With barefoot running being the latest trend, many people have mixed feelings about the new running fad. Whether you love it, hate it, or just think it looks funny, barefoot running is here to stay. Merrell has been at the forefront of stepping up their game in the barefoot market. No weird 5 fingered looking [...]
Pearl Izumi has recently released updates to their Syncro Fuel trail and road running shoes. The Syncro Fuel trail and road models were a hit with our testers a couple seasons ago, and the updates were eagerly awaited at ActiveGearReview.com. This new iteration of the road model from Pearl includes a new “1:1″ seamless upper [...]
K-Swiss has deep roots in fashion athletic footwear and, in recent years, has been pushing to become a formidable player in true performance running footwear. With their ‘Tubes’ line of shoes, I think they’re attempting to bridge the gap. The new K-Swiss Microtubes 100 Fit running shoe is an outstanding value at MSRP $80, looks [...]
I was pretty excited to give Karhu a spin. Any brand that lays claim to such a runner as Paavo Nurmi is well worth checking out, at least in my book. And while I’ve no hope of ever running in Olympic competition, it’s fun to check out the roots of what launched your latest pair [...]
It is the sound and the look of my shoe hitting the pavement that makes me smile these days. When I run, I make it a point to enjoy every second of it because being a mother of two, every second counts! At first glance, the Saucony Pro Grid Mirage caught my attention. It is [...]
There is something special about trail running. For me, it is the thought of being able to make my own tracks, the feeling of freedom and letting each stride take me there. Robert Frost captured trail running best, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go [...]
In the 890, New Balance is following a growing trend in the running market. With the popularity of minimalist and barefoot running, they are seeking to stay competitive in the market today by stripping down shoes to the essentials without sacrificing quality. The movement has been termed “purposeful design” and they seem to have [...]
The Asics Gel Speedstar 5 is a prime example of a company listening to its’ customers and creating a shoe to match the growing trend of minimalist running. For those that are not quite ready to bare all of their 10 toes, the Asics Gel Speedstar 5 may be a good launching point for those [...]
We’ve come to expect a certain standard of excellence from Asics. As a pillar of the running community, Asics has led the industry in comfort, function, and durability. Admittedly, most of the attention goes to the higher end shoes – and we testers at AGR, being equal opportunity reviewers, wish to let some of the [...]
New Balance chose to update and improve the 758 neutral training shoe, which was a good move all around. While the 758 failed to inspire, the 759 definitely failed to disappoint. With the market for pronation control ever increasing, the neutral line up tends to be overlooked at times. New Balance corrected the problem with [...]
The Mizuno Wave Ascend held true to its claim to be built for the mild over-pronator who requires a combination of cushioning and stability. After 5 weeks of 3-4 times a week wear on a variety of terrain, the Mizuno Wave Ascend held up nicely with only slight wear. The AIRmesh uppers only adds to [...]
Probably best known for their cycling shoes and apparel, Pearl Izumi has been slowly becoming a popular choice for running shoes as well. With shoes like the Syncrofuel, it is no wonder more runners and triathletes are buying the shoes. On the road, crushed trail or even on the sandy beach, the Syncrofuel held up [...]
If you’re a runner, you’ve no doubt been hearing a lot lately about ‘Natural Running’ or Barefoot Running or Posture Running. It’s definitely the hot topic in running shoes now. The basic idea is that back when we were chasing down mastodons we ran with our bare feet and shoes have become so built up [...]
There has been a lot of talk about Nike’s recent launch of the Lunar series; we had the good fortune of testing out the Women’s LunarElite+. The LunarElite+, much like its’ other Lunar relatives, is an ultra-light weight training shoe that has managed to weigh in at an incredibly low 7.1 ounces. The midsole weighs [...]
A Shoe for All Runners? Nike has always been known for their Nike Air midsole technology. It’s been around for ages, and they’ve developed variations on the theme and worked hard perfecting the tech, but Nike cushioning has always meant AIR. Well, now there’s Lunar Foam, and Nike has been so pleased with this midsole [...]
The completely new Puma Complete Ventis is hitting the streets this spring 2010. This ultra-plush premium cushioning shoe is intended for netural runners looking for a luxurious ride for pounding out the miles. Puma utilizes several different midsole foams in concert with CELL material, an OrthoLite sockliner and an ArchTec bridge to create a super [...]
The Mizuno Wave Rider has long been a favorite of neutral runners looking for a forgiving, speedy shoe. The 13th iteration of this shoe is no exception. The Wave Rider 13 continues to have a superb fit with a cushy but not bulky midsole. Our testers were impressed at how cushioned this shoe felt while [...]
The 1100 series from Asics has always been a best buy for budget-minded runners. It is a moderate stability shoe that works for a wide variety of runners. Every update, it benefits from technology advances developed for its more pricey siblings. This model features a retooled upper with better materials and an updated look that [...]
Pearl Izumi has an exciting 2010 planned. This spring, they will release the new Fuel line which will feature a road-focused shoe and the syncroFuel XC shown here, which will be trail-specific. The Fuel line is Pearl Izumi’s entrant into the performance stability category. Think of it as their answer to this category’s Goliath, the [...]
The new Brooks Glycerin 8 Neutral training shoe will debut for Brooks in Spring 2010. According to our testers, put this one on your to-buy list for this training season! The Glycerin line is Brooks’ premium neutral cushioning shoe, and this model features their new DNA midsole material, which according to Brooks will adjust its [...]
The Women’s Mizuno Wave Precision 10 is the lightest Neutral shoe currently made by Mizuno. Weighing only 8.5 ounces and with a blown rubber forefoot outsole this shoe provides optimal flexibility, cushoining and responsiveness for the neutral runner. This shoe also was also created with Mizuno’s “wave” system which is designed to distribute weight and [...]
Although the New Balance 1063 did not win our editors choice, we found these shoes to have a great mix of comfort and support. We feel that New Balance has been spending more time in development and it is paying off. The design of the shoe is appealing for most audiences, while not compromising function. This [...]
