Gear
Ground-Breaking Footwear
September 30, 2011By Mihira Lakshman
The lightweight and minimalist trends remain key features for this fall’s lineup of new and updated shoes. Brighter, bolder colour schemes are also coming to the forefront for both men’s and women’s products. We’ve broken down our review into five categories: stability, neutral-cushioning, lightweight, barefoot/minimalist and competition.
Stability
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New Balance
1260 $190 Men’s 372 g (13.1 oz), Women’s 286 g (10.1 oz)
An update to the 1226, the New Balance 1260 offers a mix of stability and cushioning geared towards overpronators. The redesigned Stabilicore medial post coupled with the external heel cup provide ample support, preventing excessive pronation, while the outsole offers more ground contact than before for greater inherent stability. The new softer, synthetic upper and welded overlays look great and provide a closer, foot-hugging fit. With its ABZORB FL foam midsole and N-ERGY elastomer gel in the heel and forefoot, the 1260 can certainly withstand plenty of mileage. A great everyday trainer for larger runners who require stability without compromising plushness. Available in different widths from narrow to extra wide.
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Zoot
Advantage WR $130 Men’s 303g (10.7 oz), Women’s 278g (9.8 oz)
The sharp-looking Advantage WR has a sleek look, feel, and a glove-like fit. A triathlon company, Zoot specializes in making shoes with minimal internal seams, allowing for sock-less running, though runners prone to blisters would be wise to keep their socks on. Plenty of foam cushioning in the heel along with a moderate medial post provide stability and a smooth ride. While there is adequate forefoot cushioning, it’s really built for heel-strikers and runners with a more of a forefoot-strike might prefer a different shoe. The breathable water-resistant upper will help keep feet warm and dry, making this a good shoe for winter running.
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Brooks
Trance 10 $200 Men’s (11.9 oz), Women’s (10 oz)
The Trance 10 is as smooth a ride as you’ll find in this category while still offering the appropriate stability in the mid-foot with a progressive diagonal rollbar. A heel cradle and significant medial post make it a good fit for moderate overpronators, but it’s available only in standard widths – not the best option for runners with narrow feet. The full-length DNA midsole provides an on-demand cushioning system, adjusting the plushness according to the impact of each foot strike.
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Nike
Lunar Glide+ 3 $140 Men’s 311 g (11 oz), Women’s 258 g (9.1 oz)
Nike improves its fit, support and breathability in this update to the Lunar Glide+ 3, not to mention an eye-catching colour change. The minimalist, mesh upper hugs your foot thanks to the wrap-around mid-foot strap. A minimalist external heel-counter centres the foot over the shoe, and instead of a traditional medial post, a foam-based dynamic support system provides the appropriate amount of stability depending on the runner’s needs. The Lunarlon foam compresses like an accordion and bounces back after impact. The Lunar Glide+ 3 provides a unique approach to a stability shoe, offering a smoother ride than many others in this category.
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Mizuno
Wave Alchemy 11 $ Men’s 338 g (11.9 oz), Women’s 281 g (9.9 oz) Available in multiple widths, the Wave Alche
Available in multiple widths, the Wave Alchemy 11 offers support and responsive cushioning. This is a moderate control shoe, nimble enough to do some interval training while offering the protection that moderate to severe overpronators require. The durable outsole is built to last through a few high-mileage training cycles. The newly designed Dynamotion upper is softer and provides a more comfortable fit. The robust rear-foot foam and two Wave plates provide additional support and control, but even with all this structure, the shoe remains surprisingly light. A good choice for moderate to heavy overpronators, seeking a relatively agile shoe.
Neutral-Cushioning
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Asics
Gel Cumulus 13 $150 Men’s 335 g (11.8 oz), Women’s 264 g (9.3 oz)
Asics made only minor updates to the Gel Cumulus 13, a popular shoe for neutral runners, who don’t require pronation control. While it doesn’t have as much Gel cushioning as the high-end Nimbus, the Cumulus still offers a smooth ride with adequate support making it an excellent shoe for low- to medium- mileage runners. The Asics fit, with a padded heel and soft upper will feel smooth from the first time you lace it up. Sharp-looking overlays on the men’s and women’s models give it a great cosmetic appeal.
