Testbericht: adidas TERREX Soulstride Flow - ab in die Natur (German)

Artikel von Maren Müller

Terrex Soulstride Flow (140€)

Einleitung

Seitdem ich letztes Jahr von einem Freund auf ein Trailrunning-Event mitgenommen wurde und dort meinen ersten Trailrun gemacht habe, hat mich die Begeisterung für die kleinen, verschlungenen Trails und das Laufen über Stock und Stein gepackt. Dabei sind die richtigen Schuhe und das richtige Outfit von großer Bewandtnis, denn jedes Stolpern oder Rutschen kann im Gelände große Auswirkungen haben. adidas TERREX widmet sich dem neuen Trailrunning-Trend und hat das Ziel, Trailläufer*innen mit Innovationen und neuen Technologien ein bestmögliches Lauferlebnis zu ermöglichen. Umso gespannter bin ich, den adidas TERREX Soulstride Flow zu testen, der ein hohes Maß an Komfort und Vielseitigkeit verspricht. In diesem Sinne: Let’s go for a run. 

Pro:

• gute Dämpfung

• vielseitiger Trainingsschuh

• angenehmer Tragekomfort

• atmungsaktives Mesh

Contra:

• recht grobes Stollenprofil und dadurch wenig Grip

• wenig Halt im Mittelfuß

• wenig Zehenschutz

ASICS GEL-Kayano 30 Initial Video/Written Review: Massive Update!

Article by Sam Winebaum

ASICS GEL-Kayano 30 ($160)

The Kayano ASICS's stability daily trainer gets a truly "massive" and total overall for its 30th edition.

Watch the GEL-Kayano 30 Initial Video Review (12:40)

In the video, I take the Kayano 30 for a first 10K run and share all the details and my initial run impressions. Let's just say positive as while I have tolerated"prior Kayano's support "pieces": this Kayano is for sure finally both now pronating and neutral runner (as I am) friendly, and is more much deeply cushioned and lively riding.  

Testbericht: adidas Eyewear SP0062 & SP0077 Sonnenbrille (German)

Artikel von Markus Zinkl

adidas Eyewear Adidas SP0062  (€209.00) & SP0077  (€179.00)

Einleitung

Im Bereich der Sport-Sonnenbrillen hat Adidas eine beeindruckende Auswahl an Modellen zu bieten, die sowohl durch ihr sportliches Design als auch durch ihre technischen Merkmale überzeugen. In diesem Testbericht werfe ich einen genauen Blick auf zwei Modelle: die Adidas SP0062 und die Adidas SP0077. Diese Sonnenbrillen wurden speziell für den Einsatz bei sportlichen Aktivitäten entwickelt und versprechen einen zuverlässigen Schutz vor Sonneneinstrahlung, Blendung und schädlichen UV-Strahlen. Beide Brillen kommen mit einem stabilen Brillenetui inkl. Mikrofasertuch. Ich werde die technischen Details und die Leistung beider Modelle beleuchten, um euch bei der Entscheidung zu helfen, welche Sonnenbrille am besten zu euren Bedürfnissen passt. Dazu gibt es noch zu sagen, dass beide Modelle mit unterschiedlichen Gläsern erhältlich sind. Die Gläsertypen beider Modelle findet ihr jeweils im Testbericht.

Ultimate Direction Women’s Aerolight Wind Jacket & Velum Skirt Reviews

Article by Dominique Winebaum

Ultimate Direction Women’s Aerolight Wind Jacket ($170) & Velum Skirt ($70)

Hoka Zinal 2 Multi Tester Review: Super Light Trail Race Rocket! 12 Comparisons

Article by Adam Glueck,  Jeff Valliere, Dom Layfield, John Tribbia, Jacob Brady and Sam Winebaum

Hoka Zinal 2 ($180)

Introduction

Sam: the Zinal is the second edition of Hoka’s sub maximal race shoe, clearly aimed at full speed race efforts over shorter to mid distances on semi to moderately technical terrain.  Courses like, Sierre-Zinal for example, with a 7200 foot initial climb, then fast rolling gentle trail and even gravel roads, concluding with a 3,600 foot exciting drop to the finish line described as an “elevator shaft” for its steep, fast and precipitous nature. 

For the second edition, Hoka increases the lug depth to 5mm of Vibram Megagrip with Traction Lug, while decreasing the stack height of foam a few millimeters giving  the shoe a new rocker geometry with a more pronounced  front flex point  geometry, and finally tops it with a thin race focused mesh upper. It drops 29 g to an amazing 7.15 oz / 203g in my US8.5 sample. It now would seem to far more clearly compete with sub max trail race shoes such as the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar and NNormal Kjerag in weight and capabilities. 

