Below is a selection of mostly neutral, training/performance road shoes that I feel didn’t fall into my previously published road racing shoe preview.  I have one more forthcoming shoe preview from this years’ Outdoor Retail that will cover new mountain running shoes I saw.  Enjoy and feel free to ask questions below!

Altra IQ – weight 8.6 oz men, 7.1 oz women, drop: 0mm, available Spring 2016, price: $199.99

Very smooth and “hi-tech” looking upper with a view of the sensor embedded in the midsole.

Altra is really pushing hard recently with new models, recent sponsoring of big races in the trail world (Hardrock 100 and Western States 100), and signing more and more athletes each year.  The IQ looks to be an industry leader in the “smart shoe” category which will provide feedback to the runner via smart phone or iFit watch.  For more info on the IQ check out Sam’s great write-up here and a video of Altra Founder, Golden Harper explaining more about the shoe courtesy of Competitor here.  Other than that, it looks very similar to the current Altra Impulse.

Brooks Launch 3 – weight 9.8 oz men, 7.9 oz women, drop: 10mm, available 1/1/16, price: $100

New 3D Fit Print upper on the Launch 2 platform.

I’ve never run in the Launch, but given its popularity it might be worth a look.  The Launch hits right in the middle of the road for weight, protection, and cushion, and should work for a wide variety of runners.  The Launch 3 gets a new 3D printed upper on the Launch 2 platform.  See Pete’s review of the Launch 2 here.

Brooks PureFlow 5 – weight 9.2 oz men, 7.8 oz women, drop: 4mm, available 1/1/16, price: $110

Very nice upper design with more structure in heel and more open forefoot.

I’ve not run extensively in the Pure line mainly as I can’t quite seem to get along with their last shape.  The PureFlow 5 has a great looking upper and a new, very flexible looking midsole and outsole while not giving up the cushion it has been known for.

A little podular for my tastes, but decent coverage and should be flexible.

Brooks Transcend 3 – weight 10.9 oz men, 9.5 oz women, drop: 8mm, available 1/1/16, price: $170

Not sure I’m digging the upper on these, but the extra structure might be necessary for a shoe with its stack height.

I don’t have any experience in the Transcend, and as far as I can tell they ride the line between maximalist and premium cushion.  They are labeled as mild support shoes without using traditional posting.  Not a shoe I’d likely run in, but there are lots of runners out there that might.  Price seems a bit high, but in line with other max cushion models from Hoka, etc.

Lots of rubber and flex grooves.

Hoka One One Clayton – weight 7.3 oz men, 6.3 oz women, Stack Height:24mm H/20mm FF, available Spring 2016, price: $150

Nice looking upper and midsole follows suit with the Tracer with firmer foam in the forefoot and softer in the heel. Supposedly a wider forefoot in these too.

I’ve not yet found a Hoka shoe that I’ve enjoyed running in.  The Clifton came the closest for me, but the super soft ride combined with the rocker sole made it feel like it robbed a bit of energy from my stride. However, I could start to see why some folks enjoy them, and the Clifton got the weight much lower than the more traditional Hokas.  The Clayton is over an ounce lighter, and at 7.3 oz is quite light compared to most shoes on the market.  When you consider that it delivers trainer level cushion (20mm FF/24mm Heel) at this weight, it is even more impressive.  The biggest issue remaining with Hoka for me is the fit, which I’ve never found great.  If they can improve that with the Clayton and Tracer, they could be nice options.  Hoka was definitely one of the brands at OR most willing to try some new things, and while I haven’t loved their shoes, I can commend them for being willing to go outside the box to try to arrive at unique products.

RMat serves as outsole. Midfoot looks more typical of Hoka, which I’m not as excited about.

New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2 – weight 8.6 oz men, 7.2 oz women, drop: 6mm, available April 2016, price: $99.95

Great new upper design that gets rid of the overlay in the middle of the lateral side that put too much pressure there for me (and others according to NB). NB’s uppers are some of the best on the market IMO and the Zante has the best NB ride as well.

The Fresh Foam Zante was a big hit for New Balance this year and I was among the many who enjoyed its cushioned yet speedy ride on a mid level drop. I also liked the fit with a wide forefoot, but snugger midfoot and heel.  The v2 fixes the main issue I had with the original in removing the midfoot overlay that gave me a sense of restriction around my 5th metatarsal. Zante 2 also looks to improve the fit of the shoe overall as well, while not messing with what was already a good ride.  The Zante v2 is definitely one of the road shoes I’m most looking looking forward to running in next year.

Redesigned outsole based on runner feedback. Mainly they elongated the shapes over the forefoot, but added topo-like grooves to make it more flexible .

Salomon Sonic Pro – weight 8.5 oz men, stack height: 24mm H/16mm FF, available Spring 2016, price: $140.00

Probably a closer replacement to the X-Series than the S-Lab Sonic is. Filling in the Pro spot in the Sonic lineup.

The Salomon S-Lab X-Series is a shoe I’ve wanted to try, but never got around to this season.  The S-Lab model will now be call the S-Lab Sonic (see racing shoe preview).  The Sonic Pro gives a similar treatment to the S-Lab Sonic as the Sense Pro does to the S-Lab Sense.  It provides a similar high quality product at a slightly lower price point. It also has a little less pure performance focus, instead adding slightly more comfort and durability.  Out of the two, I think I’d be most interested in the S-Lab version, but at $30 less the Pro version might appeal to more runners.

Very similar outsole to S-Lab Sonic with the black rubber adding just a bit more durability.

Saucony Breakthru 2 – weight 8.5 oz men, 7.4 oz women, stack height: 23mm H/15mm FF, available 1/1/2016, price: $100.00

New upper on the same platform. Very nice looking and they said they opened up the toebox on it compared to v1.

The Breakthru 2 is one of the road shoes I’m most excited about this year.  I haven’t run in the Breakthru, but it looks like a great all-around platform with very good outsole coverage, and v2 puts a new more streamlined upper on it that I was told would have a roomier forefoot.  It will still be a a performance oriented trainer, and one with a lot of versatility and plenty of trail worthiness as well (something I’m always looking for in road shoes :) ).

