Tis the season for wide temperature swings. Here in Western New York we have been enjoying a comparably warm and dry fall, which has extended our outdoor riding season. As with other areas in the country, it is increasingly common to have 20-30 degree temperature swings day to day or even during a ride. These temperature swings make selecting cycling kit tricky to find the balance between warmth and breathability. One way to simplify the decision making is to invest in cycling kit that accommodates wide temperature ranges. Below, I highlight some select offerings from Ornot, Shimano, and Velocio that I have found handy for a wide range of riding temperatures and conditions.

Ornot

Ornot is smaller clothing company based in San Francisco that offers clothing designed for the constantly changing temperatures in the Bay area. They know first hand what it is like to be caught out on a ride with the wrong cycling kit because the weather is sometimes impossible to predict. They design their clothing with the micro climates of San Francisco in mind, but the result is cycling kit that is useful in a wide range of riding conditions. Their focus may be on coastal “rain fog,” but the result is kit that holds up well in the “wintry mix” of the Great Lakes.

I am a huge fan of Ornot’s Cargo Bib Shorts, Decadent Winter Cap, and Merino Gloves. This time of year, I have those pieces on regular rotation. However, the standout of their clothing line is by far the Micro Climate Jacket. In 30+ years of riding bikes in inclement weather, I have not come across a jacket as versatile as this one. I have been packing it for almost every cycling trip this past year.

The Micro Climate Jacket is a lightweight shell, but unlike my other wind jackets it has far greater breathability. I have been wearing it in a range of conditions as the outer layer when temps dip down in the 20s or when you need some protection from the wind in the 50s and low 60s. Though I wouldn’t characterize it as a rain jacket, it does a descent job of keeping you dry when there is slight precipitation or spray from the road. I also appreciate the ample length in the sleeves with plenty of coverage over the cuffs of gloves. The two-way oversized zipper is also a great feature for modulating your body temperature.

In April, I was riding gravel roads with my masters team in Michigan the day after Barry Roubaix. The temperature was in the low 30s with some single-digit winds. The Micro Climate Jacket was perfect for all-day riding on top of a wool base layer and a long sleeve wool jersey.

Later that same month, I went on a ride down the Pacific Coast Highway south of Long Beach, California. The temperature was in the 60s with coastal winds in the double digits. I made an inland loop around the Newport Beach area. I was sweating quite a bit in the hills in a short sleeve jersey, but as I crested the last hill to dive back down to the coast I was met with those chilly coastal winds. I stopped and put on the Micro Climate Jacket and left it on the rest of the trip back up the windy coast. The jacket compresses down into its own rear pocket, easily fitting into a jersey pocket.

Ornot checks a lot of boxes. They are certified climate neutral. The clothes are made from recycled fibers, merino wool, and deadstock fabric. Many of the pieces are made in the USA. Lastly, their focus on microclimates means that you are getting kit that is adaptive for a range of conditions.

Shimano

There are two new pieces from Shimano that have become staples in my outdoor riding gear rotation this fall. The first is the Evolve Merino All-Season Jersey, and the second is the Evolve Prima Wind Vest. Together, they cover such a range of conditions that I can reach for them as almost a default before checking the weather for the day.

The Evolve Merino long sleeve jersey uses a lightweight synthetic material on the front facing panels to block the wind and merino wool panels in the back facing panels for breathability. The result is a jersey that offers wind chill protection but doesn’t overheat because it breathes and quickly dries through the wool panels. I wear the jersey with a wool base layer on days that are chilly, but not too windy.

For days where the winds are stronger and there is potential for more wind chill, I add the Evolve Prima Wind Vest. The vest features a fleece lining inside the front panels and over the shoulders. The back of the vest is thin breathable material that dries quickly. The collar is nice and high so that you do not have to always wear a neck gaiter on chilly days. The included double zipper is a must for vests to allow for temperature regulation throughout a ride. Despite the loft of the fleece, the vest does fold down into its own pocket for easy storage in a back pocket or bike bag.

