Review; Saucony Triumph ISO 2

With everything being about the bike there has been a little time for running. That said I have been able to accumulate a few miles. I was incentivized by the lure of fresh smelling shoes thanks to the good folks at Saucony. They sent me the latest iteration of their Triumph ISO 2 shoe. I reviewed the original shoe just under a year ago and you can read that review here.

The big update on this shoe versus the original version is the inclusion on their proprietary technology Everun. Rather than let me try to explain it here is a little video from Saucony.

  In addition to Everrun the new features include:

• IBR+ (Injection Blown Rubber) this is lighter and more environmentally friendly than previous versions.
• IsoFit; Internally the shoe retains the IsoFit inner sleeve that encases your foot, the lace cage has been redesigned and is much improved over the prior version.
• Tri-Flex provides better ground contact and push off which adds to efficiency and effectiveness of your ground contact.
• There is an 8mm heel drop so this is not a minimal drop shoe.

Saucony describe this shoe and Plush cushioning Neutral Shoe designed for neutral pronation.

So how does all this technology feel?

Well it’s like running on firm marshmallows. Actually that is probably the best description I can give you. Structurally the shoe is very supportive, the neutral design does not force your foot in any direction.

Weight wise they 10.2oz so they are 3oz heavier than my usual Kinvara’s but it’s not really noticeable. The Everun cushioning is very effective and providing positive rebound and is not spongy it adds a bit of a pop to your run.

Along with the above changes the heel cup has been redesiged to to provide a more skelatal structure rather than simply plastering the shoe in plastic support, this also reduces weight. Overall the weight has increased just over an ounce vs the prior version.

The Everun technology is also designed to add life to the shoe, my original Triumphs died with around 270 miles on them so I am hoping that these will exceed 300 miles in long run.

Overall the fit is similar to the original Triumph ISO shoe, the only main difference is that they are coming up a little smaller than before. This smallness is noticable in the length. I usually size up half a size but I should have gone a full size this time. I would imagine that this will become more noticeable over time as your feet heat and expand. For me as running is a cross training activity it’s not a major issue however for someone marathon training this could become a problematic.

The shoe has been acknowledged Runner’s World Editor’s Choice for the Triumph ISO 2, this continues this award as it won it last year too!

Overall this is a well-constructed solid running shoe. The new technology provides for a comfortable ride and as long as you take into account the sizing issue you should be good to go. With the added durability this could very easily become the go to shoe for most runners

Available in three different colors for mens and womens and also in wide versions too. You can find these shoes in reputable Running Stores and direct from Saucony online for $150 where uyou can also read a growing list of user reviews.

These shoes were provided free of charge by the good folks at Saucony. See previous gear reviews in the sidebar on the right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Review; Saucony Triumph ISO

Hot on the heels (no, these didn’t give me blisters on my heels) of the Peregrine 5 review is the new Saucony Triumph ISO. I have put nearly 50 miles on these shoes, not that these have been ignored it’s just that a lot of my time recently has been on the trails. Runs have varied from 5 to 11 miles on both the road and the treadmill. They have included both recovery runs and tempo runs.  

Just some backstory; I have been running on the roads in the Kinvara 5 since they came to market last April, I am now on my fourth pair, the new 6s should be out soon! Before that I ran through three pairs of the Kinvara 4 since June of 2013, typically they last 240-250 miles a pair. 

With all that said I was interested to try to the Triumphs. They share some of the characteristics of the Kinvara, they are a neutral shoe and are engineered for neutral pronators and they have both been Runner’s World Editor’s choice shoes. The most significant differences are the volume of cushioning and the increase in drop. The Triumphs have an 8mm drop (vs the 4mm or the Kinvara or the 0mm of the Virrata). Specifically the Heel Stack Height is 29mm and the Forefoot Stack Height: 21mm.

I was particularly interested to try these the day after a long trail when my feet and legs feel pretty beaten up. Saucony describe the ride as plush, in fact it’s the “most cushioned running experience that they have every created”. To create this plushness they have used three main technologies;

• iBR+ Injection blow rubber; a proprietary compound that is 33% lighter than standard blown rubber.
• ISOFIT; an ultrasoft inners sleeve constructed of stretchable air mesh fabric that cradles the foot.
• PWRGRID+; used for the midsole, it is 20% lighter than then other mid soles and allows for a fluid movement during your footstrike.

