Two years, 12kg and many sleepless nights since babies first invaded the Keall household, I've finally a push to regain my fitness. Keen PC World readers will remember that a couple of years back I reviewed a pair of Adidas 1's - the German shoe maker's computer-controlled sneaker. Inside each Adidas 1's heel is a microprocessor that senses whether you're running on concrete or grass, then recalibrates the shoe's cushioning many times per second, via a system of motorised cables (together weighing around 40g) to give you a smoother jogging experience.

They cost around $400, batteries included.

Now I've dusted down my Adidas 1s (which remain in shamefully near-new condition) and actually used them to trot around the block a few times.

Frankly, over the past week I've found them to be a bit of a stiff shoe, even after with lots of stuffing around with the five different user-preferred ideal cushioning settings (there are two buttons on the side of each shoe to control these). Some running site bloggers have had a similar experience.

Anyway, here's my revelatory experience:
Like any computer, the Adidas 1 has to be started each time you want to use it. Last night, I forgot to push the button, on either shoe, and just ran. It felt fantastic. My feet were comfortable and free, no longer feeling like they were being hugged by a desperate wrestler. Forget its computer, and the Adidas 1 is a great shoe.