Brooks Running has always made great shoes, but they are fast becoming my go-to for both the roads and the trails. I’ve been fortunate enough to try several styles this year, and the latest and greatest to glide through Forest Park recently were the Cascadia 16 trail shoes from The Sasquatch Collection. This collection has an unmistakably unique style and it’s my new favorite obsession, brought to us by Brooks and Nooksack artist Louie…
Today in the RO Test Lab, we’re lacing up some cool looking trail shoes from Dynafit. Never heard of them? That’s OK, they were mostly foreign to us too, but they’re definitely not new. Dynafit is most well known in the ski and mountaineering worlds, where their brand is among the very best out there. A couple of years ago, they decided to push into the trail running scene as their mountaineering customers began demanding…
This year, I had an epic day on Mt St Helens that made me decide that I love hiking as much as I love running. After a trip up Dog Mountain a few weeks later, I solidified that desire and decided it was time to gear up. I’ve already got a lot of the stuff I need. Trail running has been my jam for a few years now. But I could easily justify a few…
Altra continues its dominance in the trail shoe market with its latest update to the Superior model. Version 4.0 is a major jump from 3.5, with many notable changes. The first big thing is the weight. Altra dropped 2 ounces with this latest edition, making it the lightest trail shoe in their lineup. They also made a major change to the midsole, moving away from Abound to something called Quantic, which is the name for…
Over here in the Central Oregon trail shoe test lab, I received a pair of Altra Lone Peak 4’s to eat up the high desert dirt and rocks. Having had the distinct pleasure of racing in a pair of Altra King MT 1.5’s for the last few months, I was excited to try something else from the Altra trail shoe arsenal. Therefore, without further adieu, let’s break it down. Whenever I do shoe reviews, I…
I had the opportunity to check out two different styles of Columbia trail running shoes. I was impressed with both of them in different ways. The Women’s Mountain Masochist IV is a running shoe that is truly built for the trails. It has great traction that Columbia calls Gryptonite – “more grip, less slip.” It also has what is called TrailShield, which protects the foot and allows for better traction. As for comfort, that was…
In February, I ran the Hagg Mud 25K. As anyone who has ever run a Hagg Mud event knows, this race lives up to its name! I wore water-resistent trail shoes with a very aggressive tread to combat the extreme slipperiness of the course, and for the amazingly sloppy trail sections they worked great. But the Hagg Mud course also includes some extended stretches of asphalt road, and on those paved sections my feet were…
Run Oregon receives and tests running shoes from time to time. This initial post about the UnderArmour Horizon RTT. Company: UnderArmour Shoe: UnderArmour Horizon RTT (mens) UnderArmour Horizon RTT (women’s) Specs (from UnderArmour): Durable PU & textile upper for breathability & reliable protection Reinforced welded synthetic in critical areas for increased durability Mesh heel with dual protective welds Molded collar foam package for added comfort Charged Cushioning® foam puck placed under the heel for responsive comfort Lightweight, full-length EVA…
The Ultra Train GTX is specifically designed for mountain training, a new product concept introduced by SALEWA. The shoe design is focused on offering excellent traction and stability, so you can fully concentrate on your training, whether long runs on mountain trails or uphill intervals. The shoe is built around MICHELIN®’s performance outsole, exclusively developed with SALEWA. Its special compound is combined with grooves and sculptures for outstanding traction and stability over hard and…
UnderArmour is gaining traction in the sports world, as they are represented by superstars like NBA MVP Steph Curry and MLB MVP Bryce Harper. Now Run Oregon is entering the shoe fray (albeit on a little different plane than these guys)! We were recently sent some running gear from their 2016 collection and they tossed in a couple of pairs of their new hiking boots. Obviously, they understood that Oregon is a perfect location to test…
