New Year, New Balance

It's almost time to ring in the New Year and with that comes the New Year's resolutions!

A lot of people strive to be healthy in the new year. That's great! Eating healthy and working out are great ways to make your mood better, reduce the risk of cancer and diabetes, and just overall look and feel better.

Working out, especially in these cold winter months can be a struggle. Let's be honest...when it's -40 outside and there's a good movie on TV, a lot of people are more likely to cuddle up on the couch than venture out to the gym. It doesn't have to be difficult though!

Here are 5 tips to help you get active and stay active in the new year:


1) Find a buddy: working out can be boring and sometimes you can lose motivation if you're not seeing the results you want right away. If you have a friend, not only do you become accountable but working out can actually be made fun!

2) Get the right gear: it's very important to have the right clothing and footwear for working out. You want to make sure you're comfortable and not limiting movement in any parts of the body. And sometimes it helps to have some new, flashy workout gear to get you out and motivated! We have an excellent selection of New Balance and Saucony running and training shoes in store! There's also a range of socks, including warm winter socks for those of you adventurous souls who brave the outdoors! Any of our fit experts can help you choose the footwear that's right for YOU and the activities you'll be doing.

3) Set goals for yourself: this goes along with being accountable. If your goal is to 'get fit', you may not see the results you want. But if your goal is to let's say lose 10 pounds or be able to run 5km in 20 minutes, then you're going to have to work hard to get there! Sign up for the Manitoba Marathon and put your training goals in each week.

4) Reward yourself: hey, you can't be 100% good all of the time. When you lose those extra 10 pounds, go by yourself that top in a size smaller or a new pair of shoes you've been eyeing. This should be more long term ie. every month or every two months so that you're not going crazy but that you're giving yourself the satisfaction you deserve when you reach your goal.

5) Turn on the tap: and get drinking water! This might seem unbelievable, but cutting out drinks like soda, alcohol, and coffee can make you feel more energized throughout the day. Drinking water is not only good for keeping you hydrated but it cuts out all the extra sugar from beverages. You should be drinking 8-10 glasses of water minimum everyday. The more active you are, the more water you'll need to refuel your body.

Follow these tips, and maybe create some of your own! Remember, it's really easy to stay active but it takes 21 days to make a habit, so don't give up! You want to live for a long time and being active is the first simple step to do so. If you ever have questions about the proper footwear to use for your fitness activities, feel free to come into any of our locations and have one of our fit experts find you the right kind of footwear.

Have a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays From Us to You!

Well we've got a short post this week, because we're busy gearing up for the holidays and we know you're busy too!

As the year wraps up and everyone celebrates their holiday traditions, we just want to take some time to thank you all! This year has been awesome and we received 1st place for Best Local Shoe Store in the Best of Winnipeg 2014! We could not have accomplished this without your help, and the help and hard work from our wonderful staff. So from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!

2015 is a new year with new beginnings. We are in the process of shooting a commercial today, of which you will see in the new year.

There will also be other promotions, new products, and tons more going on in our store. Be sure to stay tuned and as always, if you have suggestions, comments, or reviews never hesitate to contact us! One quick reminder of our holiday hours/closures:

December 24th: Closed at 3 PM
December 25th and 26th: Closed
December 31st: Closed at 3 PM
January 1st: Closed

All the best to you and yours over the holiday season, and we will see you in the new year!

Hit The Ground Running

Some weird thing happened in Winnipeg this week…if you have been outside you might have noticed that temperatures started climbing UP to 0 degrees! For most, we thought this was quite wonderful and a nice break from the frigid wind chills we’ve already experienced in the past month. It looks like the end of this week gets even better, with temperatures in the single digits! Perfect!

The best thing to do in winter, especially if you live in Winnipeg, is to take full advantage of the nice days when they come around. Who knows, they might not be back until the snow is gone. If you’ve ever thought about starting a winter activity to stay active, what’s been holding you back? There’s no better time than the present to get your gear and get moving!

