Z Coil Shoes

Z Coil shoes were developed by an avid runner who needed relief from his running related soreness.

Z Coil founder Alvaro Gellagos used to run around seven miles a day. Running causes a number of injuries including joint pain, knee injuries and foot problems. Gellagos, who owned a shoe store, tried shoe after shoe to relieve him from his pain, but found that no matter what shoe he tried, nothing worked. As a result of his runner's aches and pains, Gellegos began developing what would become Z Coil footwear.

Gellagos knew his pain was mainly caused by the impact of his heel hitting the ground. He figured that an adequate shock absorber on the heel of his running shoe could alleviate a lot of his pain, so he decided to attach a coiled spring to the bottom of his heel and took the shoes out for a test run. Gellagos found the shoes worked and relieved him of his pain. Soon his family and friends were asking him to do the same for their shoes. At that time, Gellagos decided to bring his idea to the public, but it was not well received.

Gellagos was not deterred by shoe manufacturing naysayers, and in 1993 he found a partner in design, Young Oh Lee. For the next few years the two worked closely together to develop a shoe that would alleviate pain and appeal to the masses. In 1995, Gellagos patented his design and released the very first Z Coil, the Z-01.

Since then, the shoe has been developed specifically for pain relief and the company seems to have found its market.

There is a lot more to Z Coil footwear than its signature conical spring on the heel. Here are the specs:

The forefoot design of Z Coils feature:

• Flex line – This flexible material prevents your foot from bending too far, a major cause of ligament damage in the foot.

• "Rocker" bottom – The bottom of the forefoot design in Z Coils gently slopes upward, causing a rocking effect when you walk or run.

Z Coil footwear has a patented plate in the mid foot of the shoe which they call the Z-Orthotic. This orthopedic plate is designed to prevent the ligaments of the foot from overstretching, a leading cause of injury. This plate also helps distribute the weight the body evenly, helping to further prevent injuries such as painful heel spurs.

The coil on the heel is where the name Z Coil stems from. The coil is designed to protect the part of your foot that feels the major impact from running and walking - the heel. As the heel comes down, the coil compresses, absorbing the majority of the shock. The coil then springs back as you lift and move your foot forward, giving your body a bit of energy in return.

If you wear out your Z Coil spring, it can be replaced at a fraction of the cost of a new pair of shoes.

Z Coil footwear is sold in footwear stores across the country. If you are looking for a location near you, use the store locator feature on their website. Depending on the design and whether or not you get your Z Coils customized, these shoes can run upwards of $250 to $300.

If you still aren't convinced that this revolutionary shoe will work wonders for your joint, foot and back pain, here's one final fact: The U.S. Department of Energy conducted a study on this shoe and found that Z Coil shoes reduce the "...impact of the body by a rate of 50 percent or more." If you need even more convincing, check out the customer testimonials on the Z Coil Footwear website.

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