Saturday, December 31, 2022

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Testbericht: New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer - Ein Superschuh für die Massen? (German)

Artikel von Nils Scharff

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer (230€)


Einleitung

Schneller, höher, weiter! Was in unserer Gesellschaft ja ein allgegenwärtiges “Motto” ist, macht auch vor der Laufschuhindustrie keinen Halt! Nachdem schon in den letzten Jahren jede neue Produktiteration dazu neigte, etwas mehr Dämpfung als die Vorgängermodelle zu bieten, hat sich dieses Phänomen in 2022 noch weiter zugespitzt. Und während vor ein paar Jahren noch alles jenseits der 30mm Stapelhöhe als Max-Cushion bezeichnet wurde, findet man heute kaum noch eine Produktneuerscheinung unter dieser Marke.

Versteht mich nicht falsch - ich möchte diese Entwicklung überhaupt nicht negativ bewerten. Ich mag maximale Dämpfung und weiche Mittelsohlen! Beides schont meine Beine, verkürzt Erholungszeiten und macht meistens auch noch verdammt viel Spaß zu laufen! Und da ich mit dieser Meinung nicht allein dastehe, beginnt sich gerade eine neue Produktgruppe zu etablieren: Super-Max-Cushion!


Der Prime X war mit seinen 50mm Stapelhöhe eine Art Vorreiter in diesem Bereich. Doch während adidas dieses Modell in seiner Performance-Linie platziert hatte und starke Kompromisse in Sachen Stabilität und Komfort eingegangen ist, um das Gewicht im Zaum zu halten, drängen jetzt weitere dieser Super-Max-Cushion Modelle auf den Markt. Diese sind stärker auf den durchschnittlichen Läufer und den durchschnittlichen Trainingslauf ausgelegt und sollen die Super-Max-Cushion Vorteile beim täglichen Training bieten. Eines dieser Modelle ist der New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer, der mit 47mm Stapelhöhe nicht nur maximal gedämpft daherkommt, sondern auch vielerlei Innovationen mit sich bringt, die sonst Wettkampfboliden vorbehalten sind. Lasst uns gemeinsam herausfinden, wie sich das beim Laufen bemerkbar macht und ob der zugegebenermaßen hohe Preis eine gute Investition in eure vielen Trainingskilometer ist.

Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra G Review: The Ultimate Deep Winter Mountain & Trail Running Shoe? 5 Comparisons

Article by Jeff Valliere

Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra G ($239)


Introduction:  


The Ribelle Run Kalibra G is a serious winter mountain running shoe that is also great for snowshoeing and hiking. Featuring an integrated stretch gaiter, an internal BOA Fit System and incredibly well treaded and sticky PRESA outsole, the Ribelle Run Kalibra G is ready to tackle any trail in any condition. I tested them in deep winter and more temperate conditions around Boulder, CO the past month or so.


Pros:  Water repellant upper with built in gaiter keeps feet warm and dry, the BOA Fit System is easy to use and very secure, comfort and cushioning are OUTSTANDING!, protection, traction


Cons:  I can’t really come up with any cons.  I am tempted to say weight, but that is a stretch given how well built, protective and functional these are.  


Stats:

Official Weight: men's 13 oz  / 370g (US9) 

Sample 13.9 oz / 394g (US men’s 10)

4mm drop

$239

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Testbericht: Hoka Mafate Speed 4 - Vielseitige Spaßmaschine für (fast) jedes Terrain (German)

Artikel von Marcel Krebs 

Hoka Mafate Speed 4 (180€, aktuell jedoch vielerorts günstiger)


Einleitung

In der ersten Jahreshälfte durfte ich mit dem Tecton-X bereits den vor allem auf Wettkämpfe ausgerichteten Schuh von Hoka testen. Den entsprechenden RTR-Bericht findet ihr hier. Der Tecton-X verfügt über eine zweigeteilte Carbon-Platte, eine vergleichsweise großzügige Dämpfung und kann seine Stärken vor allem auf trockenem Untergrund hervorragend ausspielen. Zudem ist er mit gerade einmal 260g in meiner Testgröße US-M10 ein echtes Leichtgewicht. 