We spoke with our New Balance Calgary rep, Trevor, who is a running enthusiast and has big goals set for his running future. He gave us some advice on winter running and how to get started if you’re new to running!

Q: How do you keep yourself motivated to run every day?

A: Some days it’s really tough to get out there, especially when the snow is flying and the wind is blowing. For me, I switch it up a bit by subbing out some runs for cross training in the gym. Increasing my overall strength by utilizing the weights helps me to be a better runner for when the summer rolls around. This also helps me to stay injury free. When I run outside though, I constantly remind myself of my goals and I think about those that look up to me. That keeps me motivated more than anything else.

Q: What items of clothing and footwear do you wear when you go out running?

A: For the winter months, I layer up as much as possible. For my torso, that is usually a base layer with a t-shirt on top and a windblocker jacket to keep the warm in, and the cold out. When the temperature dips severely, I’ll add on another long sleeve shirt. From the waist down, I’m usually wearing knee high compression socks and windblocker tights/run pants.

 

 

Q: What type of surface do you run on?

A: I would define myself as a road runner. The road is a place where you can truly push the body to beyond its limitations and get a true gauge of where your fitness level is. In saying that, most of my training is done on the trails. Here in Calgary, we have the mountains about 30 minutes away, so the change of scenery is very rewarding. Running on the trails is also less strenuous on your body as it is a lower impact activity.

 

Q: For anyone interested in getting into running this winter, would you suggest they start outdoors or indoors?

A: For those that are beginning to run, it is up to their personal preference to be indoors or outdoors. There are studies that support both running outdoors and running on a treadmill, but when it comes down which is more beneficial, I would draw the line right in the centre. Look at it this way; when you’re running outside, you continually have a change of scenery that can relieve any stress built up throughout the day. When you run on the treadmill, you’re stationary which can be boring and demotivating.

Q: How cold does it have to be for you personally to stop running outdoors?

A: For me, it’s never too cold, but I’m the 1%. I believe that as long as you are prepared for the weather by layering up, you’ll be able to run no matter what the temperature is. Once the thermometer drops below -25, the cold impacts my breathing pattern and it’s more difficult to run for a long period of time. For the runners out there, if you think it is too cold to run outside, listen to your instincts and jump on the treadmill/stationary bike/elliptical. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Q: What are some good tips for those just starting out in running around this time of year?

A: My best tip for those that are beginning to run is to listen to your body and to ease your way into the activity. If you go out there and increase your cardiovascular activity by (for example) 200% in a single week, you run the risk of injury. Start with a walk run (example: walk 3 minutes, run 2 minutes, repeat 5 times) to get your body accustom to the force, and then slowly increase your running duration by 10 percent, per week. If you start to flare up discomforting pains, listen to those as a warning sign that you are pushing your body too hard and it needs to rest.

Q: What are your top tips for someone who wants to run in the winter time?

1)      Layer up. Winter time is unpredictable and if you don’t keep your body warm, that could lead to some trouble. Just remember, during the winter months, it’s always better to be too warm than too cold. You can always pull off a layer while mid run.

2)      Wear technical apparel. Some people may not know the difference between a technical shirt and a cotton shirt except for the price tag, but wearing technical running gear is essential to keeping you warm and dry. A cotton shirt will absorb moisture and keep it stationary, resulting in you getting cold. A technical shirt will manage and wick moisture; regulating your body temperature better.

3)      Ensure you’re wearing the proper shoe. We’ve been told time and time again to wear the proper shoes, but when the ground is slick, this becomes even more important. Be sure to wear a shoe that will grip into the snow. This can either be a road shoe, as most road shoes with higher cushion levels have more outsole rubber, or you can try out a trail shoe which will give you optimal grip. You can also try out Yaktrax, which are like tire chains for your shoes.

4)      Embrace the cold. Yes, your motivation to get out and run in the freezing cold may be low, but the winter months are beautiful and it will give you a greater sense of accomplishment. Nothing says “I’m a true Canadian” like running outdoors during the winter months.

If you have trouble getting started, follow these tips! Grab a buddy, get some new workout clothes and start fresh! You can never have too many pairs of New Balance runners, as demonstrated by Trevor here.

