Altra showed us the Instinct 3.5, just now hitting the market and available from Altra here. The stability Impulse was our shoe of the year and we asked Altra Founder Golden Harper what he recommended for a touch more cushioning but still stable. Altra Instinct 3.5 was his answer. The Instinct weighs 8.1 oz/230grams has Zero Drop heel to toe, 24mm of stack, the FootPod outsole we liked so much in the Impulse, as well as the same type of asymmetrical lacing which keeps the Foot Shaped toe box "under control" at speed. We look forward to testing this shoe
Altra Running Instinct 3.5
Lone Peak 3.0
Golden Harper shows off Altra Running Lone Peak 3.0 Line
In December we attended The Running Event where Golden Harper showed us the all new Lone Peak 3.0 line: Lone Peak 3.0, and a new super light Lone Peak Mid Neoshell 3.0. The Lone Peak was of course also big news at Outdoor Retailer. All the new Lone Peaks are lighter and look like they have more supportive uppers. I am absolutely loving the dry warmth and support of the Lone Peak Neoshell this winter. All the Lone Peak details at our Running Event coverage page here
Skechers Performance generally allows press coverage only as shoes are released to the market. Launched or launching soon:
Skechers GoTrail Ultra 3 Mini Review
Skechers GoTrail Ultra 3
It's seems like forever I have known and worn the exciting new GoTrail Ultra 3. I wear tested it. With a very soft, very cushioned yet stable ride, an outstandingly supportive upper that is more fabric than mesh, and a roomy high volume yet well held toe box, the Ultra 3 is Skechers first heavier duty, long run trail shoe.
Skechers GoTrail Ultra 3
The Ultra 3 is nothing like the original Ultra except in being soft and flexible, amazingly flexible for such a massive 26mm forefoot stack and this due to the very deep flex grooves. I found the original Ultra to be a good recovery road shoe but very unstable as a trail shoe due to its unsupported upper and soft no outsole construction. Interestingly enough, I have found the Ultra 3's softnesses, combined with stack height, somewhat overwhelming and energy sapping on the road but more than decently agile, stable, energetic and flexible on trail. Usually a very soft shoe is not stable or much fun on trail but not so here. It's a great shoe on all but super off camber rocky stuff for me. My only wish, and I expressed it in my feedback in wear testing, was that the midsole be a touch firmer either by firmer foam or a touch less overall stack height.
A tremendous amount of effort and many iterations, I know! have gone into creating such a combination of overall comfort and support. A big part of making the upper supportive yet comfortable are the internal support straps at mid foot.
Skechers GoTrail Ultra 3
Many iterations on those straps and I was amazed at the difference they made in support as they were tuned. The Ultra 3 has a decently lugged all terrain outsole and cool functional drainage ports, see picture below.
GoTrail Ultra 3 with water pouring out the drainage ports
The Forza is Skechers' first stability shoe. 10.8oz. 25mm heel/17mm forefoot, 8mm drop. $120. I tried it on and the Resalyte stability posting felt quite comfortable, far more comfortable than the usual very firm posting in stability shoes. The Forza also features Skechers 5 Gen midsole and the inner support strap we have found very effective in our testing of the GoTrail Ultra 3.
Update:See our review of the Forza here. A great shoe and we usually can't stand traditional stability/motion control shoes.
GoRun 4-2016
The Run gets a new upper but otherwise is largely unchanged. The upper is news. It is now seamless Skechers'GoKnit. It felt very soft and foot conforming. Like the Forza and Ultra the GoRun 4-2016 has the foot supporting strap at mid foot. Road Trail Run is testing the GoRun 4-2016 now and will have a review by February. At 7.7oz, it gains about 0.5 oz over the 2015 GoRun 4 which often seems to be the case with knit uppers. 18mm heel/14mm forefoot, 4mm drop. $105. On sale now.
Skechers GoRun 4-2016
Skechers GoRun 4-2016
The GoTrail Ultra 3, GoRun Forza and GoRun Run 4 are all available now from Running Warehouse! Men'shere Women'shere (Forza and GoRun Ride 4 only) Like & Follow Road Trail Run
adidas Outdoor has had incredible trail running shoes the past two years but unfortunately in limited distribution. The XT Boost which continues for 2016 in a neat new color. It was my light trail shoe of the year. The gaiter sock extension is super functional for debris and for keeping snow out. The Response Boost Trail also largely unchanged my was trail/road hybrid of the year. My 2015 Favorites with links to reviews of both here.
