I have to start this review with a confession. The first time I put on Hoka’s Bondi 8, my first thought was: “Do these shoes make my feet look big?” The cushion on the bottom that had me at first feeling a little bit like a duck was actually a great protection for me from the puddles of winter running. So I guess those ducks have it pretty good and can teach us runners a…
Today we are testing and reviewing the Naked T/r trail racing shoe from Naked Sports Innovations. For those familiar with Naked, you know they produce high quality belts and vests. The T/r shoe is their first foray into the crowded field of trail shoe manufacturers, but what a way to jump in! First, let’s address the elephant in the room and talk about the laceless technology. Several brands are venturing into the BOA lace system,…
When I was preparing for my first major trail race, I was informed it was essential to get good trail shoes. After a few years running in various road shoes across diverse terrain, I didn’t get what the big deal was about these supposedly super important “trail shoes.” The wiser runner told me that the right trail shoes would have me running up and down mountains like a billy goat. With my new Jackal Women’s…
As runners, we all put our feet through the ringer. From soggy runs in the winters to toasty, sweaty runs in the summer, and pounding hard pavement step after step to accidentally kicking roots and rocks out on the trails, our feet really take a beating. Therefore, it seemed like a great time to review Pillow Slides, a sandal with support and comfort in mind. Construction: These slides are made with 4.5cm thick EVA compression…
The new Brooks Levitate StealthFit GTS 5 has finally arrived and we’ve been putting them to the test. Brooks is marketing this shoe as “the most streamlined support shoe we’ve ever made” and I have to say that I think I agree with them. The knit upper is amazing and very adaptable which conforms to your foot seamlessly with the integrated tongue. Brooks states that the Levitate StealthFit GTS 5 are a supportive trainer with…
It was sometime during the pandemic that I opted to stop wearing “real pants.” Joggers or running pants were the only options for my comfort level and if I could live in slippers too, I was going to try. Well, slippers would make the long miles a bit too challenging, but Brooks made something that felt pretty close. The Levitate StealthFit GTS 5 just might just be the most comfortable running shoes in my growing…
The Saucony Peregrine trail shoe has been around long enough to be on version 11, but just released in January 2021 is a special version: the ST. Abbreviated for “soft terrain”, these shoes caught my eye first, and my heart after just a few miles. My favorite feature is the outsole. I’ve made the tradeoff of poor traction for other features in my favorite running shoe and I’ve finally found a pair where I don’t…
When I first heard that we would be testing out a new Puma running shoe I got giddy as I can’t remember the last time Puma made a new running shoe! Not only does the shoe look fast, it has Puma’s new INNOPLATE which is their carbon plate to compete against the likes of Nike, Brooks, Adidas, and so on. First off, lets go over the good! I absolutely love the new upper on these.…
When I first started running, over 10 years ago, I was like many new runners who just pulled on whatever tennis shoes I had in the closet. I had no idea if this February Resolution (I was a little too late for New Year’s) was going to stick, so my whole wardrobe for the first few weeks was whatever cotton shirt, sweatpants, non-work socks, and shoes with laces I could find. After my first 5K,…
This has been my first pair of ASICS since some old sneakers I had in high school, and now, I wish I hadn’t waited so long to try another pair. The ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 22 are the new lightweight, neutral running shoe offered by the company. After shipping issues (my fault) and about 100 miles put through them, let’s get to the fun part. First off, lets get the specs out of the way first. The…
