NB Zero Drop Minimus: Ain’t no barbeque shoe

by John Schrup

New Balance is proving, at least in running specialty, that it ain’t your uncle’s New Balance.  The makers the most popular non-running shoes in backyards and fraternity houses across the country, New Balance are known mostly for making monochromatic footwear in a multitude of widths for the pudgy guy flipping your burgers on the Fourth of July and the scrawny kid with the bowl cut and the genetically attached beer can.

In running specialty, New Balance had fallen so far as to barely register on the radar.  Oh sure, there were a few die-hards who remember the 320 from back in the day, but for the most part, NB had little or no credibility in running.  Someone saw the writing on the wall–more than half of their customers would be, um, no longer purchasing barbeque shoes in 10 years–and recognized the need for a huge market about-face.  So NB went out and hired the best marketers and designers from the other running shoe companies, and in very little time began to produce some of the best shoes on the wall.

Take, for example, the 1400.  Technically a race flat, is serves well as a daily trainer for most of the population.  It is simple, lightweight, unencumbered by bells and whistles.  It is almost exactly what a running shoe should be.  So is cousin 890, the trainer version of the 1400.  Their Minimus series–Trail and Road–are some of the best available in those categories, the Trail 110 being arguably the best.  NB are firing on all cylinders, they are en fuego, they are bomb.com.  And now with the Zero Drop Minimus on the wall, NB are again proving to be the real deal.  They are making some of the best feeling, best fitting, most functional shoes on the wall, period.

The Zero Drop Minimus is a true minimal running shoe.  You know how I dislike the word minimal when it comes to running shoes, but I’m far too lazy to come up with another, more appropriate word, and “biomechanically appropriate” is a hard sell.  But it is a true minimal shoe:  12mm forefoot and rearfoot, simple upper with overlays placed sparingly, light and flexible.  In an improvement over the original Minimus–which is thankfully still available–the fit is a little less roomy through the forefoot, while still allowing for plenty of toe splay.  Through the midfoot, the upper is just snug enough that you don’t need to really pull the strings tight.  When the shoe is laced to the foot it disappears, just as a good shoe should.

Underneath, the midsole foam is firm without being stiff.  The original Minimus was a bit too stiff for some, but here they’ve nailed both comfort and function.  There are a couple shoes in the minimal range–coughBrooksPureFlowcough–that are a wee bit too spongey-soft to really allow for a quick turnover.  All told, this is what a true minimal shoe should be.  And, for those of you who tuck your shirts in and match socks by color, the Zero Drop look cool too.

The Zero Drop will work well for those who are looking for a true minimalist shoe:  They’re going to run to feel the ground beneath them and enjoy the sensation of movement.  It will be a brilliant shoe for doing General Strength circuits.  It will function well as a daily shoe for kicking around the Central Market comparing olives and cheeses and shit, since the high flexibility and zero drop will strengthen the feet and lower leg while you shop.  I’m using it as a daily kick around shoe, though I don’t put in a lot of thought about olives and cheeses, and when I go over to the park to do strides or some GS stuff.  I’ve done three runs in them–35, 45 and 60 minutes–and each time I felt like I was barefoot while being very well protected against the rough and tumble bike lanes of Brentwood.  And the other day when I was in the Thunderbird on 2222, TWO people asked me what shoes I was wearing and where I got them.  Rogue, I said.  Rogue.

The best shoes on the wall.

by John Schrup

Often I am hesitant to use the word, “best” to describe something when comparing it to others, especially in a format such this.  There are too many variables to consider.  And we spend all our time—and your time–telling you, the customer, that we are looking for the best shoe for you.  What is best for you might not be the best for her, or for him.  To use similar adjectives would remove the personal attention, wouldn’t it?  Not at all.  If we set the parameters on which we are going to make this judgment (and if we cover our @$$es enough) we can actually use this space as a teaching mechanism.  We believe so strongly, so faithfully, in what we do that want to spread the running gospel, to proselytize, to engage in the Platonic running discussion so that we all are faster, more injury free, more nimble, healthier, happier.  And I can promise you that this is not about selling products.  If it were, then our list would include nothing but the most expensive shoes in the running specialty market.

So here we are going to use the word as only a Rogue would—to stir the pot a bit, to provoke, to create discussion.  As the sun rises in the east, this is word.