Pünktlich zum UTMB in Chamonix präsentierte Hoka im Herbst mit dem Mafate Speed 4 einen weiteren vielversprechenden Trailschuh. Dieser verfügt über eine noch großzügigere Dämpfung und vor allem eine wesentlich profilierte Außensohle. 


Ob der Hoka Mafate Speed 4 zu recht in den Vordergrund gerückt wurde, oder ob es sich hierbei eher um eine Marketingmaßnahme handelte, erfahrt ihr in den nächsten Abschnitten dank dem Running Warehouse Europe, das mir den Hoka Mafate Speed 4 freundlicherweise kostenfrei zum Testen zur Verfügung stellte.

Testbericht: New Balance Fuel Cell Rebel v3

Artikel von Markus Zinkl

New Balance Fuel Cell Rebel v3 (150,00 €)


Einleitung

Der Rebel v3 ist ein sehr leichter Trainingsschuh, der sehr vielseitig eingesetzt werden kann. Durch sein geringes Gewicht in Kombination mit dem Supercritical FuelCell Schaum in der Mittelsohle kann der Schuh auch sehr gut für schnellere Einheiten verwendet werden. Alles, ohne dabei Abstriche beim Komfort zu machen. Das macht ihn zu einem sehr guten Allround Schuh. Die aktuellste dritte Version hat nur sehr wenig Änderungen im Gegensatz zum sehr beliebten und erfolgreichen Vorgängermodell bekommen. Mal sehen, ob der Schuh an den Erfolg seines Vorgängers anknüpfen kann.

Brooks Catamount 2 Multi Tester Review: A Dramatically Improved All Around Trail Runner! 14 Comparisons

Article by Mike Postaski, John Tribbia, Jeff Valliere, Jana Herzgova, and Sam Winebaum

Brooks Catamount 2 ($170)


Introduction


Mike P: I really wanted to like the first version of the Catamount. I even tried it out several times in some pre-race testing, but ultimately never felt comfortable in them and never ran anything of substance in them. The DNA Flash midsole was quite responsive, but ultimately for me it was held back by a somewhat basic, insecure upper as well as the overly stiff feeling “ballistic rock shield”. I didn’t feel comfortable in them aside from running in a straight line. Enter the Catamount V2, with a completely revamped upper and a new SkyVault Propulsion plate in place of the aforementioned ballistic rock shield. Do the new updates improve the deficiencies of V1, or do they transform V2 into a different shoe altogether? Well.. perhaps a bit of both..

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

adidas Adizero SL Multi Tester Review

Article by Dominique Winebaum, Peter Stuart, Zack Dunn, and Michael Ellenberger

adidas Adizero SL ($120)

Introduction


Dominique: The Adizero SL is a new addition to the Adizero line of running shoes, a daily racer trainer at an entry level price ($120), designed with key features from the franchise, such as the Lightstrike Pro Drop-In in the forefoot and Lightstrike EVA midsole frame.  For runners like me, it is an opportunity to step into the Adizero world class and fast range of shoes – and crank up the pace.  For competitive runners, it is a racer trainer at an affordable price.  So the question is how does this SL model live up to the high performance level of the Adizero fast range of shoes? 

RoadTrailRun's 2022 Awards: Road and Trail Run Apparel, Gear, Electronics, Sunglasses, Nutrition and Recovery

Article by RTR Team

The RTR Team ran over 54,000 miles / 88,000 km on roads and trails in 2022 and that is before they cycled, hiked, and Nordic skied yet more. 

25 of us were out there with lots of apparel, gear, electronics, race packs, sunglasses and more in every climate and terrain imaginable and then had to recover.. And go back out there again.. Please read on to discover their 2022 favorites!

Monday, December 26, 2022

Langzeit-Testbericht: Ultratrail FX.One Superlite - Carbon Trailrunning Stöcke der Extraklasse! (German)

Artikel von Marcel Krebs 

LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Superlite Trairunning Stöcke (174,95 €)

Einleitung

Nachdem mein geschätzter Kollege Mike die neuen LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Superlite auf seiner Rundreise durch Colorado testen konnte (seinen englischsprachigen Testbericht findet ihr hier), möchte ich seine Eindrücke gerne um einen Langzeittest ergänzen. Dieser erstreckt sich über mehrere UTMB Qualifier-Rennen auf ganz unterschiedlichen Untergründen und unter sehr unterschiedlichen Wetterbedingungen, so dass ihr einen umfassenden Eindruck von den LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Superlite erhaltet.