Most of my trail runs are shorter in length and often incorporate a variety of terrain and often some pavement and pass as my tempo or fartlek days with shoes such as the Zinal are what I often reach for but I found the v1 quite harsh and stiff and other recent go to’s such as the Pulsar SG, Kjerag, and Saucony Sinister faster and more fun  so I was eager to see how the newest Zinal compared.

Dom:  I was not one of the original Zinal reviewers on RTR, but based on their enthusiastic opinion, I purchased a pair, and was not disappointed.  While Hoka had always made great super-cushioned shoes that are a great fit for my 100-mile races, their shoes were not great choices for shorter trail racing.  The Zinal, being lower to the ground, was more stable, light and fast.  It was an excellent shoe that I wore in a couple of fifty-mile races and one 100 km.  A well-balanced shoe I could find little to nitpick about.  However, Salomon dropped a bombshell into the running world with the Pulsar, demonstrating that trail shoes could be made much, much lighter.  So my wishlist for the Zinal 2 was really only this: make it lighter.  And wham, Hoka just delivered!

Salomon 2024 Trail Running Previews: all new S/Lab Ultra, Pulsar Trail Pro 3, Ultra Flow, Speedcross Peak, & Genesis and S/Lab Pulsar 3 update

Article by Sam Winebaum

Salomon surprised us with a digital preview of their 2024 trail running line up this week with all new  S/Lab Ultra, Pulsar Trail Pro 3, Ultra Flow, Speedcross Peak, as well as non S/Lab Genesis and what I can calling a S/Lab Pulsar 3 update. None will show up for testing until very late in 2023 but we hope to see them "in person" soon as well as include more photos here. We will soon also have a preview of their exciting 2024 road line up.

S/Lab Ultra ($240 with Spring 2024 release date)

The new S/Lab Ultra was developed in collaboration with François d' Haene with prototypes seen on François'  feet during 2022 races. The current S/Lab Ultra 3 will continue alongside this all new model. The new Ultra features a 29 mm heel / 21mm forefoot stack height and includes an Energy Foam midsole with the front denser PU insert now no longer included. 

At least partially in place of the insert, we have a ProFeel Plate full length forked fiberglass plate for protection and likely some propulsion as well. Salomon calls it a "ground filter:.  We hope and expect this plate will make the shoe more flexible than the Pulsar Pro's more rigid plate.

The upper is Matryx with the customary Salomon QuickLace with the outsole Contragrip with 3.5mm lugs. At a spec weight of 286g / 10.09 oz it will weigh 13g less than the current Ultra. 

S/Lab Ultra will release Spring 2024.

Testbericht: Craft Endurance Trail (German)

Artikel von Markus Zinkl, Nils Scharff, Marcel Krebs

Craft Endurance Trail (169,95 €)

Einleitung

Markus: Der Endurance Trail ist im Endeffekt die Trial Version des Pro Endur Distance aus letztem Jahr. Ich konnte zwar den Pro Endur Distance letztes Jahr nicht testen, er erhielt aber durch die Bank sehr gute Reviews aus dem gesamten RTR-Team. Daher habe ich mich sehr gefreut, den Trial-Bruder unter die Lupe zu nehmen. Vor allem auf die TPE (=Thermoplastische Elastomere) “Px” Mittelsohle war ich super gespannt. Ich konnte dieses Jahr bereits beim 361° Centauri eine TPE Mittelsohle testen und war davon sehr begeistert. 

Nils: Im Gegensatz zu Markus hatte ich letztes Jahr das Glück, den Craft Pro Endur Distance auf Herz und Nieren zu testen. Und Glück war es tatsächlich, da vor allem die Px Mittelsohle eine wahre Freude war, die richtig energiegeladen daherkam. In Kombination mit einer guten Außensohle und einem nicht ganz luftigen, aber dafür fast trail-tauglichen Obermaterial war der Pro Endur Distance eine der großen Überraschungen des letzten Jahres, den ich nicht nur wärmstens weiterempfohlen, sondern auf moderatem Terrain sogar im Rahmen eines Trail Wettkampfs eingesetzt habe. Der hier getestete Pro Endur Trail ist trotz der Vielseitigkeit seines Verwandten nun der eigentliche Spezialist fürs Gelände. Und aufgrund der tollen Erfahrungen mit dem PED sind die Erwartungen natürlich hoch!

Marcel: Mir ging es genau wie Nils. Ohne große Erwartungshaltung hat der Craft Endur Pro Distance im letzten Jahr wirklich überzeugen können. Geringes Gewicht, lauffreudige Mittelsohle in Kombination mit einer recht breiten Plattform, einem robusten Obermaterial sowie einer vielseitigen Aussensohle machten den PED zu einer der (positiven) Überraschungen des letzten Jahres.

Da ich regelmäßig auch abseits befestigter Straßen unterwegs bin, war ich natürlich sehr erfreut, als die Nachricht kam, dass es nunmehr auch eine Trail-Version des Endur Pro gibt. Wie er sich im Praxistest geschlagen hat, erfahrt ihr in den nachfolgenden Abschnitten.  

