SPARTAN x KANE REVIVE: THE ACTIVE RECOVERY SHOE REVIEW
Updated: May 2, 2022
A Physical Therapist POV
My physical therapy senses started tingling when I saw an email from Spartan advertising the Spartan x Kane Revive shoe. I have found myself wondering if there was a better alternative out there than wearing muddy shoes after a Spartan race, or some slides that have no foot support. When you are cramping, cold, wet, muddy, and a walking blister, having a supportive post-race shoe is a niche that needs filling. Having worked with patients with various lower extremity injuries, footwear is always a hot topic that we discuss. The foot/ankle complex can play a huge role in balance, pain up the kinetic chain, and gait/postural impairments.
Let's take a closer look.
We will break down this shoe by looking at...
Specs/Details from the manufacturer
First Impressions/Breakdown of design
Putting them to the test (various stressors)
Pros/Cons
Final Rating: Should you buy them?
What's so special about this shoe?
Per Spartan.com, these shoes use "the movement of the body to heal, renew and regenerate. Combining proven orthopedic principles, sustainable materials and contemporary style, SPARTAN by Kane helps you recharge naturally."
"SPARTAN by Kane is the first active recovery footwear designed for athletes"
The main specs/details of this shoe include...
Lightweight two-piece injection-molded sneaker
Dual Density BounceBackā¢ foam (made from Brazilian sugarcane): 100% Green EVA Foam
Moisture-resistant
Durable
Odor-resistant
Made from over 70% eco-sustainable materials
Spartan exclusive color: Digital Camo
Enhanced airflow
Stimulating footbeds (interior nodes to activate blood flow)
Price: $50 for Spartan+ members Digital Camo/$75 Kane color waves
First Impressions: Straight out of the box
These come in a cool minimalistic package, with a small bag of interchangeable hang loops.
Per specifications of the company, being a size 11.5 normally, I bought the size down (11 mens).
The soles stood out to me upon inspection, with a decent amount of traction and texture to help navigate muddy/slippery terrain.
The heel cushion was definitely prominent, with a significant amount of compliance when force was applied. This would serve to absorb shock when making heel contact during gait and assist with propulsion.
Visually out of the box, this shoe appears to address many of the design details that I would educate patients on for a post-workout type shoe.
The 10mm heel elevation allows an opportunity to decrease tension on the ankle joint, especially if you have had prior ankle injuries/developed restricted dorsiflexion (can also be due to a tight gastrocnemius-soleus complex).
The inner arch support is prominent for those that tend to have more of a pronated foot, but also serves to take up space for those that have more of a supinated foot.
Testing them out : 3 Terrain Method
I wanted to put my body (primarily my feet/ankles) through various stressors during a weekend and examine how I would feel once I put these shoes on. I decided to exercise in 3 different environments, each placing a different amount of strain through my foot/ankle. I decided to add a 50lb sandbag to all of these to make it feel more like a Spartan race. Let's look at the 3.
Environment 1: Crystal Cove State Park
