Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Avis et Impressions: Craft CTM Ultra- que de bonnes surprises (au sens propre comme figuré) French

Article par Alexandre Filitti et Jérémy Marie

Craft CTM Ultra (160€)

Introduction


Alexandre

Mes expériences passées avec les équipements Craft étaient dans le cyclisme où leurs cuissards à bretelles sont parmi les meilleurs (et les plus protecteurs). J'étais donc enthousiasmé par l'idée de tester leur gamme de chaussures et de vêtements CTM également. J'espérais les mêmes produits axés sur la qualité avec ce que j'appellerais l'attention suédoise aux détails que j'avais découverts dans leurs produits de cyclisme. Et je n'ai pas été déçu ! Plus d'informations sur la chaussure ci-dessous, mais même la boîte à chaussures est plus belle et plus solide que la plupart des boîtes à chaussures sur le marché. Les détails de la marque CTM dans une police argentée sont des incitations supplémentaires à ouvrir la boîte et à sortir directement pour courir. 


Jeremy

Tout comme Alex, Craft était pour moi plutôt synonyme de “vêtement” que de “chaussure”. Une de mes première couche favorite en hiver est d’ailleurs une Craft (Active Extreme) que j’utilise énormément chaque hiver, depuis 6 ans maintenant, que ce soit en course, en vélo, ou en ski. “Droit au but”, sans fioriture, j’aime l’approche de la marque scandinave qui ne noie pas ses produits sous des tonnes de termes marketing. Le design est simple (pas simpliste!) , efficace, et...ça marche! Le tout à des prix contenus. C’est une approche que j’aime, de design par la fonction, et qui colle bien avec le proverbe (suédois je crois bien): “Parle moins, dis plus”.


J’ai appris par hasard que Craft élaborait une paire orientée performance pour les longues distances en suivant Tommy Rivs sur les réseaux sociaux. Tommy est un coureur élite américain, ambassadeur de Craft, qui a contracté une grave maladie i ly a maintenant...un an je crois, stoppant net sa carrière. Et en dépit de cela, Craft est restée associée à cette athlète, sortant une série de vêtements dédiés afin d’apporter de l’aide à sa famille. Je trouve que cela en dit long sur la philosophie de Craft et la considération apportée à leur athlètes.


La publication des spécifications de la chaussure a rapidement attisé ma curiosité: faisant partie de la série CTM (Craft Tailored Motion) qui représente ce que Craft fait de mieux, les chaussures ont clairement assumé leur statut  avant même l’ouverture de la boite, celle-ci étant d'une qualité rarement vue, tout en conservant une sobriété très scandinave. 

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Skechers Performance MaxRoad 5 Multi Tester Review

Article by Derek Li, Jeff Beck and Peter Stuart

Skechers Performance Go Run MaxRoad 5 ($135)


Introduction


Jeff: Skechers Performance MaxRoad went nuclear a few years ago when they introduced the Max Road 4 taking full advantage of their super bouncy and lightweight midsole material, Hyperburst. What had been a very solid and stable recovery shoe got explosive, making one of the bounciest shoes around. It wasn’t without issues, with many runners expressing their disappointment in the wool sweater upper, and personally I had a problem with the pod columns collapsing underneath my small toe on each side, causing major blisters in any run that went longer than two miles. A year later they “fixed” the upper, going with a more breathable and livable upper, but unfortunately (at least for me) the midsole didn’t change any and the blisters showed up almost before the sweat could. 


And that brings us to today - where the Max Road 5 has visually the same midsole, but they gave the shoe a carbon infused plastic H plate in the middle of the midsole, with the intention of giving the shoe a little more pop and a little more stability. Will the Skechers Performance high stack shoe live up to the hype? I’d encourage you to read on, but the short answer is “Bigtime.”

Brooks Ghost 14 vs. Mizuno Wave Rider 25 Video Comparison Review

Article by Sam Winebaum

In the video I compare the Wave Rider 25 and Ghost 14, including on an A/B test run in beautiful Park City. They share nearly identical weights, stack heights,12mm heel to toe drops, and prices. 