Topo Athletic Phantom 3 Reseña Completa (Spanish)

Artículo de Beto Hughes

Topo Phantom 3 ($145)

Phantom 3 llega mas ligero con una mediasuela Zipfoam mas suave y mucho mas energetica, y un upper anatomico al pie con suficiente espacio y excelente ajuste siendo bastante comodo.

Pros:

• Zip Foam 2 de doble densidad para acolchonamiento y respuesta.

• Upper de excelente calidad, cómodo y con excelente ajuste como todo modelo de Topo.

• Neutral pero con laterales de mediasuela que ayudan a ser más estable si eres pronador.

• Excelente para días de distancia donde buscas comodidad y acolchonamiento.

• Versátil para diferentes tipos de entrenamiento diario ya que tiene respuesta en varios ritmos.

Cons:

• Si tuviera un rocker mas pronunciado que ayude a la transición sería excelente para ritmos más fuertes.

• 5mm drop puede ser bajo para personas que usan 8mm de drop en esta categoría.

Saucony Endorphin Rift Multi Tester Review: Stretching Boundaries! Astonishingly Light, Supercritical Foam, Big Outsole- 18 Comparisons

Article by Mike Postaski, Renee Krusemark, John Tribbia, Jeff Beck, Jeff Valliere and Sam Winebaum

Saucony Endorphin Rift ($170)

Introduction

Sam: The Endorphin Rift is an all new trail runner from Saucony. Very light at 8.6 oz / (244g) US9 for its 33mm heel / 27mm stack height, it features a full PWRRUN Pb supercritical foam midsole with a woven rock plate and a big 4.5mm lug PWRTRAC outsole. 

Pb is an expanded bead PEBA foam which is found in multiple Saucony road and trail shoes as their top performance foam until recently (Endorphin Elite has a new foam). In trail, Pb has been in the Endorphin Trail, full carbon plated Endorphin Edge racer, and as a core insert in the Xodus Ultra. 

When we first saw the Rift at the 2022 The Running Event, far down the big table, we were instantly drawn to its cheerful vibes upper and big outsole. We almost thought, before Saucony’s presentation, that it was a near “lifestyle” shoe. It is not that for sure but it sure looks sharp! And trail running shoes are often sold for hiking and more casual uses. Our test team of trail runners of varying paces and on varying terrain in Colorado, Nebraska, and New Hampshire put them to a rigorous test.

Pros:

Quick ride, feels fast - and mostly controllable on the run Mike P/Sam/Renee/Jeff B/Jeff V

Energetic, rebounding, flexible deeply cushioned ride Sam/Renee/Jeff B/Jeff V

Very high cushion to weight ratio for a trail shoe at men 8.6 oz / (244g) US9 with a big 32mm heel/27mm forefoot stack: Sam/Mike P/ Jeff B /Renee/Jeff V

Excellent Heel lockdown and midfoot hold Mike P /John /Sam/Jeff B/Jeff V

Stable heel landing and one that extends slightly further forward than usual. Credit to upper hold as much as midsole which is soft and forgiving Sam

Sock-like upper John

Upper material has been tightened up (compared to Edge) Mike P/John/Jeff V

Speedroll (toe rocker) feels great on inclines Mike P/Jeff V

More versatile/accessible than its sibling, the Endo Edge Mike P/Sam/Renee/Jeff V

Cons:

Big, thick lugs seem a bit “much” for the fast/energetic ride & add to shoe weight: Mike P/Sam/Jeff B/Jeff V

A bit heel “prominent” - can feel unstable under the heel Mike P/Renee/Jeff V

Toe box is narrowish (similar to Xodus Ultra from V1 to V2), some may need to size up Mike P/Jeff Not much adjustability to forefoot hold: why so few lace rows orr no extended strap upfront? Mike P/Sam/Renee/Jeff V

Sizing is slightly short Mike P/ John

Testbericht: Topo Cyclone 2: Hightech-Materialien + Natürliches Laufen = FUN! (German)

Artikel von Nils Scharff

Topo Cyclone 2 (190€)

Einleitung

Die amerikanische Marke Topo Athletics hat sich in der Läufergemeinde mittlerweile einen Namen gemacht. Das verfolgte Konzept des natürlichen Laufens, gepaart mit hochwertigen Materialien und einer tollen Verarbeitungsqualität begeistert vor allem in der Trailrunning-Szene viele Fans. Mit dem Specter hat dann Topo im vergangenen Jahr auch auf der Straße einen kleinen Durchbruch erzielt, konnten hier doch erstmals die Werte der Marke mit dem allgegenwärtigen Trend nach maximaler Dämpfung und auch Performance vereint werden. 