What makes a good running shoe?  A really good running shoe?  A little deeper now, what is the purpose of a running shoe?  First, a running shoe has to protect you from the surfaces on which you are doing your thing.  Asphalt, rock, crushed granite trails, grass, whatever.  Second, your running shoe has to allow you to run as naturally as possible—the way your body is designed to run—AND protect you from the surface on which you are doing your thing. Wait.  Schrup, you already said that. Repetitive, superfluous.  Yes, yes I did, but I would like to clarify so that you don’t forget that natural running does not always equate to barefoot running.  It is more about body awareness, functional strength and agility than an unshod jaunt through your leafy neighborhood streets.

But, but, what if I overpronate?  What if my feet are a 2E?  What if, what if, what if?  The answers to both those questions is that you are in the minority and we are speaking generally here.  We are addressing the vast majority of the running population.  (The answer to the first question is really, “Well, do some foot drills and general strength exercises every day, maybe pay attention to your form a little more to make sure that the overpronation that your podiatrist diagnosed no longer is of concern.  Make it a non-issue.”)

Is  each of the shoes we’ll list here perfect.  No.  Is each of these shoes we’ll list here the only shoes you should ever consider?  Nope.  Is each of these here shoes we’ll list the best shoes ever made and nothing else will ever compare so why even try?  Nopers.  Simply, these are the best shoes available in running specialty at this moment because they protect your foot from the surfaces you run on and allow you to run as naturally as possible.

So for the next few weeks, let’s discuss.

BROOKS LAUNCH

You knew this was coming.  If you’ve been around Rogue for the past couple of years, you knew this would be on here, dintcha?  Brooks steps back from its insistence on giving you “technology” to create an old school shoe that really should be the focal point of their entire line.  This shoe is so good that it is in the third color incarnation now, otherwise completely unchanged, and will remain otherwise completely unchanged through 2013.  They could offer more colorways, but that would be tacit admission that a basic $90 shoe is better than everything else they make.  The Brooks Launch is so smooth and functional that it makes the Adrenaline feel like the Beast, and the Beast feel like a German Panzer.

There are no “technologies” in the Launch.  No midfoot trusses, no proprietary cushioning systems or drop-ins.  No bells, no whistles, no bling—it is an EVA midsole shoe that is arguably the smoothest on the market.  Like butter.  It is a bit soft for my tastes, but you can’t have everything.  The heel isn’t particularly low, but the complete ground contact outsole, fat blown rubber forefoot (mmmmm, blown rubber) and absence of midfoot stablility features and cushioning devices makes you think it is lower than it actually is.  Super duper smooth.  It fits well; it is moderately durable; it is relatively light.  For a time around Rogue, we joked about opening a store that just sold the Launch.  For real.

 

NEW BALANCE 1400

Beg pardon?

Yep.  New Balance.  Whoda thought that your uncle’s go-to barbeque shoe also made legit running shoes.  Well, for years they have, though always just under the radar as notable; and their marketing was for the most part non-existent, so you likely saw them only at the backyard barbeque or at a fraternity party, where the national shoe of Greek life is the 990 series, the ubiquitous grey leather clunker.

Anyway, the 1400 is technically a racing flat.  A marathon racer.  It is as simple and functional as a running shoe should be and nothing more.  Except it the fit is aaaalllmost perfect and it looks really cool, is super light and the perfect blend of the soft cushioning and firm responsiveness that you need in a running shoe.  Well fitting, lightweight upper that hugs the foot; a complete ground contact midsole with no drop-in cushioning pieces, and a cushioned but responsively smooth midsole.  We put the 1400 on people and the almost universal response is that they can’t believe how good it feels—for a New Balance!  The next almost universal response is that they buy it.  New Balance has recently refocused their design efforts (Trail Minimus, anyone?) and marketing efforts, and the resulting products are as good as they get.  I’d almost have to add parenthetically the updated 890 V2 here, but the overly padded heel collar is counter what they ought to have done with that—great shoe nonetheless.  The 1400 reminds me of some of my favorite shoes from the mid 80’s, well before running shoes became victims of the fashion market.  This shoe (and the big brother 890) is one of the best shoes on the wall.  Period.