Both have energetic, softer foam midsoles. 
They differ in fit and ride in subtle and important ways which I get into in the video.  

The Ghost 14 is $130 and available now including at our partners below. The Wave Rider 25 is $135 and releases mid July.
Watch the Video Comparison Review (12:02)

Watch the Wave Rider 25 vs. Ghost 14 Video Comparison Review (12:02)

Brooks Ghost 14 Multi Tester Review

Mizuno Waver Rider 25 Multi Tester Review

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


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Brooks Ghost 14 Multi Tester Review: A Soft & Smoother, Mellow Riding, Carbon Neutral Trainer

Article by Stephanie Beck, Nils Scharff, and Sam Winebaum

Brooks Ghost 14 ($130)


Introduction

Sam: The Ghost is one of Brooks’ most popular trainers. A neutral sub 10 oz neutral shoe with a 12mm drop it can be called, given the evolution of running shoes, traditional in geometry. Quite frankly, I have never gotten along that well with the model remembering stiff versions, firm versions, some with dense and suffocating uppers and in the 13 (RTR Review) getting away from the overly dense uppers but ending up with a very soft, flexible mushy forefoot which a firm outsole tried to back up, and not so well as that.


The Ghost 14 retains almost exactly the same 9.88 oz  /280g US men’s 9 weight, the big 12mm drop, and as far as we know the full 35mm heel /23m forefoot stack also remains unchanged. 

The upper is similar to the 13’s but is now a yet softer more pliable engineered mesh with no overlays beyond the logo and 3D printed shapes towards the rear of the shoe so as to provide some lace up and rear collar structure.


It does see changes underfoot, some significant. Instead of dual density midsole with softer DNA Loft on the lateral side and firmer BioGoMoDNA more medially, its midsole is now entirely DNA Loft. I sat up when I read this dreading a yet softer mushier midsole but was curious as in 2021 Brooks has 2 flavors of DNA Loft in addition to regular v1: DNALoft v2 a firmer more responsive flavor in the trail Cascadia 16 (RTR Review) which all our testers loved and Loft v3 a supercritical very light and energetic flavor in the Aurora-BL (RTR Review), a wildly innovative and light max cushion trainer. The 14 has the regular or maybe a v1.x flavor. I say 1.x as Brooks never says much if anything beyond marketing words about their foam.


More clearly seen is that the midsole geometry changes with what appears to be a wider rear and mid foot platform and more vertical side walls.

While the outsole appears quite similar I immediately noted a more filled in less segmented medial forefoot. This was promising as it seemed this more extensive coverage might help stabilize the forefoot and give it more pop. 


Finally the Ghost 14 is the brand's first carbon neutral shoe incorporating recycled materials, assessment of manufacturing, and using well vetted carbon offsets as part of a more general initiative at Brooks to have net carbon zero emissions by 2040

 

Pros:

Sam/Nils/Steph: Gains snap and response: still soft and now all DNA Loft, but no longer has a mushy overly flexible forefoot

Sam/Nils/Steph: Simple, comfortable upper with mostly effective hold

Sam/Steph: Well balanced, smooth daily training ride

Sam: Brooks first carbon neutral run shoe.


Cons:

Nils/Sam: If you need stability search somewhere else, like the GTS versions of Launch and Glycerin

Sam: Unstructured front of upper could use a gusset tongue for better front lockdown

Sam: Minor sizing issues: may run half size small for somewhat wide feet, true to size for narrow feet.

Nils: It’s my first 12mm drop shoe - would love if the Ghost had less.


