See Road Trail Run's reviews index page Here.
Since The Running Event we have reviewed the Pearl Izumi N3, Topo Ultrafly, Hoka Clayton and Tracer, Salming Distance, Speed and T2, On CloudSurfer and many other 2016 shoes.
I was lucky enough to go to The Running Event in Austin, Texas last week. The Running Event is a trade show for speciality running stores and is like heaven for a run shoe and gear nut like me. Did not disappoint. My main purpose was to report on wearable tech for Competitor Magazine. And there was a lot of it to see and try. My article will publish shortly. I did not go in depth at every shoe company. Many save their introductions for Outdoor Retailer but there was plenty of new on display.
The Headlines
- Hoka unveils Clifton 3 with...2mm more forefoot last width as well as the Speed Instinct trail racer and a very light TOR Speed 2 Mid WP boot.
- Altra founder Golden Harper focused on his new Lone Peak 3.0 family: regular, waterproof NeoShell, and a very light Lone Peak Mid
- Topo Athletic unveiled the UltraFly, a light support shoe, and the zero drop ST-2
- Salming a Swedish brand, had me try their Distance in their incredible RunLab system.
- Salomon made subtle yet significant refinements to their S-Lab Wings and Speedcross
- Pearl Izumi introduced the Trail N3 the most supportive and cushioned trail model
Read on for the details and photos...
Pearl Izumi
New trail runner from PI, the N3. Substantial cushioning, protection, and traction. From Competitor Magazine: $135, 8mm drop, 10.8oz
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| Pearl Izumi N3 Trail |
Topo Athletic
We loved our Magnifly (
review) at Road Trail Run. Topo unveiled a light stability shoe with more cushioning the Ultrafly 28/23mm, 5mm drop 9.2 oz with a 3 layer midsole of variable densities. May 2016.
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| Topo Ultrafly |
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| Topo Ultrafly |
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| Topo Ultrafly |
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| Topo Ultrafly |
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| Topo Ultrafly |
Update read our full Ultrafly review here
Coming June 2016 the
ST-2 a 6.2oz, zero drop, 16mm stack shoe with an easy on off Lycra heel for speed work and indoor training.
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| Topo ST-2 |
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| Topo ST-2 |
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| Topo ST-2 |
Acu-Running
Best of all Topo invited the press to a morning session where, fitting with their mission to only make roomy toe box, low drop, and light weight shoes they also want to help runners Learn. Not just better form, but to help identify and address the underlying causes of form and resulting injury issues through their Acu-Running program
here, complete with how to videos. We did 4 simple assessment exercises led by Brad Cox of
AcuMobility which identified areas of impaired mobility which affect form. For me it was in particular it was my right shoulder area and left hip. Then using AcuMobility's incredibly versatile Eclipse Roller (coming January 2016) and flat bottom silicone Mobility Ball we worked the areas needing attention.
Hoka One One
Clayton
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| Hoka One One Clayton |
We covered the
Clayton at Outdoor Retailer this summer and recently tested and reviewed the upcoming Tracer road racer
here. Both are based on Hoka new Pro2Lite dual density midsole, front firmer, rear softer. Pro2Lite stands for Protection Propulsion. There are two types of Pro2Lite midsoles both seeking a dual density softer heel, firmer forefoot: Clayton has a single molded unit with the firmness increasing towards the front of the shoe, the Tracer and Speed Instinct (see coverage below) midsoles' are made of two separate pieces of different firmnesses.
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| Hoka One One Tracer Dual Density Pro2Lite midsole. Red firmer, White softer |
The Clayton ($150) is 24mm heel/20mm forefoot 7.2 oz light trainer racer. It's outsole (lime green in photos) is RMAT a material with high rebound sitting somewhere between traditional outsole rubber and midsole materials in durability. Available April 2016, we believe this will be a worthy and even lighter road focused eplacement for one of our all time favorites, the Huaka, which will only be sold internationally.
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| Hoka One One Clayton |
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| Hoka One One Clayton |
Clifton 3
The very popular Clifton gets what many have been asking for, a slightly wider toe area. Built on a new last it is 2mm wider in the forefoot so more accommodating of different foot shapes. 8.6 oz 29/24mm 5mm drop remains unchanged. No changes to midsole. There is slightly more outsole coverage in the Clifton 3. $130. Available July 2016.
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| Hoka One One Clifton 3 |
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| Hoka One One Clifton 3 |
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LEFT Clifton 2 RIGHT Clifton 3
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Speed Instinct
Hoka unveiled its first dedicated trail racer, the Speed Instinct. One might think of it as the trail racing cousin of the Tracer. I am betting firmer than Huaka and a fast shoe with decent step in-comfort but not the usual Hoka super cush. 3D printer upper. Pro2Lite dual density midsole, as with Tracer two separate pieces of different density. It has a high abrasion rubber outsole 8.4oz 232 grams 23/20mm 3mm drop. $130. Launching July 2016.
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| Hoka One One Speed Instinct |
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| Hoka One One Speed Instinct |
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| Hoka One One Speed Instinct |
Tor Speed 2 Mid WP
A 12.9 oz 363g 26mm heel/ 21mm forefoot 5mm drop speed hiker and runner with Vibram Mega Grip outsole and an eVent waterproof breathable upper. Neat color way! $150. Available July 2016.