ADIDAS ADIOS 2

I would tongue kiss this shoe if it weren’t socially unacceptable.

Before I get started, I’d like to begin by noting that I still think the previous version might be a nicer shoe—a hair lighter, a wee bit more flexible.  But when these bad girls are on, I’m pretty sure you’re going to want to time this.

The Adios 2 is a marathon racer, originally designed for the Emperor himself, Haile Gebrselassie.  But don’t be fooled, you don’t need to be a 119 lb. Ethiopian giant to wear these.  The last three men’s marathon world bests have been run wearing this shoe, the last of which by a Kenyan who isn’t even an Ethiopian. The Adios 2 is bomb proof and can take whatever you dish out.  It is, essentially a racer-weight trainer, in our opinion.  The midsole offset is almost standard—11mm from heel to forefoot—but the lightweight and uber-responsive ride allows forgiveness of that extravagance.  The midfoot Torsion piece is superfluous, and will likely soon be surgically removed when I get a spare 15 minutes and a Bennu quad Americano.  But that too is forgivable because the Adios 2 has Porschesque responsiveness and a shocking color palette that makes you think you are Michael Schumacher when you strap into your Yaris.  Formula I.  Marathon.  Same difference.  And praise be that adidas didn’t use that Formotion heel piece on the Adios 2, as it does on many of their trainers.  That thing is Prophecyesque.  Here nor there, the Adios 2 is one of the best shoes on the wall.  End of story.

Gifts, guided.

by John Schrup 

I’ve never really been a shopper.  Oh sure, back in high school or college, if someone I was interested in at the time said, “Hey, I want to go to such-and-such to get a little black dress or some Gloria Vanderbilts, and maybe do some other shopping, want to go?”  I’d say, of course, “Hell yes.”  My thinking was that if I could endure this, “shopping,” that she was so interested in, then maybe it would get me a bit closer to a little somethingsomething that I was interested in.  Wait.  Am I allowed to talk about this in a family setting?  Ask editors.

So I’ve never really liked shopping.  But, I’m not really into “things.”  If there is something I really want, and pretty much know that I’ll die a horrible, tragic death if I don’t get it, like, I don’t know, some Japan-only issue racing flats or something, I’ll go get them.  (Still don’t have them, because for me to buy those would be financially foolish, and the word is that they aren’t even made for US size 12.)  For the record, several of the shirts I own and wear regularly were purchased when I was in high school or college, which tells you how much I like to shop.  I’m not going to tell you how long ago that was so don’t even ask.  Duran Duran was big.

I do, however, like to shop for others.  One of the greatest pleasures is seeing people smile when they receive a gift.  I enjoy other people’s birthdays, loathe my own.  And so when it is time to buy things for others, I have no problem strolling around here and there looking for just that perfect thing, whatever it may be.

And I still don’t know nothing about no little black dresses, but I do know about running footwear, apparel and accessories, so let me be of some help to you with some things that I would buy for others, and that you might want to buy for your favorite people.  Who knows, there might be a little somethingsomething in it for you if you do.  Note:  Have to ask editors if this is ok to include before publishing.

Soleus GPS 1.0  $100  Several years ago I had a Garmin, one of the first incarnations of the runner-friendly GPS thingys.  Yeah, I liked it.  Yeah, it was techy, but it weighed almost 9 lbs and it felt like I was wearing a deck of cards on my wrist.  But I’m also a cheap sumbitch, and when the Garmin went dodo, I wasn’t about to shell out money for something like that again.  Mostly, however, I’m a believer that too many people rely too heavily on their GPS devices to tell them how to run.  And so when Soleus introduced the 1.0 a few months back, at only $100, I thought, “Hell yes GPS!”  It is as simple and as functional as I want.  Real time pace function is accurate enough to reinforce what I already know; distance is spot on.  I can set the unit function for Km splits, since I have to do less math that way (metric FTW!) and makes me feel so Euro.  You can’t upload the data to the computer, which sucks if you’re into that kinda thing, but all I want is simple reinforcement of the effort anyway.  And I like Soleus because they are local (local FTW!) and if anything were to go wrong with it, it is much easier to get it replaced.  (We’ve had people from Soleus hand deliver our orders for us!)  GPS for Luddites, or something.