Out of the box he shoes looked big, but big does not always mean heavy and these shoes are not heavy, weighing 292 grams they are only 74 grams heavier than the Kinvaras. The additional weight is not noticeable. The first few runs were with the standard OEM laces. I had a problem with the eyelet on one shoe that was too high and was rubbing some on my foot, nothing major but just a niggle. The ISOFIT essentially separates the two layers of the shoes upper into to (1) a cocoon for your foot and (2) the overlay. The lace holes are constructed within the overlay and it’s where the collar of the shoe and this met that I was having the problem. It was easily resolved by unlacing by one eyelet in the short term and in the long term with the fitting of Yankz laces, this is something I do to all my road running shoes. Once fitted and adjusted you never have to touch them again! The snugness of the ISOFIT took a few runs to get used to as well as the overall increase in volume of the upper, again this is when compared to my Knivaras. The collar is well padded and despite my opening sentence no blisters or rubbing etc. was experienced.

What you can’t see from the photo is that the black overlay is essentially an exoskeleton for the shoe. It is single piece that wraps around your foot, including the lace eyelets and by default extends to the laces. It also includes the heel cup. At the heel there is supportive clear plastic which reduces the overall look of the shoe.

So as with most things the proof is in the pudding, which in this case is the running! I can say that they did get some getting used to. Both the cushioning and the increase in drop took some adjusting. Overall the shoe is flexible and as mentioned pretty light. You can pick up your pace without feeling like you have anvils at the end of your legs. The cushioning is really nice, when I say really nice I mean REALLY NICE! It is firm enough to be supportive but not in a structured shoe way. As I hoped these are great shoes for that Monday run after you have had a tough Sunday.

A video posted by Stuart (@quadrathon) on Feb 25, 2015 at 10:16pm PST

Available in 3 different colorways for men and women, these shoes are now one of the flagship shoe offerings from Saucony, with that in mind they have the associated price tag; $150.

In summary, these are a medium weight, highly cushioned (not soft or spongy) shoe. They have no corrective traits and allow your foot and gait to remain neutral. While I remain a big fan of my Kinvaras and I am not expecting to migrate to these shoes full time they are an excellent pair to have in your closet and in rotation.

These shoes were provided free of charge by the good folks at Saucony. See previous gear reviews in the sidebar on the right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Review; Saucony Peregrine 5

This weekend I passed the 100 mile mark on my new Peregrine 5 Trail shoes. With that in mind now seemed a like a good time to write up a review.

As mentioned earlier this month I am very fortunate to have a relationship with Saucony which allows me to run in and then review their shoes. I reviewed the first and fourth versions of the Peregrines here and here respectively. My 100 miles has been made up of a 50k race, multiple long runs on local trails in both the wet and the dry, a big training weekend in Santa Barbara and a few short sharp hill sessions…in short a bit of everything So without further ado here is the review.

The Peregrine is Saucony’s lightest trail shoe. It has a minimal drop of 4mm. Specifically the stack heights are Heel: 21.5mm and Forefoot Height: 17.5mm. The outsole remains unchanged when compared the the 4. There is still an effective rock plate to help you over that harder terrain. The sole also has drainage holes. This is something that I have not had to worry about in recent years however Southern California actually has had a winter and several long wet runs and a couple of river crossings have tested this feature. The drainage works well and allows the shoe to drain quickly and avoids that “squelchy” feeling when you’re running with a shoe full of water. The insole feels like it has undergone some improvements and is a much more cushioned ride when compared the Peregrine 4.

The upper retains the Flexfilm saddle overlays. These add the structure but allows for plenty of flexibility and breathability. Overall there is less Flexfilm than before and the 5s have some more solid overlays, noticeably the black/yellow “zig zag”. The heel counter is solid although the structuring has been reversed. This is not noticeable in any real way. The collar has more padding than the prior version, this created no hotspots. New this version is a heel loop. I don’t usually wear gaiters but this may cause some folks an issue. There is the usual gaiter loop at the end of the laces. The toecap has been improved and now features a heavy duty rubberized version. This is great as if, like me, you barely lift your feet and you’re sick of kicking rocks! The shoe lining is now fitted with Run-Dry, this is the new naming configuration that Saucony have adopted, the others being Run-Shield or in shoe parlance GTX (waterproof) and Run-Warm (insulated) the latter only applying to clothing.

