First Run Review: New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail-Versatile Trail Runner, Neither Cush nor Mush nor Brick

I just received a review pair of the New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail, the 2nd shoe featuring New Balance's Fresh Foam technologies of computer designed midsole and outsole geometries. This 10.25 oz men's 9, 8.1 oz women's 8, 4mm drop "trail" shoe retails for $109.95 and will be available by July 2014. 
I say "trail" as I am finding the Fresh Foam Trail is also a fine road shoe. 

New Balance  Fresh Foam 980 Trail

I have run a few miles on road and trail in the 980 Trail so far and am concluding they are a big improvement over the initial 980 Road I reviewed here. (Note 4/10/14: New Balance just sent me another pair of Roads as early pairs such as the one I received may have firmer midsoles than spec. I ran 5 miles in this new Road 980 and the cushioning was very similar to the Trail)  Smooth running even on the road with a foot lay down feel somewhat like Pearl Izumi's E:Motion line, they part ways with the PI shoes and the original 980 Road in that they are well cushioned and not somewhat harsh and overly firm as both the PI and 980 Road felt to me, nor rigid and a bit constricting in the forefoot as the pair of 980 Roads were for me at my true to size 8.5, the Trails here being 9's. The Trails are also not mushy or pillowy as the older model Hoka One One's are. 
Fresh Foam is the marketing slogan and with this shoe it starts to ring true, although I would not characterize the ride as "super soft and bouncy" as New Balance does. More a tuning of cushion and support to provide a smooth, well cushioned, stable and comfortable ride on trail and road. 

After 2 runs they are already more flexible than my still somewhat stiff 980 Road that have 30 plus miles on them. My first trail run in them was on muddy, steep, rooty NH trails and they were equally adept on the trail as on the road, I guess no surprise for this trail shoe!  Good grip, good stability on moderately uneven steep terrain with smooth striding on the flats.

Outsole: New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail

First, what is special about the midsole outsole design?
The New Balance 980 Fresh Foam is not made up of innovative materials (a la adidas Boost) or for that matter has a radical design ( a la Hoka).  The 980 is innovative as for the first time New Balance is leveraging parametric modeling software often used by architects to micro design and shape the data characteristics of loading and biomechanics into what is essentially a very simple single material EVA midsole and single material rubber outsole. The outer sidewalls have hexagonal "relief" based on the data modeling, which depending on location, either provide additional support via convex bulging shapes or deform, absorb shock and cushion through concave shapes.

So what did New Balance do to make this such a fine shoe, and an improvement in my view over the initial 980 Road? Well they tuned the midsole and outsole using their software, common sense, and I am sure some feedback from runners.

Midsole

The view below is of the lateral (outside) of the forefoot with Trail top and Road bottom.

Forefoot Lateral Side: New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail top, 980 Road bottom

New Balance swapped convex hexagons for concave ones upfront. Result for me a somewhat softer forefoot than the Road as concave shapes deflect a bit more than concave ones. Finger push test shows as much. I believe the midsole material is, or should be, despite my early experience with the Road of the same firmness in both shoes and the differences in feel are due to tuning of the hexagons and outsole.

Heel Lateral Side: New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail top, 980 Road bottom

In the heel area on the lateral side(outside) they made the hexagons on the Trail (top) larger and deeper which softens the heel landing without in any way making the shoe mushy.

Heel Medial Side: New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail top, 980 Road bottom

On the medial (inside) the Trail keeps convex hexagons from mid foot to heel and they are larger than on the Road. And this is my only quibble to date with the Trail and Road. I think these "support" geometries are intended to slow pronation as they firm that area, and while some may need a bit of help here, I usually run in a neutral shoe. The latest from the American College of Sports Medicine here recommends neutral non support shoes for the vast majority of runners. This said, especially for long trail runs and as the shoe gets some miles, the foot and eventually shoe tend to collapse inward in lighter shoes. I might have kept the smaller convex shaping of the road here as I feel a bit too much inside support in the Trail.

There is no rock plate I can see and don't believe it is needed, plenty of rock push through protection.

Outsole

Outsoles: New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail left, 980 Road right

Here clearly there are differences as the red sole on the Road is clearly for road use and green Trail for trail use. I found that the long deep lugs of the Trail provided superb grip on the steeps, a bit of icy snow, and the mud that I encountered. No mud accumulated but truth be said New England mud is not usually the sticky glop found out West. The lugs reverse towards the heel, sharp face foward, to provide braking. The long lugs also seem to contribute to a smooth ride on road, if a bit noisy. But there is more... The sheet, if you will, that holds the decently spaced lugs is thinner than the more continuous outsole with no flex grooves  of the Road. I believe this contributes to not only better road feel but more flex in the forefoot of the Trail . 

