“Our feet used to suffer a number of bruises and pains when we played and trained because ergonomic shoes were not available to us back then ,” says Shakya. Today, famous brand-name companies, such as Adidas, Reebok and Nike, offer different varieties of well-balanced and highly comfortable shoes, through their authorized outlets in the capital.
“These high-end ergonomic shoes help their users avoid pain in the backbone, shinbone, and knees when the users play a sport or run; and these shoes provide long-term health benefits too,” says Manoj Sharma, floor manager of the Reebok showroom at Durbar Marg. These shoes, which Sharma claims are 50 to 30 percent lighter than ordinary sports shoes, are available at prices ranging from Rs 3,500 and Rs 9,000 a pair (subject to a discount of 3-5 percent).
Because the market for these shoes is booming, Reebok has opened showrooms at Durbar Marg and at the Bluebird supermarket in Tripureswore. “People want the added benefits that come with these shoes; and thus the demand for Reebok shoes has annually increased by at least 40 percent in domestic market,” says Sharma. The Durbar Marg showroom is selling, on an average, three pairs of ergonomic shoes a day.
Nike, one of Reebok’s leading competitors, is also showcasing similar shoes; Nike has a range of models, called the Air, Max Air, Zoom Air, Shoxe and so on, all purpose built for different activities—running, football, tennis, basketball, and the list goes on. Nike’s “balance shoes” are available at their Durbar Marg and Bluebird Departmental Store outlets at Tripureshwar; the shoes are priced between Rs 4,490 and Rs 12,990 a pair. The Nike showroom at Durbar Marg has been selling six pairs of shoes every day, on average.
“All our shoes protect the knees from impact,” says Jagadish Parajuli, floor manager of the Nike showroom at Durbar Marg. “And all our other ‘comfort shoes’ come with unique features, specific added advantages. The Nike Plus shoes, for example, have pockets with sensors that can communicate with your ipod, and the sensors provide feedback to your iPod about your workout, and even guidelines and instructions, as you run.” A sensor is available for Rs 2,590.
Adidas, another company that provides ergonomic shoes, has been providing “comfort shoes” that cost between Rs 3990 to Rs 9000 per pair. Adidas has five showrooms—at Durbar Marg, Jawalakhel, Putalisadak, the Bluebird Supermarket and at Ranjana Galli.
Rabin Shrestha, salesman at Adidas’s Durbar Marg showroom loves to talk about his company’s line of high-end shoes, which use technologies with names like Traxion, Adiprene, Adiprene Plus, Adiwear, Clima Cool, Clima Proof, Clima light , Formotion and Geofit.
“Look out specially for Adidas shoes that are equipped with the Bounce technology. We will soon be making available these shoes; they are specially designed for users who are very heavy: these shoes can take quite a load” says Shrestha.
Shrestha says that about 30 varieties of running shoes and about 10 varieties each of basketball, tennis and football shoes are available at the Adidas showrooms.
Reebok
Claims to be 50-30 percent lighter than normal shoes
Available: Durbar Marg and Blue Bird Mall, Tripureshwar
Price range: Rs 3,500 to Rs 19,990 a pair
Discount: 3-5 percent
Nike
Varieties: Air, Max Air, Zoom Air, Shoxe, etc
Available: Durbar Marg and Blue Bird Mall, Tripureshwar
Price range: Rs 4490-Rs 12,990 a pair
Adidas
Varieties: About 30 varieties of running shoes, about 10 varieties of each basketball shoes and football shoes and tennis shoes
Price range: Rs 3,990 to Rs 9,000 a pair
Available: Durbar Marg, Jawalakhel, Putalisadak, Bluebird Supermarket and Ranjana Galli
Technology used:Varieties:Torsian system, Traxion, Adiprene, Adiprene Plus, Adiwear, Clima Cool, Clima Proof, Clima light, Formotion and Geofit
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