So viel sei an dieser Stelle bereits verraten: Die Poles haben einen hervorragenden Eindruck bei mir hinterlassen - für mich gibt es aktuell keine besseren Trailrunning Stöcke am Markt! Und auch auf den Kundenservice von LEKI ist im Fall der Fälle Verlass, doch dazu später mehr.

RoadTrailRun's Top TRAIL Running Shoes of 2022 Awards: Multiple Categories, Most Smiles, Biggest Surprises, Innovations & Top Brand- 16 Contributors more than 11,000 Test Miles!

 Article by RTR Team

2022 was a great year for running as we emerged from the pandemic. We eagerly took to the roads and races while running brands made valiant efforts to deal with many logistics issues at the same time unleashing a torrent of innovations in a highly competitive market. And not only the bigger well known brands but we saw the emergence of truly top notch trail shoes from very small brands such as Naked, Norda, and NNormal.  Needless to say RoadTrailRun was at it in 2022 and we bring you our Test Team Best of 2022 for road running  here. 


Trends emerged as supercritical foams (Saucony, Inov-8, Hoka) for their weight and ride feel characteristics which trended softer and new approaches and we saw more plates came to trail shoes with Scarpa Kima's flexible carbon, Saucony and Hoka carbon, Brooks Catamount 2  and Salomon Pulsar with plastic propulsion and protection plates than go beyond rock protection.


RTR’s Best of 2022 Trail Running Shoes Survey

16 RTR contributors ran more than 10,900 trail miles / 18,000  km and in some cases in dozens of trail shoes each. 


Collectively the entire RTR team wrote over 250 road and trail shoe reviews as well as dozens of apparel, accessories and electronics articles in multiple languages including English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, and Polish. 


We surveyed the team for their Best of Trail Running Shoes 2022 via an online form where the respondents could not see others’ answers. 


Many contributors set PR’s in 2022, helped by their training and of course also shoes!. Also coming soon contributors personal year in review article.


Not every contributor ran in every shoe, and for some models below we had more brand provided samples than for others and in particular Saucony, while some shoes were personal purchases. We include 2023 shoes if we have tested and they are not restricted from review by manufacturers.


RoadTrailRun and its contributors were not compensated by any company to review shoes and RoadTrailRun did not do any “sponsored content” or was paid by any brand to do events to promote brands or shoes.


If a clear preference emerges we will call a winner for each category. The categories in the survey included:

  • Technical Trails or Big Mountains Shoe

  • Easy Days and Trails Cruising Shoe

  • Short and Fast Training and Racing Shoe

  • Long Distances Training and Racing Shoe

  • Door to Trailsl Shoe

  • Absolute Favorite Trail Shoe

  • Most Smiles Shoe of 2022

  • Biggest Surprises of 2022

  • Top brand of the year.

  • Most mentions across all categories

So which shoes came out on top in each of several categories, what was the top trail shoe overall, top brands, and what were the big surprises of 2022? Please read on to find out.

Sunday, December 25, 2022

RoadTrailRun's Top ROAD Running Shoes of 2022 Awards: Multiple Categories, Most Smiles, Biggest Surprises, Innovations & Top Brand- 24 Contributors, 46,000 Test Miles!

Article by RTR Team


Introduction

2022 was a great year for running as we emerged from the pandemic. We eagerly took to the roads and races while running brands made valiant efforts to deal with many logistics issues at the same time unleashing a torrent of innovations in a highly competitive market. And not only the bigger well known brands but we saw the emergence of truly top notch road shoes from very small brands as well as brands from Asia not typically seen outside of their home countries. Needless to say RoadTrailRun was at it in 2022 and we bring you our Test Team Best of 2022 for road running  here. 


Trends emerged as supercritical foams and plates  became more common in both racers and trainers for the weight and ride feel characteristics which trended softer, shoes pushed up to and exceeded the World Athletics 40 mm limit (Prime X, SC Trainer, Superblast) and new approaches to plates emerged (Xtep flexible 3D carbon, Mizuno Wave Rebellion PEBAX). 


