EXCLUSIVE: Clarks Wants to Put You in a Walking Shoe for Walking — Not a Runner

In its 200th year of business, Clarks is introducing a new shoe to pose the question: Are you wearing the right footwear?

The Clarks Pace is the English brand’s first walking shoe and a proposition to stop wearing running shoes for walking. Specifically designed for walking as fitness, two Infinity Energy capsules are embedded in the sole to compress and rebound with each step. Dual-layer C360 foam balances cushioning and stability, while an S-Curve molded heel seeks to eliminate any break-in period and protect the Achilles tendon.

“This launch represents years of research and innovation, and a major milestone for Clarks,” Dawn Porto, global head of product for Clarks, told WWD’s sister publication Footwear News in a statement. “Pace is built specifically for walking, with a science-backed design that supports your feet and gives you more energy in every stride, helping you walk further, for longer.”

Ahead of the Pace’s launch, Clarks has obtained recognition from the American Podiatric Medical Association for the silhouette’s promotion of healthy foot function.

The company points to an incongruence in recent studies, finding one in three Americans walk for fitness, but also 74 percent of people do so in running shoes rather than those designed specifically for walking. Distinct gaits are used for the two activities, and thus the effect of shoe tech will be different in each.

A breathable knit upper is rendered with modern bent and will be available in seven colorways each for men’s and women’s sizing.

The Clarks Pace will release Aug. 1 through Clarks’ website and stores, as well as select retailers. Pricing is set at $140.

To promote the launch, a “Set Your Pace With Clarks” Strava challenge will invite users to walk at least 20km from Aug. 9 through Aug. 22. All participants will get a 25 percent discount on the shoe, and those who complete the challenge will have a chance to win a year’s supply of Clarks footwear.