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| Tor Speed 2 Mid WP |
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| Tor Speed 2 Mid WP |
Speedgoat
No changes that we heard of but a neat color way.
Conquest 3
Conquest gets an EVA top layer suspended in RMAT for a responsive firm ride with cushion along with some toe spring snap. Still a dynamic stability shoe. Both the mid foot and forefoot are slightly more accommodating while the mid foot is designed to be more secure. 31mm heel/ 27mm forefoot, 6mm drop. $170. Available July.
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| Conquest 3 |
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| Conquest 3 |
Altra Running
I am always eager to see what Altra Running founder Golden Harper has cooked up.
He was most eager to present his Lone Peak 3.0 family: Lone Peak 3.0, Lone Peak 3.0 Neoshell, and Lone Peak 3.0 Mid Neoshell. And well he should be proud as these Lone Peaks take lessons learned and should improve the trail stability of these shoes dramatically. I found the Lone Peak 2.5 not particularly stable on trails due to its unstructured upper, the Lone Peak Neoshell superior in stability, a welcome touch softer and outstanding on all terrains including roads but heavy. So... what did Golden do?
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| Altra Lone Peak 3.0 |
Lone Peak 3.0
A completely new upper with supportive overlays in the toe area yet still the signature Foot Shaped Toe Box. Lighter by close to an ounce than the 2.5 at a magic sub ten, 9.75 oz 278 grams and with a the slightly softer midsole of the Neoshell. The Neoshell drops more than an ounce to weigh 10.6 oz, remarkably light for a waterproof upper runner. The new Lone Peak Mid Neoshell comes in at 12.3 oz 347g, the lightest "boot" runner I have seen to date edging out the Hoka TOR Speed.
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| Lone Peak 3.0 |
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| Lone Peak 3.0 |
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| Lone Peak 3.0 |
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| Lone Peak 3.0 |
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| Lone Peak 3.0 |
Salomon
As always with Salomon, and especially S-Lab shoes, it's about the details. A shade lighter at 9.7oz 274g for regular outsole and 10.1oz 286g for SG Soft Ground The S-Lab Wings I like so much (
review) is "perfected", if such a thing is possible. Now called the S-Lab Wings 8,the TPU shank is reduced in size and the ProFeel film also reduced in length. The shoe will still have plenty of rock protection but a will have more forefoot flexibility, the key element, but a subtle one, to improve over the original in my opinion. Subtle changes to the upper include a tweaking of the Sensifit mid foot overlays and the "seat belt" of overlays running from the eyelets to the heel. A supremely capable technical terrain shoe should become even more versatile for smoother terrain and even roads. Available in regular trail terrain and soft ground versions.
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| S-Lab Wings |
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| S-Lab Wings Outsoles |
On
Swiss company On had a big presence. They introduced the Cloudflyer a 9.8oz light stability shoe and a lighter 9.7 oz Cloudsurfer.
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| On Cloudflyer |
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| On Cloudflyer |
Salming
Last but not least...
Never heard of Salming? I predict you will.
A Swedish company well known in Europe for squash, handball and floor ball shoes as well as running shoes they made a big splash at The Running Event with not only their beautiful and immaculately crafted shoes but their
RunLab in partnership with fellow Swedes Qualisys.
RunLab is a system of movie studio grade motion capture (400 frames per second) translated to running form analysis. I was tickled to be invited to put my atrocious form to the test... I was given a snazzy run kit and outfitted with 35 stick on shiny reflectors, head to toe. I ran 6 minutes while the system captured my motion and then had a personal analysis by a former Swedish National Track Team coach and Abby of
RunRaleighPT who is receiving the first US based RunLab system next week.
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| Salming RunLab Test Dummy |
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| RunLab Motion Capture |
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| RunLab Results Screen. Gray wave is data from elites. I am below... |
Salming The Shoes
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| Salming Distance |
To run the test I was given a pair of the
Salming Distance model. I ran my 6 minutes and have been running in them ever since. Beautiful supportive upper, if a bit loose with no tight spots and plenty of toe room at a whole size up from my true to size.
Update: now have my true to size and may potentially be a half smaller than true to size for many with other than a thin sock as the front of the toe is low. Very unusual toe to heel smooth support from the Exo Skeleton upper. Underfoot I initially thought they would be too minimal and firm, but the 3 layer midsole is at the same time firm, responsive, and well cushioned. When combined with just the right outsole firmness, no harsh jarring anywhere.
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| Salming Ballet Line Geometry |
I believe their "ballet line" concept of structured support forward to the mid foot, including a shank similar to the adidas Adios Boost and in my version I believe it is carbon fiber, then even flexibility further forward starting at the ballet line works, and works well.
Salming Distance D1 $155. 5mm drop, 8.4 oz. 238 grams. Available now.
Salming also introduced a more cushioned shoe the Miles. More on Salming soon at Road Trail Run.
See also Competitor Magazine's 40 Run Shoe Sneak Peeks from The Running Event
here.
See Road Trail Run's reviews index page here.
Since The Running Event we have reviewed the Pearl Izumi N3, Topo Ultrafly, Hoka Clayton and Tracer, Salming Distance, Speed and T2, On CloudSurfer and many other 2016 shoes.
Reviews of Hoka Speed Instinct and Altra Lone Peak 3 coming soon.
Thanks for reading!
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