Competition between brands was fierce and our survey results reflect that with many categories no clear favorites pulling ahead. In the Best Brand category there was however one clear and decisive winner.


Collectively the entire RTR team wrote over 250 road and trail shoe reviews as well as dozens of apparel, accessories and electronics articles in multiple languages including English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, and Polish. 


Find all RoadTrailRun reviews at our index page HERE or just Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name" and you can be quite sure to find just about any run shoe over the last 10 years


RTR’s Best of 2022 Road Running Shoes Survey

28 RTR contributors on 5 continents ran 43,000 road miles / 69,000 km in dozens of road shoes each to arrive at the results here.


We surveyed the team for their Best of Road Running Shoes 2022 via an online form where the respondents could not see others’ answers. 


So which shoes came out on top in each of several categories, what was the top road shoe overall, top brands, and what were the big surprises of 2022? Please read on to find out.

Friday, December 23, 2022

TENWAYS CGO800S eBike Review

Article by John Tribbia

TENWAYS CGO800S eBike Review ($1,999)

Introduction

TENWAYS Bicycles is headquartered in the Netherlands, which is basically the cycling capital of the world where bikes are a cultural symbol for the Dutch. The company is in its early years, assembled as a group of cycle enthusiasts and experts in the bike trade who are obsessed with building a greener and more sustainable world together. After an incredibly successful 2021 crowdfunding campaign, the first TENWAYS eBike started to find its way to city streets. Since then, TENWAYS has grown to welcome a diverse and global family of riders, creators, and enthusiasts. TENWAYS is on a mission to make commuting effortless, speedy and fun, so that we can all love the way we ride. 

Beyond putting smiles on bike buyers’ faces, what I love about TENWAYS is their enviro-social mission to reduce their carbon footprint and make riding bikes accessible to marginalized groups. 

The company is working towards zero-emissions production and they currently control their waste emissions to the highest applicable standards and they work to offset their carbon footprint by supporting selected non-profit organizations. 


Moreover, TENWAYS is helping mitigate climate change in cooperation with Just One Tree by planting a tree on the buyer’s behalf for every e-bike delivered. Lastly, TENWAYS donates bikes to those who simply can’t afford reliable mobility together with Wheels4Life

TENWAYS sent me their new CGO800s model eBike. It’s a simple single speed eBike that, according to TENWAYS “modern commuting meets classic comfort”. Think of the streets of Amsterdam with cyclists on upright bikes riding around town, but with an electrified and modernized upgrade. That’s why the CGO800S is the go-to bike for regular commuters, where geometrically designed comfort meets outstanding, technologically advanced performance. This is a great option for those needing a car-less way to get to work, to a track workout, the gym, or the grocery store. 

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Brooks Catamount 2 Initial Video Review

Article and Video by Sam Winebaum

Brooks Catamount 2 ($170)

Update: Brooks Catamount 2 Multi Tester Review 14 Comparisons

In the video we testthe Catamount 2, Brooks quicker more agile trail runner. 00:00 Details, 05:15 Fit, 06:01 Comments while running, 08:33 Ride Conclusions and Comparisons.

It sees significant updates over its version 1 with a new clearly more supportive upper and new midsole geometry with the same stack height of supercritical DNA Flash foam, 

It gets an effective plastic propulsion and protection plate and deeper 4mm lugs with more flexibility (v1 was completely rigid) while only gaining 7 g to come in at 9.58 oz / 270g in our US 8.5 sample

Available February 2023. $170. Full multi tester review soon here.

Watch the Initial Video Review from the Trails in Stratham, New Hampshire (13:12)

Check out all our 2023 Road and Trail Run Shoe Previews 

HERE

15 Brands, Dozens of New Models

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Hoka Challenger 7 Initial Review: More Road or More Trail?

Article and Video by Sam Winebaum

Hoka Challenger 7 ($145, $160 Gore-Tex Invisible Fit)

Update: Full Multi Tester Review of the Challenger 7 HERE

In the video, I take the Challenger 7 for road and trail runs and share Details and my initial take on Fit, Ride and Conclusions/Comparisons. 
It loses a big 0.8 oz /22g to come in at just 9.02 oz / 255g US9 sample while also increasing in cushion stack height by 2mm front and back. It gets a new (and effective) new rocker geometry and a redesigned 4mm lug outsole focused on both road smoothness and increased front trail grip. 
The upper is a quite unstructured thinner engineered mesh with lots of volume with wide also available but I doubt as many as before will need.