Skechers GOrun 4 2016 – weight 7.8 oz men, 6.0 oz women, midsole height: 18mm H/14mm FF, available January 2016, price: $105.00

Circular knit upper that has a little stretch (where as the Speed 3 2016 and Ultra Road are much more static).

The GOrun 4 2016 gets a knit upper that has a bit more stretch than the Speed 3 2016, and also gets the upgrade to the new 5-Gen midsole material.  I’ve since run in a sample pair of these and the 5-Gen is much more of an upgrade than one would think.  The shoe runs more responsively, while retaining the cushioning and flexibility of the GOrun 4.  The upper is super soft and comfortable, and the shoe could easily serve as a long run shoe for many.  Also of note, the toebox has more volume and the shoe fits more true to the rest of the Skechers lineup, where as the original GOrun 4 seemed to run short due to a shallow toebox.

Skechers GOrun Ride 5 – weight 8.4 oz men, 6.7 oz women, midsole height: 20mm H/16mm FF, available January 2016, price: $100.00

Very smooth and comfortable, seamless upper and slightly thicker midsole than previous version.

The GOrun Ride 5 gets a full update with a new thinner, seamless upper along with 2mm more stack height than its predecessor.  I’ve also run in a sample pair of these, and they definitely offer more support than the GOrun 4 2016 and Speed 3 2016. They also still have some responsiveness with the 5-Gen midsole that doesn’t completely relegate them to easy, slow miles.  A great update, and a great overall value as well.  Skechers is really moving their product forward quickly, and with the new 5-Gen midsole material and fantastic new uppers, I think they are going to be making some waves with these new Spring 2016 offerings.  A company to keep an eye on for sure!

Also of note, I choose to segment the trail market into what I call, for simplicity’s sake, “trail” shoes and “mountain” shoes.  Trail shoes are those designed for smoother, well marked trails, dirt roads and tend to have less lug depth.  Mountain shoes are designed for the more technical terrain that is usually, though not always, found in the mountains, though any very technical or steep trail can demand similar requirements from a shoe.  What I list below are those shoes that I (not necessarily the manufactures) deem as the trail offerings I saw at this years Outdoor Retailer.  A subsequent post will preview the mountain shoes.

adidas

Very unique upper design that could be too much or could be a highlight. I’ve liked the XT’s unconventional upper so will hold judgement on these till I try them.

adidas Supernova Riot Boost – weight 12.6 oz men, 10.2 women, drop: 10mm, available: February 2016, Price $130.

Given the quality of adidas’ newly Boosted trail lineup launched this summer, I’m pretty excited about the potential this shoe has as a unique all around trail option.  The lugs are shallower (5mm) than both the Raven (6.5 mm) and Response Trail (8mm), and it has a very unique upper design that is similar to the XT Boost, but looks a little thicker and more protective.  Not sure this will be that great in the summer, but could be very nice in poor conditions.  The outsole is also notable in that it uses what Continental calls their Gator Skin process which allows them to mold the outsole at a minimum thickness of 1 mm instead of 3 mm so they can reduce weight.  A puncture resistant layer between the outsole and Boost midsole is added to protect the foot and midsole.

Laces then hook and loop enclosure to wrap over the laces.

Great outsole design as usual with adidas/Continental. Notice how thin it is in the center.

Altra

The Olympus is every bit as substantial as any Hoka.

Altra Olympus 2.0 – weight 10.8 oz men, zero drop, price $149

I haven’t run in any of the Olympus models to date, but I know many runners (especially in the ultra scene) that love them for long races.  They’re zero drop, wide and cushy.  The 2.0 gets the welcome addition of Vibram MegaGrip rubber and a complete overhaul on the midsole and upper as well.  I was told the toe spring/taper was tweaked a bit to be more gradual.  Interested to see how it runs compared to the Skechers GOtrail Ultra 3, which is probably its closet competitor.

Nice looking outsole on them. I personally can’t see using them on anything but flatter outings, but you never know!

Altra Superior 2.0

The Superior 2.0 gets an upper update and a pretty minimal one at that.  The biggest change is that Altra fixed the sizing issue from the original 2.0 where they ran 1/2 to a full size small. Other than that, it’s the Superior 2.0.  I’ve recently run in a pair of 2.0s and liked them overall.  As with most Altras, they run a tad heavy to me, but the Superior is one of the first Altra shoes to be secure enough for me in the upper, and I’m interested in having some zero drop options in the rotation.

Slightly new upper and sizing issue corrected.

Brooks

Brooks Cascadia 11 – weight: 11.8 oz men; 10.1 oz women, drop: 10mm, available 01/01/16, price: $120

The Cascadia is one of those classic models that’s been around quite some time, relatively unchanged and….I’ve never run in a pair.  I do have a pair of Cascadia 10s that I just need to get out on a run with.  Updates are subtle in the upper and that’s a good thing if you like the Cascadia series.  A very popular shoe on the trails that should handle the gamut.

Fairly unchanged from v10, but still an all-around solid looking option with more traditional protection and geometry.

Dynafit

Dynafit Feline Ultra – weight 12 oz men, 10.2 women, drop: 8mm, available March 2016 , price $139.95

New upper on the Feline Ultra that is simplified and refined from the Panterra that it replaces.

The Feline Ultra is an update to the Panterra and looks to mainly update the rubber to Vibram MegaGrip and streamline the upper design, which will be a good thing.  I’ve run in the Panterra a bit and while it isn’t a horrible shoe by any means, the upper was pretty stiff and the shoe overall is quite stiff.  Some improvements in those categories could help with what is otherwise a shoe that is designed with great materials.

Black rubber section is now MegaGrip where it was Vibram Mapping Compound before.

Hoka One One

Hoka Challenger ATR 2 – weight 9.5 oz men, drop: 5mm, available 1/1/2016, price $130.00

I’ve run just a few times in the Challenger ATR, and while it is still a bit soft for my tastes, I can see the appeal and I know many runners that love them.  The ATR 2 is an upper update that adds more security and durability in the overlays, and might help with what is generally a somewhat sloppy fit in my opinion for a shoe with that much stack/cushion.  The Challenger was definitely a hit this year for Hoka, and some refinement will only help.

