Reebok ZPump Fusion - Sneakers That Rock

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Alisher Yakupov flew to New York for the Reebok presentation to get his hands on the new ZPump Fusion running shoes with a hand pump on the fuselage, test them in the hall and in the city and tell you about them.

It's nice to say “yes” when they ask you if you have an accidentally opened USA visa. To celebrate, I agreed even before I figured out what kind of sneaker it was. A quiet inner voice reminded me that I associate Reebok with running about as much as, say, Skechers or Ecco. But I didn't listen to him.

Until March 4, all information about them was classified. From the invitation, it became clear that the shoe has a small air pump. Like those with which air mattresses are inflated in summer cottages. In the evenings, before departure, he prayed to the running gods that this pump would not pump air into the sole. Active cushioning in running shoes (such as springs, airbags, torsion extensors, pistons, and vertical take-off systems) is where I neigh.

Superficial googling revealed that Pump technology is not new. I remembered that in the late 90s, among the Penza rappers there were legends about Tupac's sneakers with an inflated tongue. Of course, none of us had such. Now I'm thinking: why would rappers pump it up? What, apart from its bulging, can this affect? But then this tongue was in our heads on a par with transparent luminous "jishoks", DJ bags to the floor and cassette players with a superbass button. Incredibly … cosmically cool … universally useless.

The ZPump has the most minimalist build Reebok has ever made. ZRated outsole, fabric pocket and pump airbags. Cameras go around the heel and hug the instep. The sole turned out to be soft and flexible, so I would not recommend running marathons in them for heels. It bends easily, does not prevent the foot from deforming in all directions, does not contain shock-absorbing and supporting elements, except for small rises on the sides.

After showing inspirational videos and pictures, we were given boxes with ZPump and divided into teams. In a small competition, we had to test the shoe in a combat situation. We ran small sprints, shuttle segments with a ball, zigzags around tires and jumped over obstacles. The team I was on won.:)

We gave out pairs for testing. First impressions are pleasant, the toe is wide and soft. The sole is flexible. And the laces seem to be just decoration. There is enough swap for fixing and without them. Let's go check them out soon. #Reebok #getpumped #VSCOcam

A post shared by Alisher Yakupov (@alisherrr) on Mar 4, 2015 at 9:15 am PST

Wanted to race in ZPump the next day after running 25 kilometers in New York. But the weather was unlucky: ankle-deep wet snow fell. The current ZPump model, unfortunately, has no protection against the elements. A thin mesh allows both air and liquid to pass through. As a result, I ran in other sneakers, and postponed testing until I returned to Riga, where I happily pumped up my crosses and rolled my top ten around the city.

Let's start with the good news: the shoe is lightweight and unobtrusive. The rim around the heel, inflating, fixes it, but does not press or direct - this means that the shoe is suitable for runners with normal pronation. The toe is wide and also without any signs of pressure, inside it is easy to squeeze your fingers. My feet are a little wider than the running shoe would expect, but these shoes fit both length and width, although I went half a size smaller than I usually wear.

I ran a dozen in Pumps, sensations and information are now enough for an overview. I'm going to Hesburger, ordering a paleo burger, listening to #Hybrid and writing. #reebokpump ## VSCOcam #getpumped #reebok

A post shared by Alisher Yakupov (@alisherrr) on Mar 7, 2015 at 9:04 am PST

The toe is protected by a thin glue to maintain its shape. The laces play a decorative role, after pumping them you want to untie them. If everything is fine with running in a straight line, then shuttle movements, despite a good sole, reveal lateral instability of the structure. This is the fault of all crosses in which the rise is not fixed by rigid side elements or a strap, therefore, sudden braking and overloading add fear and make you slow down. The same ZQuicks, in my experience, are more manageable. In frontal movements - box jumps, jump rope, lunges and so on - everything is OK.

- Guys, I am now, wait …

- What are you doing? Are you tying the laces?

- No, pumping up sneakers, pfff, pfffff, pffffffff.

The pump does not inflate instantly - it takes more than a dozen seconds of thumb to feel the pressure in the tires. We'll have to check them before the start, along with the GPS signal and the knots on the laces. Excess air can be vented using the ball nipple.

The features of the sneakers allow the designer's imagination to play out: the upper can be created from any material with any print, texture and pattern. On a separate floor, visitors were shown prototypes that will be put into production in 2015–2016. It was impossible to photograph them, but I nevertheless discreetly took a couple of pictures of especially cool specimens. Unfortunately, I was asked not to post these photos in the public domain, but believe me: what will be on sale from March 10, from a visual point of view, the basic configuration, will continue to be tastier.

The goal of the new running shoe is to provide the perfect fit for any foot shape. The mini pump pumps small chambers around the heel and instep for a soft hold. it's good that it's not in the sole)) #getpumped #zpump #Reebok

A post shared by Alisher Yakupov (@alisherrr) on Mar 4, 2015 at 8:05 am PST

In order not to get out of the statistically easy-to-read article size, I will round off. Congratulations to Reebok for such an unusual running shoe. One could say that the idea with fanfare is just a marketing slap for nostalgic kidals, but the thought promoted by the slogan Shoe that adapts to you is really felt during the run. If a personal fit is important to you, you can now not only order a custom insole from a podiatrist, but also pump up a brand new Reebok ZPump. Just be careful with running through the bushes of roses and cacti - the repair kit is not included in the delivery.

Alisher Yakupov rocked and ran especially for you.