One thing that is missing is the loop on the shoe tongue that your laces go through. It’s one of those innocuous things that you would never think about until you see it’s not there and as a result the tongue slips to one side. I had no problem with this but it’s worth pointing out.

The shoe weighs in 6 grams heavier than the prior version, 307g vs. 301g (size 11) although that can probably be written off to the amount of dust inside! Both of these are heavier the original Peregrines which were 255g.

In terms of colors there are available in an orange/yellow or black/gold colorway for men and purple/red or black/lime for women. They retail for $110 from Saucony and pretty much anywhere you can buy them. If that’s too steep consider the Peregrine 4s, you can read my review here and you’ll find them online for around $80 a pair.

Overall the biggest difference between there and the previous iteration is a much more cushioned ride. Not that the 4s are harsh or that the 5s are spongy but just that these feel easier on the feet. The trails I have been covering over the last few weekend have been rocky and hard with a fair amount of technical single track. I have not had any issues with grip or slipping and no problems with blisters and the like. As for having yucky black toenails…well that’s a side benefit of being a trail runner!

These shoes were provided free of charge by the good folks at Saucony. See previous gear reviews in the sidebar on the right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Review; Saucony Peregrine 4

So it seems somewhat fortuitous that my decision on my future race calendar more or less coincided with the good folks at Saucony sending me a pair of Peregrine 4s for review. I wrote a review on the original Peregrines back in April 2011 and I raved about the shoes then so I was keen to try out the newest iteration. Given that I am 3 versions behind it’s probably pointless in making comparisons so this review addresses the shoes from a standalone point of view.

I have worn these 3-4 times now the shortest run was only 4 miles and the longest 13 miles so these have somewhere around 30-35 miles on them in total.

The uppers are thin, thin but strong, this means that they breath very easily and I would imagine dry very quickly when wet, however Southern California is mid drought so I can’t vouch for that. Conversely the thinness means they let a lot of dust in, that’s nothing I am not used to but some folks may have an issue with that. The tongue is sewn in to maximize comfort and try and keep trail debris out. There is nice and solid toe bumper just in case you can’t get your foot high enough in time. The toe box is wide enough for me, by comparison I would say that this is more of a fit to the Virrata2 than the Kinvara4 The heel collar is nicely padded and I had no hotspots which can be an issue especially when dust gets added into the mix. The heel counter is pretty robust and kept my heel nice and snug. One nice feature is the D hook at the front which is for use with Gaiters. Saucony uses a Strobel Board (I thought this would be something that Austrian’s would display a cake on…it’s not!), it is a length of rubber piece inside the shoes that increases cushioning and “step-in comfort.

 

There is a 4mm heel/forefoot drop with 21mm at the heel and 17mm for the forefoot. I am very used to and happy with this level of minimalism as I run mostly in Kinvaras but newer trail runners of runners used to a more substantial drop may want to use some caution. As it is a neutral shoe so there are no medial post.

Underneath the sole pattern is pretty aggressive, there is a “cutaway” sole which exposes the weave of the nylon fiber rock protector and I am sure reduces the weight. Additionally Saucony has used ProGrid Lite for the sole rather than ProGrid which helps to the lightness of this shoe. The outsole itself is manufactured with XT-900 rubber which is 33 % lighter and has 3 times more absorption than standard blown rubber.

I like Saucony shoes, having migrated from what I consider to be heavy trails shoes (shoes like Salomon XT Wings etc) through to lighter and form improving Newton’s I find that Saucony’s provide the right weight to strength relationship, they fit out of the box, and their expected mileage is good and compared to a lot of trail shoes these represent good value for money on a miles per dollar basis

Overall I liked the lightness of this shoe, the out of the box comfort and fit and willingness to grip, All of these combined makes for a great all day kind of shoe.

Available in three color schemes for men; green, blue and red and three more for women; pink, teal and orange, they are competitively priced at $110 online and if you shop around you can find them a bit less.

If your looking for a ladies review check out Becca’s blog for a forthcoming review, she picked up a pair too!

These shoes were provided free of charge by the good folks at Saucony. See previous gear reviews in the sidebar on the right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Review; Saucony Kinvara 5

It seems somewhat inevitable and clichéd that following up from the Mirage IV (too hard) and my review of the Virrata 2 (too soft) that the Kinvara 5 was a’la the Three Bears…just right! Well they were so deal with it! With a quickly accumulated 50+ miles, the longest run of just over 10 miles, here are my thoughts.

