Why they're Awesome
SPEED: Nimble and light, with an aggressive tread and firmer FastPod creates the extra control on technical terrain.
PROTECTION: A tuned forefoot FastPod delivers protects against stone bruising while the outsole enhances secure footing.
COMFORT: Wide toe box, molded foam heel counters, rocker design, balanced heel-to-forefoot, supportive upper.
Trail Z2 Design Notes
DROP: We built a 5mm drop into the Trail Z2 to reduce the chance of a negative heel angle during impact.
MIDSOLE DESIGN: Rocker and full-contact outsole smooth the transition and enhance stability. According to our recent paper on arch compression, forces on the arch are greatest during the push-off phase of your stride (not the impact phase). Many shoe designs carve out the arch area, which can collapse and exaggerate pronation. The Trail Z2 keeps the outsole area under the arch filled in to provide support during push-off, precisely when you need it most.
Why you need a biomechanically-tuned Trail Shoe
Whenever you’re out on a trail, you want the best cushioning possible without sacrificing control and protection. That’s the uncompromising benefit you get with the Vimazi Trail Z2. We all generate both impact forces and propulsion forces while running and walking, and when they are not balanced by the shoe, you lose comfort and control. Vimazi Tuning is the first technology to address impact vs propulsion forces.
We carefully studied midsole material and how it responds to running forces. We found that it’s not possible for one midsole foam to respond correctly to all paces. What does this mean? Midsole densities need to be firmer in the forefoot and softer in the heel. How much firmer and how much softer? The secret is the balance between the two and that's the patented technology.
Our research revealed how the propulsion forces in your forefoot and the impact forces in the heel change with cadence, stride length, and strike pattern. There is a heel-to-forefoot balance that is mathematically determined. We discovered that if you tune a shoe for heel striking, you maximize the shock absorption for any strike pattern.
We also discovered how the forces vary proportionally across the forefoot during propulsion. Your big toe is big, because there is more force on it! A firmer forefoot foam (what we call the FastPod) will compress less and give you a more stable and energy efficient platform to push off from.
The Vimazi Trail Z2 FastPod is tuned to ensure you get the most control and stability for steep trails and faster descents. Balancing the heel to forefoot densities means the ride is super smooth on roads and flat terrain.
The result: The Trail Z2 reduces impact shock on hard pavement and then keeps you in control when bombing down even the steepest trails.