Upper

All overlays except around the lacing and for some strapping at the heel are seamfree. The upper is a very densely woven mesh, not exactly as light as many sub 10 oz trail runners who have but appears durable. I felt very well supported on some relatively rough trails without a need to overly cinch down the laces. It drains well, I did run through ankle deep water on my last run. It should not let dust in but may clog a bit with mud due to the very fine mesh.

The Trail upper is built on the same last (foot shape, volume,etc..) as the Road. The toe box while not as roomy as say the Skechers Ultra  is roomy enough with no sloppy play upfront, always an issue on trails for me. They are far more comfortable up front than my first pair of Road by sizing up half a size. With mid weight trail sock they should work for all my trail runs. If I ran long ultras and had wide feet, and I don't, I might potentially size up another half a size. The tongue is soft, padded and relatively thin when compared to the somewhat overly puffy tongue of the Road. The tongue is held in place by 2 webbing loops. The heel counter padding is a little thinner than the very puffy Road's. 

Update 7/13/14: I finally got to run some Utah single track in Park City. And for my first run out here, 11.5 miles and 2200 vertical feet the day after a half marathon, I picked the 980 Trail. Superb in all respects. Climb well with plenty of grip. Very stable on downhills from heel to toe.  As I expected the "firmness" of Fresh Foam shines on trails. Upper is supportive without being overly restrictive or too loose. A bit pointy in the toe but not a big issue for me. Lack of a rock plate not noticeable at all.

Overall Impressions
The 980 Fresh Foam Trail is a low drop (4mm), very solid,  supportive mid weight trainer runner suitable for both smooth and rough trails as well as roads. It is on the heavier side (10.25 oz)  of modern trail runners which often come in under 10 oz but given the cushion, deep and effective lugs, and rugged upper I think worth the weight for old legs, longer runs and tougher terrain. The tuning of the hexagon geometries and outsole has also made this a fine smooth running road shoe with few if any of the drawbacks associated with trail shoes on the road: harsh firm ride, overly slappy due to the outsole, or weight. I plan to make this one of my goto shoes for Summer 2014.

Competitor.com agrees with my review "...the Fresh Foam Trail—a modified replica of the award-winning Fresh Foam 980 road shoe—is a dynamic and versatile shoe that excels on many different types of terrain." See their review here.

Disclosure: The 980 Trail was provided to me free of charge by New Balance. The opinions herein are entirely my own. 

Outdoor Retailer Winter 14: Source Hydration. Tastes Better. Innovative Designs

Source is an Israeli hydration company well known in Europe and by militaries worldwide, including the US, French, and of course Israel's IDF. They have not recently been strongly present in the US market. At OR they had a large booth with neat consumer packs, bottles,and reservoirs and  very serious military tactical hydration and packs on display

Their key differentiator is a "glass like" reservoir film material. By "glass like" Source means the material is far smoother with fewer peaks and valleys on the surface than competitors.

Source Hydration Glass Like Film

This translates to less gunk accumulating in the bladder. I have had a Source hydration bladder for several years, it came in the original Salomon Advanced Skin run vest. I think liquids do taste better in Source and it was my goto bladder on our 10 day trek from Chamonix to Zermatt a few years ago, got one for my wife, and I put it in my run packs.

I was given a  free sample and demonstration of Source's Ultimate Hydration System ($61 MSRP). The Ultimate features:

• Widepac™ 2L / 3L
  Most innovative, smart and successful design, the Widepac Hydration Reservoir makes filling, cleaning and draining easier than ever, and it's 100% leakproof.
• Helix™ Valve
  Features a 360 degree cylindrical valve with soft bite which eliminates the need for a specific mouth orientation. The retreat spring sealing mechanism is leak proof even under pressure.
• Dirt Shield™
  An effective Valve cover that keeps the valve protected and clean when not in use.
• QMT Tube
  Tube with two quick connect adaptors, one on each side.
• UTA - Universal Tube Adapter
  A revolutionary solution for refilling your hydration system on the move. The reservoir is filled directly through the tube eliminating the need to remove the hydration pack from the back for refills.
• Magnetic Clip
• A smart and simple magnetic tube holder clip, easily attachable to shirt, shooulder strap or Molle strap, allowing complete ease of use.
• Weave Covered Tube
  Insulated UV-Block woven cover. Keeps liquid cool and bacteria-free from the first to the last sip. 