Recently, I wore this combination on a gravel group ride. The morning ride started in the low 30s, and there was a lot of scrambling among the group to decide what to wear. We expected the temperature to rise throughout the day into the 40s, but most of the day was in the high 30s. A wool short sleeve base layer with the Shimano Evolve jersey and vest proved once again to be the best choice. The group was large and there was lots of stopping to regroup after climbs and to repair a few flat tires. Our moving time was 3:30 with an elapsed time of 4:26; that is almost an hour standing around. I find those kinds of rides hard to dress for because you are getting chilled standing around, especially if you overdressed and your clothes are wet from sweat. The breathability of the long sleeve jersey combined with using the double zipper on the vest to regular temps throughout the ride proved to be the best possible way to stay warm (but not too warm) on the bike while moving and standing around on the side of the road.

Velocio

The last piece I want to highlight is Velocio’s Alpha Long Sleeve. I layer in this jersey when the temps dip down into the 20s. I typically wear the Ornot Micro Climate Jacket over it or Velocio’s Signature Softshell Jacket if I am expecting “wintry mix.” The Alpha Long Sleeve features an insulating Polartec material on the front-facing panels and merino wool on the rear-facing panels. Same idea here as with the other pieces I’ve mentioned: warmth in the front, breathability in the back.

The Alpha Long Sleeve is a pull over with a quarter zip and a high collar. The pull over is a great idea for the middle layer between your base layer and outer shell because you don’t have overlapping zippers bunching up at the bottom. This long sleeve jersey also includes three rear pockets. The only time I ever use the pockets on a middle layer is for storing a water bottle that I am trying to keep from freezing. But, that is increasingly rare as I now spend more time riding indoors when the temps dip below freezing.

Velocio is another company that values sustainability. They use recycled and natural fibers to produce clothing that is designed for durability to counter the tendency in the clothing and cycling industries to produce disposable and single-use products.

Layering Tips

In summary, I have found the Ornot Micro Climate Jacket to be the most versatile piece of kit in this overview. It is my go to wind shell in temps in the low 30s, and I tuck it into my short sleeve jersey pocket when I’m expecting the temperature and/or wind chill effect to dip into the low 60s or even lower.

In the 50-60 degree temperature range, the Shimano Evolve Merino All-Season Jersey is perfect with a merino wool or Coolmax short sleeve base layer. If the temperature dips into the 40s, then adding the Shimano Evolve Prima Wind Vest is my go to. That combination will work down into the 30s.

If I am facing temps in the 20-30s, then that typically means three layers: wool base layer (typically no sleeves), middle layer like Velocio’s Alpha Long Sleeve, and an outer layer for wind like the Ornot Micro Climate Jacket or for precipitation like Velocio’s Signature Softshell Jacket.

Think Investment

None of these pieces are inexpensive. I am often in conversation with friends who want to extend their outdoor riding beyond warm summer temps. They have sticker shock when they first consider the amount of gear required to ride outside in the cold. My suggestion is always to start slow and pick up gear that extends their riding 10 degrees below what their current gear allows. I encourage them to think about these pieces as investments that they can use for years to come. Think about quality, think about durability, think about layerability, think about temperature range, and think about sustainability.

And if it’s truly cold weather, here’s more depth about winter riding in the 20s and below.

The post Invest in Cycling Kit with Range first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

I didn’t expect much when I agreed to give Canyon’s new cycling shoes a go. My everyday shoes for road riding are Shimano S Phyre and it’s hard to improve on those. But my new everyday road cycling shoes are Canyon Tempr CFR and I’ll tell you why they work so well for me, but let’s start with a paragraph about the development of this shoe.

Canyon looked to Eric Horton, former design chief at Giro (we talked to Eric when he was at Giro), and Carl Bird who ran equipment at Specialized for the last 10 of his 23 years at that company. These two joined forces during the pandemic and started a design firm called Form8ion, and it was here that the Canyon Tempr series took shape.

There isn’t a vertical lineup, as in, the cheap model has 2 velcro straps, the midrange 1 velcro and 1 BOA, and the top a pair of BOAs. There is just the top-level shoe. Just the double-BOA closure scheme and there’s both a road and an MTB version.

