recommended that training shoes and competition shoes should be worn separately. Normally, you should wear ordinary training shoes to practice your foot strength, and wear high-end carbon plate racing shoes during competitions.
. The wear resistance of racing running shoes is not as good as that of training shoes.
Although carbon plate running shoes are very fragrant, they are expensive, and their wear resistance and durability are slightly inferior to ordinary running shoes.
For example, in order to achieve maximum lightweight, the soles have less rubber coverage, which causes them to wear faster. Secondly, Pebax material has good elasticity, but poor tear resistance. Once damaged, the cracks tend to get bigger and bigger.
. Wearing racing carbon plate running shoes causes adaptation and lacks fresh stimulation during competition
If you always wear carbon plate running shoes, your feet will adapt to this feeling. If you wear them too much, you will gradually not be able to feel their excellent performance. If you wear them less often, the unique foot feel of carbon plate running shoes will give you a very good feeling. A fresh and exciting feeling, and this freshness will improve the state, excite the brain, mobilize muscles, etc.
Therefore, wearing carbon plate running shoes regularly will reduce the feeling on the feet, but wearing them occasionally or during competitions can greatly improve your status and create good results through psychological effects and practical effects.
Indeed, some studies have found that wearing new shoes will improve your exercise status, that is, you will feel that running is easy and comfortable.
. Carbon plate running shoes are not conducive to training foot strength.
advocates that runners should not wear racing running shoes at ordinary times, but wear ordinary training shoes. The advantage of is that training shoes are suitable for training runners' foot strength and enhancing ankle strength.
The design of thick-soled full-length carbon plate running shoes has a clear tendency to “force” the forefoot to land on the ground, which virtually increases the pressure on the calf, Achilles tendon, and ankle. Some people feel that wearing carbon plate running shoes is faster, but after running on the calf, it is faster. tired.
The problem caused by the increased thickness of the midsole is that it becomes difficult for the foot to control the shoe. Some mass runners report that their ankles feel unstable when wearing thick-soled carbon plate running shoes, and there is a risk of sprained feet. This is actually similar to women wearing high heels. reason.
Judging from the actual wearing experience, racing thick-soled carbon plate running shoes are not suitable for runners with weak ankle strength.
In addition, the carbon plate design makes the forefoot area very hard, which affects the toe tapping action and relies more on the seesaw function of the carbon plate.
Without regular solid training and strengthening of ankle strength, wearing high-end carbon plate racing shoes may actually hurt you.
Altra Torin6 Zero-drop running shoes
are a suitable choice for runners to train their foot strength.
Altra is a professional sports shoe brand established in Utah, USA in 2009. It specializes in long-distance running shoes and cross-country shoes.
As a brand that has not been established for a particularly long time, it has already been at the top of the sales list abroad with its own outstanding strength. Altra ranks in the top 10 in terms of "running shoe professionalism" and ranks 4th in cross-country running.
Along with the running craze in China, the Altra brand has been quickly recognized and understood by Chinese mass runners in the past two years. Altra is committed to providing necessary cushioning support through running shoes, and at the same time, allowing runners to return to a more natural and comfortable running state as much as possible. This has formed Altra's unique brand tone, and is therefore deeply loved by mass runners.
How does Altra make running more natural and return to the instinctive state of human running?
Its unique secret is Zero Drop.
While other running shoes emphasize a larger heel-toe drop to make rolling and landing easier, Altra has always insisted on a zero drop, which can help your feet truly control running.
means that wearing Altra requires less force, and you need to actively use your muscles to control the running movement, so that you can fully train your foot strength.
A 2022 study published in the journal "Gait and Posture" found that shoes with a larger heel-toe drop will increase the pressure on the knees, which may lead to increased knee pain.
Researchers asked 18 runners to complete four separate running tests.
They wear shoes with different heel-toe drops every time, starting with a heel-toe drop of 15 mm, then 10 mm, 5 mm and 0 mm. During each run, the researchers collected data on each runner's running kinematics and kinetics, focusing specifically on ground reaction forces.
Researchers found that when runners wore shoes with a heel-toe drop of 15 mm or 10 mm, their knee extension moments and patellofemoral joint forces were significantly greater than those with zero-drop shoes, and their peak values were higher compared with those with zero-drop shoes. Patellofemoral joint pressure increased by more than 15%.
When runners wear shoes with a heel-toe drop of 15 mm, 10 mm or 5 mm, their knee flexion angle also increases significantly. Generally speaking, the greater the knee flexion angle, the greater the pressure on the knee joint. The bigger.
In other words, when runners wear shoes with a drop greater than 5 mm, the pressure on their knee joints increases significantly.
