Sunday, July 31, 2022

Testbericht: OOFOS OOriginal Sport Sandale - Urlaub für die Füße (German)

Article by Nils Scharff


OOfos OOriginal Sport Sandale (65€)


Einleitung

Hier bei RoadTrailRun beschäftigen wir uns mit Laufen. Und im speziellen meist mit Laufschuhen oder anderer Ausrüstung, die wir während unserer Läufe benutzen. Durch das Teilen unserer Erfahrungen wollen wir euch - unseren Lesern - helfen, richtige Kaufentscheidungen zu treffen und vor allem ein bestmögliches Lauferlebnis zu haben.

Doch ihr kennt es selber: Selbst in den allerbesten Schuhen in genau der richtigen Größe kann ein Lauf die reinste Quälerei sein, wenn die Beine schon vorab müde und erschöpft sind. Und wer sich schon intensiv mit seinem Training, bspw. für einen Marathon auseinandergesetzt hat, weiß, dass Regeneration und Erholung eine riesige Rolle für den Trainingserfolg spielen. Denn all die Veränderungsprozesse in euren Körpern finden zu größten Teilen nicht während des Trainings statt, sondern nachgelagert, wenn ihr ruht oder schlaft. Der Trainingslauf selbst ist nur ein Reiz, der diese Anpassungsprozesse in Gang setzt. Und genau hier kommt das hier besprochene Produkt ins Spiel: Die OOFOS OOriginal Sport Sandale.

Friday, July 29, 2022

Racer Story: Mike Postaski Wins Standhope 100 Mile-Race Report, Gear, Nutrition, Shoe

Article by Mike Postaski

[103.8M, ~22-28,000?? ft gain, 26:33:31]


I just got back from running the inaugural Standhope 100M in Sun Valley, Idaho.  It’s a very rugged single-loop course around the Pioneer Mountains in Idaho.  Race Director Ben Blessing has been planning this event for many years, while putting on the “standard” 60K distance - now in its 10th year.  I ran the 60K last year, placing 2nd overall, at which time he announced that the 100M distance would be added the following year.  It was one of my favorite, most difficult, and scenic races, so I knew I wanted to come back for the 100M.  


The 2022 100M event did not disappoint, in any way - beautiful scenery, mixed runnable and technically challenging terrain, and oh.. those brutally steep climbs (7 in total).  


With a 6PM start, it was also unique to get to run the 60K portion of the course mostly in the dark.  I love the late day start - it’s so much easier on the body overall.  You get a full night’s sleep before the race, and you get to tackle the night running when you’re still relatively fresh.  On the flip side - the back end of the race falls squarely in the late afternoon heat, and you could possibly end up going into a 2nd night.



I came into the race pretty fit and feeling race ready.  I spent all of June traveling around Colorado with the family, and I was able to get in some solid vert/miles at altitude.  

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Hoka Bondi 8 Initial Video Review: Staying True! The OG Max Cush Road Trainer Gets a Sleek Makeover

Video by Sam Winebaum

Hoka Bondi 8 ($165)

In the video I take the Bondi 8 out for 2 runs and share: fit, ride, conclusions and comparisons for the model which was the original max cushion road shoe way back in early 2011 and is still in the lead pack if you want the ultimate in forgiving deep cushion for running, walking, and being on your feet all day.

The 8 gets a new midsole geometry with new deeper decoupling underfoot on the same 40mm heel / 36mm full stack height and also some welcome front rocker.  

The foam is said to be softer and more resilient in line with the new foam in other 2022 Hoka. 

The sleek new engineered mesh upper includes a memory foam collar.

It actually loses about 0.4 oz / 11g to check in at 10.72 oz / 303g in my US8.5 sample. In addition to regular widths it is available in 2E Wide and 4E Extra Wide. 

Full multi tester review soon with comparisons to Bondi 7, a version I did not run.

Watch the Hoka Bondi 8 Initial Video Review (9:55)

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

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La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Review: Trail Runner or Hiker?