After several months of contacting, testing, writing, and editing the Competitor Running Best Running Tech Gear of 2016 is online. I authored 18 of the 20 featured items. Super head spinning run geek fun requiring, of course... lots of running to test them all.
Premium WET Traction Contagrip Outsole
Traction on wet rock and ice was a big theme at Outdoor Retailer with Vibram and its partner Wolverine Brands: Saucony and Merrell all showing shoes with Arctic Grip outsoles( see Saucony Razor Ice+ here. I tried it on an inclined very wet slab of ice, one foot in Arctic Grip and the other a more conventional sole. Very, very noticeably improved traction on that type of surface with Arctic Grip.
Well, Salomon quietly and without promotion, until Outdoor Retailer, has its own amazingly superior wet traction product: Premium WET Traction Contagrip. They set up a slab of very wet, very slick inclined marble and had me try a normal Contagrip on one foot vs. a WET shod S-Lab Wings I found so effective on wet rock late last year in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Salomon Premium WET Contragrip
Salomon Premium WET Contragrip
Different surface conditions than the Arctic Grip ice but equally compelling. I had to sign a release before trying and I could see why... I had almost no traction with the conventional outsole and very good confident traction with the WET Contagrip. Part of the description of the S-Lab Wings calls out its prowess on technical, steep downhills, I agree, but they didn't say exactly how. Now we know a big part of the answer. The WET outsole will be rolling out to models beyond S-Lab Wings including the Fall 2016 Speedcross 4 GTX.
S-Lab XA Alpine
Salomon S-Lab XA Alpine
One of those upcoming shoes with WET Contagrip is an amazing running and high alpine ascent hybrid, the S-Lab XA Alpine. Only 12.2 oz, so lighter than many trail shoes, the exterior "gaiter" is breathable and padded at the ankle, the interior is a Salomon Sense upper, the midsole has an embedded carbon plate from toe flex area back for mid foot integrity, the outsole is the WET material with a climbing zone upfront. Pick it up, flex it, etc... and it feels like a decently light running shoe but one that can also clearly climb, including with compatible crampons. 6mm drop, 22mm heel/16mm forefoot. $250. Coming Fall 2016.
See our post on Salomon sister company Suunto's amazing Ambit 3 Vertical GPS watch, the perfect companion the XA Alpine here
See the rest of our Outdoor Retailer Reporting and Coverage: New Balance, Brooks, Saucony, Suunto and more here
Article by Sam Winebaum Editor Road Trail Run Suunto Ambit 3 Vertical
Suunto, sister company to Salomon, introduced the Ambit 3 Vertical a multi-sport wrist "instrument" for the vertically minded runner, skier cyclist and triathlete. As the name says the unique focus is on vertical ascent, descent, vertical speed, and even incline grade and its accurate real time vertical data as Vertical includes a barometric altimeter. Horizontal focused swimmers are not forgotten with not only open water distance and pace but in water heart rate via the Smart Sensor. Every imaginable (I think) multi-sport training, recovery, and data capture feature is available and easily configurable to the display via multiple customizable Sport Modes. In a first, integrated display of run "power" is also optionally possible.
Suunto Ambit 3 Vertical
I have been lucky enough to test the Vertical for the last month, pre introduction, as part of my assignment evaluating and writing about wearable tech for Competitor Magazine. The Vertical is a spectacular watch made even better when combined with the Movescount app and site. In addition to running and nordic skiing, I have used it to clock my vertical during and alpine ski day, about 19,000 feet. Vertical is simple to operate via large buttons with no finicky touch screen and has an easy to learn on screen interface. Most everything can be configured via Movescount.
At the link here a comparison of the Ambit 3 Vertical, Peak, and Run models. In a nutshell the Vertical includes all the features of the Peak except the Peak's weather prediction features but it does measure temperature. I have found this not very useful in winter unless the watch is over a very thick jacket as wrist temperatures are way higher than ambient in winter. My only other wish to date is that the screen be a bit easier to see in bright and dim light, but something has to give to get up to 100 hours of battery life (60 sec fix rate).