 

 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

It sure is! Winter has officially arrived here in Winnipeg. With that comes the snow, the cold, and of course Christmas! That’s right it’s December 1^st, which means we’re less than a month away from many people’s favourite holiday! 

I’ve seen a lot of posts from people saying they’re already done their Christmas shopping and I keep wondering how these people accomplish this task so early. Maybe I’m just the kind of person who loves the holiday rush or loves waiting for everything to go on sale but either way, I usually finish my shopping 2-3 days before Christmas. Call me crazy, but it’s the way I do things.

In addition to the shopping, there is a lot going on around this time of year. Baking, spending time with family and friends, travelling, sales, so much! At Canadian Footwear, we’re not short of things going on either! We're decorated for the holidays, we've got fully stocked boots, runners, and dress shoes. We've also got some other reasons you might want to come visit us for!

Winnipeg Jets Promotion

If you’re a fan of our Jets, you’ll want to stay tuned for this promo. Starting this Friday, when you come into the store and make a qualifying purchase of $100 or more, you are instantly entered to win Jets tickets for home games throughout December! More information about this will be posted on our Facebook page later this week!

$20 Off!

We still have our $20 off promotion running through our Facebook  page and paper coupons. If you bring them into the store, you’ll receive $20 off a regular priced pair of footwear on a minimum $100 purchase. Who doesn’t love to save money around Christmas!

Fit Feet on The Street

With the weather getting colder every day, we encourage and happily accept donations of new or gently used winter boots for men, women and children. We are very low right now, and would be very happy with any donations. Consider taking a look through your closet for any unused footwear that we can donate to those in need. Any of our retail locations accept donations.

Anything else? Well we have lots of different shoes, boots, socks, runners, and accessories for those shoe lovers on your Christmas list. Come down to any of our three locations and pick out that gift for someone special! As always, keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for special promos and giveaways! 

Sock It To Me

Now that the leaves are gone, the weather is getting cooler and the snow has started falling, we all think about winter and the cold weather that is here for the next few months. We’ve all got our parkas, mitts, tuques and boots to get us through the days where we would rather stay cuddled up in front of the fire place.

It might sound crazy, but some people actually enjoy being outside in the winter. Either that, or they just grin and bear it because what else can you do? I’m talking about winter activity enthusiasts. Yes, there are some people who have the motivation to get up and go for a run on a -20 degree day instead of lying in bed just hoping that their swim suit will fit on reading week.

How do they do it you ask? How does someone look so warm when they’re only wearing running shoes or hockey skates on their feet? Do you want to know the secret? I just discovered it and my feet have never been happier.

Your feet will stay warm as long as they’re moving and as long as they’re dry. The biggest misconception is people often think you need to add layers of socks as opposed to finding the right kind of socks. So instead of finding the proper socks, some people will put about four pairs of regular socks on to try and keep their feet warm. The problem is, if you layer up a bunch of cotton pairs of socks thinking you’ll be warm, in about half an hour your feet will start sweating, and then your feet will start freezing from being wet. That is probably the last thing you want to happen on a -40 degree day.

 

Here are some examples of winter activities that require different socks:

Downhill Skiing

The only part of your body you can’t really move while skiing is your feet. They’re strapped into your skis making them stationary. It’s very important that you keep them warm, otherwise risk frost bite. Good materials to wear while downhill skiing:

• Merino wool
• Acrylic
• Silk
• Polypropylene

All of these materials will help wick away moisture and keep your feet nice and toasty.

Cross Country Skiing

The same applies to downhill skiing. Your feet are very much stationary during this activity and need something that will keep them warm and dry:

• Base layer (linear sock)Silk or polypropylene
• Insulating layer (wool)
• Wool socks with synthetic wicking liners

Winter Running

Your feet are the primary mobile part of your body in this activity. You only have runners to protect you from the elements, and unless they’re battery powered, they don’t protect you against cold. Here are some socks you should consider for winter running:

• Polypropylene
• Acrylic
• Coolmax

 

Again, all of these will wick away moisture, making sure that your feet stay warm and don’t freeze from your sweat. Sweat can also cause blisters and no one likes that.