Stats

Approx. Weight:  9.88 oz  /280g US9  /  women's 9 oz / 255g

  Samples: men’s 9.88 oz  /280g US9; 10.72 oz / 304g US10.5

women’s 10.01oz/284g US11

Drop: 12mm 

Available July 1st, 2021. $130  

Monday, June 28, 2021

Quick Strides #7: Cascadia 16, Adios 6, Terra Kiger 7, Xodus 11, GoreWear Ultimate Short, Topo MTN Racer 2, Joost’s Recovery and Injury Aids, Via Ferrata Colorado, Running in Iceland, Back to Zero Drop, Altra Rivera @ 100K

Article by Johannes Klein, Nils Scharff, Mike Postaski, Renee Krusemark, Cheng Chen, Joost De Raeymaeker, and Adam Glueck


Quick Strides #7: Cascadia 16, Adios 6, Terra Kiger 7, GoreWear Ultimate, Topo MTN Racer 2, La Sportiva, Via Ferrata Colorado, Running in Iceland, Altra Rivera @100K, Back to Zero Drop, Joost’s recovery and injury aids. 

Sunday, June 27, 2021

adidas Adizero Adios 6 Review

Article by Adam Glueck

adidas Adizero Adios 6 ($120)

Introduction

The Adidas Adios 6 is the latest in a long line of traditional, yet innovative racing flats.  Adidas describes them as “Lightweight Running shoes for Racing and Training.”  Adidas has increased the stack height to 32/24 from the 23/13 of the previous Adios 5.  


Featuring the same Lightstrike Pro as in the Adios Pro in the forefoot/midfoot and EVA Lightstrike in the heel, the Adios 6 is a lightweight trainer featuring some of the same technologies as the latest marathon racers.  I haven’t run in an Adidas shoe for a while (my last one was years ago with lots of Boost), and while this one seems completely different in pretty much every way, I’m really excited to run in it.  


Pros:

Adam: Lightweight

Adam: Wonderful damping and rebound from the Lightstrike Pro in the forefoot

Adam: Controlled, directed ride from the Lightstrike heel and cushioning collar.

Adam: Lightweight, breathable, and precise upper.

Adam: Fantastically grippy outsole

Adam: Snappy and direct yet not harsh ride, puts a smile on your face to run in


Cons:

Adam:  The lack of stack height and rocker means that your calves and quads and feet have to work a little bit harder, probably good for you though  

Adam:  Could maybe use a tiny bit more padding on the tongue

Adam:  at slower paces, a little bit less fun 


Stats

Weight: men's 8.6 oz / 244g (US9)  7.8 oz  / 221g women's / (US8)

Stack Height: 32mm heel/   24mm forefoot, 8mm drop

 Boston 8 had a 29mm heel, 19mm forefoot, 10mm drop

 Adios 5 23mm heel / 13mm forefoot, 10m drop (may not include outsole)

$120. Available now including from our partners Running Warehouse here

Testbericht: Saucony Endorphin Shift 2 - Evolution statt Revolution!

Artikel von Marcel Krebs

Saucony Endorphin Shift 2 (150€)


Link zum englischen RTR-Test des Saucony Endorphin Shift 2: HIER

Link zu allen RTR-Testberichten: HIER


Einleitung

Seit Saucony letztes Jahr die Endorphin Line auf den Markt brachte, war der Shift neben dem Speed einer der ganz wenigen Schuhe, den ich bis zum Eintreffen des Shift 2 auch nach einem Jahr noch sehr regelmäßig gelaufen bin. Dies ist wohl das größte Kompliment, das man als Schuh-Tester einem Modell machen kann. Sogar für den Schuh des Jahres hatte ich den Shift in der erweiterten Auswahl. Allerdings musste sich dieser dem Speed, der ebenfalls aus der Endorphin Line von Saucony stammt, geschlagen geben. 


Was mir am Shift 1 besonders gefiel, war die besonders komfortable Dämpfung gepaart mit einer vergleichsweise festen Mittelsohle. Dies ist eine Kombination, die meinen vergleichsweise verletzungsanfälligen Waden sehr entgegen kommt. Denn auch wenn dies in vielen Magazinen durcheinander geworfen wird: Eine tolle Dämpfung setzt keineswegs voraus, dass die Mittelsohle auch besonders weich ist. In Kombination mit der bereits hinlänglich beschriebenen Speedroll-Technologie von Saucony läuft man im Shift fast wie auf Schienen - und dies, obwohl es sich um einen Neutralschuh handelt - eine wirklich spannende Kombination!