Suunto Ambit 3 Vertical
The Ambit 3 Vertical adds to the Ambit 3 Peak:
the vertical features described above
vibration alerts
advance route planning via Suunto Movescount topo maps with uploaded route profile displayed on the watch as you go (see photo above)
running power and cadence displayed on the watch via the optional, new Stryd Powermeter. I have tested the Stryd with the Vertical and it is a very compelling new way to look at and consider real time effort.
both GPS and GLONAS navigation
multiple ascent summaries: last 7 days, 30 days, full year, all time displayed on the watch.
Suunto Ambit 3 Vertical
A feature common to the all Ambit 3's is Recovery Time and Status, description here. I have found this feature extremely useful. Hammer every day and guess what, your time to Recovery cumulates...
Ambit3 Vertical: vertical view of one of my recent runs
A big part of the Suunto experience is the Movescount app and site. Workouts and experiences are called Moves. Photos taken along the way are welcome and there is all kinds of beautifully displayed data. Here is a link to the Move illustrated below. All Moves easily shareable in various ways including Facebook, Strava, Twitter, Blogger, Word Press, and many others.
Using the app, you can also create a YouTube Movie from your Move. Your Move will be automatically traced on a 3D topographic map wth pictures taken along with key data, all appearing in context. The Movie is professionally rendered and shareable, at the push of a button. The Suunto Movie below is of a trail run on beautiful very soft, freshly groomed snow early one morning in Park City Utah's Round Valley. Missed the picture of a mountain lion I surprised, fortunately he was off in the distance...
Top Features (from Suunto)
Updated sleeker design
Vibration alerts
Real-time altitude profile directly on watch with current ascent gain and remaining ascent
Built-in barometric pressure tracks ascent with accuracy through FusedAlti
View a summary of vertical gain by day, week and even year
Plan ascents through Movescount App with topographic maps and altitude information
Relive and share activities/workouts through Suunto Movies and automatic data overlay images of key metrics
Push notification of incoming calls and messages
Activity based recovery time (more holistic view of recovery due to daily activities and not only logged exercises)
up to 100 hours of battery life (60 second GPS fix rate)
Completely customizable
Runners
Real-time hill incline percentage*
Running power through integration of Stryd Powermeter
Advanced recovery features with quick and sleep recovery test by Firstbeat
Speed, pace, cadence, distance
Movescount training programs
POI - points of interest - log with one push of a button
Find back, track back
Altimeter, barometer, compass
Temperature
V02 max values*
Autopause
Workout planner, interval timers
Ghost runner,* marathon end-time estimator*, average stride length*
Skiers
Real-time hill incline percentage*, average speed*, ski run counter*, max speed*, beers/wine burned off calculator*
Speed, pace, cadence, distance
POI - points of interest - log with one push of a button
Find back, track back
Altimeter, barometer, compass
Temperature
Triathletes
Multiple sports in one log
Customize/preconfigure multisport modes
Heart rate while swimming with Suunto Smart Sensor
Cyclists
Multiple bike POD support (Bluetooth Smart) - Power, cadence, lap, power distribution, peak power curve/output, normalized power, aerodynamic drag in real-time
Use phone as secondary display of watch
Speed and average speed in real-time
Swimming
Pool and open water pace and distance
Heart rate while swimming with Suunto Smart Sensor
Swimming time by pool length, lap, total
Swimming stroke rate, count and type
Swim style detection with personal style teaching
Stroke efficiency (SWOLF)
Automatic intervals
* via apps downloadable to the watch.
The Vertical is $469/$519 with HR. Available starting January 14th
See the rest of our Outdoor Retailer Reporting and Coverage: New Balance, Brooks, Saucony, Suunto and more here
Big excitement for me was a closer look at the Razor Ice+ winter and wet conditions trail runner. I first saw it at the All Mountain Demo where the Arctic Grip outsole from Vibram was first highlighted. Arctic Grip is a special compound that quite literally lets one walk up an inclined block of very wet ice without slipping, I tried an Arctic Grip outsole on one boot with on the other a normal hiking outsole. The difference was amazing. I confidently walked one foot up the steep ice block slope while I hung on to the rail for dear life for the other foot.
