Altra continues to iterate on their lineup and it has never been more prevalent than with their recent updates to the Olympus platform with the 3.0. This super cushioned trail shoe which just screams ultra level distances has always been a fan favorite for those who prefer comfort over ground feel. With the 3.0, Altra is going all in and has made a ton of changes and also is doing ...
Read More
The Brooks Cascadia platform is really their flagship trail platform, but it has always been a little hit or miss for a lot of people. One of the biggest complaints has been the narrowness of the shoe and especially the tapered toe, but this update to the Cascadia 13, while not dramatic, looks like it might just fix all those complaints and restore people’s faith in the model. It has ...
Read More
Hoka One One is always iterating on their lineup, but the Torrent adds something even newer... a performance trail race shoe. The Torrent is one of their lightest trail shoes ever and is designed to be a balance of performance, protection, and cushioning. We set out to see if they truly nailed it and from what we can tell, it's a really solid platform albeit with a few quirks. Construction: Upper The ...
Read More
The Brooks Ghost 11 is a great looking shoe from the outside. They are another of Brooks perennial mainstays with typically minor updates year over year. The primary change here comes in the heel mid, but subtle tweaks across the shoe make for some decent improvements. We do have some concerns however. Construction: Upper The upper on the Ghost 11 is all mesh with a blend of stretch and structural elements. This ...
Read More
Yes, it is that time of the year again, a new Clifton model from Hoka One One! This time just to make it more interesting, not only are we getting your typical Mesh version, but Hoka has taken a page from others like Altra, Nike, Brooks, and so many more and are introducing a Knit version of their flagship model. We’ll look at them side by side and note the ...
Read More
Topo Athletic never struggles to impress with their design process and commitment to their platform, the Ultrafly 2s are a perfect example of this. An update to what was one of our favorite cushioned road shoes, the 2s feature an updated mid and upper. Let’s see how this update stacks up. Construction: Upper The new Ultrafly 2 uses a new mesh upper which is definitely stronger than the prior version. It also ...
Read More
Brooks is one those brands who remains committed to their model lineup and with every update attempts to hit on the challenges of the prior version. The Glycerin 16 is perfect example of this. The Glycerin platform has always been the most comfort oriented model in the Brooks line-up, so let’s see if they stuck with the formula on the 16s. Construction: Upper The Glycerin 16 uses Brooks new 3D Fit Print ...
Read More
When the SolarBOOST was announced, we were excited to say the least. Adidas has been a bit dependent on the Ultraboost line for a while, so the idea of something, was truly exciting. On top of that, they hit the style on the head again coming up with something both performance oriented, but also entirely fashion forward. Construction: Upper The upper on the SolarBOOST is all techfit, multiple layers of knit fabric, ...
Read More
In the new world of recovery shoes, one of the biggest names in running has come to the table with a super clever spin on your typical slide. It’s the Hoka One One ORA Recovery Slide. The ORA is crazy light coming in just over 6 ounces, but where it really strikes a tone is in it’s midsole design. It’s literally the same oversized mid and Meta-Rocker from shoes like the ...
Read More
When Altra introduced the Escalante last year, it is safe to say everyone was a little skeptical. They were departing from their traditional mesh/overlay driven upper, they had swapped their entire midsole with this whole new thing called EGO... I mean, what were they thinking? Then everyone got their hands on it and minds were blown. The shoe was super light, responsive, and so comfortable. The question was, how were ...
Read More