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Source Ultimate Hydration Bottle Refill

The reservoir tube can be disconnected at both ends by pressing and pulling secure spring snap valves,  to clean the tube and also to fill the reservoir. Using the blue UTA Universal Tube Adaptor, a soft wide coupling you can refill from a sink tap or from a water bottle without removing the bladder from your pack and opening  the wide mouth as one normally does. The UTA fill came from input from the US military in Afghanistan as drinking water used by soldiers there is bottled. The drink valve is easy to use, rotates 360 degrees and twists to secure shut. A dust cap is included but I find it fussy string, leash and all, and will remove. The magnet is a nice addition to secure the hose wherever you want.

Source 1 liter Liquitainer

The 1 liter (33 oz)  Liquitainer ($11) caught my eye. For most runs of less than 3 hours I use bottles in the front pockets of my race vests. I like the Salomon soft flasks but they tend to flop over when less than full if the pocket is not deep enough. The Liquitainer, as it is more rigid,stands up far better. To drink all one has to do is bend my head a bit and squeeze the bottle. I can almost entirely drain the bottle without taking it out. There is also a 750 ml version which will fit in shallower pockets. Folds flat.







The Dune Extreme Sport Hydration Pack ($126 MSRP)

Source Dune Extreme Sport Hydration Pack

Source Dune Extreme Sport Hydration Pack

Source's take on a performance hydration pack was very interesting.

The cross straps lie over the center area where the bladder sits

allowing a very secure customizable fit. The zip hip pockets

 are easy to get at without removing the pack and will hold an iPhone 5. 

No pockets on shoulder straps which is a bit of a downside as I like to be able to carry bottles, mobile, or nutrition there. 

Review: 14 Patagonia Men's Strider Pro 5" Run Short- Versatile, Comfortable, Effective, Pockets Galore

The Patagonia Men's Strider Pro-5" Short ($59) is a dialed in marvel of style, comfort and carrying capacity. As many of us increasing carry "stuff" when we run, and especially smartphones, finding a way to carry all of it is increasingly a challenge. With marathons banning race vests for security reasons and the smart move to carry a jacket and a bit of nutrition on the trail, pack or belt less carry is a challenge.

Patagonia Strider PRO Short Source: Patagonia.com

The Strider PRO is in its 2nd year. I have the first version and it was great if a bit constricting and limited in carry capacity. Designed in collaboration with Patagonia's run ambassadors this second version iterates last year's model to new levels of comfort and versatility. Really in my opinion, the ultimate run short and I have tried plenty.

The new version includes:

• 5, yes 5 stretch mesh pockets: 2 deep hip pockets suitable for smartphone or light jackets, 2 shallower hip pockets able to hold 2 or more gels, and a rear zip pocket for key or more gels. When empty the pockets are really not apparent, not baggy tacked on Race Ready looking appendages.
• a wide drawstring that can be threaded on the outside or inside of the waistband and minimal stretch waistband to hold it all up when pockets are loaded. Yet always comfortable and non constricting even when loaded
• a very soft smooth fabric with mesh inserts for heat dissipation and breathability in all the right places.
• some pretty wild colors, as well as a basic gray and black.

I have already run plenty of miles in the Strider Pro. The carry capacity without bounce or sagging is very effective. 

Below the shorts with on board: iPhone in case, 2 gels, 1 energy chew package and a NorthFace Better Than Naked Jacket. Didn't even load the rear zip pocket which can carry at least 2 more gels. Due to the drawstring/waistband construction, and tight yet easy to handle stretch of the pockets, nothing bounces or sags. 

Patagonia Strider Pro 

Patagonia Strider Pro 

Patagonia Strider Pro 

You can purchase the Strider Pro Shorts below from REI or Moosejaw. Every purchase from the link helps support my blog. Thanks!

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 14: Updated Altra-The One2, Instinct 2, Paradigm, Superior 1.5,

The smallish Altra Zero Drop booth was packed as usual.  All Altra shoes have zero drop from heel to toe and feature a superb anatomic wide toe box and matching wide forefoot landing. Altra has specific lasts and fit for men and women on all shoes. Love the feel but zero drop is a bit much for me day in day out.  I have run in the Superior and Torin.

My eyes were immediately drawn to a new "maximalist" shoe, the Paradigm. Think of it as the road version of the just released 12.2 oz Olympus trail runner.  Paradigm is a very light 10.5 oz men's 9 with a 34 mm stack height, right up there with the most cushioned Hokas such as the Mafate or Stinson.  The midsole is Altra dual layer EVA with their A Bound energy return layer ( the blue) under the foot. Matching women's model too coming in at 9.5 oz. MSRP $130.

