2023 Running Shoe and Gear Previews -The Running Event: Hoka, Skechers, Brooks, Salomon, New Balance, Scott, Scarpa, Speedland, La Sportiva, Craft and Merrill

Reporting by RTR Team

RoadTrailRun will be at The Running Event is Austin Texas this week reporting on 2023 running shoe and gear introductions. 

TRE  is world wide trade show for running retailers and running media with products expected throughout 2024 shown. Note not all 2023 products are shown and some we saw we are not able to show or write about,

Day One

Salomon 2023 Trail Previews: Thundercross. Pulsar Trail Pro 2, Sense Ride 5 & Ultra Glide 2

Skechers 2023 Previews: Speed Beast, Ride 11, Max Road 6

New Balance 2023 Previews: More Trail v3 & Fuel Cell Elite v3

Merrell 2023 Previews: Sky Fire 2 & Long Sky Fire 2

Hoka 2023 Previews: Rocket X 2, Clifton 9, Challeger ATR 7

La Sportiva 2023 Previews: Jackal II and Jackal II BOA

Brooks 2023 Preview: Catamount 2 & Levitate 6

2023 Running Previews: Scott Sports Ultra Carbon RC

David Laney 2023 Craft Preview: NordLite & Pure Trail

Scarpa 2023 Introductions: Spin Planet and Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra G

Speedland GS: TAM Explained

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RoadTrailRun may receive a commission on purchases at the stores linked in this article. 

Your purchases help support RoadTrailRun and are much appreciated. Thanks!

Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

Comments and Questions Welcome Below!

Please let us know mileage, paces, race distances, and current preferred shoes

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Brooks Running Hyperion Max Multi Tester Review with 8 Comparisons

Article by Renee Krusemark, Ryan Eiler, and Sam Winebaum

Brooks Hyperion Max ($170)

Introduction

Sam: The Hyperion Elite is moderately high stack height (30mm heel / 22mm forefoot) up tempo trainer and racer. It is very decently light for its stack and stout outsole at 7.5 oz / g. The weight is due in large part to its DNA Flash midsole foam, a nitrogen infused EVA also found in the Hyperion Elite and trail Catamount.  It is plateless in being a single midsole foam with the stout outsole helping to provide a moderate rocker focused on the front of the shoe.

The upper is a stretch woven mesh with minimal overlays but with a stout higher heel counter.

I was curious to see how what is essentially a plateless version of the Hyperion Elite on a 5mm lower stack height would perform. I found the Hyperion Elite 1 quite firm, very very stable to a fault and not nearly as much fun as numerous competitors then or since. 

Would making the Max lower stack and removing the carbon plate improve the ride and utility  for what is not intended to be a marathon level stack super shoe but a lower slung faster training ride and maybe a plateless racer for those seeking a more old school riding very stable and superfoam enabled light shoe. 

Or would the Max prove “dated” in performance as we first saw it at the Running Event back in early December 2021 and if memory serves expected it much sooner, with clearly, as with many 2022 introductions, supply chain issues affecting,

2022 Super Sports Watch Comparison Review: Garmin Enduro 2, Garmin Epix Gen 2, and Apple Watch Ultra

Article by Sam Winebaum and Jeff Valliere

In the article we compare (in brief) three of 2022 super sports watches Garmin’s Enduro 2 and Epix (Gen2) the latest Apple Watch the Ultra. All three are state of the art sports time pieces with key strengths and ideal uses to consider.

361 Centauri Multi Tester Review: a traditional geometry daily road trainer with a super foam midsole 9 Comparisons

Article by Sam Winebaum and  Mike Postaski

361 Centauri ($130)

Introduction

Sam: The Centauri is a “traditional” higher drop (9mm)  flexible (not rigid rocker based) daily trainer with a supportive upper.  Most interestingly it has  a state of the art supercritical TPE foam midsole. I immediately sat up when I saw TPE in the specs as similar (and testing confirmed) lively foams are in the Xtep racers and the Craft Pro Endur, shoes among the best of 2022 for my tastes. 

Clearly designed to get a step up on other daily trainers in its category such as Saucony Ride, Mizuno Wave Rider, New Balance 880, ASICS Cumulus,  Brooks Ghost 15, and Nike Pegasus it is the first, as far as I can tell, in the category to have a truly modern supercritical foam midsole other than the Skechers Ride with its Hyperburst foam.

I was also surprised that this 36 mm heel (measured) / 27mm forefoot spec 9mm drop stack height shoe with such a stout upper and plenty of rubber came in at a reasonable 10 oz / 284g in my US9, of course helped by the lighter nature of its Engage TPE foam. 

And that they are also reasonably priced at $130 with no “super foam” mark up. I was eager to see how they rode, where they could fit in and especially if they could be a single shoe in the quiver daily trainer as most of its competitors have gone softer and less responsive. 

361° Spire Multi Tester Review with 7 Comparisons

Article by Jeff Beck and Sam Winebaum

361 USA Spire 5 ($160)

Introduction

Jeff: The Spire 5 seems like a big leap forward for the brand. Full disclosure, this is my first experience with 361, but I have paid attention to what they’ve put out and it always seemed to be a few years behind the others in technology and execution. Whether that’s fair or accurate is besides the point, here in 2022 they’ve put out a well-cushioned, if a little heavy, trainer with zero major issues. And they’ve put themselves on my radar for brands to seriously consider going forward.

Sam: The Spire is a traditional drop (9mm), very stable and substantial neutral trainer with a robust supportive upper, lots of durable rubber and a twist.. Instead of the usual EVA or EVA blends, its main midsole is state of the art expanded pellet PEBA as found, for example, in Saucony's Endorphin Speed and Pro.  

