by Rhonda Scheurer
The Calgary Outdoor Club loves to support local! Do you like to support local? Here are a couple of great opportunities for COC members to do just that.
Unightie
Unightie is made from bamboo, one of my favourite wicking anti-stink fabrics.
I used to do a lot of backpacking, and now I do a lot of self-supported cycle touring in which I may camp for several days in between showers. I took my Unightie along on a working holiday to Mexico just to test it out. I slept in it every night, and worked in it several hours per day over two weeks. I expected to have to wash it after... what... a few days? A week? So every day I gave it the sniff test, and every day it passed with fresh colours, and I went a full two weeks of near continuous use without it picking up even a little stink. Of course, backpacking and cycle touring will put it through its paces more than indoor air-conditioned use, but I was still very impressed.
The designer/creator of the Unightie is actually a COC member - our very own Jackie Bourgaize. Find out more about her wonderful creation on the Unightie website.
Shoe Solutions
On April 28, 2022, a group of seven COC members went to Shoe Solutions' store in SE Calgary and had a presentation on avoiding common foot injuries for hikers, given by Ryan Boles, a certified pedorthist and owner of Shoe Solutions.
Shoe Solutions is passionate about foot health and performance devices that literally change the next steps you take in life! They do pain assessments, shoe fitting and sales, shoe repairs & modifications, and now they even have their own brand of socks.
Shoe Solutions uses digital 3D volumetric images to accurately fit the length, width and total volume of your foot. They then isolate pressure areas with their barometric sensor pate and educate you on your “foot type” as well as observe your dynamic gait. With all of this information, they utilize their training and experience to provide the most accurate individualized footwear and foot care recommendations for any situation and/or lifestyle.
Their Shoe Lab is a unique initiative to personalize and customize footwear to your exact, unique needs. With the Shoe Lab, their goal is to use their technology and equipment to do everything from 3D printing insoles and orthotics, to leather work, to shoe lifts and stretching.
Their Shoe Lab is a unique initiative to personalize and customize footwear to your exact, unique needs. With the Shoe Lab, their goal is to use their technology and equipment to do everything from 3D printing insoles and orthotics, to leather work, to shoe lifts and stretching.
The presentation on April 28th was very informative, and a couple of us got the "foot scan" treatment, which was really enlightening about where the pressure points are on our feet and what we can do to preserve our best foot health.Ryan also told us all about his new line of socks, RFM (Relentless Forward Motion). These socks are:
- Designed and manufactured in Southern Alberta
- Thermo-regulating, moisture-wicking and antibacterial - 83% Merino wool
- Performance fitted with reinforcement at the toe and heel
- More great qualities... see here for more info
I got a pair and I've been wearing them regularly ever since for both hiking and cycling. They're super comfortable and the fitted heel cup feels really nice while walking. The first time I walked in these socks I walked 14km on a paved path with no foot pain, which is, quite frankly, nothing short of a miracle for me these days.