Nice update to the overlays and I’m liking this colorway.

La Sportiva

La Sportiva Helios 2.0 – weight 8.35 oz men, 6.45 oz women, stack: 19mm heel/15mm toe, available 4/1/16 price $125.00

New upper that might modernize the fit a little.

The Helios series, which birthed out of the midsole/outsole platform of the Vertical K, is one that I’ve not had much luck with from both a fit and function standpoint.  From the fit side of things, the Helios and Helios SR just fit small all the way around.  Normally not a huge issue for most folks as you can size up, but I’m a 47.5 in La Sportiva and that is the largest they make.  The thing is all the other models of Sportivas fit just fine.  I was told that the Helios 2.0 fits a little more true to size which would be great if true.

From the function standpoint, I’m just not sold on the Morpho Dynamic midsole/outsole design (the “waves”), especially for technical trail.  The midsole ride quality is not good enough to justify the shoes as a trail racer, yet the protection is lacking for true technical terrain, mostly due to the fact that there is just too much exposed EVA on them. Well the Helios 2.0 doesn’t change the platform, but adds endurance (AT) rubber and their “cushion platform” insert.  A new upper gives me hope that the fit might be a bit better.  All in all, if you like the Helios or Helios SR (which stays in the line), the Helios 2.0 is a little more differentiated from the SR while still retaining the qualities the platform is known for.

AT rubber throughout (blue FriXion “x”)

La Sportiva Akasha – weight 11.35 oz men, 9.80 oz women, stack: 26mm heel/20mm toe, available 4/1/2016, price $140.00

Nice and clean upper with an open toebox and good overlays. Short of trying it on, it looks pretty good.

The Akasha is an interesting entry from La Sportiva.  Mainly being that it is a much more cushioned option than they typically offer, and yet it tries to retain the technical profile of most of Sportiva’s offerings.  Cushioning and technical performance are usually not things that go hand in hand, but having seen the Akasha in person, I’m definitely holding out hope that they can pull it off.  It looks like a nice and comfortable upper and quality injected EVA.  The outsole looks great, which Sportiva usually excels at (their rubber compounds are fantastic), so overall a shoe to watch this next season.

Solid outsole design with Sportivas XT rubber which is a mix of XF (sticky) black rubber and AT (durable) red rubber in certain areas.

Montrail

Montrail Fluid Flex FKT – weight 9.2 oz men, 7.7 oz women, drop: 4mm, available 2/1/2016 , price $110.00

Great new upper with refined overlays and seamless design.

I tried a few runs in the original Fluid Flex, and tried on the Fluid Flex 2 – I really was not into either.  The foam was too soft and unstable to me, and the uppers didn’t hold the foot well.  I recently received a pair of the Fluid Flex ST from Montrail for review (coming soon), and have been pleasantly surprised with the changes they’ve made.  First, they added a co-molded EVA rock plate in the forefoot and completely changed the ride for the better with their Fluid Guide midsole. This allows them to put denser foam in the midfoot (on both medial and lateral sides) in a gradual way, and it works great with the ST providing more structure, sharper edging and stability to the platform while still allowing for a cushioned experience.  The FKT retains the rock plate and fluid guide of the ST, but gets a slick new seamless upper that may just perfect the shoe into one of the best lightweight trail offerings around.  Excited to give this one a try come February!

Co-molded EVA rock plate in the forefoot (white color) and harder midsole in the midfoot that you can’t see visually but can feel when you hold the shoe.

Montrail Caldorado – weight 11.0 oz men, 9.1 oz women, drop: 8mm, available 2/1/2016, price $120.00

Caldorado upper and profile is nice and clean and should be a nice all around platform. Excited to give them a try.

The Caldorado is a new entry for Montrail in addition to the Trans Alps (more on that one below).  Montrail is attempting to get back to its roots with a full featured and functionally focused trail lineup.  The Caldorado is on a completely new platform, but if it runs like a more robust Fluid Flex ST then I’m definitely interested.  I like the look of the full coverage outsole and seamless upper, but the drop and weight might be just a bit higher than my personal preference (especially considering the Trans Alps is the same drop and not that much heavier).  A 10 oz, 6mm drop Caldorado would have really been the sweet spot I think, but regardless it looks like a solid entry that should compete well with the likes of the Pearl Izumi trail lineup and shoes like the Nike Wildhorse 3, but potentially with a little more precision via a narrower midsole profile (which I like).

Good looking full coverage outsole design with rockplate in the forefoot. Check and check.

Montrail Trans Alps – weight 12.5 oz men, 10.9 oz women, drop: 8mm , available 2/1/2016, price $130.00

The Trans Alps has a more traditional upper with more support, low rand, and a little more supportive midsole design.

The Trans Alps is another new offering for Montrail, and it looks to aim at rough trail and mountain conditions.  My one concern with this is that the profile may be a bit too wide and high for this application, but you can’t always tell just looking at a shoe.  Midsole densities and geometry can play a role, as can the fit, so I’ll reserve judgement on it.  Otherwise, it looks like a nice, no frills offering that should give it some versatility.  It will be interesting to see how it stacks up against some other similar shoes like the La Sportiva Akasha and Scarpa Proton.

More lug (6mm depth compared to the Caldorado 5mm) and more aggressive pattern in addition to a rock plate means this shoe will take some abuse. I’m worried this will be at the cost of the ride quality, but I hope I’m surprised.

New Balance

New Balance Leadville MT1210v3 – weight 10.35 oz men, 8.75 oz women, drop: 8mm, available January 2016, price $124.95

Full redesign on the Leadville v3. Mostly seamless upper with straightforward overlay setup.