The Look; I was sent a Black/Gray pair. My immediate thought was ugh, but they have grown on me and I brightened them up with some contrasting Yankz Laces. Having looked online these are definitely on the better end of the color spectrum IMHO for sure, see below for other options. I expect more colors to follow in the future, that’s what has happened in the past!

 

The Upper; Best described in a factious way as snug, roomy and light. There is enough support for your foot, they don’t slop about. The new Flexfilm is melded to the upper and contains your foot, but is not restrictive. There have been reports of the uppers tearing and I have had issues in both Kinvara 2s and 4s albeit on retired shoes that were being used for dog walking, once the start to go they just split! The Flexfilm is strong but light but flexible enough to give without letting your foot slip about. Additionally there is inner an sleeve which contains your foot and is included into the lacing pattern, this is the contrasting green section. Saucony call this ProLock, I can’t say I noticed if it creates the more snug fit that I think they are trying to achieve but it adds a nice splash of color! They are not seamless on the inside so triathletes may need socks which adds time to T2.

The Fit; For me they are perfect out of the box, I really don’t like laces having made the switch to Yankz several years ago and that’s all I had to do. Some people have had issues with the toe box in the version 4 of this shoe being narrower and report this is wider, personally I didn’t notice any real difference between the two versions. The tongue is slightly more padded as is the cuff…no problems from either of those changes.

The Sole; 12mm of sole with a 4mm of drop. Again no issues for me, the drop is enough to get you off of the flat foot feel you can have with zero drop shoes. They prompt me to run light and stay on my midfoot. They have added iBR+ rubber on the outsole to create a longer lasting sole. I estimate that these should last 200-250 miles.

The Ride; A very plush ride, enough to cushion you on the road without feeling like you’re on marshmallows! If anything a little softer than the version 4, but softer than the Mirage IVs and harder than the Virrata 2s Most of my running has been on the local roads and sidewalks with a smattering of treadmill miles for both speed work and steady Zone 2 runs but nothing longer than 10 miles.

Overall; The Kinvara remains my go to shoe, it’s light enough to keep you running fast and yet has enough comfort to avoid that feeling that you are running with boxes on your feet! These will be waiting for me at T2 at Vineman next month and will be my staple shoe through the rest of the year.

Available for men in Boston green/yellow, flouro green/black and white/blue as well the black/gray shown here. For the ladies in Boston green/yellow, pink/white. Yellow/white and turquoise/white, these retail for $100

These shoes were provided free of charge by the good folks at Saucony. See previous gear reviews in the menu above. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Review; Saucony Virrata 2

Following up from the Mirage IV review we now move to the other end of the Saucony’s minimal spectrum, the Virrata 2.

The Look; Well despite being a slave to Black/Red/White. I like the green version of these. They definitely asked to be looked but that’s so much better than white shoes with a splash of color that get dirty after one run.

The Upper; I had a pair of the original Virrata’s and just didn’t get on with them, the uppers were very sloppy and after a few runs I gave up using them, these are much improved and feel much more solid in their construction as a result they hold your foot better. I think this is a function of the material being more robust rather then there being more material. Like the Mirages’ these are not seam free on the inside. They are finished off with a nice toe bumper and heel counter but everything is kept to a minimum.

The Fit; Now with the improved upper the fit while running is better, the toe box is roomy enough and as usual for me I size up to a size US11/UK10/Euro45. I fitted Yankz quick lace which is just for preference and had no issues with them.

 

  

The Sole; 18mm of sole all around, these are a zero drop shoe. This does take some getting used even the 4mm drop of the Kinvara’s or Mirage’s is noticeable by comparison. I am not going to get into the mid-foot discussion but I would say that these, in my opinion are better suited to someone who is a lighter-on-their-feet runner. The soles are constructed from EVA+ with some rubber on the high wear areas; the heel, toes and strangely under the big toe, anyone who supinates is going to wear there out pretty quickly, given the lack of protection on the sole I estimate that these should last 200-250 miles.

The Ride; These are poles away from the Mirage’s the ride on these is a little soft, not feel the cracks in the pavement soft but these are very different by comparison. Most of my running has been on the local roads and sidewalks with a smattering of treadmill miles for both speed work and steady Zone 2 runs but nothing longer than 8 miles. On the treadmill which has a little flex to the deck there were awesome. Overall I had no issues but I wonder if they would start to have issues at the 10 miles to Half Marathon distance?