Altra Paradigm

Altra Paradigm

Altra Paradigm

Altra Paradigm: I am a 9 and the shoe here is 10.5 but note the roomy toe box

 Update: I went back to take a closer look at the Altra One 2 avery intriguing and super light new cushioned Altra. 7.5 oz with 24 mm of zero drop stack height, the stack height increasing from 18 from the One (1).  This is a flexible shoe that reminded me of Nike Free but of course more maximalist. I was told it targets Kinvara and Nike Lunar Racer. No heel counter. Unlike other Altras with their EVA A-Bound combinations, the One has something called Inner Flex EVA that I found out is a mix of EVA and A-Bound, a TPE. MSRP $100. A very nice looking shoe.

Altra One 2

Altra One 2

Altra One 2

The Altra Lone Peak 2 trail runner increases its stack height from 22mm to 25mm and has a more aggressive tread.

Altra Lone Peak 2 Men's

Altra Lone Peak 2 Women

Altra Lone Peak 2 Women

Altra Lone Peak 2 Women

I ran in the original Altra Superior. Better on the road than the trail for me due to the very stretchy un reinforced wide upper and no heel counter. One of my favorite lounging shoes. Well the Superior 1.5 adds upper strapping, reinforcements and a heel counter. Altra and zero drop fans will likely find the Superior 1.5 a fine trail racer.

Altra Superior 1.5

Altra Superior 1.5

Altra Superior 1.5

The Instinct, the very popular original Altra is now Instinct 2.0 gets more cushioning and has a 26mm stack height.  MSRP $105.

Many of the models featured are available now from Altra. Your purchase here supports my blog.

Outdoor Retailer Winter 14: Hoka One One- No Longer Oversize means Overweight- New Huaka, Clifton, Mafate Speed

One of my very first stops at OR was at Hoka One One. I have followed Hoka since 2010 and tried multiple models along their journey swimming against the now receding"minimalist" tide.  With rising popularity and  funding and energy from new owner Deckers they do not disappoint with their fall 2014 offerings.

I focus here on 3 new models (Mafate Speed, Clifton, and Huaka), with the 11.8oz Conquest just now releasing with notes on other stalwarts such as the Stinson, Rapa Nui, and Bondi all receiving or having just received updates.

Mafate Speed
This is a brand new 12.8oz.version of the original Hoka, the Mafate.  The Mafate 3 (14.7oz) stays in the line. With a supportive Speed Frame upper and a durable RMAT (blue) outsole midsole with harder rubber patches over Hoka's CMEVA under foot this is the trail beast in the line.

Hoka One One Mafate Speed

Hoka One One Mafate Speed.

Update: Road Runner Sports reports the Mafate Speed will be available around July 1st, 2014 and can be pre-ordered now.

Huaka
Update 7/14:  I have been running in the Huaka, over 100 miles of road and trail. Fantastic versatile, flexible, and light Hoka that is still... a Hoka with great and now responsive cushioning.
Review here.

A 2mm drop 8.9 oz racer/trainer  with the entire midsole made of the new RMAT material. A bit heavier than the Clifton which comes in at 7.9 oz so I am guessing the RMAT is a bit denser and heavier but more responsive. Likely takes away a bit of the mushy feeling at speed in Hokas.  Some patches of harder rubber. Technically a road shoe but with more than adequate lugs for most trails.  Sage Canaday a recent convert to Hokas, and one of the top ultra runners at less than 100 mile distances, just ran a 2:22 road marathon in Huakas to finish 2nd at the difficult Carlsbad Marathon. I believe a world record for Hoka shod marathoning.  While the drop is lower than I like,  I can't wait to try Huakas potentially retrofitting them replacing the flat insole with an insole with a bit more heel lift.

Hoka One One Huaka Outsole

 Note the deep carve outs in the outsole to reduce weight and increase flexibility.

Update: Boulder Running Company and Road Runner Sports (pre-order now) are showing the Huaka will be available very early July 2014

Clifton
The Clifton will be "value" priced by Hoka standards at $130. Entire midsole is made of CMEVA. Remarkably light at 7.9 oz. 4mm heel toe drop.  This is the shoe I am most interested in as a long haul road runner and marathon shoe. The other "lightweight" Hokas the Bondi 3 and Rapa Nui 2 come in at 10.8 oz and they are fine shoes indeed.

Hoka One One Clifton

Hoka One One Clifton Outsole.

Update: Boulder Running Company and Road Runner Sports report Hoka One One Clifton will be available around July 1st, 2014.

