Hi everyone. My name is Rob, I am Barefoot Studio's web designer. I was asked by Karen Ingram to 'road test' a pair of Asics Gel Cardio shoes/trainers (shown left). I am a Type 1 Diabetic (insulin dependant) and suffer from more or less constantly painful feet and ingrown toenails - which are soon to be removed again for the 3rd time! As with any diabetic, I am also at risk of problems with my heart, kidneys, liver, eyes, nervous system etc. I take care of my internal organs by diet, exercise and good glucose & insulin control.My feet are a different story. They are generally 'looked after' by what I put them in! I have flat feet, so not wearing shoes is also very painful, so I tend to wear them from the minute I wake up to the time I go to bed - we're very attached!
My pains
General day-to-day pains include pins & needles in my toes and down the balls of my feet, shooting/stabbing pains in my heels and pads under my toes, shooting pains (like someone kicking me) up my shins and sore toe-tips. There are also problems with dry, cracking skin—all common complaints for people with diabetes.
The shoes
When I first heard about the Asic Gel Cardio I thought, "£90 for a pair of shoes that will change the way I walk and how my feet hurt, hahahahaaa". I am very sceptical about these special pieces of gel and super bendy rubber etc, so I was happily proved wrong when I tried them on! As soon as my feet were inside the shoes I was aware of the fact that there was no heavy duty stitching inside, to impress itself against my foot! The tongue formed part of the inside of the shoe, so that didn't impress itself either, the shoe outer was separate from the inner, like a kind of glove around the shoe - very clever, my flat feet touched and moulded to the bottom of the shoe where they were supposed to, and without any pain! The inside is totally cushioned, like one of those memory, 'tempur' type mattresses/pillows. Even the shoelaces make sense; an elasticised draw string that doesn't require tying (something else that us diabetics have trouble with sometimes is tying shoelaces, fastening buttons, zips etc). Overall they fit me like a glove, a foot glove!
My feet did hurt...
Last night my feet were incredibly sore again. The pins & needles in my toes, the shooting/stabbing pains across my toe pads and heels came back, in turn bringing back the throbbing up my shins. But, this was as soon as I took my shoes off!
So, would I buy them?
They are £90. I usually spend between £20-£30 on footwear (every 5 years or so!), and I'm no fashion guru! I am not just saying this because I know Karen, or because I have been asked or paid to do so, but I genuinely would buy a pair! The pain relief & comfort that I have experienced in just one day overrides the price of the shoes, and I think that my health is worth much more than £90. Yes, the shoes are only available in black/grey, whilst some people may prefer white or pink, but they look much better than crutches, a wheelchair or a wooden stump!
If you want to contact me to ask me any questions please feel free to email me here. If you would like more infomation about the shoes, or want to see them close up and personal, contact Barefoot Studio:
01446 775772
I'll be back again sometime to give you a follow report, see you soon - over and out...
I'll be back again sometime to give you a follow report, see you soon - over and out...