I guess I think Bont started something when it brought its more rigid inline skate boot style to cycling. The S Phyre borrows a bit from that motif. Some cycling shoes don’t open or close very much in my experience and my Shimano S Phyre road shoes are like that. The Tempr CFR does not share either of those design motifs. Its upper is softer and in that way is more like Shimano’s comfort-focused SH-RC702 (RC7 for short). The Tempr CFR is extremely forgiving, with a lot of range and what I mean by "range" is this shoe's ability to fit a wider and narrower foot, high and flat arch, with the same shoe model.

But it isn’t just the softer upper material. It’s the choice to join the left and the right sides of the upper with an elastic fabric and that’s missing in most cycling shoes. None of my road shoes have this design. They’ll have a tongue between the left and right sides of the upper, like what you’d see in a running shoe (the RC7 has this). Or, one side of the shoe simply overlaps the other. I believe some triathlon cycling shoes might’ve used an elastic piece like this, tho rooting around in my workshop has failed to produce an example. This elastic seems to me to make this more of a universal shoe, fitting a wider range of foot types.

My first ride in the Canyon shoe felt a little strange. The next day my feet hurt. I’m not the only person to whom I’ve spoken that had this experience. After my second ride my feet didn’t hurt and since then it’s been clear sailing. This has been my go-to road shoe since that second ride and I think that – while the shoe is forgiving – my feet have become less as I’ve “seasoned.” My feet are more easily insulted now by footwear. I have Joe Biden’s feet. This has narrowed my choice of available cycling shoes.

More on this: When you put this shoe on your foot has a lot of room. This shoe has very good volume, in height and in width, for reasons described above. As you tighten the BOA closures the designers of this shoe have done a nice job handling with the excess material. I think Canyon does this a little better than Shimano (though I’m still a fan of the RC7). When the closures are tight the shoe is snug but without any puckering or bunching of excess material.

These shoes are available in Euros sizes 39 to 48, half sizes from 40 thru 47. They fit true to size. Cleats are 3-hole native and as you see they accept an adapter for Speedplays.

Advertised are “Custom” Solestar® insoles but – in the spirit of “words mean things” – no, they are not custom, as they are not molded to my feet as are my Sidas or Footbalance (actual custom) footbeds. These are production. But they are good footbeds and I have not found the need to replace these with my customs. One last thing about these footbeds. They are structural. I think it's why my feet hurt after that first ride. (But only after the first ride, just as my feet are sore after my first run in a fresh orthotic.)

Advertised is a 260g weight to, for example, the S Phyre’s advertised weight of 225g. But in my (larger) size, with (identical Speedplay) cleats on, with the Tempr CFT road shoe I pay a fewer-than-10g penalty per shoe versus the S Phyre.

This shoe retails for $329.99 and that appears to be the price whether in the U.S., in US Dollars or whether it’s in Euros for those in Europe. What you see here is not an in-line color. As well as I can tell the road shoes are white and as mentioned there’s a Tempr CFT offroad shoe as well, in black. If you go to the US site and see all the sizes sold out it’s that the site isn’t live for selling yet. Give it a few days to kick start.

I only have miles in the road shoe and the photos here are not of a pristine shoe. I have about 500 miles in them, pretty hard miles, on the road and on gravel, through driving rain, 1-hour rides and 6-hour rides. (Yes, I should’ve taken my pics before I began riding in this shoe. That… didn’t happen.)

As a tri shoe: Yes, this is a viable IRONMAN shoe. In fact, I think it’s a great IRONMAN shoe because it’s not at all a hot shoe and if you find your foot expanding or for whatever reason needing a bit more volume partway through a ride this shoe would be great for that. I think it’s best as a shoe you put on in transition before you run out; attaching these to the bike, trying to get in while you’re riding, I don’t know that this is the fastest way into them. It’s not a short distance tri shoe.