But don’t mistake this heavier 10.75 oz / 304g  US9 fairly low stack height 33 mm heel (measured)  / 24 mm forefoot (spec) for an uptempo weight or purposes shoe. I was curious to see what always energetic PEBA would do in a more classic daily trainer with a substantial outsole.   

40 Apparel, Sock, and Hat Gift Ideas & Mini Reviews for Runners: Brooks, Nike, Tracksmith, Ultimate Direction, Darn Tough, Iniji, Salomon, adidas Terrex. ON, Maloja, Oiselle, Skida, La Sportiva, Sunday Afternoons, Lume and More!

Gift Guide by the RTR Test Team

After thousands of miles in all conditions the RTR test team brings you its annual Apparel Gift Guide for Runners with ideas from Brooks, Nike, Tracksmith, Ultimate Direction, Darn Tough, Iniji, Salomon, adidas Terrex. Sunday Afternoons, Lume  and More! Many currently on sale for the Holidays.

Sunday Afternoons Hats for Winter Running and All Adventures Round Up Review

Article by Jeff Valliere with Peter Stuart

Jeff V:  First I need to say what an amazing company Sunday Afternoons is.  They offer such a wide variety of hats that suit just about any purpose, are highly functional, well designed, cleverly executed, top quality and are made from certified sustainable, socially and environmentally responsible, recycled fabrics.  

Beyond all of that, the people I have interacted with at the company are all just really nice, caring people, from the very top on down.  

Their hats for sun and summer are great! Let's take a look at their winter offerings.

La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX Multi Tester Review: Hard to Beat for Anything Winter and Unpredictable!

Article by Jeff Valliere, John Tribbia, and Jana Herzgova

La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX ($235)

PC: Jana Herzgova

Introduction

Jeff V:  La Sportiva shoes have long been my favorite for winter running. They are known and proven for really protective, durable, waterproof Gore Tex uppers, built in gaiters and best in class traction.  

The lugs are deep with a grabby lug design and the rubber is sticky, providing great traction on just about every surface except of course hard packed ice.  For more icy conditions, you can buy the Blizzard GTX (RTR Review) with built in studs, or add La Sportiva hobnails to any of these (I added a set of hobnails to my Blizzards for even more traction on steep, icy trails).  

The Cyklon Cross GTX is the newest addition to their progression of capable winter shoes, building off of the Cyklon (RTR Review) released last year with its similar midsole, outsole and BOA Fit System but no external GTX gaiter.  The Cyklon Cross GTX features a very well refined Gore outer shell and tall gaiter.  Then of course,  there is also the easy to use and secure BOA  closure system carried over from the regular Cyklon.

Pros:

Jeff V:  Security with the easy to use BOA Fit System, waterproof upper with built in gaiter, overall protection in every way, traction, reasonable weight, quick/agile/competent on rough terrain and bad conditions, easy on/off

John: The BOA and over-foot wrap provides a great fit, feels secure, and is incredibly easy to use. Built in gaiter is waterproof and provides excellent protection and warmth for cold days. Capable shoe for technical and snowy flat runs.

Jana: Overall, well designed winter beast: outstanding traction, protection, warmth

Cons:

Jeff V:  A bit pricey at $235, but will concede that you certainly get your money’s worth in performance, quality and longevity.  The price is also not out of line when compared to comparable shoes.

John: Price. Would also love to have a better zipper cover (like a velcro strap) to prevent icing over.

Jana: I don’t find the price here too high, or on a negative side, considering how well it is designed and crafted. The only downside I found is that the gaiter may not stretch around the ankle / above ankle area well enough for women with wider ankles. I don’t have that issue, however for some it may become an irritation.

Salomon Speedcross 6 Multi Tester Review: Tuned Up Icon!

Article by Dominique and Sam Winebaum

Salomon Speedcross 6 ($140, $160 GTX)

Dominique: My first pair of Speedcross was a second hand pair given to me by a Park City friend – the Speedcross 2, which I reluctantly tossed a few years ago. I am thrilled to test the Speedcross 6, all in black/phantom, an old favorite with new upgrades.  

First released in 2006, this classic model was a trailblazer back in the day, yet has remained popular (selling 1,000,000 pairs in Europe alone) and this despite Salomon’s newer line-up of trail running shoes that have outperformed the Speedcross. 

Trail runners are still hanging on to their Speedcross for a number of reasons, Contragrip® outsole & lug profile included, but notably, it has gained relevance as the”ultimate fashion sneaker” (see this article in GQ).  In short, trail runs and hikes, catwalks, and around town latte runs are all popular platforms for the Speedcross.

Sam: Despite running in just about every Salomon over the last 15 years, I have little history in the iconic Speedcross, the prior 5 being the only one I can recall testing. I found it excellent in deep snow and quite unstable anywhere else due to its blocky heel and stiffness, with an over-precise snug fit  but was a fine shoe to walk around town in! 

On the surface before trying them on the run all I could see was a nice 0.95 oz / 27g drop in weight, a new softer soft shell type upper vs the prior debris mesh and a new lug pattern. On the run (and I ran them with 5 on one foot and 6 on the other) the changes added up and positively so. Read on to find out how.

2022 Holiday Runners' Gift Guides and Savings!

Gift Guides

40 Apparel, Sock, and Hat Gift Ideas for Runners HERE

35 RecoveryShoes/Tools, Lighting and Run/Bike Safety, Packs and Vests, Poles, Sunglasses and Nutrition/Fueling Gift Ideas for Runners HERE

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We will be frequently updating our Holiday Savings. Purchases through the links here and to stores on our side banner help support RoadTrailRun and are much appreciated! 

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