My understanding is that the Mafate Speed, Huaka, and Clifton will launch for Fall 2014 so July.

Across the line common themes emerge:

• RMAT a new midsole/outsole compound which has a bit of rubber in the mix for " increased rebound, better durability, and exceptional outsole grip." Full RMAT in the Huaka racer, partial RMAT outsole/midsole in the Mafate Speed and Conquest, rest of the midsole on these Hokas have Hoka's special EVA under the foot.  All other models including the new Clifton have different densities of Hoka's special EVA with Clifton having something really special in that department to achieve such a low weight
• 3 kinds of meta-rocker or rocker profile. I finally understand this Hoka signature feature: 
• early stage with the rocker "behind the met heads for a smoother ride and faster transition to the forefoot ( Mafate Speed, Conquest, Bondi 3, Huaka, Clifton, 
• late stage with rocker in front of the met heads. "Designed to create a more stable base for forefoot support. More the Hoka "stability" shoe. ( Stinson Lite road and ATR trail, 
• balanced stage meta rocker ( Mafate 3, Rapa Nui, Kailua) 
• Speed Frame-a new kind of upper construction..
• Speed Frame on newest models Stinsons, Huaka, Clifton,Conquest and Mafate Speed with more no seam thin overlays. I believe this upper is contributing to weight drops.
• Lighter weight Hokas. Over sized geometry no longer means overweight. Due to the combination of new midsole and upper materials, Hokas are lighter across the board with the highlights the new EVA based Clifton at a remarkable 7.9 oz and the RMAT based Huaka 8.9 oz. Note also the big weight drops from Mafate 3 at 14.7 oz to  Mafate Speed 12.0z and Stinson Lite now 11 oz. 
• Heel to toe drops remain in a very "natural" 4-5 mm with the Huaka coming in at 2 mm, so a very low drop entry.

Review: Skechers GoRun Ride 3 and GoRun Ultra

GoRun Ultra

GoRun Ride 3

Through a referral from Pete Larson at RunBlogger I was recently introduced to Skechers. They sent me the  GoRun Ultra, a cushioned trail runner also suitable for roads and GoRun Ride 3, a light weight trainer. Disclosure: The Ultras and GoRun Ride 3 were provided to me free of charge for the purpose of the review.

OK, you might snicker a bit Skechers, right. Well hang on a moment. As a bit of a run shoe snob, I have been watching with growing interest what they have been up to. Skechers over the last few years has built a Performance Division and a line of trail and road shoes the right way:

• They have a free reign to innovate from the parent company
• Top notch designs that make no outlandish claims and use innovative light materials
• Signed America's top current marathoner the venerable Meb Keflezghi(4th at the last Olympic Marathon in his Skechers)... after Nike let the "old guy" go.
• Provide value with reasonably priced top level shoes. The 2 models reviewed retail for $80.
• A commitment to be nimble, to rapidly respond to the consumer ( check out their response to questions online), and to iterate shoes rapidly through feedback from on the run testing with a variety of runners, a crowd sourcing of design improvements  As a shoe geek I know this is true from the many comments on line from non star runners who have been involved in this process. In fact, they are also going to let me join the new product testing fun and my initial feedback has been responded to by their VP Technical Development. 
• A goal to "make the most enjoyable shoes possible", above all else.

The Results/The Shoes

After all that what really counts is where the rubber or foam hits the road. As part of this review I was able to interview the Skechers VP Performance Division Technical Development to get insights into the design philosophy and the how's and why's of what I felt while running in GoRun Ride 3 and GoRun Ultra.

GoRun Ride 3
The Ride 3 is a  8.4 oz M9, 6.5 oz W7 road trainer with a 4mm heel toe drop w/o sock liner and 8mm with sock liner inserted. Midsole stack height without insole is 13mm forefoot, 19mm mid foot, 17 mm heel. Retail $80.

GoRun Ride 3

GoRun Ultra
The Ultra is a M9  9.1 oz, W7 7.1 oz, 4 mm drop  trail and road trainer with a 4mm heel toe drop w/o sock liner or 8mm with sock liner inserted. Midsole stack height without insole is 23mm forefoot, 30 mm mid foot, 27 mm heel. Retail $80.

GoRun Ultra

Common Shared Themes & Differences 

Upper and Fit:
While the materials vary a bit, both shoes have a very comfortable easy to lace hold on the mid foot area. I usually fuss a lot getting the right lacing pressure but with both shoes the upper wraps smoothly from toe to lace tie. I think this is part due to the use of a non stretch nylon on the sides of the upper up to the lace eyelets on either side, sidewalls if you will, that maintain the foot on the midsole and direct the stride in the direction of travel. Both shoes have a very soft stretchy mesh on top of the toes forward of the last laces, far to soft for an entire forefoot but just right to allow the foot to splay in the wide toe box and due to the sidewalls of non stretch material without the sloppiness of the hold of the foot to midsole I find in shoes such as Kinvara.

