RE. ENDA OVERALL… I’m proud to have received two pairs of Endas! They are well-made, tough, and designed for lightness and simplicity. These are forward-looking designs without all the plastic ‘technology’ that big companies have spent decades telling us is necessary for our feet. The bird-inspired colour combinations are a stroke of genius and look simply magnificent. Enda shoes are neither ‘maximalist’ nor ‘minimalist’ but sort of in between. So, how well is it working?
RE. LAPATET 2.0… I have been looking for a long-distance shoe and so far I have used these to run 24km over 4 runs around the sandy and stony roads of northern Dar es Salaam. According to Enda, the Lapatet 2.0 is designed for the foot to move with the shoe. The upper is a single piece of elasticated fabric, like a sock, and the laces are part of this (there is no tongue). While the laces compress the ‘sock’ over the top of the foot, they are not fully anchored to the sole, leaving the ‘sock’ to support the foot. The overall feeling is quite spongey. For me this design allows too much slipping and sliding within the toe box, creating friction under my toes. I have laced a ‘runner’s loop’ using the Kenyan flag tabs, but while this tightens the upper more, it has not reduced the friction. Ultimately I think I need a firmer, more secure ride for the longer distances. Keep going, Team Enda, Mungu awabariki!
