Baliston's Smart Sneakers Told Me I Suck at Walking

pcmag.com:

I already know I'm an average runner, but according to the Baliston by Starck smart sneakers, I'm not very good at walking, either. 

Launched by California-based futuristic footwear brand Baliston(Opens in a new window) in collaboration with French industrial designer Philippe Starck(Opens in a new window), the shoes feature a hidden compartment under the insole for a sensor module that tracks your steps and monitors your gait throughout the day to offer a walking analysis and recommendations via a companion app. 

Smart apparel and shoe inserts have let me down in the past, and connected sneakers seemed gimmicky, but the idea behind the Baliston by Starck is interesting, so I decided to give them a try. Baliston sent me a pre-release pair and gave me access to a beta version of the Baliston Connect app.

The Baliston by Starck shoes are available as part of a $249.99 annual subscription service that also gives you access to the Baliston Connect app (available for Android and iOS), which is what generates the walking health insights and recommendations. The shoes monitor the deterioration of their own cushioning, and Baliston is promising free replacements when needed for as long as you remain a member. The company recycles your old shoes. You will also receive a pair of personalized supportive insoles "informed by the biomechanical analysis of the wearer’s gait," the company says, though it isn't clear how long the shoes must be used to generate that analysis.

Baliston is limiting the initial run to 5,000 subscriptions and plans to add additional features and metrics through free software updates in the future. 

The Baliston by Starck shoes are 100% recyclable and made from just five components, the company says. They