Always make sure that you can wiggle your toes, leaving enough room so that air can circulate around them. Proper fit of your footwear gear is the single most important thing to do. Then the socks can do their job. As long as you protect yourself against the elements, winter is no challenge for you. So gear up, get out and enjoy the next few months of winter!

 

 

Remember, dry is warm! Check out our selection of socks here!

Winter In Style

Most of us don’t want to think about it…but winter is just around the corner. We all know it could snow any day now and we’re just thankful every morning when we can wake up and still see grass on our front lawn. Cold weather is no stranger to Winnipeg. Even though it’s a guest that’s typically unwanted, we have to grin and bear it for the four to six months that it decides to live in our city.

I love winter, but I would say the worst part is dealing with the cold weather. I’m all for the snow, even though the majority of people forget how to drive every time it falls. The cold weather just makes it so unappealing to get out of my cozy warm bed and venture outside. The struggle is bundling up to go outside, sweating on the bus, then freezing even more when walking back outside, then having to unbundle when you get to school or work. It’s a process, but it’s one we put ourselves through every winter.

Now the reality is, if you bus or drive to work, no one thinks about wearing warm boots because they assume they have a reliable form of transportation. So what happens when your car breaks down in rush hour or your bus stalls a mile from your work? Now you’re forced to walk in -30 degrees while it’s dark outside, and you are wearing heels or fancy dress shoes that aren’t built to stand up against the cold, or slippery sidewalks. That’s super unfortunate but that could easily be fixed.

Last year, I bit the bullet and bought a pair of Sorels. I knew I was going to be bussing to school every day and I figured, I’ll just keep a spare pair of shoes in my locker. Well that was probably the best decision I’ve made in my life to date so far. No, I’m serious. I know you remember the polar vortex we dealt with last year. I remember being so thankful that I was walking around in my comfortable, warm boots, as opposed to risking frost bite in my running shoes.

I know what some of you are thinking. Like me, a frugal shoe shopper, these boots are expensive. They are very good quality boots that stand up to the coldest temperatures of winter so it does make them a little pricy. What’s more important to you though, having a little less money in your wallet or dealing with frost bite? I don’t know about you, but frost bite sounds extremely unappealing. What I notice when I look at the Sorel boots specifically is how different they are. A few years ago, I was one of those people who refused to wear boots to school because that was uncool, but that was because Sorels were all big, clunky, and unattractive. NOW, well just take a look at all of these photos....

 

(PHOTOS FROM PINTEREST)

 

 

 

Just like many other styles of shoes, the Sorels now come in many different colors, styles and sizes. They are all super comfortable and, the best part, super warm. For Winnipeg winters, these boots will be your saving grace I can guarantee that.

If you’ve been in our store lately, you might have noticed our winter boots are lined up wall to wall.

 

(PHOTOS FROM OUR CANADIAN FOOTWEAR, ADELAIDE LOCATION)

 

 

Well that’s because we know the snow is coming and we want to be prepared so that YOU can be prepared. So you could always wait until the first snow fall to buy your winter boots. I mean, how fun is it to fight off the 500 other people who had the same idea, and fight over the last few pairs that are left in stock? Or you could just prepare yourself, and while everyone’s running around from store to store searching for their size, you could just enjoy yourself outside and build snowmen. My suggestion? Be prepared, because if you’ve lived here for more than one winter, it’s always best to just expect the unexpected.

 

 

Pain is Beauty? I Say No!

I recently arrived home from a week long trip in Hong Kong. Being my first time in Asia, I was a little nervous for the tight crowds. But on the plus side, I am a huge fan of people watching, which Hong Kong proved itself to be incredible for. 

While adventuring around, I noticed that the majority of the [over 7 million!] people who reside there, walked and took the MTR (subway) for transportation.

For being there only a week, my feet were an absolute mess. I actually took a photo of my feet on the last day of my trip because of how worn out they looked.

