Well I’m officially ready for the World Cup. Front side after the break.

I love the sash strip. Go USA!

Although the inventor of modern running shoes, Nike doesn’t have a reputation among distance runners these days. Said athletes usually wear one of five brands: Asics (which Nike first sold as a distributor in the ’60s), Mizuno, Brooks, Saucony or New Balance. You just can’t “do it” in Nikes anymore, at least without looking like a corporate shill.

Putting the brand aside for a minute, it’s obvious Nike’s top of the line running shoes are just as competent as others, even if they’re not sold in running boutiques. Vibram is the only manufacturer that may end up having a technological advantage. Until then, the rest are all designed with big R&D budgets, and they’re well-cushioned, stable, and light. The same is definitely true of the recently released Lunar Glides by Nike.

Despite its peculiar, almost off-putting looks, the shoe is radically functional. As part of Nike’s Free (aka barefoot) line of running shoes, the Lunar Glides are rated as a “10,” it being the most like a traditional shoe (”0″ being completely barefoot). They feel nothing like running in Five Fingers (although they look better), but deep grooves in both the out- and mid-soles make the Glides feel more flexible, while providing excellent grip at the same time.

Additionally, the “Free 10″ label is more than marketing parlance, as the shoes are super light—right on par with Asics. At the same time, they are comfortable and stable, thanks to thick mid soles with raised sides to discourage pronation. The lightness comes at the expense of durability though. Unlike most Asics, which use fish net-like fabric to protect the uppersole, the Lunar Glides sheath your feet in soft cotton-like fabric. They breathe like a dream, but they tear easily. After falling last month, I ripped a hole in the fabric near my big toe. My sock isn’t showing (yet), so hopefully the inner layer of fabric won’t follow suit.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of the Glides, however, is that they come with Nike+ baked in. Insert the pebble like monitor in a fitted hole underneath the insole, and you’re good—no exterior lace jacket required. Granted, a sensor holder works just as well, but they do run $10 extra. (The Glides retail for $80-100 depending on the store.) Although deserving of its own review, I’m sold on Nike+, as it encourages a faster pace better than a stop watch. Plus, it keeps track of all my stats, so I can compare past performance with present.

Back to the elephant in the room—are you capable of wearing the Swoosh and everything it stands for (blase status, a sweatshop past, corporate-ness) as a runner? You decide. Just know that Nike still makes great footwear. And Lunar Glides are equally as comfortable as $150 running shoes made by sexier brands.

Coming up next: Fibram FiveFinger Classic, Nike Free 3.0

Review based on retail pair of Lunar Glides provided by Nike.

I’ve always admired Michael Jordan’s athleticism, style, and grace in the air. He was the greatest basketball player ever. And even though I only owned a single pair of his pricey Air Jordans (version IV, thanks Mom!), I’ve always like the form factor of his shoes, especially the earlier models. So stick your tongue out, poke your air pocket, and check out the top 5 Air Jordans all time:

Oh, how I miss the advertising rivalries of the 80s.

Further reading:

• Puma vs. Adidas
• My attempts to be a shoe designer

After thanking the applicant for coming in, he stood up, pointed to himself with both thumbs in the air and said, “I’m your guy! Let me just tell you that I’m your guy!” Don’t tell me you’re my guy, show me! Worse still, who taught this kid to do this? Needless to say, it was an awkward moment.

I’ve had my fair share of bad interviewee experiences too, however. About three years ago, I was interviewed by Payless Shoe Source for some corporate position (don’t ask, not that there’s anything wrong with that, I’m just a Nike guy). The company had found my student resume while I attended BYU, and invited me to interview. I was flattered and obliged, but neither I nor the interviewer were impressed. I remember at the end asking him what he liked most about working for the discount shoe company, and his response was that he got to “wear business casual instead of suits.” It was awkward, funny, and yet, a little sad at the same time. I can’t imagine the primary reason for working somewhere to be the wearing of casual attire, that is, unless you have an unusual fetish for sweatpants.

I entertained and acted upon that dream from grade school to my late middle-school years. I would seclude myself in the corner of my shared room and draw shoe mockups with only a pencil. I must have gone through dozens of notebooks. Finally, when I was about 11 or 12 and through my own initiative, I decided to look up Nike’s corporate address and send them my work.

I stuffed a fat, borrowed-from-my mother envelop with at least 50-80 of my best designs. They were even cut out in shoe shapes and included basketball, baseball, football, cross-training, tennis, and running designs. I slapped on what was then much cheaper postage and sent it along with my employment dreams to Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.

A few weeks later, I received a rejection letter from Nike, which contained all of the designs that I sent in. They thanked me for the drawings and while informing me that they had “an in-house design team” said I should keep up the good work. The company also applauded my efforts and provided words of encouragement in whatever career I would end up pursuing.

Although I don’t work for Nike, and I’m not in the shoe industry, I am fortunate enough to be living that designer dream. I get to create prototypes of products, systems, and ideas and see them engineered to completion. I am thankful for all those that have helped and supported me along the way, and wish to do the same in return for those I come in contact with. I guess Nike’s motto should also be my own: Just Do It.