The Leadville (1210) is one of those shoes that should run better than it does.  I’ve run in v1 and just couldn’t get into it for some reason.  It’s light, the upper is smooth and the outsole design is decent enough.  Unfortunately, to me the ride quality is just not what I look for in a trail shoe.  It is quite soft and unstable on uneven terrain, and also doesn’t run that great on smoother trails. The last as well is based on the PL last, but with more volume to supposedly accommodate late ultra marathon foot swelling.  In the end it just makes the shoe seem not as secure on 95% of your other runs.  The good news (if you like the 1210) and bad news (if you don’t) is that, while it is a full redesign, the general concept and geometries of the shoe are retained.  The outsole looks arguably better, but without a different fit and midsole design, I’m not sure it will make much difference to me.

Nice outsole design that is Pearl Izumi N2-esque which will be good all around.

New Balance MT10v4– weight 7.2 oz men, 5.8 oz women, drop: 4mm, available April 2016, price $114.95

A very nice looking update. The upper was super soft and although it looks a tad hot, it should be nice overall.

Now here is a NB trail shoe that I’m pretty excited about!  A full refresh for the MT10 in v4. It adds 3mm more cushion than v3, it’s still on the NL-1 (Minimus) last, has full outsole coverage, and an Acteva midsole (maybe I’m the only one, but glad it’s not RevLite).  This basically puts the shoe in a very similar profile to the MT110v1 and I for one am glad to see a more minimal option being offered by NB when many companies aren’t even putting out a trail shoe lighter than 9 oz.  Really excited to run these for shorter outings, and they should perform well on technical terrain given what I know about the specs and fit.  Good job NB!

Nice aggressive, yet versatile looking full coverage Vibram outsole on the MT10v4.

The North Face

North Face Ultra Endurance – weight 11.0 oz men, drop: 8mm, price $125.00

I like the upper design. looks comfortable, secure and durable.

The Ultra Endurance looks to be a nice new offering from North Face.  The Ultra MT took me by surprise this year (review forthcoming) with its Vibram Megagrip outsole and rockplate on a low profile mountain shoe (something not typically done…I don’t know why because it is great!).  The Ultra Endurance looks to take some of the design direction of the MT and give it a little more cushion and protection with a more trail friendly outsole design that is still Vibram Megagrip.  Overall a nice looking shoe that will expand The North Face’s somewhat lacking shoe offerings.

Great looking Vibram Megagrip outsole with a forefoot rock plate.

Saucony

Saucony Peregrine 6 – weight 9.4 oz men, 8.5 oz women, Stack: 21.5mm Heel, 17.5mm FF, available 1/1/2016 , price $120.00

Nice looking upper that seems softer and potentially a little less pointy than previous versions.

The Saucony Peregrine is a shoe that I’ve had mixed feelings about int he past.  I ran in versions 1 and 2 and liked the protective ride on a 4mm drop profile, but the last is pointy and the shoe was really stiff.  To be fair, I did try on the Peregrine 5 and it seemed to be a better fit and more flexible as well, although I didin’t run in it.  The Peregrine 6 gets a new PWRTRAC outsole, which should soften the ride a bit, and the design will definitely enhance flexibility.  It also features an Everun insert in the heel (a topsole material that goes between the midsole and footbed) – it will be interesting to see what it contributes to the ride. It has a rock plate in both the heel and forefoot, and probably the softest looking upper of the whole Peregrine series.  This all adds up to create some potential for a great shoe.  Keeping my fingers crossed!

Nice looking outsole design (albeit maybe a tad agressive?). The most flexible feeling Peregrine to me and PWRTRAC is sticky and soft (like blown rubber).

Salomon

Salomon S-Lab Sense 5 Ultra – weight 7.8 oz men, stack: 18mm Heel/14mm FF, price $180.00

Slightly lighter overlays and more open mesh design.

The S-Lab Sense is an iconic shoe in the trail world, popularized by Salomon and their marquee athlete Kilian Jornet.  In its 5th iteration the Sense continues to see only minor tweaks.  For version 5 the main updates are a modified outsole geometry that sees some lugs being removed which results in a 20 g weight savings and a much more minimal mesh upper.  The rest of the midsole, pro-feel film rock protection, and upper design stays the same as version 4.  These changes might be small but I think will bring the Sense back to its roots a bit (a good thing…the 8.5oz version 4 was just too heavy for the type of shoe it is).  I’m hoping to get a chance to run in a pair this spring so I can let you know how it feels!

You can see tissue paper through mesh…thin!

New outsole that if you look closely, you can tell they removed some lugs to reduce weight. I still think they need to fill in the gaps in the outsole.  Features a new Premium Wet Traction Contragrip that should be stickier.

Salomon Sense Pro 2 – weight 9.3 oz men, stack: 23mm Heel/17mm FF, price $130.00

Simple and clean upper with lighter overlays than v1, but fairly unchanged upper design. New midsole but similar geometry.

The Sense Pro was a great addition to Salomon’s lineup. It hit a sweet spot with many runners as it offered the feel of the Sense series, refinement of an S-Lab shoe, yet more protection and a lower price point.  The Sense Pro 2 is a full update top to bottom and looks to provide some nice improvements.  A new, softer midsole should be welcome (Sense Pro ran stiff and firm) for most and a new more well-rounded outsole should really make the Sense Pro 2 a nice middle of the road option. Excited to give these a try come spring.

Similar outsole design to the Sense 4 and should offer good varied surface grip.

Scarpa

Scarpa Proton – weight 12.2 oz men, 10.4 oz women, drop: 10mm, available Late Winter

Good upper design that is seamless and looks comfortable. Having run in the Scarpa Tru, the last is a nice shape.

The Scarpa Proton is a part of a new series of offerings by Scarpa that look to be much more refined, and also offer a nice variation of drops and feature sets.  The Neutron and Atom I’ll feature in my mountain shoe preview, but the Proton, being higher stack and bulk, fits in my trail preview since I think higher weight and bulk tend to degrade a shoe’s performance in the mountains.  The shoe may surprise me though.  The upper looks simple but comfortable, and the outsole design is simple and looks versatile.  Rock plate, Vibram rubber and mountain design philosophy.  Excited to see how the whole lineup will run.

Great lug design and placement.

Skechers

Skechers GOtrail Ultra 3– weight 11.4 oz men, 9.2 oz women, 4mm drop (30mm H/26mm FF midsole heights), available January 2016, price $120

Nice and simple upper with a more refined design, aesthetic and overlay setup. Skechers Performance is maturing.

