In this day and age, there’s footwear optimized for just about any activity. If you want to climb a mountain, there are hiking boots. If you want to get into fighting shape, there are boxing shoes. There are even water-friendly slip-ons for warm weather river fishing. And now, the folks at Hoka One One have created an entirely new category with their bizarre-looking TenNine sneakers.
According to the brand, the TenNine trail running sneakers “provide extensive ground contact” via an innovative geometry made specifically to ensure smooth and stable running over any terrain. However, they’re not just for your average everyday trail runner. Rather, they’re designed specifically to maximize your downhill speed, as the extended heel helps reduce impacts to the back of the foot and the embedded MetaRocker system makes for smoother heel-to-toe transitions. Other features include a breathable Ariaprene tongue, a Lycra vamp to help manage foot swelling over long distances, and a wider platform for better overall stability and less chance of spraining an ankle. These groundbreaking trail runners are available now for $250 a pair.
