If we were to tell you that Brazil was producing really solid and affordable running shoes, what would your reaction be? If we were to say that running in South American is having a moment unlike no other and there are brands the size of Nike or 361 in those markets, would it surprise you? We asked because it surprised us and after stumbling on an Instagram post for Olympikus, we reached out to them in an effort to bridge that gap and provide a look into what is happening in that market. To that end, we got a chance to look at their flagship consumer offering, the Olympikus Duoflow Corre 1, so here goes!
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Killer shoes from the biggest running brand in Brazil, who knew?!?!
- Weighs in at 9.4oz or 266g for a US Men’s 9.
- Features an 8mm heel/toe drop.
- Retails at R$ 349,90 (~$70 USD) and comes in 5 colors for Men and Women.
Run Test
Olympikus is the biggest name across numerous sports in Brazil, but in particular, running, and they are the sponsors of the largest marathons in Brazil year over year. We dare to put them at a level of Nike in the US or even 361 in China, but if the shoe fits… Note they do have numerous offerings across their running lineup for varying foot types, but the Duoflow Corre 1 is the most representative of their whole lineup.
The shoe comes in a wide variety of colors all evoking what you might think of when your mind goes to Brazilian culture, but also broad enough that you can find something simple if you like as well. No joking that it was fun at getting shoes from a whole different continent and one we would never have expected, so even opening the box felt a little exciting. At first glance, the Duoflow Corre 1 is probably reminiscent of a Nike shoe you may have tried prior, something like a Vomero, but only visually. When you get down into materials and design, things are totally different and there is a lot more here.
The upper on the Corre 1 is very airy, it breathes remarkably well especially in that forefoot where the mesh really opens up. As you move back the shoe, you will notice a double lacing design featuring standard holes as well as loops. This helps wrap the tongue around the top of your foot even more. As we get to the mid-foot you get a bit of stability, but then they add padding for the collar which then migrates to an internal heel counter which encapsulates almost the entire heel. It finishes with a heel pull for easy on and off. Overall the design feels very well thought-out. Note the toe box can run a little narrow on the medial side just off your big toe, but there is some overall width to the toe box despite the point.
The midsole on here is dual-density providing a softer landing experience for the heel but then trailing off to a somewhat less padded forefoot which helps with acceleration and toe-off. This won’t feel dramatically different from many shoes you have tried, it is the standard foam mix, but the interesting element they have added is actually in the outsole. There is this padded rail that runs down the center of the foot separating lateral and medial mapping to where people typically land and push off. This is actually a really clever design and makes for an interesting feel during the stride. The only other place we have seen this is on a shoe like the MBT Huracan, and it actually does seem to help focus your foot into the proper take-off position.
Construction: Upper
The upper on the Corre 1 is a knit base they refer to as Hypersox with a hyper breathable and large celled toe box. They use a multi-faceted (eyelets and loops) lacing system allows for a very efficient lock-down. They have also included elements like reflective tape on certain seams as well as traditional Ortholite insoles.
Close up on the knit toe box lacing column well padded heel, counter, and pull Ortholite insole
Construction: Midsole
The DuoFlow midsole features a double layer of EVA transitioning between soft and firm. By placing a larger amount of softer EVA in the heel and then transitioning to firm at the forefoot allows for varying types of foot strikers to use the shoe efficiently.
Midsole – Lateral front Midsole – Lateral rear Midsole – Medial rear Midsole – Medial front
Construction: Outsole
The outsole is a mix of their Gripper and Gripper Plus technologies which are two forms of no-slip rubber some of which are softer helping with the cushion as well as providing grip.
Style & Aesthetics
Olympikus in general has some great styling across their entire lineup. While the Corre 1 comes in a nice variety check out the Printed ALG version for a really nice color combo. Their design isn’t re-shaping running, but their use of color and their palettes are really nice.
Overall Conclusion
Our time with the Duoflow Corre 1 has been great and we can’t thank Olympikus enough for letting us take a look at them because is amazing to see a shoe of this quality and performance which has been relatively unknown to us. The shoe will frankly work for a lot of people and it is a great everyday runner. This is a shoe that you can easily wear or half marathon and potentially even longer very comfortably. It is not a high-performance shoe, but it has a nice light weight and plenty of cushion. If you can figure out how to order it in your country, then it is also very cost-effective for the quality of the shoe you’re getting. So if you’re feeling adventurous and want to give it a shot then definitely check them out and see what you think. It is always nice to have something different and cool when you’re out there running especially something that no one else will have.