Pardon the shaking. It was cold! Full written multi tester review soon.
Will it lean more Road or Trail in this edition? Please watch to hear my conclusions. 
Watch the Initial Video Review filmed on the run in the woods of Maine (10:01)


Available now. $145 in tested engineered mesh upper version, $160 in a Gore-Tex Invisible Fit weather resistant including at our partners below.

Monday, December 19, 2022

Puma Fast-Trac NITRO Multi Tester Review: A No-Nonsense, Well Priced Door to Trail Running Shoe. 5 Comparisons

Article by Renee Krusemark, Markus Zinkl, Jeremy Marie, and Jeff Vallliere

Puma Fast-Trac NITRO ($110)


Pros:

Low cost: Renee/Markus/Jacob/Jeremy/Jeff V

Versatile daily trainer for road to light trail: Renee/Markus/Jacob/Jeff V

Relatively lightweight and runs lighter: Renee/Markus/Jeff V

Nice grip on different terrain: Jeremy/Jacob/Jeff V


Cons:

Restricting forefoot and toebox: Renee/Jacob/Jeremy

High sitting heel counter: Renee/Markus

Not the most exciting ride: Renee/Markus//Jacob/Jeremy/Jeff V

Needs a few miles to soften: Markus/Jeremy/Jeff V

A bit firm, dull, at the forefoot: Jeremy/Jeff V



Stats

Official Weight: men's 8.94 oz / 272 g (US9)

  Samples: men’s 10.08 oz  / 286 g (US10.5)

women’s 8.31 oz / 236 g (US8)

Stack Height: men’s 29 mm heel / 21 mm forefoot

Available now. $110

Saucony Xodus Ultra RunShield Review: All Weather, All Trails (and Road) All Arounder

Article by Sam Winebaum

Saucony Xodus Ultra RunShield ($160)



Introduction

The Xodus Ultra RunShield is a “weatherized” version of the dramatically updated and lightened Xodus Ultra, Saucony’s long distances focused trail runner. Our test of the regular Xodus Ultra (RTR Review) scored it very high for its fun energetic do it all ride with some of us feeling its upper support up front was a bit tippy and loose on more technical terrain. 


I was most curious to see if the clearly more substantial closed mesh upper of the Run Shield version helped improve the foot hold (somewhat of a weakness of the Xodus Ultra) as it does for the RunShield version of the Endorphin Speed 3 with its almost identical RunShield upper material.


There is about a 0.7 oz / 19g gain in weight from the upper (I assume as nothing underfoot changes) to a still very reasonable 10.34 oz / 293g US 8.5 sample for a weather resistant distance shoe with a big 32.5mm heel / 26.5 mm forefoot, 6mm drop. The RunShield and regular version have an identical midsole and PWRTRAC outsole with 4mm lugs.

In a nod to winters in New England where Saucony is based, it has local poet Robert Frost’s famous poetry on the inner and outer tongue and frosted maple leaves on the collars and sock liner. A very "cool" touch!

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Saucony Peregrine Ice+3 Review 5 Comparisons

Article by Jeff Valliere 

Peregrine Ice +3 ($150)


Introduction


Building off of the Peregrine 12, the Peregrine Ice+3 offers a RUNSHIELD upper to protect from snow and moisture, plus a new PWRTRAC Ice outsole for improved traction on ice.  Otherwise the midsole, drop and stack (not factoring the lower by 1.5mm difference lug height here) are the same.


Pros:

Jeff V:  A quick, fast agile winter shoe, grip, protection underfoot, weather resistant upper, overall performance


Cons:

Jeff V:  As I say about any winter shoe, a streamlined, a built in gaiter would be nice.  Off snow/dry traction is not great


Stats

Estimated Weight: men’s 10.25 oz / 291g US9

Sample Weight: men’s  US 10 - 10.75oz  /  305g

Stack Height: men’s mm 25 heel / 21 mm forefoot 

Available now. $150