The Ultra has a conventional heel counter to provide more stability on off counter trails. The Ride 3 has no heel counter at all just a bit of a rise of the midsole to wrap the heel. I was concerned about this but don't miss the heel counter at all. Additionally, the tongue is part of the upper on the Ultra, similar in construction to the adidas energy boost. This helps the whole upper to come together over the foot, keeps the tongue from sliding to the lateral side and help prevents dirt and debris from sneaking in.

Interestingly in this day and age of welded, taped upper construction the uppers on both are stitched with substantial overlays that seemingly do not create a weight penalty or a fit problem. It's all a very careful balance of design, materials, and construction that comes together "seamlessly" in my view.
Both fit me true to my size 8.5, maybe a bit big especially on the Ultra.

Midsole and Outsole: 
Essentially the midsole is the outsole on both shoes.

GoRun Ride 3 Outsole

The Ride 3 has some small circular rubber outsole wear patches, the Ultra none.

GoRun Ultra Outsole

Skechers believes that large harder rubber outsoles patches or lugs can interfere with the stride's natural state and can cause pressure points as would have the inclusion of a rock plate on the Ultra. Instead both shoes have round pods with Ultra also  having triangular lugs around the outside perimeter. I have found the ride incredibly smooth and quiet in both shoes. I never felt I was landing on a particular pod even on the deep pods and lugs of the Ultra.

The geometry of both is what Skechers calls convex leading to a mild rocker. This means that while the heel/toe drop without the insole is 4mm the midsole is actually 2-3mm higher under the midfoot at what Skechers calls the M-Strike. This similar to what Pearl Izumi does with their E:Motion line but in the case of Skechers they do not rely on a gap under the toe area to create the rocker effect or have a steep slope up of the forefoot as Hoka does. Think of this rocker as at the top of the midsole level and not at the outsole level, a key difference from the other two "rockers". The higher mid foot is not noticeable standing.

Both shoes are finished with insole fabric under where one typically finds an insole/sockliner. They are also supplied with a conventional molded sock liner. . I have not tried to run barefoot in either shoe. This means the runner can chose to go without the insole for a 4 mm drop shoe or use the insole to add a net of 4mm of drop or a total of 8mm heel to toe and a bit more cushioning and stability. The sock liner is 3mm thick at the toe and 7mm thick at the heel. A nice touch to provide such drop flexibility. All my runs have been with the sock liner in as I prefer a 6-8 mm drop shoe

GoRun Ultra Midsole

I was concerned that New England rocky,  rooty trails might be painful in the Ultra given the lack of either a rock plate or an outer sole per say but this has not been the case. The advantage of this design along with deep lugs and grooves in the Ultra midsole is that the front of the shoe is flexible and agile while also being more than adequately cushioned and stable for all but the most technical trails. It turns out the gray midsole material the Resagrip is quite dense, maybe close to the density of  Pearl Izumi's overly firm (in my view)  midsole, but in the Ultra the firm midsole/outsole close to the ground is overlaid with a softer midsole material, the black material in the picture,. This material also serves as a bumper to hold the foot onto the footbed on twisty surfaces, a bit of a less extreme version of Hoka's "bucket seat". I think the bumper could be a touch more accentuated or the upper wrap a bit more under the forefoot for a bit more forefoot hold on very technical trails.

The Ultra had great grip on snow, leaves, and rock. And then miracle of miracles, on the road it is as smooth and "lug and slap free" as any road shoe with a very cushioned yet not mushy ride.

I am a bit concerned by long term wear of the soft outsole in road usage, one lug at the heel is wearing fast. Skechers suggests that the natural pattern of my stride asks for this pod to wear faster until I achieve a balance. I have seen accelerated wear in other shoes in particular places on the outsole then far less after a certain mileage. Like any design choice, the decision to not have hard rubber wear areas is a fine balance of feel, weight, and longevity. For now I am going with it.

The Ride has a single density midsole, in my view close in firmness to that of the Kinvara but softer than E:Motions but with a far more stable landing and takeoff due to the combination of supportive upper,wide stance, and rounded tightly spaced pods instead of sharp angled soft lugs. The circular pods are not noticeable when running. I have taken runs as long as 12 miles in the Ride with no unusual leg pains and certainly no blisters.