Saucony Razor Ice + Vibram Outsole The Vibram outsole uses two winter specific rubber compounds. The center yellow speckled area is Arctic Grip. The outer black lugs is Vibram Ice Trek, a compound that also has great snow and ice grip, particularly on "drier" ice and snow. The white heel triangle actually changes color to blue when in contact with ice. I found putting good weight on the forefoot made the outsole stick. Remains to be seen what they feel like at run speeds where pressure is more momentary but I think this outsole is a huge advance in spike-less winter traction.
Saucony Razor Ice +
The upper is a completely seam free weatherproof ripstop. In production the zipper will move from the side to the center, a better location less susceptible to catching on rocks and branches. The Razor has quick lace pull system with a garage for the excess cord. Given the construction conventional lacing would not be practical. The lacing system and upper is very similar to a nordic ski boot. The inner bootie is an ISO Fit bootie, similar to the Peregrine or Zealot. The midsole is the same as on the Peregrine 6 and includes an Everun TPU heel insert. Under the sockliner, as in the Peregrine, we find an Everun TPU layer, a feature spreading to many Saucony shoes in 2016 and likely very effective in this cold weather shoe as TPU firmness change is less susceptible to temperatures.
Saucony Razor Ice +
The Razor flexed very nicely and should run the same as the Peregrine. 4mm drop. 11.6oz/329grams men's 9. The Razor Ice+ will launch September 2016. $180.
Ride 9
Saucony Ride 9
The Ride 9 gets a far sleeker upper with fewer layers and less stitching, a longer SRC crash pad extending into the mid foot, an Everun TPU sheet below the sockliner, and the very effective Tri-Flex outsole I like so much in the Triumph ISO 2. 0.1oz lighter than the Ride 8 it weighs 9.3 oz/264grams men's 9. 8mm drop. $120. Available May 2016.
Saucony Ride 9
Saucony Ride 9
Omni 15
Saucony Omni 15
The stability Omni 15 gets the Everun layer under the sockliner, a no seam Flex Film upper, and the Tri-Flex outsole.10.8oz(306 grams) so somewhat heavier than the 14 which came in at 10.3oz. 8 mm drop, 27mm/19mm stack. $130. Available June 2016.
Saucony Omni 15
Zealot ISO2
Saucony Zealot ISO 2
The Zealot gets the softer ISO Fit bands of the Triumph, a Tri-Flex outsole, the now familiar Everun layer under the sock liner and a Flex Film upper. I found the original Zealot ISO stiff and quite firm under the mid foot and heel. The new outsole and Everun should help improve the shoe for me as it did for the Triumph ISO 2, my daily trainer of the year, when compared to the original Triumph. Snazzy looking shoe! Zealot ISO 2 has a 4mm drop. $130. On sale June 2016.
Saucony Zealot ISO 2
Saucony Zealot ISO 2
Swerve and Valor
A pair of new models, Valor with some stability elements, including a medial post, and the Swerve a neutral shoe. Flex Film upper and Tri-Flex chevron outsoles but no Everun. 29mm heel/ 21 mm forefoot stack, 8mm drop. Both $110, quite a lot of shoe for the price. Both 9.4oz/266grams. On sale July 2016.
Saucony Swerve(back) and Valor (front)
Saucony Swerve and Valor
Saucony Swerve (left) and Valor (right)
Xodus ISO
Saucony Xodus ISO
Saucony's beefy trail runner gets a major redo and slims down in weight by an ounce. A Power Trac outsole replaces the previous Vibram outsole. The heel base is narrowed for more agility. The rock plate is removed. There is plenty of outsole and midsole to provide protection without it in our opinion. The upper includes a trail specific macro mesh and trail specific ISO Fit bands. Everun TPU top sole under the sock liner. Also available in a Gore-Tex version. Coming it at very light 10.3oz/292 grams. 4mm drop, 24.5mm/20.5mm forefoot stack. $130. Available June 2016
Saucony Xodus ISO outsole
See the rest of our Outdoor Retailer Reporting and Coverage: New Balance, Brooks, Saucony, Suunto and more here
Article by Dominique and Sam Winebaum, Editor Road Trail Run
All Photos: Dominique Winebaum
New Balance is always super professional and eager to show us their latest and greatest. "Always in Beta" is their motto and they proved true to their marketing, showing us, in particular, thoughtful refinements to the Vazee line.
