Oregon running has a way of keeping things honest. Between the wet roads, endless stretches of pavement, neighborhood hills, and those days when the forecast makes staying inside look pretty appealing, most of us aren’t chasing a personal record every time we lace up. Sometimes, getting out the door and simply enjoying casual miles is the whole point.
rabbit is a brand many runners will recognize for its running apparel, and it’s now bringing that name into footwear with a few launches this Fall – the first of which being the EZ Chaser. The EZ Chaser is the more relaxed member of the trio (which also includes a more speed focused shoe, as well as a trail shoe), built around the idea of a cushioned daily trainer for easy runs, recovery days, and all the miles that don’t need to be fast.
That’s a sensible place to start. The daily trainer is the shoe that often does the most work in a rotation, and it doesn’t need to be flashy to earn its keep. The question is whether rabbit can translate its comfort-focused apparel approach into a shoe runners will want to reach for day after day.
Looks
The EZ Chaser takes a straightforward approach to its design, with a mixed-yarn knit upper and a traditional road-running silhouette. This is an everyday trainer, and the design fits that role. There is an accessible Black Multi colorway – which can pair with most running outfits, as well as casual ones – as well as a stunningly bold (I love it) colorway appropriately called Adrenaline Rush Multi.
The knit upper gives the shoe a softer visual texture than the engineered meshes found on many performance trainers. It’s a relatively understated approach, which feels appropriate for a shoe intended to handle everything from dedicated training runs to casual movement around town.
Construction and Fit
The overall construction of this shoe emphasizes comfort, from the knit upper to the padded tongue and full-foam collar. Those details are intended to make the shoe feel accommodating over everyday mileage, but the actual fit will come down to how the shape and materials work with an individual foot.
One thing worth paying attention to with knit uppers is how well they balance flexibility and structure. A soft upper can feel comfortable when standing around, but to call it a running shoe it needs to hold the foot securely once the pace picks up – even if pace isn’t the ultimate goal. I do think it hits this well, but I really wouldn’t use this shoe for true runs where pace is the sole focus.
Specs
- Stack: 37mm heel / 32mm forefoot
- Drop: 5mm
- Weight: Approximately 9.14 oz (men’s size 9); 7.65 oz (women’s size 7)
Upper
rabbit uses a mixed-yarn knit with ventilation intended to promote airflow. Knit uppers are tough in running shoes, and I think rabbit makes the right choice here considering they are VERY up front that this is an easy running shoe. Heck, it’s in the dang name.
The tongue is made from perforated Lycra and incorporates padding, with a stretch gusset connecting it to the upper. A cushioned collar rounds things out around the ankle. On paper, it’s a comfort-oriented combination. The gusseted tongue helps keep it centered in chill runs.
Reflective details are included at both ends of the shoe, a useful addition for the shorter days that arrive each fall and winter in the Pacific Northwest. That being said, I’ve never been a fan of knit uppers in rainy or wet conditions – so if you feel the same way, you may have to be choosy about these.
Midsole
The EZ Chaser uses rabbit’s new Flowstate Foam is an E-TPU formulation. The company describes it as a soft foam designed to provide comfortable landings with some rebound. I’d call it a nice ride overall – not uber soft and mushy, though not bouncy either. It just feels very accessible.
The Blumaka insole – which also appears in their High Country trail shoe – rises a little bit on the medial side of the foot. The removeable insole also has some grippy components on the bottom to increase grip within the shoe itself. rabbit says the insole is guaranteed to last 1,000 miles, a claim that seems crazy (and we are unlikely to get there ourselves), but is worth keeping in mind as runners consider the shoe’s long-term value.
Of course, softness is subjective. Some runners want a plush landing that takes the edge off pavement, while others prefer a firmer platform that feels more direct. The important part will be how the foam behaves once it’s under load, including whether it maintains a consistent feel over longer runs and repeated training days.
Outsole
The EZ Chaser uses a gum rubber outsole that circles the bottom of the shoe with some exposed midsole in the center. rabbit describes as soft and grippy, with durability and additional rebound as design goals. We feel it does a good enough job. Gum rubber is gerneally viewed as grippy, but adds a little weight in the process than other composites.
Grip is particularly relevant in Oregon, where a dry summer road can turn into a wet, leaf-covered surface without much warning so perhaps Gum rubber is the way to go. To be honest, we haven’t really had a ton of experience of this construction outside of basketball shoes, but things felt pretty solid on damp surfaces overall.
Final
The rabbit EZ Chaser enters the daily trainer category with a clear purpose: provide a cushioned option for easy miles, recovery runs, and the regular training that forms the backbone of a running routine.
Personally, I find the EZ Chaser lands more as a travel running shoe for me. It’s stylish enough to pair with casual clothes, though when I am on vacation and am only planning on doing some maintainance miles, having a shoe that can double for running – and feel good doing so – is key. I have a handful of these, and the EZ Chaser falls here quickly for me.
Overall, a solid and respectible launch in this space from Rabbit – and I am wearing it around far more than I initially anticipated.