Time to Run and Conclusions

To date I have 35 152 miles of trail and road in the Ultra and 20 miles of road in the Ride 3. I have a hard time selecting which to run roads in: the smooth cushioned yet flexible Ultra or the faster sure footed Ride. It has been very cold here in NH , 15 F and below but I have been pleased that the midsoles do not seem to get as hard as most in these temperatures.

One thing is for sure the trail Ultra with its great cushioning, light weight, and flexibility. It runs as well as any road trainer or even light weight trainer. Very, very versatile addition to my rotation and one that has quickly replaced the adidas energy boost and Hoka Rapa Nui as my long run shoe on any surface. My only concern is outsole durability but keep in mind the price is also right for the Ultra, $80. Given that the Ultra is only 0.6 oz heavier than the Ride, and well under 10oz, such a combination of cushion and light weight is very appealing for not only trail Ultras but as a marathon shoe for a hilly course. Clearly a worthy competitor to Hoka in the very cushioned category, without the "clown shoe" look. The Ultra is also competition to the slightly heavier but far stiffer adidas energy boost that has been my favorite road shoe this year due to the boost material.

The Ride 3 is a solid lighter weight trainer with a great smooth feel. Its strong points are more than adequate cushioning,light weight, and great value. I will certainly be considering it for my Boston this spring as well as for races 10K and up.

All in all I am very impressed with Skechers Performance Division shoes and can't wait for more innovation and tuning of the products as time goes on.

Another review of the Ultra by Nate Sanel over on Runblogger. Has more photographs than mine and is well done and complete.

You can support my blog by purchasing the Skechers reviewed at the links below.

First Run Review-Hoka One One Bondi-B "Maximalist" Natural Running Shoe

Karl Meltzer of Pony Express Trail run fame and Hoka One One runner announced on his blog   that Wastach Running Center in Salt Lake had the new Bondi-B road runner in stock. I went over today and purchased a pair.  They told me they are selling fast and they will ship if one doesn't live local to Salt Lake.

I had previously posted about the Bondi-B as part of my Outdoor Retailer coverage and have very much enjoyed almost 500 miles in first generation Hoka One One Mafates. I have run trails and roads and hiked in these super light 10.8 oz "maximalist" shoes and find them particularly well suited to long runs on the road and trail. Legs stay fresh no matter what you throw at them.

My first run in the Bondi-B on the Basin Rec. Fieldhouse track in Park City did not disappoint.

Hoka One One Bondi-B Road Running Shoe

Fit and Construction:
Wider, less constrained toe box than Mafates or for that matter most shoes I have recently run in. Less stitching and more welded overlays. While the Mafates sometimes cramped the front side of the foot the Bondis have a far more open construction. They will breathe well and as feet stretch there will be some give. They do fit 1/2 size small. This was true for me and for the person who fitted me at Wasatch.

The outer sole is comprised of orange more durable wear areas in the  heel and forefoot between blown softer EVA of the midsole. Traction should be great on the road. Remains to be seen how they perform on the trails. Karl Meltzer just completed his fastest 100 mile ever in a pair on a relatively (for him) trail course.

Run Feel:
8.8 oz with a near zero forefoot to heel drop of 4mm.  As light as many racing flats with amazing cushioning which doesn't feel mushy. They are not only 20% lighter than Mafates but 10% firmer and in my 4 mile run this made a big difference. Much more responsive with a run feel more like a conventional shoe but with no perceptible shock. While the Mafates were great on long slower runs at speed they felt somewhat boaty. I did not run fast tonight after a long run Saturday and an uphill nordic ski Sunday but Bondi-B sure felt snappy.

Hokas are stiff and use the rocker angle of the sole to get one's stride over the mid foot. I found that this approach requires getting used to at longer distances, for me over 13 miles, as while legs felt great to the end pace seems difficult to maintain.  I think Bondis will be easier to tame as they are lighter and have a bit less cushioning . My next tempo I will crank up and speed and report. My plan is to run Boston in the Bondi-B if I can get them up to speed.

First Review: Salomon XT S-Lab Advanced Skin Hydration Pack- A Second Skin it Truly Is

I previously posted about the Salomon XT S-Lab Advanced Skin Pack I saw at Outdoor Retailer.  The pack looked like an incredibly well thought out and engineered solution to hydration and gear carry while running long distances on trail or road. It was designed with help from Kilian Joret one of the best ultra runners in the world. Gear Zone just got them in stock and I purchased one. After my first long run I am extremely pleased with this (pricey) piece of gear.