Overall; These are a big improvement over the original Virratas’. The improved upper structure makes this a very comfortable shoe to wear and run in, certainly at the shorter distances, only time for longer runs will tell as my mileage increases. As mentioned they are on the minimal side and so expect them to wear out on the sooner rather than later side. Of course, as they say; your mileage may vary!

Available for men in black/orange, flouro yellow/white and white/blue as well the green/red shown here. For the ladies in orange/green, black/pink, blue/white and white/aqua, these retail for $90 which is at the lower end of the today’s price range for shoes and goes someway to offsetting the expecting quicker wear…if you shop around you can find them for $80!

These shoes were provided free of charge by the good folks at Saucony. See previous gear reviews in the menu above. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Review; Saucony Mirage IV

So this Spring Saucony updated and released new versions of three popular shoes, the Mirage IV, Virrata 2 and Kinvara 5. I was lucky enough to be sent a pair of each and have put on enough miles on them that it’s time to put down some thoughts.

This is not a “vs” review as the shoes are aimed at three different markets/types of runners but some comparison is inevitable, if you have been running for a while you should have a pretty good understanding of what shoe works best for you and if you are new to running my advice is to go to running specialty store (not Big5, Sports Authority etc) and have someone look at your gait, try a few shoes and go from there. This is also not a heel striker, mid-foot discussion piece. For the record I try to be as efficient a mid-foot striker as I can and revert back to a bit of a heel striker when I get tired. I have progressed over the years from the Asics 19/20XX series through Brooks to Newtons to Saucony and for the last few years have predominantly been wearing Kinvaras with a smattering of Newtons. So with all that said on with the show. First up is the Mirage IV.

The Look; I love the look of this shoe. I seemed to have evolved into a runner whose wardrobe is filled with red/black and white and these fit right in, they are red, very red they make it look your feet are on fire! This I like!

  

The Upper; Saucony redesigned the uppers to include FlexFilm to reinforce them, this is overlaid onto the mesh so it’s seamless. The shoes bend nicely when you run, there are no folds in uncomfortable places. The heel counter extends round to the upper laces, it’s supportive but a little unusual in the extent of how much it encroached into the uppers. The inside is not seamless so these may not appeal to triathletes and there are seams where the tongue and heel uppers join.

The Fit; I always size up half a size from regular shoes and I received these in a size US11/UK10/Euro45 and had no problems with the fit The toe box is plenty room enough and caters to my Morton’s toes without issue! Nicely padded and soft heel lining in contrasting colors finishes them off.

The Sole; First the numbers, 24mm heel and 20mm sole gives you a 4mm drop. Not overly thick, but by no means a racing flat. The sole is stiff and firm. It’s a pretty harsh ride and my preference is for something that is a bit softer. The is a plastic medial post, I didn’t feel it (or not feel it) so for me it’s just there. Saucony replaced the ProGrid with PowerGrid in the midsole, which according to the website offers 15% less weight & 30% more durable cushioning than standard EVA.

The Ride; As mentioned I found the ride a bit harsh. This shoe is positioned as a lightweight stability shoe and having run in Neutral shoes for so long I was struggling with the fact that they wanted to put my feet where they wanted to put them rather than letting me work that out. Combined with the stiffness of the sole it just didn’t make for the best of experiences for me.

Overall; I really wanted to like this shoe…if nothing else for the color and styling alone but the bottom line is that they need to work when you are running in them and not just have them looking awesome in the bottom of your closet! Like I said my advice is try them…they may just work for you.

Available online and through your local running store these come in the red shown here, black/lime and as well blue/white for men, for the ladies there are black/pink, purple/white and gray/lime, priced at $110 if you hunt around you’ll probably find them priced closer to the $100 mark.

These shoes were provided free of charge by the good folks at Saucony. See previous gear reviews in the menu above. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Screwed blue!

It’s taken me a long time to finally find a pair cycling shoes that fit, to be honest it’s taken a really long time! The problem is that wearing them in the bedroom and walking around for a minute of two is very different to wearing them on the bike. It’s then that you discover that they pinch, pull or whatever it is that they do to not make them fit. For the record I have tried; Sidi, Shimano, Spuik, Northwave, Giro and probably a few more that escape me.

