Article by Michael Ellenberger, Sally Reiley, and Sam Winebaum
ON Cloudswift 2021($150)
Introduction
Sam: ON a Swiss company has stuck to its original DNA as the brand’s popularity has grown tremendously in recent year and especially for stylish athleisure uses. That DNA includes:
Beautiful highly engineered uppe which are clearly “Swiss Engineered”
The “Speedboard” a semi rigid full length plate that has been less about creating a rocker effect and more to prescribe the gait towards a mid foot type of strike and flow
Of course the distinctive CloudTec see through Cloud elements which deform and return under load.
I have found almost all ON I have tested to be quite firm, stiff, and not quite frankly not much fun to run for this heel striker with a “locked in” gait that didn’t always want to be redirected the “ON Way “. My favorite ON to date was the original Cloud X with its firm fast feel for short distances, followed by v1 of the Cloudswift which brought a more rockered profile into the mix.
The Cloudswift 1 with its more pronounced actual rocker geometry was more to my liking but was still firm, especially at the heel, and not as smooth flowing as I would like yet it was the best ON trainer for me to that point but not a great one or one I reached for much at all after review testing.
ON kindly offered free samples of the 2nd edition of the Cloudswift to the RTR and in their email described changes they thought we would appreciate:
“ I think you'll be happy with the updates as they address some of your cons with the first gen: lighter weight, more cushion, an even more pronounced rocker, and an integrated tongue and upper for a sock-like fit (which also happens to be 100% recycled mesh).
Just like the original Cloudswift the second-gen is designed for our city runners - built for high impact on hard surfaces. Temperature resistant Helion foam combats hot/cold conditions while rubber reinforcements provide traction when it's wet.
The SS21 model also features enhanced forefoot cushioning, a re-engineered Speedboard (greater flex in the heel and a more rigid mid/forefoot for a snappy response), and an updated design and colorway. “
This all sounded great but examining the shoe it looked almost identical to the original so I wondered if these changes would actually be significant enough to make a difference in ride feel or fit. Time to test!
Michael: Newton was once heralded as the most polarizing running brand - I’d hypothesize that ON has now usurped that opposition, with dynamic, often fashionable offerings that run well, but turn off many athletes who want a more “traditional” profile. ON’s move into the elite running world - hiring Dathan Ritzenhein to build the ON Athletics Club (“OAC”) - was a distinct move to counteract their reputation as a fashion-first brand. I loved last year’s CloudSwift and where I felt it fell short - the laces and the upper - have been totally overhauled by the team at ON for 2021, as if they listened directly to my feedback. The result? You’ll have to read to learn it all, but man - this is a rock-solid trainer.
Pros:
100% recycled upper is snug comfortable; nearly the best I’ve tried Michael/Sam/Sally
Speedboard provides a nice “boost,” without getting in your way All Testers
Helion midsole remains one of the best available, especially in cold weatherMichael
More cushioned at the heel, more forgiving, easier to transition/toe off than v1 Sam
Uniquely ON styling with a beautifully engineered great looking upperSally
Comfortable and attractive for everyday athleisure wear Sally
Cons:
Especially in winter, the flaws of the exposed midsole and Cloud elements are clear (ice, rocks, slush, salt) Michael
A slightly more flexible profile may improve peppiness underfoot Michael/Sam
Helion foam could use a bit more rebound and be slightly softer and the Speedboard could be a touch more flexible Sam/Sally
Stats
Estimated Weight: men's 9.9 oz / 281g (US9,) 8.5 oz / 241 g (US8
Article by Joost De Raeymaeker, Peter Stuart, Michael Ellenberger and Sam Winebaum
Brooks Trace ($100)
Introduction
Joost: The Trace is the new kid on the Brooks running shoe block. The brand has been reorganizing its categories and models and the Trace 1 is the bottom entry of the cushion lineup consisting of the Glycerin 19 and its support sibling the Glycerin GTS 19 as the most cushioned model and the Ghost 13 and that model’s support counterpart, the Adrenaline GTS 21 as cushion middle ground.
As per Brooks’ own words the Trace is a “soft, smooth first step into the world of performance running shoes”. It has adaptive cushioning midsole, with BioMoGo DNA, which the brand says “adapts to your speed, stride and weight to deflect impact away from your body”. BioMoGo DNA is an EVA foam with added air. The Bio moniker comes from a non-toxic additive Brooks adds to the EVA foam to make it up to 50x more biodegradable.