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Asics
Gel Nimbus 13 $190 Men’s 326 g (11.5 oz), Women’s 269 g (9.5 oz)
With a lighter, thinner rubber on the outsole, the Nimbus drops about 14 g in this update. The Gel cushioning in the rear foot and forefoot provides a plush ride, while Asics’s Impact Guidance System (I.G.S) helps maintain efficiency through the gait cycle. In the women’s version, this year Asics has added softer cushioning in the forefoot, a slightly increased heel height for less stress on the Achilles tendon and a gender-specific Space Trustic system that better reflects the changes in women’s arches. Available in normal and wide widths, the Nimbus 13 fits a variety of foot types. And while some runners may find the upper and the tongue too thick for comfort, most will appreciate the enhanced fit - especially with the stretch side panels and the asymmetric lacing.
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Brooks
Ghost 4 $150 Men’s (11.1 oz), Women’s
After a major update last year, the Ghost 4 looks quite similar to its predecessor, the Ghost 3. With the segmented “caterpillar” heel crash pod, Omega flex grooves, Biomogo (biodegradeable) foam and full-length DNA cushioning, Brooks is showing that they can achieve the same quality in the neutral-cushioning category that they have in stability area. The DNA-style of cushioning adapts to your foot strike, providing the appropriate amount of plushness for your gait and running surface. It’s a nice feature, and especially noticeable during longer runs.
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Saucony
Powergrid Cortana $180 Men’s 286 g (10.1 oz), Women’s 272 g (9.6 oz)
Saucony is taking some of the principles from its minimalist shoes and applying them to the new Powergrid Cortana. With additional lightweight foam cushioning, they have created a highly responsive neutral trainer. The PowerGrid material, injected in the midsole, is more resilient and durable than traditional EVA. The result is a lightweight shoe that offers high-mileage durability usually found in heavier shoes. The lightweight upper has a newly engineered, fully reflective mesh, providing optimal visibility and comfort. Runners who find their foot slipping in other shoes will like the “Sauc-fit” technology, a design that locks the foot in place. This high-performance shoe has a low-to-the-ground 4 mm heel-toe drop which encourages a mid-foot strike. This is a top-end trainer for biomechanically efficient runners.
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Adidas
Supernova Glide 3 $140 Men’s 346 g (12.2 oz), Women’s 283 g (10 oz)
While the update to the Supernova Glide is largely cosmetic, Adidas has made this cushioning shoe even softer and more durable with the addition of more foam. This shoe is best-suited to high-arched, heavier runners who require the extra cushioning. The Supernova Glide doesn’t cut corners to drop weight, instead it focuses on offering the ultimate plush ride. The anti-microbial liner reduces unwanted odours and Geofit padding in the heel provides extra comfort and minimizes blisters. A great shoe for neutral runners wanting a smooth, cushioned ride.
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Mizuno
Wave Enigma $ Men’s 352 g (12.4 oz), Women’s 284 g (10 oz)
The Enigma is a new neutral shoe with a full-length Wave plate, Mizuno’s technology that creates a responsive ride, while also providing cushioning. This versatile shoe is appropriate for high-mileage running, and despite its weight, testers said it still feels light enough for some interval training. Runners who want an excellent combination of cushioning and performance will enjoy the newest product in Mizuno’s lineup.
Lightweight
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New Balance
1190 $160 Men’s 255 g (9.01 oz), Women’s 208 g (7.36 oz)
The New Balance 1190 is the update to the 905 and weighs-in even lighter, dropping about 14 g on the men’s side, and slightly less for the women’s model. The first thing you’ll notice is how light and fast these shoes feel – they could easily double as a racing flat or a fast marathon shoe. Surprisingly, you still get a plush and supportive ride thanks to the ample ReVlite foam midsole, which is surprisingly light and durable. For a runner with slightly less-than-perfect biomechanics, New Balance has also added a small, upgraded medial post. A great training or racing shoe for relatively efficient runners.