Article by Alex Tilsley

La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II ($149)

Introduction


I’ve always associated La Sportiva more with climbing and expeditions than with trail running, but last year I stumbled upon the La Sportiva Jackal and was very pleasantly surprised to find a cushy but stable running shoe that felt as good cruising on a gravel road as it did tromping through leaves and rocks on an off-trail adventure. My fondness for the Jackal made me excited for the Ultra Raptor II, the Jackal’s beefier older sibling, designed for rugged terrain and long days. Perhaps, I thought, the Ultra Raptor II could become my go-to for long adventure races, where I’d need a shoe that could handle off-trail running, would drain well, and would still feel ok after 12 or more hours on the go. 


Only the second iteration of a shoe La Sportiva has offered for years, the Ultra Raptor II is marketed as a “monster in technical terrain,”  and features La Sportiva’s Frixion XF 2.0 outsole, Trail Bite Heel, and Impact Braking system, along with an updated upper and a full-length rock guard. 


Pros:

  • Stable and protective

  • Incredible grip

  • Good for wide feet


Cons:

  • Inflexible

  • Heavy

  • Hot


Tester Profile

Alex Tilsley is a displaced trail runner, currently living in Washington, DC and finding dirt wherever she can. Alex discovered running in college and was a happy 3-miles-a-day hobby jogger until her mom tricked her into running a 10k and it was all downhill from there. She has since run several marathons (PR 3:38) and dabbled in triathlons, but her true love is the trails, whether running, mountain biking, orienteering, or long-distance backpacking. When she’s not running or riding, Alex works full-time in education policy and part-time putting on trail races with EX2 Adventures


Stats

  Official Weight: 10.8 oz (women’s)   

  Sample: 11.1 oz / 314g (women’s US7/EU38)

Stack Height: 19/28

Available now including in wide sizing for men and women and mid height GTX versions. $149

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next % 2 Multi Tester Review: Up and Forward! Broader Stature, Broader Uses! 9 Comparisons

Article by Joost de Raeymaeker, Jacob Brady and Sam Winebaum

Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next % 2 ($275)


Introduction

Sam: The Alphafly Next % 2, Nike’s pinnacle marathon and long racer gets significant updates “focused on refining the construction of the shoe to take all runners through the marathon distance with improved stability and transition.” 


Specifically we see:

  • it moves to a 8mm drop from 4mm becoming a 40mm heel, 32mm forefoot stack shoe allowing a more rolling motion with slightly lower profile and pressure Air Zoom pods with Zoom X cushion below.

  • 5mm wider on the ground at the heel and forefoot

  • a higher more structured heel counter, foot sitting more deeply in foam sidewalls, more contoured sockliner and especially more platform width and drop make the rear and midfoot more stable and help the foot more easily transition forward, even from a heel landing.

  • a new thinner outsole with mini lugs and changes to the forefoot and rear cavities

  • a new Atomknit 2 upper that is more open and at the same time more structured/stiffer as it literally stands up on its own with a slightly thicker less stretchy knit tongue

  • 0.5 oz / 14g  weight gain due to wider base to come in at about 8 oz / 227g US9.

Our three testers Joost a 2:26 marathoner, Jacob 2:49, and Sam about 3:40 on a good day, all with experience in original Alphafly and most all the other super marathon shoes. put the latest Alphafly to the test!


Pros:

Smooth, stable, friendly ride: Jacob/Sam/Joost

Changes from the first version lead to a more well-rounded shoe that should work for a range of runner forms, paces, and preferences: Jacob/Sam/Joost

Remarkably lightweight for the cushion, protection, and rebound: Jacob/Sam/Joost

Versatile. Can easily be used as a trainer for longer faster (and even not so fast) runs Sam/Jacob/Joost

Very stable, 5mm more base width front to back, foot sits deeper in midsole  Sam/Jacob/Joost

Spacious toebox with locked-in midfoot and heel: Jacob/Sam/Joost

Industry-leading effortlessly fast, propulsive ride: Jacob

Less low feeling heel, easier pretty much any pace forward roll to toe off Sam

Improved more gripping outsole Sam/Jacob/Joost

“Slower” marathoners should not be afraid of picking this shoe Sam


Cons:

A bit mechanical in feel given the giant stack and broad platform  Sam/Joost

0.5 oz / 14g weight gain to 8 oz / 227g  is not much, but there. Sam

Wish base width increase was reduced somewhat to reduce weight and  increase agility  Sam

Change from pure all out racer to a more balanced all around focused platform may not please all. Sam

Not quite as leg-saving as some other supershoes Joost 

No sustainable or eco-conscious design choices evident or called out:  Jacob/Sam

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Salomon Spectur Review

Article by Sam Winebaum

Salomon Spectur ($130)


Introduction

The Spectur joins three other 2022 brand new Salomon road shoes in a line up sharing several common technologies implemented differently for different run purposes. They include: 

  • Spectur reviewed here the lowest drop at 6mm intended for daily training with a ride focused on “balanced transitions from heel to toe”, 

  • Phantasm (7mm drop) intended for forefoot striking and quick transitions and clearly felt as such during our test (RTR Review)  

  • Race and uptempo focused Phantasm CF (9mm drop) for “snappy toe-off and strong propulsion for fast paced runs.” True! (RTR Review).  

  • Finally the single density foam soft and broad platform 10mm drop Glide Max for easy runs and recovery and for those needing big upper volume. (RTR Review)


The tech includes 

  • Energy Surge foams: an EVA/Olefin copolymer block compound from Dow with increasing the amount of Olefin determining the softness feel and amount of rebound. The Spectur has a dual density midsole identical in foam types to the Phantasm and Phantasm CF with a firmer layer below a softer layer.  Even the Ultra Glide trail and Pulsar Trail, and Pulsar SG have the same foams and same top (or main) layer softness as the 3 road models.  The Glide Max has a single density Energy Surge foam of the same softness (or maybe a touch softer) as the top layer in the others. 

  • Energy Blades: none “carbon” but each very different in design for purpose. 


     

Source: Salomon


While the Spectur, Phantasm CF, and Phantasm are very similar in geometry other than drop, the blade type helps deliver completely different experiences in each. Except for the Phantasm CF’s more plate like blade, the Energy Blades can be thought of as more toe bone shaped (similar to adidas Energy Rods) than as solid plates. So, for example, the Spectur’s is the same polyamide fiberglass mix as Phantasm’s but is closed and broader towards the heel just below the foot as shown above. It is both more flexible and more heel strike focused than the Phantasm’s plate and its more forefoot strike focused ride. The Phantasm CF has a composite fiber which is more plate-like than the other rod type Energy Blades and is clearly the most propulsive, if unlike most carbon plated shoe plates, with some flex as well.

  • R-Camber rockers with Spectur the least pronounced, flattest and most conventional in feel at the heel.

  • Contagrip outsoles with the Phantasm, Phantasm CF and Spectur all sharing the same general design, and as far as I can tell, the same rubber. 

     

                            Top to Bottom: Spectur, Phantasm, Phantasm CF                                                          The CF’s outsole is thinner to save weight than Phantasm’s or Spectur's and the Spectur’s clearly has the most coverage through the heel and midfoot (so stable). This outsole coverage clearly also adds to the Spectur's weight as it is the heaviest of the options with only the almost 2 oz lighter (with of course lighter upper) Phantasm CF having a lower stack height.

  • The Phantasm ($160) and Phantasm CF ($225) share similar light and airy Matryx uppers while the Glide Max ($150) and Spectur ($130) have much more conventional and thicker mesh uppers.

  • All except the Glide Max share a fairly similar more performance oriented fit at true to size with the Glide Max clearly far more voluminous in width and volume.  


So after this long winded introduction where does the Spectur fit into a runner’s rotation and the Salomon road line up and what are its strengths and weaknesses? Please read on for my take.

