Product Review: Karhu Running Shoes
brought to you by Sarah Lieneke-Nickle and Tri-Sports.com

“Every Runner’s Right.”  This is the idea that Karhu running shoes are built upon.  Borrowed from the Finnish national concept that grants the right of free access to all land and water regardless of ownership, Karhu believes every runner has the “right” to feel land, strengthen their body and enjoy a pure running experience.  This sounds like a tall order from a pair of running shoes!  But once you understand where their concepts come from and the simple technology employed within their shoes, you may begin to understand the passion that lies within the brand.    

There are many running shoes on the market today.  New materials, technology, fit ideas and other bells and whistles come out season after season.  If you’re a seasoned runner, you probably have your brand/model loyalty, you know what works for you - why fix what isn’t broken?  Interestingly, the “why fix what isn’t broken” idea is exactly the thinking behind the simplicity of Karhu’s technology.  Your running shoe should act as an extension of your natural foot strike and only correct it in extreme circumstances.  Therefore, Karhu shoes let your body’s natural pronation act as your shock absorber rather than relying on (sometimes unnecessarily) your shoes to put your foot in the position it “should” be in.  Their philosophy is to allow the foot to do a little more work, thereby strengthening it, developing the natural, correct way for your body to run.  This isn’t to say they are a completely support-free shoe, but getting back to the simple, key ideas of your body’s biomechanics is what Karhu has used as a platform for their design.    

For 2008, Karhu has four running shoe models available in the United States.  Created in bright, bold colors, these shoes make a statement that says, “Yes, I am a runner.”  Each model differs only slightly, all employing Fulcrum Technology that guides your foot naturally from heel to toe – just the way nature intended distance runners to run.

Karhu M1 Men’s / M1 Women’s:  The M1 is categorized as a support shoe, although we feel this shoe best fits someone who is between neutral and mild pronation.  Torsional structure is provided from a carbon fiber plate, inserted between 2 layers of EVA.  

Karhu M2 Men’s / M2 Women’s:  The M2 is categorized as a true neutral running shoe, offering little to no support, beyond the small amount of cushioning inherent to the shoe. 

Karhu M3 Men’s / M3 Women’s:  The M3 is also a support shoe, with its stability offered through a high-engineered plastic insert, rather than the carbon insert in the M1.  Again, not the best choice for severe pronators, but good for those with mild pronation.

Karhu M10:  The M10 is best described as a lightweight trainer, though it can be viewed as a racing shoe for those who desire a bit more shoe than a traditional racing flat has to offer.  The shoe is a bit closer to the ground offering better response and performance, though in turn has a bit less cushioning.  This shoe is only available in a unisex version based on men’s sizing.

Across the board with a Karhu shoe you will find they are built for narrow feet, thanks to their European heritage.  They also tend to run a half size smaller than the standard American shoe brands and offer a firmer feeling and fit.  Watch out for 2009 product, though, as they will be making some changes to the shoes to better fit the American foot.  Men’s and women’s styles are built on different lasts, offering a true gender specific fit.  If you’re a fan of the initial soft, cushy feeling you get when you put your new shoes on for the first time, don’t expect that in a Karhu shoe.  But if you are a neutral or mild pronating runner interested in exploring options outside the standard realm, I’d suggest giving them a try.  Wildly popular in Europe, they have been available in the states only for a few years, and for a bit of time exclusively at TriSports.com.

Karhu’s company story is a long and storied one dating back to 1916.  From selling their once 3-stripe logo to Adidas years ago for the equivalent of 2 bottles of really good scotch, to allowing a small little division of their company branch off on its own (only to become leading sandal brand Merrell) to gracing the feet of the “Flying Finns,” champion runners Paavo Nurmi and Olavi Suomalainen.   Still handmade in Finland, the word Karhu itself means bear in Finnish, and the sole of each running shoe includes the Karhu bear symbol – a symbol of strength and nature. 

If you are new to running, I will remind you that getting assessed by a running shoe professional should be your first step in selecting a pair of running shoes.  The most common running injuries can usually be attributed to having too much or too little support in your shoes.  Take care in selecting your shoe or any other piece of equipment!

~ Sarah