KURUCLOUD Absorbs Shock & Improves Alignment
What could you do in a day if your feet didn’t hurt? There’s a reason we’ve named our base layer KURUCLOUD—you might just feel like you’re walking on air after you switch to wearing KURUs.
Just like a home’s foundation is the starting point for a stable, supportive structure—the midsole of a shoe is the key to supporting you and absorbing shock. The midsole is the part of the shoe between the outsole (the part on the bottom that contacts the ground) and the insole (the part inside the shoe your foot rests on).
Inspired by performance running shoes, the lightweight EVA foam of KURUCLOUD is engineered for your comfort. It delivers superior cushion and shock-absorption with every step.
Introduction: KURUCLOUD
When designing a midsole, it’s all about balance. If this crucial layer is too firm, your feet don’t get the cushion they need. If it’s too soft, the lack of support can cause pain over time. The trick is to find that Goldilocks-blend of cushion and support that leaves you feeling just right.
We found the perfect blend of soft and supportive for KURUCLOUD, so every step feels just like Cloud 9.
But the real secret is the way our midsole works with our KURUSOLE technology to support your body and maximize your feet’s natural cushioning. The hard plastic and soft foam are molded together at the factory for ideal synergy. The plastic pushes down into the foam as you step on it, providing the dynamic flexing action that protects your heels and cushions impact. This game-changing technology is built into every single pair of KURUs.
Check out the video below to see the KURU Footwear technology in action!
Choosing the Proper Outsole
The outsole of a shoe performs a variety of functions, and choosing the proper one is critical.
While the midsole is the source of much of the cushion and support you get in your shoes, the outsole is the outermost layer that makes contact with the ground. Choosing the right outsole largely depends on what you need from a particular shoe.
- Rubber outsolesThese are among the most common, largely because of rubber’s durability and traction. Thicker rubber outsoles are common on shoes meant for use in rugged conditions or for heavy use.Rubber outsoles
- Lightweight outsolesMany sandals or slip-ons meant for more casual use will skip rubber to save on weight. This can be great for around the house, but wearing such shoes out on concrete and or rocky terrain can chew through those flimsy soles fast.Lightweight outsoles
- Anti-slip outsolesIf your job or hobbies get you into slippery situations, anti-slip features may also be important to you! Anti-slip outsoles are designed with grooves in the bottom that help move water and other slippery stuff out from underfoot for more stability. Various rubber compounds are more “sticky” than others, and can provide better traction. For example, our KINETIC meets both ASTM F2913 and SATRA TM-144 standards for anti-slip!Anti-slip outsoles
- Outsoles for tractionFor firmer footing over outdoor terrain, you may want a heavy duty rubber outsole that also features aggressive tread. The size and pattern of the tread can give you better traction going up or down hill, and on unstable terrain like sand or loose soil. These features tend to add extra weight, so the right outsole for you is about finding the right balance.Outsoles for traction
Shoe Wear Patterns
Uneven wear patterns can be signs of common foot conditions.
If you have asymmetrical wear patterns in your shoes, such as sloped wear on the outer edge of the heels, it may be more about the way you walk than the type of outsole you’re using. Uneven wear patterns are fairly common, especially among people who over or under pronate—roll inward or outward from their ankle more than normal.
If you have excessive wear on the inner edge of the soles of your shoes, you may be over pronating. People with flat or fallen arches tend to be most prone to overpronation.
By contrast, supination, or under pronation, generally causes excessive wear on the outside edge of your soles. Those with high arches tend to be most prone to supination.
People with a neutral gait usually see a wear pattern that extends from the outer edge of the heel toward the center.
As the outsole wears out, these uneven patterns can cause issues with your gait to be even more pronounced—especially in your arch. KURUCLOUD and KURUSOLE work in tandem to not only support you as you walk, but to help guide your body back to a more natural alignment.
Wearing high-quality, supportive shoes and following a stretching and exercise routine to strengthen your feet and body can help guide your gait back to a better place. This can reduce the risk of injury and the likelihood of uneven wear patterns that can diminish support over time.