Saucony Women’s Strataflex Full Zip Hoody  $75  Saucony’s apparel is really coming around, and like their shoes, they are quietly making some of the most functional, most fashionable stuff around.  They make some men’s and women’s shorts that I would say are among the best, period.  This hoody has some horizontal texture to add a level to the hipness factor, and the cut of is snug and slimming.  It could be worn either as a completely functional yet hip running jacket, or as a simply hip zip up hoody when you want the fine folks at Whole Foods to know that your workout gear does probably not include jorts.

Brooks Men’s Essential Run Vest $55  Simple, functional.  In Austin, because of the humidity and wide-ranging temps, it is possible to begin the run at 35 degrees and finish it at almost 60.  I know.  So when you start, the air is biting and the lungs burn; as you finish, you are a sweaty, steamy dynamic furnace.  This is exactly why I go for a vest on most mornings when the temperature requires layers.  On really, really cold mornings, if I’m going a bit longer, I’ll do a short sleeve with arm warmers under a long sleeve, under the vest.  When it warms up to just really cold, the arm warmers come off for the last hour and I don’t feel like I’m going to spontaneously combust whilst on the corner waiting for the light.  360 degree reflectivity assures me that when I get hit by the car in the dark, the driver will know that I had on a really cool, functional vest from Brooks.

Manzella Hatchback Glove $30  For a while, I lived at altitude, where in winter the mornings could be the kind of cold that shatters yourself worth as a runner and makes you believe, if even for a moment, that treadmills are not such a bad thing.  But because it was a dry cold, as soon as the sun rose over the mountain, it got a might warm to be all bundled up.  About that time I got some of these here convertible running gloves.  Brilliant.  When you walk out the door, the windproof shell pulls over the fingers , keeping your ego intact and frostbite at bay.   And as soon as it warms up, you stuff the retractable shell in the pocket on the back of the glove, and your are still as warm as you need to be without your hands swimming in sweat.  I was afraid that when I moved here, I would no longer be able to sport these bad girls, but our varied temperatures and humidity-heavy cold makes them perfect for here too.  Start warm, finish comfortable.

Nike Women’s Therma Fit Mid Layer Jacket $65  Yeah, so this isn’t really a running jacket, but it is exactly what you need for post-run, while waiting for your double dirty chai or comparing splits from the progression run on your Soleus GPS 1.0.  It’s a light fleece zip with a hip faux down collar, to keep the neckal region cozy and warm.  It is at once really dépêche mode and entirely functional, which is always a plus if you’re going straight from a workout to the Symphony Ball, or whatever it is you hoity toity people do.  Nike apparel is arguably the best when it comes to that combination of things, so you really can’t go wrong with it.   Well, if you went pantsless, that would be wrong.

Nike Women’s Thermal Full Zip Jacket $85  If I were a woman, I would wear this jacket, like, forever.  Seriously, it is like a comfortably worn denim jacket or familiarly broken-in boots, maybe that perfectly soft t-shirt that you’ve had for 5 years.  It is one of those pieces that you could wear every day if you didn’t have friends who would acknowledge it publicly.  You can run in it.  You can hang out in it.  You could talk to that guy you see at Book People always reading the Paleo diet books in it.  You could pick up your kids in it.  You could do interpretive dance in it.  You could get arrested in it.  So what I’m saying is that the versatility is really high with this one.   I’m not a woman, but I’m going to buy one, because I’m ok with that.  And it’s Austin, so no one will notice.

VESPA   $6.75   Those of you who are around Rogue for any continuous length of time know how I feel about carbohydrate intake.  I’m not going to go into that here, but suffice it to say that I switched to VESPA a few years back and the only gels I’ve eaten since were as taste tests only so I can make flavor recommendations to customers.  VESPA is an all-natural amino acid complex that enhances fat metabolism.  English, per favore! you say.  Well, you’ve got enough fat stores in your body to last you well beyond what it will take you to run a marathon, Rogue trained and with appropriate CHO supplementation.  But if you’re doing anything two hours or less, I don’t wanna see a gel anywhere.  If you eat the typical, carb-heavy American diet, VESPA won’t work as well, since your bloodstream is already overflowing with sugars and insulin, but if you eat a reasonable, food-based diet (rather than food products), VESPA is the shizz.