Als verbesserungswürdig empfand ich beim Shift 1 die vergleichsweise enge und eher spitze als runde Zehenbox sowie das vergleichsweise hohe Gewicht. Die beiden Zuglaschen an der Zunge an Lasche und Fersenkappe fand ich zudem überflüssig und haben aus meiner Sicht unnötig zum eh schon recht hohen Gewicht beigetragen. Vor diesem Hintergrund war ich gespannt zu sehen, inwieweit diese Kritikpunkte beim Shift 2 aufgegriffen wurden. 




Pro & Contra


Pro:

  • Optimale Kombination aus perfekter Dämpfung und Festigkeit der Mittelsohle

  • Lauffreudige Rocker-Konstruktion für einen maximal gedämpften Schuh

  • Gewichtsverlust gegenüber Shift 1

  • Verbesserter Grip auf nassen Straßen (evtl. subjektiver Eindruck)


Contra:

  • Zehenbox nach wie vor zu eng für breite Vorfüße

  • Fersenhalt könnte besser sein (sehr glattes Innenfutter)




Daten

Gewicht:

  Offiziell: 296 (Herren US9) // 258 (Damen US8)

  Testschuh: 308g (Herren EU 44 / US 10)

Sprengung: 4mm (39mm Ferse / 35mm Vorfuß)

Release: Ab 15.7. erhältlich im Fachhandel für 150€

adidas Adizero Prime X: Super Max!

Article by Derek Li 

adidas Adizero Prime X ($250)

Derek: The Adidas Adizero Prime X is Adidas’s no holds barred idea of the ultimate long distance training shoe. Notably, the marketing information specifically calls it out as being illegal for racing under World Athletics shoe regulations. They already have what they consider to be the best shoe they can produce within the confines of the current regulations and that is the Adios Pro (now into version 2) with its 39mm heel stack, and in the Prime X they have decided to supersize everything from midsole stack (up to a whopping 50mm heel stack) to a triple sandwich design of carbon rods AND carbon blades in the forefoot. 


There’s a lot going on, but is the Big Mac always going to taste better than the good old cheeseburger? Are things overdone? I’ve previously expressed my view that a higher stack is always going to be faster because you are working with a longer lever. Am I going to have to eat my words? Let’s dive in to find out. 

Thursday, June 24, 2021

adidas adizero Adios Pro 2 Review: Does 2020's Favorite Racer Improve? 7 comparisons

Article by Ivan Luca Corda, Jamie Hershfang, and Jacob Brady

adidas adizero Adios Pro 2 ($220)

Introduction

Ivan: The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro was my favorite racer of 2020 and it’s a shoe that has been used to break several world records this past year. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance myself to actually participate in an official race, but I had a lot of race specific workouts and the shoe has really excelled at around half marathon pace. 

The Lightstrike Pro midsole combined with carbon-infused rods has created just the right balance of cushion and snappy ride. Despite having very few complaints about the original, I could see some minor changes improving both the ride and fit. The ride has felt somewhat clunky to me at anything slower than marathon pace and I would have preferred a tighter race fit. Based on past experiences, I have been eager to test out if Adidas has made a few tweaks to retain the Adios Pro’s position among the best long distance racers.


Sam: Not that I ran many races last year but when I wound things up for mile or 2 mile repeats or a 10K time trial the adios Pro 1 (RTR Review) was the fastest shoe I tested last year for short and fast. As an elite racer designed for elites and world records one must not assume it was ideal for every runner, every pace, and every distance. I found it effective for me below 8 minute miles and super effective below 7 but required to much concentration (stability, getting forward onto the Energy Rods when slower or tired). It lacked the easy to find "groove" of the very original baby blue Vaporfly where a slight tilt forward easily engaged some front pronation onto the plate and towards the big toe and toe off.