Coupled with a breathable upper and an outsole with segmented crash pad cushions to help heel to toe transition, a more traditional 12mm heel to toe drop and a great price of $100, it seems squarely aimed at people looking for a (first) traditional performance running shoe without breaking the bank, while still having a modern(ish) foam, but without most of the bells and whistles of the the latest and greatest.
Sam: is a very fairly priced ($100) light, flexible performance trainer. It has a similar softer and bouncier (than say the Launch) BioMoGo DNA midsole and a 12mm drop, an engineered mesh upper and a copious durable rubber outsole. At 9.2 oz in a US9 the weight does reflect the price and choice of materials as Brooks sticks with a thicker more conventional engineered mesh, all that rubber, and not particularly light but quite resilient BioMoGo DNA. The similar 8mm drop Revel ($100) continues in the line
Michael: It feels like the Revel just joined Brooks’s lineup. We now get the new Trace alongside it at the $100 price point. While I don’t think it would have been a stretch to call this the Revel 4 (low price, relatively light, high mileage trainer), the Trace is a welcome addition to the Brooks lineup. Unspectacular as it may be, the Trace is a shoe that should work for a lot of runners - novices and mileage hogs alike.
Pros:
Great value at $100 Sam/Joost/Peter/Michael
More traditional 12mm drop for those who like that Michael/Joost
Simple and comfortable shoe at a great price Michael/Peter:
Stable heel, smooth transitions with a flexible easy forefoot Sam
Fun shorter run class shoe that can daily train Sam
Runs lighter than its weight Sam
Wide toe box and stable platform. Comfortable Joost:
Cons:
Tongue a little too puffy at the topJoost/ Peter/Michael
A bit thin and soft at the forefoot for heavier duty daily training uses Sam/Michael
Laces are puff, puff, puffy!Peter
Somewhat heavy for a shoe in its class at 9.2 oz, dated (but effective) materials Sam
Videos by Adam Glueck, Jeremy Marie, and Sam Winebaum
Salomon S/Lab Pulsar ($180/180€)
We take a detailed look and share an initial review of the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar an amazingly light (6.2 oz / 175g), stable, secure and capable trail racer- and we all agree it also a top notch road race shoe as well.
Lots and lots to talk about here as the Pulsar is truly a marvel with many carefully considered and detailed features which lead to a very, very light weight high performing shoe on every surface we have tested on so far with more dirt to come!
Also here is a second video by Adam Glueck where he gives his first impressions and compares on the run (one on each foot) Pulsar to the S/Lab Sense 8.
Watch the Detailed Initial Pulsar Video Review (19:32)
Watch Adam's Initial Review with Comparison to S/Lab Sense 8
Available now including at our partners Running Warehouse US here
Tested samples were personal purchases. No other compensation was received by RTR or the authors for this review from Salomon. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
Comments and Questions Welcome Below!
Please let us know mileage, paces, race distances, and current preferredshoes
RoadTrailRun receives a commission on purchases at the stores below.
Whereas most of Altra’s trail shoes have transitioned to a “performance” last, that is not as roomy as old-school Altras, the Lone Peak is a hold-out, with a much more spacious fit. Popular with Appalachian Trail through-hikers, the Lone Peak is also a shoe built for extra durability.
Pros:
[Dom/Canice] Cushioning and rock protection improved over previous generation
[Dom] A well-rounded, go-anywhere, do-anything shoe
[Dom] Expect durability to be excellent
[Canice] Relaxed toe box (classic Altra)
Cons:
[Dom] Still heavy, compared to other shoes with this level of protection
[Dom] Fit is so roomy that sizing down may be advisable.
[Canice] Loose fit, especially in the mid-foot and around the heel.
Tester Profiles
Dom 48, trains and competes mainly on trails in Southern California running about 3000 miles and 500k ft of vert per year. In 2017 he was 14th at Western States 100 and in 2018 finished 50th at UTMB and 32nd at the 2018 Los Angeles marathon in a time of 2:46. 2019 was a quiet year, with his only notable finish at the multi-day Dragon’s Back race in the UK.
Canice is a 2 x finisher of the Wasatch 100, the Bear 100, Moab 100, Western States 100, and Leadman as well as many other ultras. He regularly competes in Expedition Length Adventure races with his longest race to date 600 miles as well as in traditional road races and triathlons.
L’arceau de l’Infinity est en plastique dur alors qu’ici il s’agit plutôt d’un plastique tendre, voire une espèce de gomme. Et l’on ne ressent pas cet arceau en courant, contrairement à celui de l’Infinity - et tant mieux.