Brooks Pure Flow $90  This is the go-to from the new Brooks line of biomechanically appropriate footwear.  If you wanted to, you could say it is the Brooks version of the Saucony Kinvara, both with 4mm differentials.  But whereas I think the Kinvara is closer to a really well cushioned racer, the Flow is definitely a trainer.  Sure, it’s lighter than most trainers so some will look at it as race worthy, but the Flow is a much more solid, durable, protective shoe, and one could expect many, many more miles out of it than the Kinvara.  Plus, when jogging in the Kinvara, it feels much more cumbersome than the weight would suggest.  Not until I really get rolling does it disappear on the foot.  No matter the pace, the Flow feels clean on the foot, though I really think that they could do a bit better in making the shoe a bit smoother.  A little more ground contact on the outsole, perhaps.  This shoe should really become the go-to from Brooks.  Ghost?  Pffft!  A little tweaking, and they could build a whole line around it.  It’s that good.

The hype vs the shoe: part II

A Brooks Pure Flow review by John Schrup

Last week, or at some time in recent history, I wrote about the new Brooks Pure Connect, the lightweight, go-fast shoe from the Pure Project line.  In essence, it is a really nice shoe, let’s say with great potential and surrounded by a silly marketing presentation.  Now that I’ve been running in the shoe for more than a month, my feeling is that it is a nice shoe, but that they are placing focus on the wrong shoe.  The Connect is the shoe you see in all the ads, yet it will work for the smallest range of people along the footwear spectrum.  For one, it is far too narrow for the average foot (though it fits me just fine) and it because the platform is so narrow that there is an inherent instability that many will find a little unnerving.

The shoe that Brooks ought to highlight is the Pure Flow.  It is the everyday, neutral model in the Pure Project line.  And, in my opinion, it is the one that most people could wear.  Brooks would be wise to take note from the Mizuno texts when they introduced the Wave Rider back in the late 90′s.  Mizuno identified the Wave Rider as the cornerstone of the line, and built other models around it.  In the Pure Project line, the Flow is that shoe.

The Pure Flow is “minimal” in the same way that the Saucony Kinvara is “minimal.”  Each has a differential of 4mm; 18mm in the heel, 14mm in the forefoot, and is at once cushioned like a trainer and as light as a racer.  This is the new breed of shoe, and it was a long time coming.  They feel unlike anything you’ve worn, yet are as familiar as your favorite trainer.  Brooks has created a shoe that is biomechanically appropriate for almost the entire spectrum of runners, and it is on this shoe that they should put their money.

The fit is noticeably higher volume than the Connect.  Thankfully.  On my foot is is aaaalmost a bit too roomy, but for most of you, the fit will be right on.  There was a visible buckle in the excess fabric on the top of my foot, but after running in it I can say that it caused no worries.  The materials are soft enough that there was no blistering or irritation whatsoever.  And I was surprised that the roomier fit did not detract from the overall feel of the shoe.  Often, if the shoe tends to be higher volume, we of the narrower feet will have the sense that the shoe feels bulkier and less connected to the foot.  Not so here, thankfully.  The Nav Band, that silly little elastic strap designed to help hold the foot in the shoe, would flop around unnecessarily if it weren’t anchored down by the laces–it is entirely negligible as a component of the shoe.  But when laced it feels to me like it not-quite disappears on the foot, which is what you’re looking for in the fit and feel in any running shoe.

The feel is similar to the Connect’s, only a big more sugary sweet and nearly as responsive.  A little more marshmallow, though it is still bouncier than most in recent memory.  Because of the lower offset, you’ll feel faster than you would in, say, the Ghost, but it retains that familiar padding that so many people are used to.  It is protective, moderately flexible and quick.  To be entirely honest, when first we received the Pure Project line, I felt like the hype let me down.  But as I spend more time in them, my thoughts congeal and I’m liking them more and more.

