Reebok Zig Pulse II review

Reebok Zigtech Zig pulse II

I purchased this shoe as a means to relieve some of the stresses that were causing me problems in my knees and plantar areas.  Reebok claims that the unique sole design and material allows for more energy transfer and less impact stress.  This is a statement from their website:

  ZigTech
A unique bottom unit features a special lightweight foam that is engineered into an innovative, geometric, zig-zag shape. Cushion your landings with materials designed to help reduce muscle fatigue on your shins and leave your legs feeling fresher.

 At first blush it would seem that the statements were true and your energy was being transferred more efficiently and your legs seem fresher.

However, the longer you run in them the less you feel the "energy transfer", and if you run in cold or wet conditions the soles turn into cement blocks and lose traction very easily. My theory to this is the lack of any real grip producing material where you need it to be. There are rubber inserts located only on the furthest most point of the heal and two thin strips on the ridges of the forefoot wave pattern. You may be thinking that this sounds adequate for normal and everyday walking or running activity. The placement would be where your foot contacts the ground  during  foot strikes and in theory should be enough for most activities.  However, serious runners must not have been included in the testing of this running designated shoe. I began to notice significant wear to the heal and forefoot after only about 40 miles, and the traction surfaces were smooth and useless after 100.  I had put not quite 200 miles on the shoes and the inside heel on my right foot had failed, no longer supporting my foot and causing injury to my knee, hamstring, and IT band which I am currently rehabbing. I would not recommend this shoe for anyone who is anything more than a recreational runner or gym trainer.