Last month I picked up a pair of 2013 Bonratger RXLs, they fitted really nicely. The problem was the ratcheting mechanism on the inside of the shoe slipped which loosened the shoe, Bontrager offer a 30 day perfect fit policy, so I took them back to the LBS from where I got them and they gave me another pair no questions asked. They were surprised to hear my complaint and the owner wore the same shoe and had never had any problems so quite possibly it was a random pair. Anyway so far so good!

Now a by-product of trying all these shoes is that you have to switch your cleats…often. I run Speedplay pedals and they require a conversion plate that sits between the cleat mechanism and the shoe, converting the typical 3 hole sole to the 4 hole Speedplay mount. I am going to spare you all the blurb about the cleats as this post is about that tiny bit of blue that you can see at the end of the screws in the picture.

 

That blue is Loctite Blue (aka Loctite 242), do not be confused that it comes in a red bottle! There are three main features of 242;

• Protects threads; Prevents rusting of threads
• Medium strength; Can be removed with hand tools
• Locks threads; Prevents loosening of metal fasteners caused by vibrations

It’s the third one that comes in to play for me more than the others, specifically as a result of all the cleat changing I have worn off all the “blue” from the mounting screws and as a result my cleats tend to loosen sooner than they should. It’s inevitable that they will come loose eventually and of course the more you ride the sooner that will happen. The fix is to simply paint some more blue onto them. Well there is a bit more to it;

1. All the screws should be clean, I use a rag and some degreaser then wipe everything down with a dry clean rag
2. Apply the blue, gently squeeze the tube and apply several drops on the thread, see photo above
3. Wait 24 hours
4. Reassemble cleats

And voila, loose cleats no more! To be honest this can also be used on bottle cages to the same effect, essentially anywhere that might loosen due to vibration! When I travelled to Canada in 2012 I removed the handlebars from the stem to box the bike. I painted all the screws the same way before travelling so they were all good to go when I reassembled the cockpit

Available from any hardware store and even from Amazon it costs about $7.00 a tube which lasts a lifetime!

Review; Saucony Kinvara 4s

This review is a bit overdue but then my blogging this year is a bit hit an miss. Anyway on with the show.


So the good folks at Saucony sent me an early release pair of Kinvara 4s back in April, they went on general release in May and now I have about 100 miles on them so it seems like a good time to post my thoughts. I have run in Kinvara 1s and 2s so I had a fair idea what to expect and these shoes well and truly exceeded my expectations.

The big change is in the sole, runners who are familiar with the earlier versions will understand what I mean when I say that after a while they felt a bit flat, Saucony have addressed this by changing the heel compound from ProGrid to PowerGrid which is more resilient than the previous version, they have retained the consistent triangle sole grip pattern. Additional updates also include an improved upper with “FlexFilm”, carried over from the Kinvara 3s with a nice toe bumper, the FlexFilm is very light and breathable. In terms of fit, there is a roomy toe box and solid fit around the heel. Personally from my triathlon experience I switched out the laces and put in some Yankz, they are my go-tos now.

They ride is light (7.7 oz. / 218 gm (size 9)) and easy, they soak up the sidewalk without any issues, and for me the 4mm heel to toe drop (22mm heel and 18mm toe) allows me to maintain a comfortable midfoot strike. As mentioned they are well ventilated and there is no concerns about you overheating. I will be honest and say that I have not run any real distance in these due to my training, the longest run being only around 8 miles but these have plenty more miles in them and from experience I would see no problems up to a marathon.

So in summary another solid offer from Saucony which will keep the Kinvara die hards more than happy. Available in a multitude of colors in both men’s and women’s specific versions you can find these online for around $100

Kinvara 4 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

These shoes were provided free of charge by the good folks at Saucony. See previous gear reviews in the sidebar on the right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Friday’s photo…

Cinders…you shall go to the ball!

Four months in the finding and several, well more than several and not all Tri Shoes either, pairs tried and returned I have finally found a pair of Glass Slipper Tri shoes that fit; Time Ulteam Tri Carbon

Those that did not make the cut:

Bont; A Three, Sub 9 – both had heel slip and tight on toes
Louis Garneau; Tri Speed, HRS– heel slip on both
Sidi; T2 and T2.6 – tight toes
Shimano; T31 – too tight over foot, T600 too expensive
Giro; Trans, Apeckx – Trans was close but not right enough
Mavic, Huez, Pro, Galibier, Zxellium, Avenir – heel slip in all of them!
Lke CX311C – too narrow

Now I just need to perfect that flying transition to avoid scuffing all that lovely carbon fiber!