And now I’m going to get snarky up in here:  Brooks needs to pay more attention to design, to aesthetics.  Normally, I really could not care less about the look of the shoe, and often raise an eyebrow to those who do, but really, there is work to be done.  Running shoe design has gone largely unchanged for the last decade and a half or more.  There is an obvious shift in that, but creativity here is less of a concern to the shoe companies than “technologies”–the Nav Band, a technology?–which are little more than branded components.  Of the four in the Pure line, the Grit (for you trailheads) is the only one that really reflects a contemporary design aesthetic.  The Green Silence?  Good.  The Ghost?  Not good.  And the Pure Flow, a shoe that uses contemporary biomechanical ideals in the foundation, looks as if it was created in the late 1990′s or early 2000′s, save for the fashionably green paint scheme.  It’s like combining a Prius with a late 80′s Camry body.  Ok, disregard that.  Form follows function.  Which is exactly why I’m thankful for the Pure line, and others like it.

I’ve had only positive feedback with this shoe, save for our initial (and snarky) thoughts.  But our customers have been unanimously approving.  This morning I ran with my good friend Trey Bob.  He wore his Pure Flow for the first time as he, our fearless leader Jessica and I blasted through Hyde Park before sunrise, alternately jogging and trying to see who would throw up first.  Says Trey Bob:  “I like ‘em.”  Yep.

The hype vs the shoe: part I

by John Schrup

This is the first of a four part series that will cover the much anticipated release of the Brooks Pure Project line.  The first will cover the background of the Pure Project and we will wear test the Pure Connect.

The Hype:

Back in April, Ruth and I were invited to Brooks HQ to spend time with the Brooks family and to learn of the new line of footwear they would introduce in October.  There were all sorts of pomp and circumstance, cleverly masked as a sales symposium, designed to make us all drink the Brooks koolaid and get all kinds of excited for the Pure Project introduction.

And for many of us in attendance, it worked.  The Brooks marketing machine is quite adept, and while not on the scale of Nike, it is obviously doing something right.   Brooks is the number one brand in running specialty, and they didn’t get there on their product alone.  The product is just about as good as it gets, but without proper marketing, even the best product is overlooked.

I had been to similar presentations from other companies, and so took it all with a grain of salt, and tried as best I could to read between the lines, to see what it was they were really doing, rather than what they were telling us they were doing.

Without going into all the gory details, Brooks took a different path in the marketing of this new “minimalist” or “natural running” line.  Whereas Saucony and New Balance introduced their new lines of footwear as something more biomechanically sound or appropriate, the Pure Project marketing was focused on lifestyle choices.  Obviously, the differences in marketing strategies are rooted in the company outlook, market-wise.  Brooks is number one in the industry, and to suggest that a lower profile, lower offset shoe is biomechanically more appropriate for the human body than, say, the Adrenaline—the best selling shoe in the country–would be to shoot themselves in the foot.  They have to play it safe.  On the other side, Saucony and New Balance can afford to be more aggressive with their marketing, as they hold considerably smaller market shares and to take risks is much more attractive to them.

The Pure Project line is designed for those who would rather “feel” their runs than “float” through them.  Ok.  Whatever.  The idea being that on one particular day, you might want to float through your run, unconnected to the moment, lost in your i-Pod world and protected by your Adrenalines and Ghosts from all that is running.  On another day, you want to get down and dirty with your run, feel it, taste it, your Pure Connects helping you dive through corners and spring up hills, and to paraphrase one of the 20th century’s great philosophers, Ty Webb, “Be the run.”

Again, whatever.  The idea behind lowering the heel of a shoe relative to the forefoot is all about allowing the body to run in a more natural position, and not about warm, fuzzy, feel-good unicorns and rainbows running vs. sweat and spit, nimble, heart thumping, aerobic engine block running.  Just ain’t so.  But Brooks wants you to believe that so that you’ll buy both an Adrenaline and a Pure Cadence.

The Shoe (Pure Connect)

And so, on October 1, to much fanfare, the Pure Project line was introduced.  By most accounts, sales are going very well, and by our accounts, sales are going very, very well.  Personally, I was caught up in the hoopla, and so the fires of my expectations were doused when I was able to wear each of the four models.  I was seeded a pair of the Connect, the most “feel” of the line, the lowest profile, the lightest.  Even for the most “minimalist” of the line, you can’t feel a dang thing under your foot.  The cushioning is a wonderful combination of soft and responsive, and the feel is Super Ball bouncy, but there is no earthly feel.  There is definite “pop” off the ground, which I’ll happily take.  The bouncy feel does give me a very slight hint of instability, but nothing that is really all that bothersome.  The T7 has more road feel, if you’re interested.  They do feel fast, and there is no argument there.

