Barefoot Shoe Booming - 맨발슈즈의 인기몰이

  Adidas, the world's sencond-largest athletic company unveiled a barefoot shoe, which is designed to mimic the experience of exercising barefoot while providing the protection, traction and durability of a shoe. The barefoot shoe is an eclectic cross between a glove for the feet and a traditional shoe, will hit U.S. shoe in november priced at $90.

 

  The theory behind the use of barefoot shoes is that the body is already optimally designed to move. Enthusiasts of barefoot shoes say they allow them to better use the body's natural motions and strengths. Some runners say they've also helped reduce injuries. Some barefoot shoe wearers did complain of mild pain in the feet and did suffered from rigidness in the thighs in the wake of wearing the odd-looking shoes; however, shoe makers and health professional say many of these injuries incurred by barefoot shoe wearers are a result of people using the shoes too quickly. They suggest people trying to make the switch from traditrional shoes to barefoot ones do so gradually to let the body adjust to the new walking environment.

 

  The barefoot shoe is part of a strategy by Adidas, which is headquartered in Germany, to expand into the U.S., where rival Nike dominates. While barefoot shoes make up a tiny fraction of the $22 billion U.S. athletic shoe industry, it is one of the fast growing categories. Sales have more than doubled in the past year to roughly $750 million. The growing U.S. barefoot market is an important one for Adidas. The company runs a close race with Nike globally, but the gap is getting much wider in Notrh America. In 2010, Nike generated $7.5 billion in revenue in North America while Adidas has roughly $4 billion in revenue.   

      

 

 - traction : 견인력                  - durability : 내구성

 - eclectic cross : 절충적인, 다방면의   cf. She has very eclectic tastes in literature

 - theory behind A : A의 이론적 근거.

 - rigid : 엄격한, 융통성 없는, 뻣뻣한     cf. This curriculum was too narrow and to rigid.

 - in the wake of ~ : ~에 뒤이어, ~을 뒤따라  

                      cf. There have been demonstration on the streets in the wake of the recent bomb attack.  

 - incur A : A를 초래하다. 비용을 발생시키다. 

                      cf. She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrrying without his consent

                          Being caught a third time will incur a hefty fine of $180

 - tiny fraction : 아주 작은