Review; Salomon XR Crossmax

I have run in Salomon shoes for over three years now, first the XT Wings, reviewed here, then the XT Wings 2 reviewed here so I was thrilled to be asked to review the newest kick on the block the XR Crossmax. Pitched by Salomon as the shoe that allows you to transition from road to trail and as a high mileage shoe I was keen to to get them dirty and so a hundred or so miles dusty, dirty, muddy miles later here’s my review.

About 120 miles worth of embedded grim, the clean uppers show the power of gaiters

But first some info from Salomon:

The Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral trail-running shoes provide an ideal platform for high-mileage runners looking for a single pair of shoes to take them from the street to the trail and back again.

• Nylon mesh uppers feature Sensifit synthetic leather overlays that wrap and secure insteps for a precise fit
• Quicklace lacing system takes just 1 pull for a perfect fit; lace pocket hides lacing away
• Protective toe and heel caps guard against bumps and abrasion
• Neutral last ensures the shoes work with the natural shape of men's feet, enhancing greater comfort and efficiency
• Advanced OS Tendon frames run along the soles of the shoes to facilitate better heel-to-toe transitions as you run
• Triple-density EVA midsoles isolate you from trail impacts, and thermoplastic urethane inserts provide a barrier against sharp rocks underfoot
• Contagrip LT® and Contragrip HA® combination outsoles provide solid traction and tenacious grip and conform to feet for improved lateral fit
• The Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral Trail-Running Shoes sport reflective detailing to increase your visibility in low light

And so on with the review from the ground up. The sole has a fairly shallow but effective tread pattern, it’s directional to help you when you are on your toes going up and need a little heel help when braking (although midfooters might not use these)! The heel section is made from High Abrasion material. The most noticeable thing is the “OS Tendon”, this is a strap that is inlaid into the sole and loops round the heel, this promotes some “snap” as your foot transitions from landing to toe off. I have to be honest and say that there was little or no real “snap”, this is in part I am sure to my transition to mid/forefoot running. The shoes are offered in a Neutral or Stability versions, I had the former, the latter have a dual density posting.

The OS Tendon is the green lines, it extends around the heel (Photo from REI.com)

Moving upward there is a toe cover for that inadvertent stubbing action that you can find on the trails, coming further back along the shoe is the Sensifit feature. Sensifit is a rubber cover that sits on top of the fabric and acts as, well I can only call it a corset, it wraps around your foot ensure that you do not slip around in the shoe, it takes a little getting used to but like most shoes once you have some miles on them they fit without issue.

SensiFit and Quicklace Systems

Salomon have stuck with their Quicklace system which is simple and effective, cinching you in nice and snugly, the excess lace is tucked away in a pocket on the top of the tongue. There is no asymmetrical lacing so wearing gaiters with them is easy. The tongue is partially sewn in  this ensures is does not slip off and is a pretty standard feature on trail shoes these days.

Inside Salomon provide their own Orthilite insole which is effective and comfortable, I have no issues with it and since transitioning to lighter forefoot shoes I have stopped wearing my custom orthotics, since October last year. There is a comfortable cushioned heel cup and that pretty much sums up the shoe.

As for the ride they are very comfortable, coming in at a slimmer 22.6 ounces 0.64kgs compared to their cousins the XT Wings 2; 26.8oz, 0.76kg, you can feel every ounce that has been shaved off. Mostly my trails hard pack or dust but I have made an effort to take them through their paces and these were the shoes I wore during my Boney Mountain adventure a few weeks ago. A couple of things to note: they do not keep the dust or water out so if you want to keep your feet clean and dry these may not be the shoes for you.

Overall Salomon have designed a comfortable and effective shoe. A little more weight loss would be nice but all in for anyone looking for a new trail shoe that they can put on and just go these could be the shoe for you.

Available is several colors and some nice female specific ones these shoes are now available through multiple retailer via clicks or bricks, a quick Google search turned them up at as low as $104, although $130 is the average. If you want another opinion check out this review from Rebecca.

There are a few more photos here:

Salomon XR Crossmax VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

This product was provided by Hillary at  Outside Media If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.