Of the four—Connect, Pure, Cadence and Grit—the Connect is the fastest feeling.  An almost track spike-like fit, the upper wraps the foot very cleanly and there is almost no extra material to be found.  I’ve run in it about every other day since I first wore them three plus weeks ago, and the fit is the best part.  The Nav-Band, an elastic band that wraps the foot and is used in the design of each of the four models, is in these incarnations, entirely worthless.  The Nav-Band on the Connect is just snug enough to engage the foot, not so on the other three models, where it lies loose on the shoe and foot and is thus a waste of a perfectly good elastic strap.  The midfoot wrap of the Connect is quite snug, and for many will be a bit aggressive.  I really like the way it feels, because it leaves no room for separation between the foot and the shoe.

The forefoot of the upper in each of the Pure Project line is supposed to have a more anatomically correct, more natural fit, one that follows the contours of an actual foot and allows the metatarsals to splay.  I’ll give it to Brooks that there is a small difference in the shape of the toe area of the shoe, but certainly not nearly as visible as in, say, the Minimus Road from New Balance.

The midsole and outsole are low profile (14 heel/10 forefoot) and they are separated between the first and second to ensure proper toe off.  I can’t say that it will do that for everyone, but when I’m walking around, I can feel my foot drop medially over the big toe.  When I run, there is no such sensation.  At most, there might be the feel of a quicker roll off the toes, which is a good thing, but if that was the intended result, I can’t say.  I like the shoe and like the direction that Brooks is taking with design (the marketing is goofy, but again, whatever) and I expect that the next generations of the Pure Project line will be even nicer.  Brooks is really good at that.

In the next three weeks, I’ll wear test each of the other three Pure Project models.  But for now, I’ll leave you with a shoe that is arguably of a better design than any of the core Brooks models (yeah, I said it; because they’re actually designing something for the human body and not for some focus group) but not…quite…there…yet.  Would I buy a pair?  Absolutely!  Would I change things if I could?  Absolutely.

Meet INOV-8

by John Schrup

INOV-8 is not a company with which many people are familiar. Originally a trail running company from the UK, they have recently entered into the road market. The initial response is very, very positive.

My first pair of INOV-8 (you never forget your first, um, pair) was back in late ’03 or early ’04 (don’t remember exactly as I was touring with the Dead or something, and those years are a little, like, you know) I’d already had a sip of the minimalism Kool-aid in my road footwear, back when minimalism was generally referenced when talking about Donald Judd and not Anton Krupicka, I found them in an outdoor retailer in Taos (RIP, TMO), I was all over that like flies on rice. Wait. White on $#!t? I liked that they were low profile and fit like socks. And it helped that no one had heard of them, save for the real trail heads. They were, arguably, the first company to promote minimalism in running footwear.

My first run in them was on a cold, wet day, through the dog-and-rabbit trails on the mesa south of Taos. The snow melt had mixed with the dirt and formed this Vaseline-like glop that stuck to everything it touched and splattered. My INOV-8s were brilliant. I couldn’t fall down with them on. It was as if there had been no rain, no snow, no melt. What was supposed to have been a nice, leisurely hour long roll through the trails ended up being a quick, strong tempo over the roller coaster hills. No other shoe in my quiver at that time could have done that. They were brilliant! And they weren’t even designed for the wet. The out sole was INOV-8s out sole designed for hard pack. They were that good.

The out sole lugging will keep you upright in the nastiest of the nasty, and rolling comfortably over the hard Texas dirt and rock. The simple strapped upper holds onto the foot in any and every direction They still are that good. They were the Terroc 330. We have them now, here at Rogue. And for the women, the Terroc 308, equally as brilliant.

You might have seen the F-lite 230. Probably not so much on the Scenic Loop or on Lady Bird, but if you spend any amount of time around anyone in the Crossfit world, likely you’ve seen the electric blue or fire red low profile kicks on their feet. Maybe the hot pink, maybe the kelly green, I don’t know. The black. The 230 is the (official?) shoe of Crossfit. Seriously, they have an official shoe. I know. But they do know their footwear, because not only will the 230 make you crave lean meats and veggies only, it will carry you through some seriously fast and efficient runs.