(I will not be showing that photo, I do not want to make anyone sick...) 

Now let me remind you, Hong Kong is very big on fashion trends and labels, therefore I was expecting to see people in crazy high heels and outrageous outfits - I couldn't have been more wrong (regarding shoes).

I guess because everyone uses their feet for transportation, it seemed as though almost ALL of the people were wearing sneakers - and when I say sneakers I mean NEW BALANCE! Sneakers seem to be part of the culture there. Even if someone was dressed up, more often than not there would be sneakers on their feet. Seeing this throughout the week of my holiday really has shown me just how fashionable you can make a simple pair of sneakers. The sport stores seemed to be busiest of them all, to the point where it was difficult to shop, let alone move. 

Here is a photo outside of the New Balance store inside of Hong Kong's largest shopping mall. 

With all of the sneaker inspiration I had in Asia, I have compiled a collection of fall looks to consider while throwing on a comfy pair of sneakers. 

All of the photographs below were sourced from Pinterest, if this photo should be labelled otherwise, let me know!

 

shop here

or here!

We Fit You #16: Royalty in the Peg

The sky may be grey today, but the streets in Winnipeg are packed with people hoping to get a glimpse of Prince Charles who is touring around our city. With a schedule posted online, people seem to be using their day to follow him around. Lucky for us, one of his stops was in the "Innovation Alley" located directly across the street from our main Exchange District location. 

The best part of the event was when ex bomber player - now restaurant owner Obi Kahn SPRINTED over to our store asking where he could find some milk for the Prince's tea... which led our owner Brian to run to a nearby Tim Hortons to fetch some milk. Who forgets to bring milk for the Prince's tea?! 

Here are some shot's of the event this afternoon...

There is the famous Prince Charles himself. 

Hopefully when he is finished, he will come in our store and buy himself some new shoes... Which pair do you think the prince should get himself? I think he would look pretty good in our men's Florshiem "Veblem". 

Link to our men's dress shoes: 

http://www.canadianfootwear.com/browse;cat,86113;Dress-Shoes

We Fit You #15: SHOE-ART

While scrolling throughout the inter-web, I stumbled across some incredibly creative, and mostly unwearable shoes. Interesting to look at, and presumably uncomfortable to wear. I would definitely put those Jil Sander wooden wedges or the Tamar Areshidze crystal wedges on display in my home as art. Some are beautiful, and some are just plain weird. 

Which are you're favourite? Is there a shoe trend that you think we should all just look at and not wear? 

Jill Sander

Georgia Blackmore

Tamar Areshidze

Alexander Mcqueen

Iris Van Herpen

Peter Popps

Anyone know this artist?

Guo Pei

Kyumbie

I found so many more fascinating shoes, but had to choose only a select few. If you come across some crazy shoes, link them below! I would love to see them.

We Fit You #14: Zomb-Ease

Happy Tuesday!

We Fit You #13: Shake Your Booty!

With summer rolling around the corner I am dreading to put myself into a bathing suit after being very undisciplined with my workouts this winter. To get motivated to start working out, I thought it would be fun to put together: THE BEST WORKOUT MUSIC FOR SUMMER 2014! I took a poll of suggestions (and my favourites) and this is the list I have compiled...

(click the song and the youtube video will open)

1.Running (Disclosure Remix) by Jessie Ware

2.Hot Stuff by Donna Summer

3.Hold On by Flume

4.All Night by Parov Stelar 

5.Beam Me Up (Jacques Renault Remix) by Midnight Magic 

6.Black Belt Jones by Dennis Coffey

7.Apache by Incredible Bongo Band

8.Jai Paul by BTSTU 

9.Odesza - How Did I Get Here

10.Summertime Sadness (Marcapasos Remix) by Lana Del Rey

11.Latch by Disclosure
12.Tombstone Blues by Bob Dylan (if you like the oldies - I was running and this song came on... it ended up being a awesome for working out) 

What are you're favourite songs to work out to? Or new good music for summer 2014? 

Comment below!