Greetings Luna-tics!

Happy New Year, Happy New Contest and Sale:

• New Monthly Fan Pic Contest
• Monkeys Set to Invade Salt Lake City
• BirthdayShoes ATS Review
• Barefoot Ted Ramps Up Blog
• Patrick Sweeney Wins 1/2 Marathon in Lunas
• This Weekend Only: Free International Shipping

New Monthly Themed Facebook Photo Contest

(Say that five times fast!)

Our Weekly Runner Poll is going so well, we thought we’d add a new way to win stuff! Each month, we’ll ask you Lunatics to post photos on our Facebook wall based off a specific theme. We’ll choose 3-5 photos to go in our monthly Full Moon Newsletter, one of which will win our Fan Photo of the Month, winning the pic poster a Luna-related prize.

As we posted on Facebook last week, this month’s theme was Christmas/Winter. At the bottom of this newsletter you can find all of the finalists and the winner of this month’s prize: 2 pairs of toe socks.

Our new theme for January: Wet and Pet! To participate, go to Facebook and post photos of you and man’s best friend (or any other pet you may have) going on a rainy or wintry run. We’ll post the winner in February’s Full Moon Newsletter. The winner will get a prize package that includes a t-shirt, toe socks, and a Luna bracelet!

BTF’s Wet and Pet example (minus the Lunas):

Luna Heads to Outdoor Retailer Expo

After a successful trip to Austin for The Running Event, we’re ready to show off what’s new at Luna at OR in Salt Lake City later this month. We have a bunch of new and exciting changes coming this spring and Summer, and the Outdoor Retailer Expo marks the start of our 2012 journey.

Stay tuned to next month’s Full Moon Newsletter for some tidbits about what we will have revealed at OR!

BirthdayShoes Reviews the ATS

BirthdayShoes is at it again! After a great review of the LeadCat in November, the minimalist running site tried out a more winter appropriate model: the ATS. Check out their in-depth review, which is based off hundreds of miles of testing on tough terrain.

BFT Blogs

Barefoot Ted’s been on a roll lately over on his blog, Barefoot Ted’s Adventures. Be sure to check out his latest thoughts on hunting as dance and his response to Christopher McDougall’s latest inspiring article.

Patrick Sweeney Snags 1st at Operation Jack 1/2 Marathon

Sporting his trusty Original Lunas, Luna runner extraordinaire Patrick Sweeney rocked Manhattan Beach and earned a win. Way to go Pat! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Patrick’s always entertaining blog, Bourbon Feet, where he has more on the Operation Jack 1/2 marathon, other races, and more.

This Weekend Only: Free International Shipping

We want to show our appreciation to our oversees Luna-tics who have to wait an extra few weeks and spend a few extra bucks to get their sandals. While we can’t do much about the wait, we can lower the cost a bit by offering free shipping for international customers through Sunday January 8th!

If you live outside the U.S., simply place an order on any Luna product and your sandals will arrive free of shipping charges.

Our Favorite Lunatic Pics and Contest Winner

And this month’s winner is…

Kate Kift sporting her “Snowflake” Tutu in New York. Email us with your address and shoe size Kate and we’ll get you those toe socks!

Happy Trails from Seattle,
The Monkeys

Greetings Lunatics!

We have some big changes, new products, and a weekly contest to talk about as we head into fall:

• Brand new lacing system for all sandals
• Persistence Hunt results
• Lunatics Bracelets
• Full Moon Gathering and Trot on Monday
• Upcoming events we’re sponsoring
• Win a t-shirt with our weekly Facebook Contest
• This months best fan pics

Our New and Improved Lacing System

We are really excited to announce the launch of our new Elasticized Lace attachment system for our entire line of sandals! We are continually trying to improve on our designs and we think this is a big breakthrough. The new Elasticized Lace attachment system eliminates the wear on the lace at the toe hole, makes our sandals completely flat underfoot, is still interchangeable with traditional laces, looks much cleaner, and uses a strong flexible ribbon between the toes that is the most comfortable solution yet!