The adios Pro 2 with its deep medial side cut out immediately had bells ringing... The Pro 1 had very vertical side walls and no cut out and as such was more arrow like. You had to get forward straight and true to engage the propulsion. The cutout and relatively broad unstructured upper at mid foot had me wondering if there might be some of that magic VF groove effect here too. I not only saw that cavity but upon measuring found that the heel area platform was 5mm wider and the forefoot 1-2 millimeters wider with more flared side walls all around. it also appears (see above) the front toe spring is accentuated. 


In combination with medial cut out these changes hinted at a different more forgiving easier to maintain flow and ride for non elites such as old me. With its 39.5 mm IAAF max height limit heel, lighter more spacious upper, and new geometry I wondered if the Pro 2 was the marathon to half shoe with the Pro 1 the shorter distance racer for me and most.


Avis et Impressions: Saucony Triumph 19: du confort et du répondant pour des kilomètres! (French)

Article par Jeremy Marie

Saucony Triumph 19: du confort et du répondant pour des kilomètres! (€150)


Introduction

Jeremy: Bien que Saucony fasse partie de mes marques favorites pour les chaussures de route, et malgré tout le bien entendu sur la série des Triumph, cette 19ème version de la série est la première dans laquelle je glisse mes pieds. J’ai toujours pensé que les Triumph étaient pour les coureurs à la recherche de plus d’amorti, de confort un peu paresseux mollasson façon gros canapé sans trop de répondant, et ai toujours penché pour sa petite sœur plus étincelante et vivante, la Kinvara.


Je ne saurai donc pas la comparer aux versions précédentes, mais une chose est sûre, cette Triumph 19 m’a montré à quel point je me trompais en pensant que c’était une sorte de grosse berline confortable uniquement faite pour les longs trajets routiers un peu tranquilles. J'aurais dû écouter un de mes amis qui vantait les mérites des itérations précédentes!

Testbericht: Saucony Endorphin Trail - Ein Trailmonster voller Energie, Schutz und Stabilität! (German)

Artikel von Marcel Krebs & Nils Scharff


Link zum original RTR-Test des Saucony Endorphin Trail: HIER

Link zu allen RTR-Testberichten:  HIER


Saucony Endorphin Trail (180€)


Einleitung


Nils: Saucony hat letztes Jahr mit der Endorphin-Kollektion drei herausragende Schuhe herausgebracht. Der Endorphin Pro war nicht nur der erste Marathon-Superschuh, der den allgegenwärtigen Nike Vaporfly herausfordern konnte. Nein, auch seine Geschwister Endorphin Speed ​​und Shift gehörten zu den besten Schuhen des letzten Jahres in ihren jeweiligen Kategorien. Während Speed ​​und Pro ziemlich ähnliche Schuhe waren, war der Shift mit seinem höheren Gewicht und einem anderen Mittelsohlenschaum ein wenig anders als der Rest der Familie.


Allen dreien gemeinsam waren unterschiedliche, aber herausragendes Obermaterialien, hohe Mittelsohlen und nicht zuletzt die Speed ​​Roll-Technologie – so nennt Saucony den hauseigenen, beeindruckend fein abgestimmten Rocker.


Als die ersten Leaks der Endorphin-Kollektion 2021 ihren Weg auf verschiedene Online-Plattformen fanden, sah es so aus, als wollte Saucony dieses Jahr auf Nummer sicher gehen. Endorphin Pro, Speed ​​und Shift 2 sollten allesamt lediglich neue Obermaterialien bekommen. Und das ist vollkommen verständlich, bei so erfolgreichen Modellen. Für mich als Schuhtester ist es jedoch irgendwie langweilig.


Aber dann - BOOM - da ist die große Überraschung! Erste Bilder eines massiv gedämpften Endorphin Trail tauchten im Internet auf und die Erwartungen gingen natürlich durch die Decke. Mittlerweile habe ich einige Kilometer im neuen Mitglied der Endorphin-Familie absolviert  – Zeit zu beurteilen, ob der Saucony Endorphin Trail dem Hype gerecht wird!