We made Jeff Staple’s 50 Favourite Sneakers.

Here’s what he said about us:

“This one kind of goes back to the Nike Free concepts. The reason why in today’s society we have all kinds of back problems is because of shoes. Man is supposed to be walking on bare feet. The Terra Plana fully believes in this concept. Since in our society we can’t just walk around barefoot, their whole thing is making shoes that are as close to being barefoot as possible. When you wear these around, you feel a difference and it really makes you think.”

The shoe in the photo is the Dharma.

“A seven-ounce shoe offering the many health benefits of running barefoot” Karen Day (author) from Cool Hunting.

Here’s what Karen Day said in her article featured on Cool Hunting.

“A pared down approach to running, the ultra-lightweight Evo performance shoe allows the foot to fully flex, freeing it from superfluous padding while still offering strong support. Part of Terra Plana’s VivoBarefoot collection, the brand based the design on the biomechanical benefits of running barefoot—a method believed to strengthen the foot and ankle muscles while realigning the body’s natural posture.

We recently put the Evos to the test, tasking a runner with wearing them while training for NYC’s half marathon. While she reports that the initial barefoot feeling seemed slightly strange, overall she found the shoes extremely comfortable, even helping to alleviate an old foot injury.

Without the interference of a thick sole, the foot’s 2,000 nerve endings stimulate senses all over the body from the tonsils to the kidneys, making for a healthier and more complete workout. The structure compels the foot to land on the ball or mid-range area instead of the heel, not only reducing the impact on the foot (and potential injuries) but also allowing the runner to use energy stored in the Achilles tendon and longitudinal arch.

A collaboration between Terra Plana owner Galahad Clark and head designer Asher Clark (seventh-generation shoemakers of the renowned Clark’s family)”

The Evo is availible to buy online.

The Vivobarefoot Evo is mentioned in an article about ways to add variety to your run. Barefoot running is included amongst a few other alternatives and Daniel Lieberman offers tips for a perfect running technique.

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Terra Plana’s Galahad Clark has been interviewed as part of an article on the new barefoot running phenomenon. He says “The year 2010 is going to be a breakthrough for the barefoot revolution. The science is really compelling and exciting.” To read more of what he said, and for the whole article, please click on the images below.

Here’s what they wrote about the Evo:

“Another new player to the natural running game. Terra Plana’s new featherweight Evo running shoe (expected to debut this spring) is made from a pliable, soft plastic cage interlaced with a thin mesh fabric and a minimal footbed. The company is already selling several shoes with its VivoBarefoot Technology, including a super flexible model designed to help transition runners into the minimalist movement.”

Emma Grady from Treehugger wrote a article about our new spring summer Vivobarefoot kids’ range:

Here’s the article which was featured on Fitness Magazine online and Sara Snow’s Healthy, Grean & Sane website.

“Right on the heels of a recent study by Harvard University’s Professor Daniel Lieberman, which states that barefoot running reduces the impact on feet and reserves energy, Terra Plana has announced The Evo — a much-anticipated performance incarnation of the VivoBarefoot line.

If the VivoBarefoot line was meant for casually cruising sidewalks while shopping and sightseeing, the Evo is designed for racing around tracks and and marathon training. The design team brought in biomechanics experts to design a shoe that encourages the body to move as nature intended.

With 200,000 nerve endings, 33 major muscles, 28 bones, 19 ligaments and six million years of evolutionary design, the human foot is a masterpiece and biomechanically perfect for running.

The Evo is a lightweight minimalist design that presents all the benefits of running barefoot while protecting you from urban elements (cause who wants to worry about stepping on a nail or someone’s discarded gum!). It features a slim-line shape with a sucked out arch area that hugs the foot, and a TPU cage to allow for breathability and unhampered movement.

The shoe is available in six colors including yellow, black, white, pink, blue and green and retails for around $160. Might be a little pricey for some of you, but dedicated runners are used to paying a premium for shoes.” – Sara Snow

Also on Fresh & Fit with Sara Snow at FitnessMagazine.com and SaraSnow.com