A month or two ago, Lori, the hyperkinetic INOV-8 sales rep, sent me a pair to try, knowing that I like ‘em light and low. Daaaaaamn, that is a smooth shoe. With a lightly snug upper that is becoming very familiar across many brands, the 230 is a flat designed for road or trail, and begs you to run on either. The heel/toe differential is 3mm, according to the website, so the shoe feels fast before you get out the door. I’ve done tempo runs, fartlek on the trail and a two hour run on the roads in them, and noticed them only when I tried to take them off after the long run and was so tired and sweaty that I couldn’t unlace one shoe, having triple knotted the extra long laces, preventatively. They are protective when they need to be, and unrestrictive at all times. It is not a stretch to say that this shoe, or variations of it, is what a running shoe really should be.

INOV-8 was once a (small) player in the trail market and is now a (small) player in the road market. But they are worth a run or several, because they appear to be true to their roots and honest in their presentation and marketing, which is a lot more than I can say for some of the others. The 230, too, will bring together, at least in matching footwear, the often antithetical approaches of distance running and Crossfit.

New Asics: The Review

It’s been awhile, but Rogue Equipment manager and shoe guru John Schrup is back with his latest shoe reviews, this time focusing on a new batch of Asics. Read them, then come try a pair – or several – on for yourself!

Speedstar 5

You know what Erik would say about this shoe.  If you don’t, I’m not going to write it in this space because this is a family joint.  The Speedstar 5 is the best update everrrrrrr to this old school lightweight trainer.  The fundamentals—midsole and outsole—remain unchanged:  A firm, responsive ride that feels lower to the ground—ASICS standard 10mm offset– than it is, and after a few runs, softens and flexes as if it were made for your foot.  The new, updated upper is what will blow your mind.  A single piece, seamless upper completely encased by a very supportive, flexible TPU web makes this one of the snuggest, closest fitting, sock-like uppers you’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.  Obviously, probably not the best bet for Fred Flinstone, but just about the rest of the planet could fit into this shoe and feel like they were cheating on their current favorite shoe.

Noosa Tri 6

The Noosa Tri 6 is a triathon focused shoe that, upon further inspection, should look pretty familiar.  It is simply a DS Trainer 14 (2 models past) with acid-trip coloring, marketed to peacocks and triathletes, often indistinguishable from one another.  Having been sold like the proverbial hotcakes Down Under for 5 years now, the Noosa Tri was designed in part by Hunter S. Thompson on a bender.  Basically, a DS Trainer for triathletes.

2160

The update to a classic, virtually unchanged.  The addition of the Guidance Line in the outsole purports to offer a smoother ride.  Whatev.  Still a kick ass, go-to stability shoe.

Kayano 17

A bit lighter, a bit closer fit, otherwise unchanged.  Like crack for people who need…crack.  The single most sought after luxury stabilty shoe on the market.
Also, please note now that we have kids shoes in Brooks Ghost, ASICS Cumulus and Nike Pegasus. We will bring in a kids stablity shoe if demand is high enough, but since it does a disservice to kids to put them in a stability shoe, we’re going neutral up front.

Rogue in Competitor Magazine

Rogue Running is featured in the October 2010 issue of Competitor Magazine! Make sure to pick up a copy – a big “thank you” to our runners and coaches who gave their input for the article and congratulations to those who got published!

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Next Thursday is Super Thursday!

Rogue’s last Thursday happy hour always features free beer, but this month we have even more to offer!

April’s event will be hosted by the Super Sidekicks, in support of CASA of Travis County, the Superhero Foundation and the greater cause of child abuse awareness and prevention.

Not only can you learn more about why CASA is so important and how to get involved with the Super Sidekicks through your own running, but you will have a chance to support the organization simply by shopping: Rogue will donate 3% of all Thursday proceeds to CASA of Travis County!

We will have free beer, free food (compliments of Tasty Healthy Meals) and, most importantly, a contest! As the theme is Superheroes, we want to see some walk through the door. Don your best superhero costume (as always, open to interpretation) and the winner will receive a $35 gift card to Rogue Equipment.

Super Thursday
Rogue Equipment
500 San Marcos St.
Austin, Tx 78702
Thursday, April 29, 5-8pm

You can find out more about the Super Sidekicks and ways to be involved here, and can check out the CASA Superhero Run here.