Why is it important to choose a special shoe for race walking?
Stop walking with your running shoes!
Bio-mechanical studies carried out by Decathlon SportsLab with our technical partners have enabled us to pinpoint the foot's specific needs during fitness walking: the angle of contact with the ground, the trajectory of the foot pressure areas and the intensity of the propulsion phase.
The choice of components, the geometry of the sole and the shape of the upper mean our race walking shoes will satisfy every need.
Behold the sole of a shoe specially designed for fitness walking:
To support the food as it rolls outwards (typically the case during fitness walking), the sole is rounded at the outside of the foot, with a pressure path from the heel to the toes.
The geometry of the heel will ensure a better angle to push off from the ground.
And the Flex-H sole? On the front part of the sole, the 3 H-shaped flex grooves ensure flexibility during propulsion.
What are the hidden secrets of the design of the RW 900?
In order to satisfy the needs of fitness walkers, we wanted a lightweight shoe: barely 200 g in size 8.5.
We therefore designed a fine upper and tongue, with only one thickness and just 2 seams to prevent friction and irritations.
And to ensure you haver the protection you need, we have added seamless inserts, especially at the toes.
Jacques, our designer, can explain it all: "We just included what was necessary, where it was needed."
A jointly designed shoe, how does that work?
To design the first fitness walking shoe, our design team went to meet the Villeneuve D'Ascq walking club. And they had a great time:
"We love meeting them. They were passionate walkers, with expert knowledge of their own bodies and their sport, but they were using running shoes! The shoe was the fruit of a genuine joint-design process. The dynamic and the discussions were powerful. There simple wasn't a shoe which met these needs - everything was new."
Looking to beat your personal best?
Through the design process and the development of various prototypes, more and more athletes wanted to test and wear the RW 900. Such as? Yohann Diniz, Keny Guinaudeau, Emilie Menuet and David Kuster!
The result was a lightweight shoe designed for fitness walking, which was used by athletes in a number of championships and record attempts.
And how about you? Ready to beat YOUR record?
We are very proud...
... to have designed the first shoe specifically for fitness walking and, above all, to have done so thanks to your advice and opinions!
Because in addition to the 5 members of our design team, studies with the Sports Lab and prototypes, there are permanent discussions with clubs and feedback to improve your shoes and thus your performances.
We now have a community of 900 people on social networks talking about fitness walking, even in Haiti!
