Twin brothers Adam and Ryan Goldston, owners of , found success for one very simple reason: they鈥檙e a couple of cheaters. The NBA in 2010 because its proprietary spring increased vertical leap, providing what the league called 鈥渦ndue competitive advantages.鈥
鈥淚t was the best thing that could鈥檝e happened to us as a brand,鈥 says Adam. 鈥淲e were sold out for months.鈥
Last summer the brothers introduced the , APL鈥檚 first running shoe. That it looks flashy should come as no surprise: the Goldstons鈥 father, Mark, helped develop the iconic in 1989. But the shoe is also loaded with technology that the company says will make you faster with less effort. 鈥淥n average, runners using our shoes were taking nine seconds off their mile time,鈥 says Ryan.
Here鈥檚 how it works:
1. A hinge pin secures the springs and keeps the top and bottom plates aligned.
2. Vent holes in the top plate allow air to circulate through the foam for better spring compression.
3. The shoe鈥檚 top plate acts as a platform for energy transfer.
4. A nest of EVA foam adds cushion and holds the springs in place.
5. Six compression springs in the forefoot create extra propulsion, which APL claims will help you cover ground more quickly.
Four More Routes to an Undeserved Personal Best
: Negative ions embedded in the fabric allegedly increase muscle power in short bursts of high-intensity activity. $60.
: Felt鈥檚 first fat bike with an electric motor makes going uphill easy in any season. Just be ready for the ridicule. $5,799.
: The code name stands for 4 Minute Mile. Currently in development at Arizona State University, the jet-powered, horizontal-propulsion pack claims to turn anyone who wears it into Roger Bannister.
: The University of Massachusetts, with funding from DARPA, the Defense Department鈥檚 R&D arm, is working to harness the sticking power of the gecko, which could allow users to scale walls and even glass.