Running shoes with a large heel-toe drop are popular among runners for their performance advantages, but they may increase the risk of knee injuries. Especially if you are prone to knee discomfort or have knee pain, you should pay attention to the heel-toe when buying running shoes. gap parameter.
The researchers of this study concluded that if you want to prevent or reduce patellofemoral joint pain, it is not recommended to wear running shoes with a heel-toe drop of more than 5 mm.
Of course, this does not mean that runners must not wear running shoes with a large heel-toe drop. Running shoes with a large heel-toe drop are often more suitable for racing, but you are better to use such running shoes for specific competitions rather than daily use. train.
To make running shoes more comfortable to wear, Altra features a wide shoe last, which allows the feet to not be restrained by the running shoes and allows the feet to have a certain limit of movement in the running shoes, so that the feet can flexibly adapt and adjust from landing to support. The whole process of kicking and stretching.
The Torin series is the flagship product of Altra’s cushioning running shoes. The latest generation of Torin6 reflects Altra’s ability to keep up with technological trends and always adhere to the concept that humans should use their own abilities to run, and maintains the best balance between the two. ideas.
Torin6 midsole uses its exclusive EGO max high-efficiency cushioning material, which is also one of Altra's lightest midsole materials. We can see that many brands continue to use supercritical foam midsole materials to make midsoles thicker and thicker. While striving to achieve super soft elasticity, Torin6 maintains a moderate midsole thickness (28 mm thick). This is Altra's philosophy.
Running shoes need to provide necessary cushioning but should not be too soft and elastic to change the natural force of the person. Runners still need to improve their ability to buffer ground impact and utilize ground reaction forces through their own foot strength training.
Altra’s biggest appearance feature is that the forefoot is obviously wider. This is also a manifestation of Altra’s always insisting that comfort is the first feature of running shoes. This is undoubtedly the biggest blessing for people with wider feet or heavier weight.
There are very few shoes with wide lasts on the market, and it is a common phenomenon for Chinese or Asians to have larger feet, so many runners complain that the shoes are uncomfortable because they are squeezed into the feet. For these runners, wearing Altra Torin6, The wearing experience can be improved immediately.
Of course, some runners may suspect that my feet are not "fat" and will look particularly loose and swaying when I wear them. Of course, this will not happen.
Altra's wide last design is part of its overall shoe last design. It is closer to a semi-straight or curved shoe last, but the wrapping is still very good. You don't have to worry about your feet "swaying" inside.
Moreover, during running, the foot itself will also increase due to the congestion effect. At this time, a good forefoot width can not only allow the expanded foot to have enough space, but also help the foot to fit in the shoe. , especially the big toe can move moderately, so that you can really use your own feet to flexibly adjust the entire process from landing, support to pushing and stretching.
Zero drop is of course the main feature of Altra Torin6. What are the benefits of zero drop running shoes?
That is to return to the state where people are close to barefoot sports, such as five-toed running shoes.
But we don’t need to go back to the era of true barefoot walking, so we still need a pair of shoes to provide the necessary cushioning protection. At the same time, we also hope that running shoes can not interfere with the human body’s instinctive running state as much as possible.
zero-drop running shoes will not give people an obvious feeling of rapid rolling transition, so you need to use your own ankle and even lower limb strength to complete the whole process from landing cushioning to supporting pushing and stretching. Compared with those so-called high-performance shoes for long-term wear, Running shoes can better train your foot strength. Only strong foot strength is the foundation for your long-term health, injury-free and lasting running.
Torin6 upper is made of engineered mesh fabric, which not only increases comfort and breathability, but also ensures good wrapping.
Torin6 heels adopt a confidence shaping heel collar. The enlarged heel design ensures good heel tracking, comfort and fit, while also improving the stability of the heel landing.
Torin6 soles use bionic textures. The texture design follows the direction of the metatarsal bones and five toes of the foot, making the landing process more natural and further fitting the human body's most primitive running state.
Summary
The advent of the era of carbon plate running shoes has indeed helped people achieve the best results in racing, but this does not mean that traditional training shoes are obsolete. Training shoes are still of great use. Training of foot strength is the key to achieving breakthroughs in competitions. The key.
Altra Torin6 is such a pair of naturally neutral and extremely comfortable running shoes.
can be summed up in one sentence, that is, it can provide the necessary basic protection for modern human running, but it does not produce a "deliberate" or "unnatural" feeling like carbon shoes. It can inspire and mobilize your abilities.
Don’t we just want to improve our leg strength through running?
# Topic discussion
Have you ever worn Altra Torin6?
Tell us about your experience