By design or by sheer luck – every company needs it’s fair share of luck – I suspect Canyon has developed a shoe that works perfectly for its broad audience because of its sales model. The very best shoe for a consumer direct market is one forgiving enough to fit a range of foot styles and this shoe will absolutely do that. I’m usually a snob about brands and brand congruity. I won’t put a Felt stem or a Cannondale crank on my Cervelo bike. So much more so with Canyon, in particular because I have a beef with that brand (I stand in religious opposition to their habit of putting integrated stem/bars on their road and gravel bikes, which is a sin magnified for a consumer direct brand). Why would I ride a Canyon shoe when aboard my Cervelo bike? My feet dig the shoe. Sue me. (Or sue my feet.) Besides, wearing this shoe allowed me to congruently ride with the 2 pairs of Canyon socks that had been languishing in my drawer.

The post Canyon Tempr CFR Road Cycling Shoes first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

I was watching the Gent–Wevelgem race this morning while riding the indoor trainer. Without spoiling the ending if you haven’t seen it, Mathieu van der Poel spent most of the day at the sharp end of the race wearing a Canyon branded ABUS Gamechanger.

While scanning the shrinking peloton, it struck me how similar all of the aero road helmets are looking these days. The ABUS Gamechanger 2.0, LAZER Vento, Trek Ballista, Kask Utopia Y, Smith Ignite, and the Limar Air Atlas (among others) are all looking almost indiscernible from each other, especially when white in color. They all have similar aero shells, vent placements, and aero tails on the back. It’s almost as if they are all converging on shared aerodynamic design aspects, which makes sense when wind tunnel performance provides the metrics that carry the day.

So, what makes the ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 stand out in this crowded market? I’ve had one on hand since earlier this winter. While I haven’t had an opportunity to wear it on a ride, I’ll highlight some of the features that I appreciate about this helmet.

Narrow Width

Having nothing to do with safety or performance, I do prefer a helmet that isn’t too wide on my head, which is 59 cm. This ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 is a size large (57-61cm), but it appears as if it is a medium on my head. I can squeeze into other brands that max out their medium in 59cm, but that doesn’t leave much room for me to let my hair grow too long. So, it’s nice that this large ABUS is roomy enough to fit a winter hat but appears to be a medium. When I go to large in other brands it looks way too wide.

The helmet has sunglass docks in the front and the back. The front dock can accommodate both narrow and wide sunglasses. The rear dock is wider and may only fit newer wide sunglasses. I recommend taking your sunglasses with you when trying on the helmet for size.

Stitched Straps

In general, I’m not a fan of stitched straps because the helmet loses adjustability for the sake of saving a few grams. In my view, those few saved grams are more for marketing and don’t have much significance on the bike. I never notice if a helmet is 10-20 grams heavier or lighter. Without adjustability, stitched straps are a gamble. They either fit exactly like they should or they are off just a bit to be annoying.

These stitched straps on the ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 are perfect for me. I lucked out that they fit exactly to where I would adjust them. However, I can’t promise this will be the case for everyone. I always recommend that if you are considering a helmet with stitched straps that you try one on first.

Magnetic Buckle

ABUS is a German company that specializes in security and protection (i.e., locks), but they also have a helmet division for bikes, motos, and equestrian. So, you can say they are in the security business, securing your property and possessions, as well as your noggin. The helmet buckle is unlike any other helmet I’ve come across.

The buckle snaps together magnetically to close and slides apart to open. It does take a little getting used to, but you’ll quickly retrain your brain that you are protecting to slide the buckle apart rather than pull it apart.

Mips Air Node

If you aren’t familiar, Mips is a hairnet (for lack of a better term) attached to the inside of the helmet. The hairnet moves upon impact lessening the rotational forces your head experiences when crashing. The early versions of Mips was a hard plastic hairnet that often interfered with the helmet’s vents and made for a hot helmet.

Mips has evolved into some new designs like the Air Node that does not interfere with the helmet’s vents, and as a result you hardly know that it’s there. In fact, it appears to be no more intrusive than typical thin padding in a comparable helmet.

The Aero Helmet for You?

The Gamechanger 2.0 is made in Italy and expected to hit the US Market sometime this month or later. You can find them on ABUS’ Amazon store for $329.99 with Mips installed. You can also find them branded by Canyon for $231.95 without Mips installed. However, Canyon is currently out of stock of the white.

