Z60 - Max cushioning long running

ENGINEERING SPECS: Average adult ranges for height, cadence, and body weight at this pace. 

CUSHIONING: In order to respond to the specific impact force at 9 minutes per mile, we tune the reaction density of the heel area of the Z60 so that it provides the best cushioning possible. Forget about a max cushioned shoes made for who-knows-who—the Z60 provides max cushioning for you and the way you run. We call this pace-tuned cushioning. It’s the only way to optimize the cushioning you feel on every footstrike.

PROPULSION: We tuned the forefoot FastPods in the Z60 to deliver maximally efficient energy return given the forces needed at this pace to propel yourself forward.

DROP: Runners at this pace are usually average weight and often midfoot to heel strikers. With this in mind, we built a 6mm drop into the Z60. This helps prevent a negative heel drop angle upon impact. 

SOLE DESIGN: Rocker design and fortified arch outsole for ideal propulsion. According to a recent paper on arch compression, forces on the arch are greatest during the push-off phase of your stride (not the impact phase). Many shoe designs carve out the arch area, exaggerating pronation. The Z60 fills the arch area to provide support during push-off, precisely when you need it most.

MIDSOLE MATERIAL: Vimazi Z-Foam has an EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) base. Proprietary additives have been mixed into the EVA to increase abrasion resistance and elongation properties. Most importantly, however, we use our specific EVA blend because it allows us to dial in an ideal compression set for each model. This isn’t possible using other common midsole foams. Finding a foam matrix that could be specced to specific durometers was one of the reasons it took five years to develop and produce our pace-tuned shoes. Our midsole formulas are the heart of the technology. They’re what allow us to tune the Vimazi Z60 to a peak force spec of 660N in heel/midfoot and 1120N in forefoot (M10). No one else does this, and you can't tune shoes in this way using other midsole foams.

Everyone who runs 9 minute miles deserves the best cushioning available without sacrificing any propulsion efficiency. For more shoes out there, you either get good cushioning or decent efficiency but not both. 

Here’s how to think about it. We all generate a wide range of both impact forces and propulsion forces while running. The forces at 9 minutes per mile are much different than the intense forces at 5 minutes per mile or the gentler forces at 12 minutes per mile. 

At Vimazi, we researched how midsole material responds to the forces at different running speeds. We found that it’s not possible, according to physics, for one midsole foam to respond appropriately at all paces. Meaning what? It means that midsole densities need to be adjusted to the pace of the runner. (Of course the problem is that no other shoe brand does this.)

Our research also showed that the propulsion forces in your forefoot and toe are significantly greater than the impact force when you land. Consequently, it’s critical that running shoes are tuned by both pace and between heel and forefoot. 

By tuning midsole density to the forces you generate during impact at 9 minutes per mile, we’re able to dial in the exact right amount of cushioning you need at that pace. This is true Goldilocks cushioning. Pace-tuned cushioning in the Vimazi Z60 ensures stability during push-off, plus gives you the comfort and health benefits of reduced shock. 

But you wouldn’t want better cushioning to get in the way of an efficient push-off. To get the lively push-off you want, the forefoot has to be tuned differently from the heel. We’ve engineered the forefoot FastPod in the Z60 so it responds to the propulsion force you generate at 9 minutes per mile. 

The result: The Z60 reduces shock while increasing efficiency when running between 8:30-10:30 minutes per mile (5:15-6:30 minutes per kilometer).