Vazee 2090
Update: Read our full review of the Vazee 2090 here
First up was the Vazee 2090 a new premium Vazee ($150). 9.7 oz. Available July. The 2090 is inspired by Trayvon Bromell, a 20 year old! who won bronze in the 100 meters at last year's IAAF World Championships. He recently turned pro and signed with New Balance. He now has his own named shoe and while few of us will be running fast 100 meters, the 2090 could be a fast road runner as well. It was described as "the statement shoe" of the Vazee line aimed at the younger, dynamic athlete. Note the "NB" on the heel and not at the saddle.
New Balance Vazee 2090 Trayvon Bromell
New Balance Vazee 2090 Trayvon Bromell
Designed to be firmer and more responsive than the Vazee Pace (our review here) the 2090 has a nitrogen infused (N2) yellow TPU layer between the outsole and midsole along with a heavily cored out outsole. Shoe geeks may recall that the N2 TPU first appeared as the rock plate in the Leadville 1210. Our sense it the TPU plate gives the 2090 some firm snap as well as support. The rest of the midsole is New Balance's excellent Revlite.
New Balance Vazee 2090 Trayvon Bromell
The 2090 has an unusual full saddle whose patterning New Balance termed as dynamic and based on origami geometries.
New Balance Vazee 2090 Trayvon Bromell
Vazee Pace v2
New Balance Vazee Pace
Changes to the popular Vazee Pace were described as "mostly cosmetic" with a new no sew woven front of the shoe. However in addition, the outsole is now more heavily cored, "podular" so while not a huge update some changes. We imagine it will be more flexible, maybe a touch softer feeling, due to the new outsole design. Approximately. 9oz 255 grams. Vazee Pace v1 was approximately 8oz. 227 grams. NB tells us the added ounce comes mostly from the fuller coverage outsole and a bit from the woven upper. $110. Available July 2016.
New Balance Vazee Pace
New Balance Vazee Pace
New Balance Vazee Pace
New Balance Vazee Pace
Vazee Rush v2
Most exciting to us of the New Balance offerings was the Vazee Rush v2. 9.5oz/269g M9.5, 8.5oz/241g W8. $89.95. Release July 2016.
Rush v2 features a 3 layer mesh upper: outer fine mesh, middle support mesh, inner comfort liner mesh. No seams, not many overlays, should be very comfortable.
The midsole is a new material "Rapid Rebound" which is EVA mixed with TPU, TPU being the material in adidas' Boost but here in a mix and not an entire midsole as with Boost. So now New Balance, adidas, and Saucony with Everun inserts are all leveraging the energy return and temperature stability advantages of TPU. New Balance, unlike the others, is blending it into more traditional foam. We were told that Rapid Rebound has 17% more energy return than the other New Balance midsoles. The ride qualities were described as fitting between the softer Fresh Foam of say the Zante and 1080 and the firmer Revlite of the the Vazee Pace and 1400. We think this is right in our sweet spot as we find the Fresh Foam a bit too soft for speed and the Revlite a bit too firm day to day.
Team Elite
To highlight the efforts of New Balance's sponsored athletes in this Olympic year the Vazee Pace, Rush, 1400, and 1500 will be offered in cool Team Elite colors.
Vazee Rush v2 in Team Elite colors
Vazee Rush v2 in Team Elite colors
Vazee Rush v2 in Team Elite colors
Left to Right: Team Elite Vazee Rush, Vazee Pace, 1400
New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi
Introduced to us as the Zante for trails, the Gobi is an entirely new trail and road/trail hybrid shoe. We think the road ride will be mighty fine too. Same midsole as the Zante with a trail/road trail hybrid outsole. 9.5 oz, $95, Available July.
New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi
New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi
New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi
There is also an "urban" gray green version with gum rubber outsole. We liked the color and look!
New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi
New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi
New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi
T910 v3
The 910 trail shoe gets a new bootie construction and a more substantial and new saddle design.11.25oz 319 grams.
New Balance 910v2
New Balance 910v2
New Balance 910v2
New Balance 910v2
See the rest of our Outdoor Retailer Reporting and Coverage: New Balance, Brooks, Saucony, Suunto and more here
that quite literally lets one walk up an inclined block of very wet ice without slipping, I tried an Arctic Grip outsole on one boot with on the other a normal hiking outsole. The difference was amazing. I confidently walked one foot up the steep ice block slope while I hung on to the rail for dear life for the other foot. 