Testbericht: Altra Vanish Tempo (German) – Ist das noch Altra? (German)

Article by Johannes Klein

Altra Vanish Tempo (190 €)


Einleitung

Heute wenden wir uns einem Schuh zu, der mehr als nur ein bisschen von dem abweicht, was Altra bisher auf den Markt gebracht hat. Ganz genau: Es geht um den brandneuen Vanish Tempo. In der Vergangenheit war Altra eher nicht dafür bekannt, Territorien zu erkunden, die allzu weit vom Kern seiner Markenidentität entfernt sind. Fast jedes Modell des Herstellers aus Denver weist bis heute eine anatomische Zehenbox, flexible Mittelsohle und keine Sprengung auf. Aber die Konkurrenz ist stark: Wer kein Treiber von Innovation ist, bleibt auf der Strecke.


Der Vanish Carbon (RTR Review), der im Frühling auf dem Markt aufschlug, war Altras erster Ausflug in die Kategorie der Wettkampfschuhe mit Karbonplatte. Nun folgt mit dem Vanish Tempo also der Schuh, der – zumindest vermute ich das –  als Daily Trainer in der neuen Vanish-Linie gedacht ist. Als ich hörte dass der Vanish Tempo im Gegensatz zum Carbon keine Platte haben sollte, war ich sehr gespannt, wie es Altra geschafft hatte, dem neuen Mittelsohlenmaterial EGO Pro die nötige Stabilität zu verleihen.


Bevor der Vanish Tempo bei mir ankam, hatte ich mir viele Gedanken darüber gemacht, was für eine Art Schuh er sein würde. Ich muss sagen, dass mich Altra in einigen Punkten, wie etwa beim Laufgefühl, überrascht hat. Allgemein stellte sich natürlich Frage, wie gut die neuesten Technologien mit der Philosophie des natürlichen Laufgefühls, die Altra bisher ausgemacht hat, vereinbar sind. Lasst uns zusammen herausfinden, ob das Experiment, das die Vanish-Linie darstellt, geglückt ist.


Pro & Contra

Pro: 

Sehr elastischer, komfortabler EGO Pro-Schaum

Obermaterial ist leicht und geräumig im Vorfuß, fixiert die Ferse und den Mittelfuß aber hervorragend

Müheloses Laufgefühl und hervorragende Dämpfungseigenschaften 


Contra:

190€ ist für einen Schuh, der in die Kategorie Daily Trainer fällt, ein stolzer Preis

Vorfuß könnte ein wenig mehr Energie zurückgeben

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Tour du Mont-Blanc Trek – The Gear with Trip Report Snapshots

Article by Dominique Winebaum including a review of the TOPO Athletic Trailventure 2 by Annie Cole 

Our last day hiking on the TMB  La Flégère to Les Houches - we gave each other trail names: “Ibex, Wildflower, and Gentian” - with a view of the Mont-Blanc.


Tour du Mont-Blanc Trek – 3 countries (France, Italy, and Switzerland), 100+ miles, over 35,000 ft of elevation gain (and loss), hiking the distance in 11 days.   This was my third round of the Tour du Mont-Blanc, with two prior editions in 2005 and 2010 with RTR Editor Sam.  


With 2 friends we trekked around the Mont Blanc in June-July in 11 days carrying all our gear. It was my 3d Tour and based on past experience selected the following gear, most but not all provided by RoadTrailRun partners at no charge for this article


Gear Covered in the Article

(RTR partners where indicated)


Backpack:  

Mammut Trea Spine 35L (Backcountry)

Boots: 

TOPO Athletic Trailventure 2 (REI)

AKU Footwear Selvatica Mid GTX  (REI)


Ultimate Direction:  Ultra Jacket V2, Ventro Jacket, Vellum Shorts & Nimbus Tee

Backcountry: Ripstop Trail Short & Tahoe 2 Sun Hoodie

Buff Sun Bucket Hat, Solar Gloves, & Half Buff

OOFOS, OOcandoo Sandals

Socks: 

Drymax® Lite Hiking Crew (Amazon)

Danish Endurance Merino Wool (Amazon)

Poles: 

LEKI MCT 12 Vario Carbon Running and Trekking Poles (Amazon)