The Skechers GOtrail Ultra 3 could be a real sleeper hit. While the GOrun Ultra and Ultra 2 have had a following, to me the shoe wasn’t that refined, and the non-rubber outsole was an issue in a trail shoe of its design.  The Ultra 3 is taking on the likes of Hoka One One with what could be a much better shoe in the end (I know the last will be better). The midsole is Skechers’ new 5 Gen material, which I’ve run in and really like. It also has some actual rubber coverage, a unique drainage system, and a new soft and relatively seamless upper design.  I’m personally pretty excited about it, even though I normally don’t prefer so much cushion.  The Gen 5 is that good and the design is flexible enough.

Decent looking outsole that will provide plenty of flex and traction. I just hope it holds up longer than it looks like it would; lots of exposed EVA that usually leads to torn off lugs for me.

That’s it for the trail roundup, stay tuned for the mountain shoes in a future post!

Brooks

Brooks Nuero upper. Notice material that attaches to laces. It actually wraps all the way under the foot.

Brooks Nuero – weight: 9.4 oz (men); 7.9 oz (women), drop: 6mm, available 03/01/16, price: $130

The Brooks Nuero was one of the most innovative road shoes I saw at the show.  Without running in them I can’t say whether it will be a good innovation or not, but kudos to Brooks for trying.  While it is hard to say whether this will be a "racing" shoe or not, Brooks seems to think it will be a fast running shoe, so I decided to include it in my racing shoe writeup. The main unique feature is the decision to have the shoe uncouple in the midfoot at a diagonal angle that is supposed to allow the forefoot and heel to move more independently but yet be rigid enough on push off to be responsive. As such, this isn’t supposed to be just a flexible shoe, but to both be snappy and move naturally.  It will be interesting to see whether they can pull this off when it comes out in March.

Podded outsole with some pods filled in and others just encapsulated by EVA.

Showing how the sole uncouples at midfoot. Was very unique to see this in person.

Hoka One One

Hoka One One Carbon Rocket – weight 6.3 oz men, 5.4 oz women. Stack height: 20mm heel, 19mm forefoot, 4/1/2016 release date.

Hoka Carbon Rocket upper is a pretty stripped back traditional racing shoe style and should function well. Both the Tracer and Carbon Rocket appear to be on a more standard racing shoe-style last.

The Carbon Rocket was probably one of the most exciting road racing shoes I’ve seen in quite a while, and could either be super snappy and fast feeling or way too stiff.  I was really shocked with how stiff the shoe felt with its nearly full length carbon fiber plate that has 2 prongs near the front.  To better describe the shoe’s snappiness, it makes the adidas adios, a shoe that is one of the snappier shoes I’ve run in, seem extremely flexible :).  It has a fair bit of cushion to it though, and is super light so it really does have potential to be a great racing shoe that I could see using for a marathon.  Pete an I both will hopefully have a chance to run in these late this winter and let you all know all know how they feel!

Hoka Carbon Rocket – RMAT on the bottom with pretty sparse rubber coverage, EVA above that, and carbon plate above the EVA right below the foot.

Hoka One One Tracer – weights 7 oz men, 6.3 women. Stack height: 22mm heel, 18mm forefoot, 4/1/16 release date

Hoka Tracer – Light and seamless upper.

The Hoka Tracer might be just as easily justified as a trainer with its stack height and extra rubber over the Carbon Rocket, but at 7 oz and on the same racing oriented last that the CR is on, I’m going to put it in with the other racers. Many runners might choose the Tracer over the Carbon Rocket as a 26.2 shoe, especially if the stiff plate is not your thing. The Carbon Rocket might be a little more unique, but the Tracer might be what more people enjoy since it still possesses a great blend of protection and propulsion with its dual density (soft in heel firm in forefoot) midsole design, yet is still really light!

Hoka Tracer – More rubber than the Carbon Rocket, but still not a "robust" outsole by any means and no RMAT either so it is yet to be seen which of the two will hold up better.

New Balance

New Balance 1400v4 – weight 7.2 oz men’s, 6.2 oz women’s, 10mm drop, 4/1/2016 Release Date, $99.95

New upper that stays seamless and should be just as light and comfy as v3.

The 1400v3 (here for Pete’s review) is a shoe that I really like for short and fast runs on trails, but it obviously works well on roads too.  While the v3 was just an upper change, the 1400v4 gets a complete overhaul without changing the overall geometry and fit from what we all love about the 1400.  Biggest change is in the outsole design, which offers just a bit more rubber coverage (a good thing all around IMO and better for trail too).

Outsole with more connected pieces of rubber in the forefoot.

New Balance 1500v2 – Weight 7.9 oz men’s, 6.7 oz women’s, 1/1/2016 Release Date, $109.95

New, refined upper with carryover midsole/outsole.

The 1500, which was New Balance’s first shoe based on the same last as the Zante and Vazee Pace, has a unique niche being that it is both light and still offers some medial support to those who want that feature.  I’ve run in v1, mostly on trail, and like the fit and feel overall.  The 1500v2 is an upper update only and focuses on lighter overlays, while also offering more security.

Salomon

S-Lab Sonic – 7.8 oz mens, Stack Height: 24mm heel, 16mm forefoot, $170

The Salomon S-Lab Sonic is a slightly updated S-Lab X-Series that, in a somewhat surprise move, has Salomon removing speed laces in favor of good old regular laces (I guess I’m not the only one who prefers these!). This upper is very light and airy in person.

I haven’t tried the current S-Lab X-Series, which the S-Lab Sonic updates/replaces, but with this update I’d like to. Salomon reduced the material in the upper slightly and removed the speed laces which they said their athletes requested for the shoe. I usually cut the speed laces off shoes, so this was a welcome change.  The price tag on this one, like the Hoka Carbon Rocket, is likely to be a deterrent, but there’s no doubt Salomon now makes a legit road shoe.

Carryover midsole and outsole as far as I could tell.