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Saucony
Kinvara 2 $130 Men’s (7.7 oz) , Women’s (6.7 oz)
With a wafer-thin translucent upper and a shoe that weighs next to nothing, the Kinvara was a huge hit when it was introduced last year, for runners looking to breeze through speed workouts and races. It’s a low-mileage shoe built for a biomechanically efficient runner with enough cushioning so you don’t feel the pavement. Not much has changed from the original Kinvara, except a flashy yellow and green colour design, resembling the Oregon Ducks uniform. Since Oregon has one of the best distance programs in North America, this is likely to boost the popularity of the Kinvara 2. Saucony has also made 1,200 limited edition models of the Kinvara 2, available only in Canada. Sporting a stylized maple leaf on the heel, the red and white colour scheme should be a winner when it comes time to cheer on our Olympians in 2012. Anyone wanting a light and fast training or racing shoe without compromising cushioning, should check out the Kinvara 2.
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Mizuno
Wave Precision 12 $ Men’s 281 g (9.9 oz) , Women’s 235 g (8.3 oz)
With only minor cosmetic updates to the Precision’s upper – it still remains thin and highly breathable with a wide toe box, just a few changes to the trim – many runners will be happy Mizuno hasn’t messed with a solid product. The lightweight trainer is capable of logging serious miles and could also double as a marathon shoe. There’s a bit of everything in the Precision 12: a responsive ride while still maintaining a cushioned feel, and a low ride height, ideal for speed sessions. The segmented outsole reduces ground contact for maximum efficiency and the AP+ foam system is more responsive than many other cushioning materials. A good shoe for neutral runners wanting fast performance without resorting to pure minimalist footwear.
Barefoot/Minimalist
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Asics
Blur 33 $130 Men’s (9.9 oz) , Women’s (7.85 oz)
Asics enters the barefoot category with the Blur 33, a shoe that competes directly with the Nike Free and Reebok Real Flex. The sleek upper is thinner than most Asics shoes, with breathable mesh, few seams and a wide toe box. The segmented outsole is a mix of lightweight blown rubber and exposed midsole foam, with a groove running vertically down the middle, reducing ground contact and promoting a natural stride. Asics calls this an “everyday shoe designed to promote natural foot movement.” Although it has both foam and Gel cushioning, more than most shoes in this category, we’d still caution against using this as a high-mileage trainer. The black, orange and blue colour scheme that we tested is among the most stylish of all trainers and will leave you not just feeling fast, you’ll look good too.
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Merrel
Sonic Glove / Lithe Glove $160 Men’s 184 g (7.5 oz), $140 Women’s 184 g (6.5 oz)
The Sonic (men’s) and Lithe (women’s) Gloves have a curved last, barefoot design and super low ride height, which promotes forefoot running. This minimalist shoe fits like a glove, with hardly any cushioning and no stability control. The construction strengthens foot muscles making you a stronger runner. The Vibram outsole provides good traction on various surfaces, and a forefoot shock absorption plate distributes the pressure more evenly throughout the foot. The updates from previous versions of the Glove are mainly in the anti-microbial footbed, which reduces moisture and controls odour. If you’re interested in supplementing your training with some barefoot-style running, you might want to give the Sonic/Lithe Glove a try.
Competition
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New Balance
1400 $139.95 - Men’s 201 g (7.1 oz), Women’s 161 g (5.7 oz)
Some of Canada’s top marathoners will be competing in these shoes this fall. These shoes are among the lightest racing flats on the market, comparable to the Adizero Adios. Along with a lightweight and durable ReVlite foam midsole, the increased ground contact helps soften the impact and provides some stability. The outsole is also slip-resistant, meaning that a downpour of rain on race day shouldn’t cause too much trouble for your footing. The low ride height brings your heel close to the ground, ideal for racing and speed training. The breathable mesh upper, a staple for most shoes in this category, is so thin you hardly notice it.
