Meet Andrea, she is a 25-year-old runner and is looking to change her running style. There is a trend of runners using minimalist running shoes, which means running as close to barefoot as possible. She is looking into running on hiking trails and wants something that will protect her feet from the wear and tear of the trail, but flexible enough that she can contort her foot to rocks and roots that she might experience along the way. She wants minimal interference with the natural movement of her foot, and her biggest concern is that she doesn’t slip on the trail. When asked about the perfect shoe she said, “I’d love to be able to put the shoe on and have it fit like a work glove. Strong enough to prevent me from getting splinters and cuts, but flexible enough for me to get a feel for the ground.”

Henrik is a semi-professional dancer who goes out swing dancing every weekend. He is looking for an all-around dancing shoe. It is important for him to have a sole that only slightly grips the floor, to allow him to slide when he wants to. He prefers a lightweight shoe that also provides a lot of support. Henrik said, “I am out on the dance floor for hours and constantly am pushing off my feet, so I want some cushioning. It is fun to be able to slide and pick up my partner, so it needs to slide but be sturdy.”

Jean is a smokejumper for the United States Forest Service and is based out of Redmond, Oregon. Smokejumpers are most often sent to remote wildfires that are difficult to reach by road or hiking. They try to reach the blaze quickly after it starts so as to prevent the fire from getting too large. Jean is looking for a shoe that is supportive and protective to prevent injury when landing and while on the ground. Specifically, Jean needs ankle support to prevent injury on impact with the ground. Jean said, “When we hike out of a location, we often are carrying up to 120 lbs of gear. That being said, I’d like a shoe that has excellent traction and has enough padding to reduce the wear and tear on my feet.”

Chris is an EMT and is looking for the perfect shoe. They says that the job can be hard on your feet, and it is a lot easier to get through a shift with the right shoes. As an EMT, they are jumping out of ambulances, carrying people over uneven surfaces, and often has to stand for extended periods of time. Also, it is important that they can be cleaned easily; being an EMT is a messy job, and you don’t want to have to throw away your shoes after a bad call. “My shoe needs to be electric resistant and prevent chemicals and body fluids from getting on my feet,” Chris said. They also added, “I have to do a bit of everything in my shoes so I want shoes that are not too heavy while still having good traction and support and plenty of cushioning.”