Saucony

Saucony Kinvara 7 – Weight 7.7 oz men’s, 6.6 oz women’s, Stack Height 22mm heel, 18mm forefoot, 3/1/2016 Release, $110

The good ‘ole Kinvara in its 7th iteration. Now with a new tech called Everun in the heel.

The Kinvara gets its 7th version with the main story being a new Everun topsole (goes on top of the strobel, between the midsole and footbed) material that Saucony reports to last 3x longer than standard EVA and is dramatically more lively and responsive.  My only wish with the Kinvara is that they had put it full length as it is in the Triumph ISO2, Hurricane ISO2 and Guide 9.  Regardless, it looks like a good update that should please Kinvara fans and potentially attract new ones.

New outsole that doesn’t differ dramatically other than its move away from the more typical Kinvara triangle shapes, but offers similar coverage.

Skechers Performance

Skechers GOmeb Speed 3 2016 – Weight 7.2 oz for men, 18mm heel, 14 mm forefoot. January Release Date, $125.

Contrary to what you’d expect from just putting 2016 on the end of the name, the Skechers GoMeb Speed 3 2016 is actually a pretty large update overall with an all new, fantastic knit upper and new midsole material.

I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for the Skechers Speed series since I ran my second marathon in the Speed 2 and really love that shoe.  The Speed 3 was a little heavier and perhaps more protective than the Speed 2, but lost a little magic for me. The Speed 3 2016 is really quite an overhaul with a full knitted upper similar to the GOrun Ultra Road (which is fantastic), but specific to the needs of the Speed 3. The midsole material is also new (called 5Gen) and more responsive than the Resalyte used in previous versions (also at a softer durometer).  I’m very excited to get this one on my feet this winter! The knit upper is really nice, and something I hope could become a signature feature for Skechers Performance shoes, especially since they deliver a knit upper at a much lower price than Nike or adidas which are all $150 and up for their stretchier knit uppers. I like the more static nature of the knit upper on the GORun Ultra Road, which will be similar to the GOmeb Speed 3 2016, since it holds the foot much more securely.

That’s it for Road Racing shoes that I saw at Outdoor Retailer.  More posts coming for Road Training shoes, Trail, and Mountain shoes coming as well.  Let me know if you have any further questions and I can do my best to answer!

The list below will give a good sense of the type of shoe that I like, and how I narrow down models that I’d like to review here on Runblogger. Most are road shoes, most are on the more minimal side, and many are racing flats. I don’t have specs for all of them, but where available I have included them in my brief summary of each (weights are for men’s size 9). Photo credits all go to Running Warehouse.

Lot’s of eye candy on the way, here goes!

1. adidas Takumi Sen Boost

I’m a huge fan of the adidas Adios, and really like the Boost midsole material. The Takumi Sen is a speed flat, so a bit less shoe than the Adios, and the addition of Boost to the sole should make for an interesting ride. The $160 price tag is a bit steep for a racing flat, which may prevent me from pulling the trigger on a purchase. Specs: 6.1 oz, 22mm heel, 16mm forefoot. Available February 22 at Running Warehouse and Wiggle UK.

2. Altra Instinct 3.0

I ran in the Instinct 1.0 and 1.5 and found them a bit firm and stiff. Reports were that version 2.0 was super soft, so I passed. Version 3.0 is supposedly firmed back up a bit, but looks to be more cushioned than the original. Will it hit my sweet spot? Only one way to find out… Specs:  8.1 oz, 24mm heel, 24mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

3. Altra Superior 2.0

I don’t run a lot of trail miles, but I like to keep a few trail shoes on hand for the occasional run and for winter runs on snow and crusty ice (more of the latter so far this year, but about to get dumped on tomorrow!). I liked the original Superior, but durability was an issue and grip was not great. The Superior 2.0 looks great and the tread appears more aggressive. Specs: 8.7 oz, 15mm heel, 15mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

4. Asics 33-DFA

Asics is releasing a trio of new shoes in their 33 line, and the DFA is the most minimal. The new foam used in the sole of all three is supposed to be cushy, and the DFA pairs this foam with a 4mm drop and sub 20mm stack. Sounds like my kind of shoe. Specs: 8.6 oz, 19mm heel, 15mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse and Wiggle UK.

5. Asics 33-FA

In terms of cushioning, the Asics 33-FA is the middle-ground shoe among the three new 33 series shoes being released. Specs place it in a similar category to the Saucony Kinvara and New Balance Fresh Foam 980. Could be a solid choice for easy runs and longer distances. Specs: 8.9 oz, 25mm heel, 21mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

6. Asics DS Racer 10

I’ve had my eye on this one for awhile, but haven’t pulled the trigger. Not a brand new shoe, but I loved the Hyper Speed 6 and the DS Racer looks somewhat similar. Nice looking shoe, and specs place it right about in my sweet spot. Specs: 6.3 oz, 23mm heel, 15mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

7. Brooks Launch 2

The Brooks Launch 2 is on my must-have list for 2015, and I’ll likely pre-order a pair soon. The original Launch has gone without an update for years, and I consider it a classic. It carried me through my first marathon in which I did not hit the wall, and it is one of the smoothest riding shoes I‘ve run in. Version 2 looks phenomenal (love the blue/yellow colorway!), and you can expect an expedited review once I have a pair. Specs: 9.9 oz, 27mm heel, 17mm forefoot. Available February 15 at Running Warehouse.

8. Brooks PureFlow 4

I liked the feel of the sole cushioning in the Brooks Pure Project shoes, but the PureFlow 3 was a step back in terms of fit. Curious if v4 has returned to the fit of earlier versions. Specs: 8.9 oz, 22mm heel, 18mm forefoot. Available February 15 at Running Warehouse.

9. Mizuno Wave Ekiden 9

I love racing flats, and this one looks pretty sweet. Light, low stack, and fast looking. Specs: 4.8oz, 15mm heel, 10mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse and Wiggle UK.