Today I took it on a 18 mile plus run in Park City, Utah. My route took me from Willow Creek Park to the Park City Rail Trail and then onto the incredible groomed multi use trails in Round Valley. 85% perfectly groomed snow trails, rest roads. See my Park City winter running post for general map details.


My first impressions:


Fit: 
Not just marketing speak when Salomon calls this an Advanced Skin. The chest area is wide open with just 2 elastic straps.  Easy breathing. The shoulder harness curves sharply towards the lower back eliminating all bouncing and side to side movement. Even with the full 1.5 liter bladder the sensation is unlike any pack I have worn. Stable, snug, and without any rubbing, at least over my two light wool layers.

In addition to the 1.5 liter bladder I carried a windbreaker. The 2 zip pockets to the right and left are a bit small and hard to reach

Note front fit. Where's the Pack?  Arms never rubbed or bumped pack. Easy reach pockets (white) in front : I put my phone in one and gels in the other 

Hydration System:
The Source hydration system is very easy to fill and remove. Quick disconnect in middle of lower back. Not a screw or push on valve but an actual mechanical release by button push which seals off the bottom of the bladder.  Pull the bladder in its insulated (back side only) sleeve out. Roll open and fill.

The insulated hose goes under the arm and up towards the mouth. A dirt guard covers the nozzle.  The Source literature says that the insulation serves 2 purposes: keeps water cooler in heat and from freezing in cold but also prevents build up of microbes in the harder to clean hose. In fact if you only use water there is no need to clean the hose or bladder after use.

To get water bite lightly and suck. Again a mechanical valve which opens on bite and closes when released. No leaking during my run. The dirt guard slips over the nozzle and prevents accidental pressing on the valve. Worked like a charm.

Pockets: 
The 2 holster pockets on the front are most useful. I used one for my phone/GPS and the other for my gels. They are large enough for water bottles.  Given their angling towards the middle of the chest I don't think my arms will bump them but have to test. They secure with a pull.  The 2 rear zippered stretch pockets are small and a bit hard to reach on the run. 2 additional zip stretch pockets are supplied. They attach to the top of the front shoulder straps by velcro. I was going to use them for my phone but worried they might come off due to the cords running underneath. If they are secure, a clever touch as one can just rip them off to get at whatever is inside. The pack is also supplied with an emergency blanket and whistle.

Price and Availability: $180. Spring 2011

Shoe du Jour:
North Face Single Track. A fine shoe for snow running and mixed road non technical trails.

Results: 
I was well hydrated and fed during the entire 3:20 run. Never had to fiddle or break stride to get at what I needed. Finished the run strong.

Thanks:
Mountain Trails Foundation  and Rick the groomer and trails master (below in action)  for incredible trails.  Hundreds were enjoying Round Valley on the run, at a walk, on nordic skis, snowshoes, even on mountain bikes on a beautiful sunny day in Park City.

Outdoor Retailer-Saucony Hattori and Peregrine

Saucony Hattori
The Saucony Hattori is a true minimalist zero drop shoe coming this spring. Retail $80.  Weighing 4.4 oz it has 10 mm midsole height.  2 velcro straps: one across the mid foot one across the heel. Very light, soft almost sock like upper with welded mid foot reinforcements Saucony's theme for the Hattori is "Protection without Correction".  It will come in 5 very flashy colors for men (right)  and 5 for women (left). Much as my Vizi-Pro Orange Kinvara's attract attention, these shoes also make a fashion statement.

Saucony Hattori

Update 4/13: Road Runner Sports showing men's and women's Hattori as in stock.

The popular Pro Grid Kinvara has a 14 mm forefoot/ 18 mm heel height according to Running Warehouse.  The midsole material in the Hattori is same as the Kinvara and thus with the front to back 10mm  midsole height the Hattori will be a firmer ride which will put a premium on good mid foot placement. Saucony recommends starting with 1-2 short runs a week in the Hattori. The outer sole uses strategically placed, more durable outer sole materials in the forefoot and heel. I was told this is the same material as used on the triangular lugs of the Kinvara but in a different color.

Saucony Hattori Outer sole

Saucony Peregrine

The Peregrine can be thought of as the trail cousin of the Kinvara as it has the same 4 mm heel to toe drop. Peregrine midsole height: 10 mm forefoot. 14 mm heel vs. 14 mm forefoot 18 mm heel for Kinvara which makes sense as most trail runners have a low forefoot for better trail feel and stability. Weighing 9.1 oz vs. the Kinvara's 7.7 oz, as a trail runner Peregrine features a deeply lugged sole which should be great on snow and loose surfaces as well as a more rugged upper.  I was told it is water resistant.