New Women's Kicks From Outdoor Retailer

The five-day gear fest that is Outdoor Retailer has come to a close for Summer 2012. After spending four days on my feet walking miles around the trade show floor, I have relearned the value of a good pair of shoes. I always wear my trusty Earth shoes at the show because I can walk endlessly in them without my feet hurting. I'll spare you from seeing a picture of them because they're looking a bit worn. Instead, I'll share some pics of my favorite spring shoes with you! 

This year, all new exhibitors were housed in a pavilion across from the Salt Palace. I love visiting this area because of all the innovative products you get to see. My favorite came fromJuil, whose tagline is, "Awaken your soles!" The shoes look funny at first glance because the have copper circles under the toes and heels, which are designed to help "ground" you by connecting you to the Earth's energy fields. Normal shoes block this electron transfer, so wearing the Juils has a similar effect as walking barefoot. 

I only got a pair of Juils on my feet yesterday, but I am already in love with them. Though I can't sense any energy transfer happening, the shoes are very comfortable and stylish. I have the leather shoes pictured at the left in purple, which are currently available online. If you object to leather footwear on principle, Juil also offers vegan models in their current collection. 

What I really like best about Juils is the creative packaging. Each box has a pull tab on the front and slides out like a drawer. Inside the box, the shoes are wrapped in a satiny yoga bag, which you can see pictured with the sandals. The yoga lifestyle really fits with Juil shoes, and many popular yoga instructors are joining the movement, so receiving a usable yoga mat is a great bonus and eliminates paper waste. 

Juils current models look great dressed down or up, but I am seriously excited for the spring collection. The orange shoes (at right) are my favorite. I love the feminine strap detail and the color combination. 

Another pavilion favorite was Oofos Recovery sandals. These foam sandals absorb 37% more impact than traditional EVA, which helps lessen pain foot pain to aid in quick recovery. The sandals, available in slide or flip flop versions, also help to reduce fatigue and help rejuvenate tired toes.  

You can buy them in Utah currently at Arhaus Shoes in American Fork. I have yet to try a pair of these sandals, but I bet they'd be amazing after a run, long bike ride, or trade show floor walking.

Back on the main tradeshow floor, I kept eyeing the new sandals and slippers from Acorn. These cute shoes (pictured at left) will be available in spring and are perfect with a dress or for comfy casual outdoor wear. I love to see this company branching out from slippers! Speaking of slippers, their new ones are fantastic! From a distance they look like ballet flats, but up close they are much softer and more slipper-like. I'm not really into the cheesy, furry slippers, so these are a nice alternative. Acorn is also releasing some travel shoes that look a lot like these slippers, but have a real outsole and roll up to stow easily in a bag for travel or for a shoe change after a night of wearing heels. I wish I had taken a picture of them! 

If you were in my office every day to see my footwear choices, you'd know I'm a Chaco devotee. Their sandals are some of my favorites for their fusion of comfort and style. However, past versions of Chacos have felt a bit heavy and clunky. Plus, the notorious break-in time can be uncomfortable. Chacos' spring design solves these problems and slims the sole even more than the current fall pairs. I recently featured them on this blog, and while I love them, I think the new spring ones (pictured here) are better! 

My last to share is Spenco. These guys started by making medical orthotic footbeds and later branched out into supportive sandals. This year they continue to expand their line using their Total Support Sandal footbed as a base for these casual shoes. The biomechanical footbed cradles your foot, offering support in all the right places. I traded out my Earths to try these on the trade show floor and was surprised by their immediate comfort. 

This review is only a TINY sampling of the shoes I saw at Outdoor Retailer, but I hope it gets you excited for what's coming in 2013! Which pair do you like best? Leave a comment below!