10. New Balance 1500

The New Balance 1400v2 is one of my all-time favorite shoes, and I just recently got a pair of the 1600v2. The 1500 slots in between these two – the question for me is whether the sole has the deadish feel of the 1600 or the cushier ride of the 1400. Specs: 7.3 oz, 22mm heel, 16mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

11. New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay

The photo above is labeled Fresh Foam 980v2, but in a move away from their traditional number-based naming system, New Balance is renaming the shoe as the Fresh Foam Boracay. The original 980 was an “almost-there” kind of shoe for me. Soften the heel a bit, open up the overly pointy toebox, and you have a great shoe for long runs. Curious to see if the updates to the v2 make this a more runnable shoe. Specs: weight ???, 22mm heel, 18mm forefoot. Available March 9 at Running Warehouse and Wiggle UK.

12. New Balance MT101 2015

An update to an old favorite, but apparently it will only be around for a year. The MT101 was kind of like the New Balance 1400 built for trails. Superb fit, decent traction, light weight, great heel cushion, and affordably priced. Loved the original, still debating whether to try out the update since only the upper has changed. Specs: 7.2 oz, 25mm heel, 16mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

13. Newton Energy NR II

I loved the original Energy NR, and was impressed by the Newton Kismet/Fate combo released last year. I’m interested in trying out either the Energy II or the Aha, but like the Energy II color combo better (note: both have been out for awhile, so not really new shoes anymore). The Energy and Aha are Newton’s POP3 shoes, which means they have the least prominent forefoot lugs and thus are thought to be a good entry point if you haven’t run in a Newton previously. I like the fact that they are more reasonably priced than other Newtons, and I don’t see much reason to pay $175 for one of the top-of-the-line models. Specs: 8.8oz, 23mm heel, 19mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

14. Nike Wildhorse 2

Have heard great things about the Nike Terra Kiger 2 trail shoe, and since David Henry has already reviewed that one for me, I’m curious to try the Wildhorse 2. I like a trail shoe that can also handle roads, and this one looks like a great match for my typical usage. Specs: 7.7oz, 22mm heel, 17mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse and Wiggle UK.

15. Pear Izumi EM Road N1 v2

I wish Pear Izumi would make it clearer that the above shoe is version 2 of the EM Road N1 as it doesn’t seem to indicate it anywhere on the naming/labeling. Version 1 was a firm but very smooth-riding shoe, and this update looks better from an aesthetic standpoint. Not sure if I’ll try it, but I like the original enough that I may give it a go. Specs: 8.3 oz, not sure about stack heights. Available now at Running Warehouse.

16. Salomon Sense Link

Don’t really know much about this shoe other than that the specs look like a good match for me, and I’ve been impressed by nearly every piece of Salomon gear that I’ve tried. This one looks to be designed as a road/light trail hybrid. Specs: ??? oz, 21mm heel, 15mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

17. Salomon S-Lab X-Series

I’m really excited about this shoe despite the high price tag. Maybe it’s because Running Warehouse compared it to the New Balance 1400 and adidas Adios Boost, maybe it’s because I had a really good experience with the Sense Ultra and Sense Pro last year. The X-Series is a lightweight road shoe, kind of a surprise from a brand that focuses on trail. This one might be on my must-try list. Specs: 7.7oz, 23mm heel, 15mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

18. Saucony Endorphin Racer

This one is a drool-inducer for me. Hadn’t heard anything about it until I saw it last week on the Running Warehouse site. No specifics posted yet by RW on weight or stack height (Kyle in the comments indicates 11mm heel and forefoot), but it is zero drop (you can see it on the the insole in the top view photo). Wiggle UK lists weight at 88 grams, which is equal to 3.1 oz(!). Looks like a competitor to the Mizuno Universe and New Balance 5000. Expensive, but I’m a sucker for ultralight flats. Specs: 3.1 oz, 11mm heel, 11mm forefoot. Available February 22 at Running Warehouse.

19. Saucony Fastwitch 7

I really like the fit and ride of the Fastwitch 6, and version 7 looks great. Not much else to say on this one. Specs: 7.0 oz, 18mm heel, 14mm forefoot (per Kyle in the comments). Available February 15 at Running Warehouse.

20. Under Armour Speedform RC Vent

I’ve been hearing a lot of positive things about the new running shoes coming from Under Armour (the amply cushioned UA Gemini is getting a lot of raves from shoe geeks). The Speedform RC is the lowest profile of the new models and I love the bright colorway. Specs: 6.0 oz, 25mm heel, 19mm forefoot. Available now at Running Warehouse.

So that’s my list for at least the first half of 2015, though I’m sure additional models will pop up (e.g., the next iteration of the Saucony Kinvara). Which shoes are you most excited about this year?

(Disclosure: Links to Running Warehouse and Wiggle UK are provided where available in the above post. Both retailers are Runblogger advertising partners, but this list is based on my own shoe preferences and was not influenced by them in any way.)

The GoMeb Strada is essentially a cushy, neutral shoe (think Nike Pegasus cush) with a rubberless sole. Instead of a traditional outsole, Skechers opted to make the sole from two types of foam – a softer foam for the majority of the midsole, and a slightly firmer, more abrasion resistant foam that extends from the outside of the heel, across the midfoot, and up under the big toe (black regions in the photo below). The bit under the big toe is an interesting approach since it provides a bit of stability during late stance phase – I tend to really squish this area in a shoe like the Pegasus, but the Strada worked very well with my stride.

In my full review I’ll provide more detail on specs, fit, ride, and run through some of the differences among the many iterations of the shoe I tried during the development process. The Strada will be released on February 1. For now, I’ll leave you with some photos:

The Halo has a sensor built into the sole that apparently can detect cadence, foot strike location, and ground impact force and send that info to a synced iFit watch or a smartphone. Devices that measure cadence have been around for awhile, but a shoe that can show foot contact location and impact force could be interesting.

A big question will be pricing – will runners be willing to shell out $180 for this technology? There’s also the question of what to do with the info that the shoe provides – there’s no conclusive data showing that one type of foot strike is best under all conditions, and there is considerable debate about whether impact force is related to injury risk. I’m also not sure which exact aspect of force they are measuring – max impact force, max ground reaction force, loading rate, all of the above? We’d also need some kind of norms for force data to make them useful.