Supporting Your Long-term Foot Health
More than just comfort in the moment, KURU keeps you doing what you love for the long-haul.
Foot pain is more than what’s happening in the moment—it’s also how your feet have been supported over the long term. Consider the way your softest pair of slippers feel when you slide into them. Soft and pillowy, right? But without the necessary support, how might your feet hurt if you tried to walk or stand through a shift at work in them?
Many of our customers say KURUCLOUD feels like walking on clouds, and that feeling of cushion is crucial to KURU comfort. But we didn’t stop there. From the ergonomic shape to the blend of support and softness, every part of our midsole is designed to deliver Earth’s smoothest stride.
The secret sauce, though, is in the way the foam works with the patented power of KURUSOLE. The dynamic flexing action that protects your heel and supports your arch relies on just the right shape and density of foam. KURUCLOUD also includes a deep heel cup built right into the midsole to better support the natural, rounded shape of your feet.
FAQs
What makes KURUCLOUD different?
We want you to feel comfortable in the moment, and experience less foot pain over the long term. The foam we use for KURUCLOUD is blended to offer just the right balance of cushion and support to keep you moving. But the best part is the way KURUCLOUD works hand in hand with our patented KURUSOLE technology. These two pieces are molded together at the factory so they can work together to deliver the flexing action that protects your heels and maximizes your body’s natural cushion.
Can I wear my own orthotics with your shoes?
We build our technology into every shoe we make, so you never have to worry about aftermarket inserts. Many of our customers find they don’t need their previous orthotics because of the superior support they get from their KURUs.
If you do want to combine our shoes with your existing solutions or a heel lift, you’ll find that equipment with rounded bottoms fit best inside our shoes, since they feature a rounded shape to match nature.
Do you sell replacement insoles or sock liners?
We are happy to offer free replacements on ULTIMATE INSOLES for the lifetime of the shoe. While we don’t offer inserts as a separate purchase, you can always contact a KURU GURU for a free replacement if your ULTIMATE INSOLES wear out or suffer damage.
Are your shoes considered orthopedic shoes?
While KURU shoes are not currently considered orthopedic by a medical standard, we have received thousands of positive reviews from customers who say their KURUs helped reduce or eliminate their pain—from plantar fasciitis to flat feet. In fact, many of our customers find that after switching to KURU they can leave their clunky inserts or unsightly orthopedic footwear behind for a more stylish option with just as much—if not more—comfort!
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Three Layers of Support
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
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KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE technology is engineered to help you fight foot pain. The key is how the built-in support cups your heel as you …Show More
Our patented KURUSOLE technology is engineered to help you fight foot pain. The key is how the built-in support cups your heel as you walk, containing and protecting the natural cushion under your heel. This technology is built right into the shoe and co-molded with our KURUCLOUD midsole to ensure the best possible support with every step.
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KURUCLOUD
Flat feet love an extra-cushioned foundation. That’s just what they get with our KURUCLOUD. This layer of dense EVA foam absorbs …Show More
Flat feet love an extra-cushioned foundation. That’s just what they get with our KURUCLOUD. This layer of dense EVA foam absorbs shock from heel to toe, allowing the entire sole of your foot to experience lasting comfort.
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ULTIMATE INSOLE
ULTIMATE INSOLES come in every pair of KURUs, so you can skip the hassle of purchasing inserts and moving them from shoe to shoe. We use dual-density …Show More
ULTIMATE INSOLES come in every pair of KURUs, so you can skip the hassle of purchasing inserts and moving them from shoe to shoe. We use dual-density foam that offers support where you need it and cushion just where you want it. Even better, the foams adapt to the unique shape of your feet over time for a more-custom fit. The result is all-day comfort you can count on—month after month.
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KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE technology is engineered to help you fight foot pain. The key is how the built-in support cups your heel as you walk, containing and protecting the natural cushion under your heel. This technology is built right into the shoe and co-molded with our KURUCLOUD midsole to ensure the best possible support with every step.
Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
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