Hi-Tec V-LITE INFINITY HPI

Until lately a trail shoe was just that.

But the latest adventure shoe from Hi-Tec breaks down many of the trail/road barriers with amazing comfort and ridiculous light weight.

Starting at the bottom, the soles are provided by Vibram® and are lugged appropriately for off road duty. I found the shoes gave me confidence in loose conditions but were surprisingly grippy in the wet and

muck too.

The forefoot of the sole is seriously grooved, giving it amazing flex for whatever kind of running you do. Vibram® calls it Flex-Zone and the groove is angled for a natural hinge motion. The heel is slim and not overly bulky which favors a mid to fore foot strike.

The mid-sole has eight densities of foam that correspond to pressure points on the foot strike and make this shoe one of the most comfortable shoes I've worn. Period!

Admittedly there was an adjustment period, but now the marriage of my feet and these shoes are in the honeymoon stage with no end in sight. The V-Lite Infinities are nimble and have cradled my peds to the point where I can focus on the trail and the obstacles coming my way and not constantly evaluate foot comfort. I've worn them on the road too and although they might not be my first choice in the future, they are up to task on the asphalt. But point them in the ditch and here's where they shine. The uppers are seamless technology which virtually eliminate hot spots and they are coated with a microscopic water management system.

Ion mask™ technology was developed for military application but the V-Lite Infinities are the first shoes to adapt the molecular surface enhancement.

This means the shoes repel and expel water better, which keeps the weight of the shoe stable throughout the run in all running conditions. I've run in the rain and in the heat and the shoes' moisture level remains constant which means maintained comfort.

These are the shoes that inspired a few Scandinavian lads to create a new sport and an Internet sensation called Liquid Mountaineering. http://bit.ly/p4HEKN

What ever kind of running you do off the pave, take a spin in the V-Lites.

You can thank me later.

PRICE $160 CDN

2011 Giro Ionos

It has 21 vents, and 8 colour combinations and one big price tag.

It looks good except when I put it on my head and it becomes this enormous cradle around my cranium. Acutally it looks ridiculous.

Giro claims it's their most advanced road helmet and it has what it calls 'wind tunnel' ventilation. But I don't agree, it's no cooler than my five year old Limar, and it has the same number of vents.

On the positive side, the new improved Rock-loc 5 works well and is easy to use. Although the dial is teeny, compared to the rest of the helmet.

I suspect the autographed version by the seven-time TdF champ has something to do with the $300 price tag, but at half the price it's still a questionable purchase.