We’re a rebel startup that believes in pursuing the truth, wherever it leads. We like to say that future begins with a pair of Vimazi pace-tuned shoes (PTS).
That's because today’s shoes aren’t tuned by pace, so they can't respond correctly to the extreme range of forces between elite and more casual running paces. Enter Vimazi. Using scientifically proven patent-pending tech, we tune the heel and forefoot so your midsole reacts perfectly to the forces inherent at the pace you run. You get optimal cushioning and max propulsion efficiency every day. You’ll feel better and run faster.
As runners, we all want to reduce impact on our muscles and joints and fend off fatigue for as long as possible. We also want shoes that are designed for the way we run. Vimazi co-founders Scott Tucker and John Zilly have been running marathons ever since they met in high school. In 2017, Tucker, who has a master’s in applied physics, had a brainstorm while running intervals: Shoes tuned by pace should respond more efficiently. With a team of scientists, he conducted a research study that proved the theory. And Vimazi was formed.
Since then we’ve perfected our line of pace-tuned shoes and thoroughly tested them in races from local Portland, OR 5Ks to the London Marathon. The first run of Vimazi pace-tuned shoes are scheduled for production in late 2022. Time to start the pace-tuned revolution.
More About Vimazi
Here’s what Vimazi does
We make pace-tuned running shoes that provide better cushioning and more efficiency than previous generations of running shoes.
The physics of pace-tuned shoes
Back in 2017, while Vimazi CEO Scott Tucker was running to his 6am interval workout, he had an idea. A shoe made for a specific pace, he thought, might offer better cushioning and more propulsive efficiency than a generic shoe that wasn’t “tuned” for a particular pace.
It took three years to fully understand the physics of human running, and the forces that are generated. When we finally understood the physics, we built an equation that defines running forces. We’re now able to calculate the exact impact force and propulsion force, in Newtons, for any pace, including variations for height, weight, and cadence. (A Newton is a metric unit of force.) Data from the Forces in Running study we conducted aligned with the force calculations we got from the physics. In other words, we know it works.
Knowing the precise impact and propulsion forces at each pace, allowed us to create shoe models for different pace zones. So our pace-tuned technology is based on pure physics. No hand waving, no conjecture, no correlative studies, no self-reported data sets, no marketing fluff. We started with the physics of human running, and it led us to pace-tuned shoes.
The problem with previous gen running shoes
Most running shoes have the same foam density from heel to toe, and they’re sold to runners of every pace. The trouble is that midsole foam can’t respond correctly to the forces at all paces, and it can’t even respond appropriately to the differences between impact and propulsion forces. To make sure you get all the cushioning you want as well as all the efficiency you deserve, you need a shoe that’s made for a specific pace zone and tuned differently in the heel than the forefoot.
The Vimazi solution
Our solution to this running shoe problem was to create something that's never been done before—pace-tuned running shoes. In 2023, after years of testing, we launched seven road shoe models that span paces from 4:30 minutes per mile to 15 minutes per mile (2:50-9:30 minutes per kilometer). By making a shoe for a specific pace zone, we’ve been able to deliver better impact cushioning and propulsion efficiency for every runner.
25 years experience
We’ve taken everything we learned making running shoes for 25 years—and running marathons for even longer—and elevated it to a whole new level with pace tuning. It offers a better and more personal running experience. We were instrumental in creating shoes for Montrail, Scott Sports, and Pearl Izumi. We learned even more while owning a specialty running store and organizing running events.
A marathoner’s fit
Running shoes can have the best tech, but if they don’t fit well, nobody will wear them. We wouldn’t either! Not only have we spent our careers perfecting innovative fit technologies at other companies, notably at Montrail, we’re also life-long marathon runners ourselves. So we understand fit and know how critical it is, from heel to toe. Each of our models has been painstakingly designed and built with the perfect fit in mind. They’ve also been extensively road tested since 2019, including at the Boston, London, Portland, Missoula, San Antonio, and Two Oceans Marathons. We think you’ll love them.