Lots of questions, but it’s cool to see a shoe company pursuing technology like this. I expect we’ll be seeing more from other companies in the not too distant future.

Among the shoes Thomas photographed are a very un-Hoka-like Hoka:

and the Saucony Kinvara 6 (which I think is just an upper update):

Lots more over on Thomas’ website, check it out here!

Salomon S-Lab Sense 4 Ultra

I just recently reviewed the Salomon Sense 3 Ultra – one of my favorite shoes of the year so far. Light and fast, like a racing flat for the trails. Looks like the Sense 4 Ultra will have a more breathable mesh on the upper (breathability was one of my few complaints about the 3), and an updated lug design.

Salomon S-Lab X-Series

The X-Series is is basically an adaptation of the Salomon Sense trail shoe line to the road. The X-Series features a stretchier upper in the forefoot and a softer sole than in their trail shoes, both of which sound very appealing to a guy who loved the Sense Pro and Sense 3 Ultra but runs mostly on the road.

New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay and Zante

New Balance is apparently ditching their numbering scheme for naming shoe models (hooray!!!), and the Fresh Foam 980 Road will be updated in the form of the New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay. Sam reports that the Boracay will weigh in at just under 10oz, and will retain it’s 4mm drop platform. I enjoyed running in the Fresh Foam 980 Road except for the fact that it had a pointy toebox – Sam indicates that the midsole is a wider platform in the Boracay so hopefully this will improve fit.

New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay – photo via Sam Winebaum

One of the new shoes I’m most excited about is the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante. My understanding is that the Zante is kind of a racier, lower profile Fresh Foam shoe. Sam reports that the Zante will weigh in under 8oz, have a 6mm heel-forefoot drop, and will retail for $100. Looks like my kind of shoe!

New Balance Fresh Foam Zante – photo via Sam Winebaum

Altra Superior 2.0 and Instinct 3.0

Altra introduced several new updates at OR. Sam provides details on all of them, and here I’ll feature the Superior 2.0 and Instinct 3.0.

I loved the original Altra Superior – is was roomy, low profile, and flexible. However, durability was a bit of an issue (for example, the sole on my pair is separating from the upper) and traction was not great. The Superior 1.5 was an upper update, but with version 2.0 the shoe gets a complete overhaul. Sam reports that the 2.0 adds a more aggressive outsole with 2mm more cushion yet drops 2.5 oz from v1.5.

Altra Superior 2.0 – photos via Sam Winebaum

I had lunch with Altra co-founder Golden Harper a few weeks ago and got a sneak peak at the Instinct 3.0. Rather than their typical practice of doing an upper update to the 2.0 and releasing a 2.5, Altra decided to put the shoe through a complete overhaul and jump right to version 3.0. This may be due in part to frequent reports that the 2.0 is too soft compared to previous versions. Sam reports that version 3.0 will have a slightly thinner, firmer midsole compared to v2.

Altra Instinct 3.0 – photo via Sam Winebaum

In addition to the Superior and Instinct, Altra is also updating the Provision and Olympus. For more details on those head over to Sam’s Altra preview post.

Salomon Sense X-Series

Two of my favorite shoes so far this year have been the Salomon Sense Pro and Salomon Sense 3 Ultra. I ran over 50 miles on dirt roads and trails in the Ultras the when I was up in Vermont for the second half of July and loved them – should have a review up soon. I was excited to see Sam post about a new Salomon shoe called the S-Lab X-Series. Looks like this is kind of a road-trail version of the Sense with a bit softer heel cushion and a more road-worthy outsole.

Salomon S-Lab X-Series – photo via Sam Winebaum

Sam also provides some photos of the Sense 4 Ultra and Sense 4 Soft-Ground.

That’s it for now, if I find any more info on new shoes introduced at OR I’ll be sure to share!

I’m going to break this up into two posts, each featuring new shoes from several brands. I’m going to keep my commentary brief because I have not seen many of these shoes in person (though I have been hearing hushed whispers about many of them), and I’ll refer you to Sam’s blog for more detail where appropriate.

Brooks Launch 2

First up, Brooks will be releasing the much anticipated Brooks Launch 2 early next year. I reviewed the original Launch way back in 2009, and it has remained unchanged (aside from color updates) since then. The Launch was a personal favorite at the time I reviewed it, and it’s a simple, affordable shoe that just works well. Sam reports that the Launch will feature a new BioMogo DNA midsole, will weigh in at just under 10oz, and MSRP will be $100 (love the colorway in the photo below!).

Brooks Launch 2 – Photo via Sam Winebaum

Saucony Zealot

I’ve heard that the Saucony Cortana will be discontinued (the Virrata as well I think), and it will be replaced by a new shoe called the Zealot. The Cortana may have been a victim of being overpriced for the type of shoe it was considered to be (a well-cushioned “natural running” shoe). The Zealot fills a similar niche – it’s 8.3oz and 4mm drop (25mm heel, 21mm forefoot) with a bit more cushion than the Kinvara. The Zealot also features a new upper design called Isofit (which will also be featured on the new Triumph and Hurricane) – for more details on this check out Sam’s post or this post on the Running Warehouse blog.

Saucony Zealot – Photo via Sam Winebaum

Skechers GoMeb Speed 3

The Skechers GoMeb Speed 3 is a shoe that I have a fair amount of experience with as a wear tester (it’s the shoe Meb wore when he won Boston this year). The GoMeb Speed 1 and 2 were not a great match for me – I found the soles to be a bit too firm for the amount of stack they had (18mm heel, 14mm forefoot), and the forefoot was a tad narrow for me. I’ve run a fair bit in version 3 and have loved them –  a bit more roomy up front and slightly more give to the sole. Skechers has some great stuff coming, and you can expect a full review once I’m given the go ahead to share more detail – for now, check out what Sam has to say about the shoe.

Here’s a photo of the GoMeb Speed 3 via Sam Windebaum featuring the hands of shoe geek Seth Hasty (yes, that is a Brannock device tattoo!):

That’s it for this post, tomorrow I’ll share some new offerings from New Balance, Altra, and Salomon.