This system uses a plug that is countersunk, making it completely level with the bottom of the sandal. The ribbon between the toes allows for even the narrowest toe gaps to be comfortable, eliminating the need to use a narrower lace.

All traditional laces will still be tied with the traditional knot, but with this countersunk method the knot will sit deeper in the sandal making it less prone to abrasion and longer lasting. The traditional laces also now include a washer between the knot and sandal to prevent the knot from pulling through the toe hole. All future orders of extra traditional laces will now come with a black washer to install with the lace.

Antelope - 1, Lunatics - 0

Barefoot Ted, the Luna team, and a handful of other Luna-tics spent a weekend in the Red Desert of Wyoming running after antelope in our first attempt at persistence hunting. What is persistence hunting? Watch this video. We chased, we ran, we played, we learned, and we ultimately got left in the dust by the second fastest land mammal in the world (second only to the Cheetah).

We learned a lot and had a blast! Next year we will try again, probably with an animal that is a little bit slower. Keep an eye on the Luna blog for a full report. Also, check out John Durant’s blog reports of the adventure on hunter-gatherer.com.

Lunatic Bracelets

Made from recycled elasticized laces and stamped with our signature LUNA logo, the Lunatic Bracelet is just another way to show off your Luna love, even when you’re not wearing your sandals.

Sizing corresponds to the lace width: ⅜” laces for small wrists, ½” for average sized wrists, and large-wristed folks should go for the ⅝” option. The vegan bracelet is one size fits all (the laces are elasticized after all!).

Half of every $12 bracelet purchased is donated to Caballo Blanco’s nonprofit organization Norawas, which works to support and reinvigorate an ancient and unique running culture that has endured from long before the arrival of Europeans on their continent. Supplies are limited to the amount of scrap material we have, so get yours now!.

Full Moon Gathering & Trot

Our Full Moon Lunatic Gathering and Trot will meet Monday, September 12th, at 7:30pm (around sunset) in Volunteer Park in front of the Seattle Asian Art Museum. We’ll run an easy paced, meandering 2-3 miles through the neighborhood with big smiles on our faces and a big moon in the sky. See you there!

Upcoming Events

• NYC Barefoot Run: One final reminder that the NYC Barefoot Run is almost upon us! Join Barefoot Ted, Christoper McDougall, Professor Daniel Leiberman, John Durant and other champions of the human foot September 24-25 for clinics, a minimalist footwear Expo, and, of course, a barefoot run through the streets of New York.
• 2011 Deadman Peaks Trail Run: This ultra is a rugged 50+ mile ultra-running race outside of Cuba, New Mexico that follows the Continental Divide Trail. The race takes place October 22, and 100% of the race proceeds benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Win a Luna Shirt with our Weekly Facebook Contest

We recently began a weekly poll on our Facebook page asking you how many miles you’ve ran in the last week. Well now we’re upping the ante and giving away a free t-shirt a week to a lucky winner of our contest. Here’s how it works:

1. “Like” our Facebook page (if you haven’t already)
2. Every Monday when we add a post to our wall asking how many miles you ran last week, reply with your answer
3. We will already have a random magic number between 1-100 in mind; if you hit that number, you win!

Waiting for the Catamount or Leadville?

We’re expecting to have new soling materials back in stock by the end of September, so if you’d like ot be placed on a waiting list for the Catamount or Leadville send your name and email address to info@lunasandals.com with the subject line “Put me on the waitlist.”

As soon as we receive the materials needed to make your sandals, you’ll be the first to know!

Our Favorite Lunatic Pics

Below are some of our favorite fan shots from the last month or so. Want to show us pics of you and your Lunas out in the wild? Send them to: dylan.romero@lunasandals.com or simply post them to our Facebook page.

Happy Trails from Seattle,
The Monkeys

Greetings Lunatics!

