Smart running shoes get smarter at CES
AltraRunning introduced the Altra Halo smart shoe whose connected soles provide feedback that can be observed on a third party device this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The shoes are equipped with a thin sensor called the iFit in the midsole that takes into account weight placement -- which the company refers to as the foot strike zone --cadence and ground force impact.
These measurements provide insight into the runner's gait, which could be important for injury prevention.
AltraRunning representatives point out that serious runners have gait analysis infrequently at best, so having real-time feedback gives them the opportunity to squelch bad habits before they set in.
Runners can access the shoe's data from the app either on their smartphone or the new iFit Ridge and Peak GPS watches, which were also unveiled at CES.
The Altra Halo shoe will be available in time for Christmas 2015 for $180.
Both iFit watches will be available July 1 for $120 each.
Smart running shoes are not a new concept -- Adidas unveiled smart shoes in 2004 that adjust their cushioning according to the surface traveled on and whether the wearer is running or walking.
In 2012, Nike unveiled connected shoes that measure the wearer's jumps and speed.
What's changed since then is increasing focus on gait since wearable trackers have managed to quantify just about every kinetic movement possible in the past two years, with runners expressing interest in how they can avoid injury.
Similar new products include RunScribe, which attaches to the running shoe and provides similar data on the runner's gait, accessible by means of an app that's downloadable on iOS and Android devices.
After quintupling its crowdfunding goal on Kickstarter, RunScribe is still being offered for pre-order at $149 or $239 for two devices that work together to provide a detailed analysis from the perspective of each foot.
Sensoria Fitness offers a gait-analyzing smart sock in the interest of injury prevention. Prices start at $49 for one pair but there is currently a wait list, according to the company website.
