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Saturday, February 4, 2012

Terms You Should Know When Buying a New Balance Shoe

Midsole:
1. ACTEVA Midsole. Note the "EVA" in the word "ACTEVA". That's right. ACTEVA simply means a special kind of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) midsole. EVA is popular because it is lightweight and offers more "bounce" than polyurethane midsoles. (You can think of each EVA midsole as being made up of thousands of EVA bubbles.) The ACTEVA is supposed to be a special kind of EVA midsole because its low density and consistency in "bubble" size reduces compression set, i.e., a fancy term for when your running shoes go flat and lose their bounce. ACTEVA midsoles by New Balance come in Lite and Ultra Lite.
2. Encap. A core of EVA inside a shell of polyurethane. This material is designed to promote stability, disperse shock and help the shock absorption properties of the material last longer.
3. Nvent. This is New Balance's system for midsole ventilation. It is designed to keep the feet cool and dry.

Shock Absorption:
1. Abzorb®. If you want cushioning that specifically targets the heel and forefoot, then you want New Balance shoes designed with Abzorb®. Made from a blend of isoprene rubber, Abzorb® is designed to protect the foot as it strikes the ground and resist compression set.
2. Absorb® Ex. This shock absorption material is made from a combination of Abzorb foam and a pocket of non-pressurized air trapped inside a thermoplastic bubble.

Arch Support:
1. Stability Web®. Stability Web is a type of lightweight arch support designed to prevent too much flexion in the arch area while maintaining flexibility in the forefoot. It is made of thermoplastic urethane.

Motion Control
1. Graphite Rollbar®. The Graphite Rollbar is a lightweight piece of graphite material that you can find in the heel area of certain New Balance running shoes. It is designed to prevent over pronation and promote foot stability. The Graphite Rollbar is perhaps New Balance's most important motion control feature.
2. Medial Post. The Medial Post can extend from the heel to the ball of the foot (although lengths vary with the design of the shoe). This high-density material is designed to provide pronation control.

Outsole:
 1. Flex Grooves. Grooves in the sole of the shoe that enable the foot to roll smoothly through its naturally gait. This technology promotes forefoot flexibility.
2. Tru-Trak. "Multi-directional" tread designed to maximize traction.
3. Walking Strike Path. Outsole design used "to guide" the foot through its natural gait.
4. Ndurance. Extremely hard and durable rubber compound used in the high impact areas of the shoe, such as the heel. This material is designed to make your New Balance sneakers last longer.

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