Der hier getestete Topo Cyclone 2 ist im Vergleich zum Specter zweierlei: Zum einen stellt er eine Orientierung näher an die Wurzeln von Topo dar - der Schuh ist deutlich flexibler und entspricht somit eher der Vorstellung der natürlichen Laufbewegung. Doch gleichzeitig ist der Cyclone 2 auch eine beträchtliche Weiterentwicklung, in dem er erstmalig (für Topo) eine komplett auf PEBA-Schaum bestehende Mittelsohle einsetzt und so Performance und Gewicht auf ein neues Level hebt. Topo selbst sagt, der Cyclone 2 sei “das revolutionärste Update und Upgrade, dass Topo je entwickelt hat”. Das klingt natürlich sehr, sehr spannend und deshalb bin ich schon extrem gespannt, wie sich dieses sehr wohlklingende Konzept beim Laufen widerspiegelt und wofür er sich am besten eignet.

Skechers GO Run Ride 11 Initial Review: New Foam, More Cushion, Carbon Infused Plate 6 Comparisons

Article by Sam Winebaum

Skechers GO Run Ride 11 ($125)

Introduction

The Ride sits as Skechers all around daily trainer with the yet more cushioned Max Road as the long to recovery run option and the Razor series as the uptempo models.

The Ride 11 sees a major update in midsole foam to Hyperburst Ice dual density construction with a new Hyperburst 2.0 as a central core, 4mm more stack height front and back with now 38mm at the heel, and the inclusion of Skechers carbon infused H-Plate, here the less aggressive version. 

The upper changes from a mono mesh polyester to an engineered mesh material.

The changes lead to a 13g increase in weight to about  9.7 oz  / 275g (US9) which is quite frankly not noticed on the run as we get a snappier, more agile, deeper and more energetically cushioned versatile trainer.  There is plenty of deep GoodYear rubber with a more aggressively gripping pattern for some terrain versatility as well.  

And in a huge plus with all the updates including carbon in the mix, and despite inflation, the Ride remains at a super fair $125, one of the best if not the best trainer bargains out there.

Pros:

• Versatile: Any pace or distance friendly

• Great value: Still $125 for a now dual supertical foam midsole and lots of it, carbon infused partial plate, and copious GoodYear rubber outsole 

• New Hyperburst Ice midsole is energetic, soft and even with the big stack not mushy

• Smooth rocker off of heel landings even at slow paces, snappy flexible toe off at all paces.

• H Plate is felt as stabilizing and propulsive but not over demanding of a particular strike pattern,  really comes to life at faster paces, is not harsh or in the way at slower paces.

• Runs lighter than weight

Cons:

• Upper feels warmish and may also add to shoe weight

• Weight has increased 13g, understandable given stack height increase and outsole but..

🇧🇷 🇵🇹 Review do Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40: confiável e extremamente durável (Portuguese)

Artigo de Daniel da Silva 

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40   (R$ 1,099 versão Premium / $140 USD versão Premium / $130 USD)

O Pegasus chega na sua 40º edição. Confira o que mudou e o que permanece inalterado, num dos mais antigos tênis de corrida existentes no mercado.

Ultimate Direction Fastpack 40L Review: Tuscany Trek Tested!

Article by Dominique Winebaum

Ultimate Direction Fastpack 40L ($195)

Over the past year I have tested a collection of technical apparel from Ultimate Direction for running and hiking, however, going with a UD pack on a multi-day hike was a first – and a game changer! 

Pressio Men's Elite 3" Shorts and Pressio Men's Elite S/S Top Sustainable Run Apparel Reviews

Article by Michael Ellenberger

Pressio Men's Elite 3" Shorts ($50) and Elite S/S Top ($65)

Overview

These are the first products I’ve worn from Pressio, a brand that seamlessly combines performance, style, and sustainability. As stated on their website, every single clothing item they create includes “the most sustainable materials and technologies, including recycled yarns, non-dying & biodegradation. Complete with traceability. No exceptions.” 

It doesn’t hurt that, with a strong commitment to the environment, Pressio provides athletic apparel that not only reduces your carbon footprint but also, you know, works out well with you. As detailed below, I had the Elite 3” Shorts and the Elite S/S (short sleeve) top for review, and used both on approximately 5 runs, indoors and out, to gauge how they felt - I also washed them accordingly, to check on durability.

Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 Review

Article by Markus Zinkl

Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 ($149.95)

Introduction

The UD Fastpack line features packs of different capacities. The line covers 20, 30 and 40 liters and also has a women specific range called “Fastpackher”. UD was nice enough to send me over their 20 liter Fastpack model. The Fastpack combines the running vest style strap system with higher capacity usually found in more traditional backpacks. Over the years more and more manufacturers like Salomon with their XA or Montane with their Trailblazer launched similar style packs. UD was nice enough to send me over their Fastpack 20 to run it through its paces.