It’s been a busy (in a good way) month at Luna Sandals. Here’s an update on what’s been happening recently at Luna, as well as a preview of things to come:

• Two new Luna sandals now available
• Luna Sandals made a big splash at the Outdoor Retailer Expo
• BFT and Bookis are getting ready to run the Leadville Trail 100
• Run and chat with other minimalist footwear fanatics at the NYC Barefoot Run
• The Full Moon Gathering and Trot returns
• Full Moon Discount and Catamount & Leadville Wait Lists
• Our Favorite Lunatic Pics

Introducing: The LeadCat & Leadville Pacer

We’re stoked to announce two new additions to the Luna line of sandals. Barefoot Ted will be running in Leadville, CO wearing the LeadCat, and the Leadville Pacer is $10 off for a limited time (see the Full Moon Discount below). Here’s more info on each new Luna sandal:

The Leadville Pacer: Equipped with a rugged 8mm neoprene sole, the Leadville Pacer is a slightly leaner version of the original 10mm-soled Leadville. This new addition to the Luna family comes with either a naked top or copper brown suede footbed. The Leadville Pacer starts at $75 ($65 if you order before Sunday!).

The LeadCat: Combining the Leadville Pacer’s 8mm neoprene sole with the Catamount’s Shell Cordovan leather footbed, the LeadCat is a premium sandal that takes the best from both the Leadville and Catamount to create a highly durable, highly versatile sandal. A new countersunk knot in the toe hole means your laces sit completely inside the sole of the sandal, protected against ground wear. Unlike the sandwiched knot found on the Catamount, the countersunk lacing system still allows you to switch out laces should you want to try something different. The Lead-Cat runs at $125.

Luna Lands at the Outdoor Retailer Expo

The Outdoor Retailer Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah was a huge success and a great time for BFT and the other monkeys who attended (watch Ted’s interview at the Luna booth). The expo was packed to the gills with all sorts of innovative outdoor gear, and as a result of the show, we’re receiving some positive attention from the outdoor tech community. We’re thrilled and humbled to be included in Gear Junkie’s “Best of Show” along with some other great products.

We also want to take some time to thank Zac Merten of Waterdrop Workshop for building our beautiful booth. Zac’s handcrafted creations are built with salvaged and recycled materials, and the fine level of craftsmanship is something you have to see to appreciate.

The Leadville Trail 100

Barefoot Ted and Bookis are gearing up to take on the Leadville Trail 100 Ultra Marathon, a challenging run through the Rockies with elevations ranging between 9,200-12,620 feet. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for pics from the event, including glimpses of the new Lead-Cat with a prototype lacing system.

2nd Annual NYC Barefoot Run Reminder

Luna Sandals is sponsoring this two day barefoot running event for both curious beginners and experts alike. Come join us on September 24-25, 2011 for clinics, minimalist footwear expo, talks, discussions and running with Christopher McDougall, Barefoot Ted, Professor Daniel Leiberman, Barefoot Ken Bob, Erwan Le Corre, Lee Saxby, Jason Robillard, Michael Sandler, Dr. Daniel Howell, Esther Gokhale, John Durant, and more. Check it out here: nycbarefootrun.com.

Full Moon Gathering & Trot

Our Full Moon Lunatic Gathering and Trot will meet Saturday, August 13th, at 9pm in Volunteer Park in front of the Seattle Asian Art Museum. We’ll run an easy paced, meandering 2-3 miles through the neighborhood with big smiles on our faces and a big moon in the sky. See you there!

Full Moon Discount: Leadville Pacer

The brand new Leadville Pacer can be yours for $65 (regularly $75) if you order before 6:04 AM PT (Seattle sunrise) on Sunday, August 14th. No coupon codes required, just add it to the cart and check out. Happy full moon!

Waiting for the Catamount or Leadville?

The Lunatics have been going crazy for our Catamount and Leadville sandals, which led to a supply shortage. We’re expecting to have new soling materials back in stock by the end of September, so if you’d like to be placed on a waiting list for the Catamount or Leadville send your name and email address to info@lunasandals.com with the subject line “Put me on the wait-list”.

As soon as we receive the materials needed to make your sandals, you’ll be the first to know!

Our Favorite Lunatic Pics

We asked you Lunatics to send us photos of you wearing your sandals, and below are some of our favorites. Want to show us pics of you and your Lunas out in the wild? Send them to dylan.romero@lunasandals.com.

Happy Trails from Seattle,
The Monkeys