The United States is not yet included on their list of dealers, but that shouldn’t stop you from asking your local bike shops if they will be carrying ABUS in the future. For the third time, I recommend trying one on before buying. Don’t forget to bring your winter hat and sunglasses when you do.

And one last note, the ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 is ponytail compatible. The rear cage is high enough to fit a ponytail underneath it, but the gap between the adjustment knob and the helmet is big enough for a ponytail to fit through.

The post Reviewed: ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 Helmet first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

If you were tuned into the World Cup or Superprestige cyclocross races in December, you may have noticed that Wout Van Aert was wearing a new helmet, wrapped in his recognizable Red Bull colors. That helmet was the new, ultralight Z1 from LAZER, and Wout was showing it off before the end of the calendar year when his team, renamed Visma-Lease a Bike, switched helmet sponsors to Giro.

On Instagram, LAZER teased the Z1 and fans looked past the awkward Red Bull sticker across the top of the helmet to celebrate the return of the Z1 to the LAZER road helmet lineup. The Z1 debuted a decade ago with then novel features of 31 vents and a retention system that featured a nylon band instead of a wire.

The Z1 has returned with its recognizable configuration of vents (33 this time) and style. This new iteration boasts an ultralight weight of 220 grams (in size medium) and the signature Advanced RollSys thumbwheel on top of the helmet, leaving room for longer hair out the back of the helmet.

The Z1 features the KinetiCore crumple zones which ensure that upon impact that the helmet is absorbing the force on a number of rotational planes. In plain terms, the helmet is designed to protect your head in multiple, moving directions. A feature we can put our trust in but hope to never test out. Let’s leave the testing to the Virginia Tech Helmet Testing Lab that rated the Z1 a 5 out of 5 on its safety scale.

LAZER's move away from MIPS toward KinetiCore across their helmets is a welcome change in my book. MIPS involves a plastic hairnet, for lack of a better term, that slides independent to the helmet. I understand the theory behind the increased safety that MIPS affords, but in use I don't prefer MIPS compared to KinetiCore. My kinky hair has a tendency to get caught in the MIPS hairnet, and I swear they are warmer than helmets without the plastic hairnet.

The Z1 also accepts a shell cover for warmth or aerodynamics and the clip on taillights.

In the North American market, the Z1 is available in white, matte black, cosmic blue, harbor grey, metallic red, and flash orange. The MSRP is $279.99.

Lightweight Tradeoffs

The medium Z1 in metallic red that I received fits great and definitely feels lightweight compared to my other helmets. However, with our inclement weather here in Western New York, I haven’t had a chance to ride outside in the new Z1. I find that the true test of the comfort of a helmet is about four or five hours into a ride, when every little thing becomes more annoying than it typically is. In that case, this lighter helmet will be most welcome.

The tradeoff with ultralight helmets like the Z1 is doing away with the buckles under the ears and stitching the straps. LAZER states that removal of these plastic buckles moves them a step closer to improved sustainability, but it’s also an easy feature to remove to shed some grams. The downside of losing the buckles is you are limited in the helmet’s adjustability.

The Z1 may fit you great right out of the box with the stitched straps. This was the case for me; the stitched straps fell right where I would have adjusted the buckles. However, this may not be the case for everyone.

Therefore, my advice is to try one on before you buy it. This will ideally mean that you visit your local bike shop that carries LAZER helmets AND buy it from them if it fits. I don’t think I would take a chance buying one online without trying it on first with the stitched straps.

Lastly, if you like to dock your sunglasses in your helmet, the Z1 does accommodate what I would consider normal width sunglasses. As in, sunglasses that are the width of your face, as opposed to the oversized face windshields that are popular now. Other LAZER helmets like the Vento only accommodate the overly wide sunglasses for docking, so it’s nice to have helmet vents that allow for regular width sunglasses. If you are following recent trends and are sporting the oversized sunglasses, you may be able to use the wider vents to dock your face windshields in the Z1.

In sum, head to your nearest LAZER dealer and try one of these on before buying and bring your sunglasses with you.

The post The LAZER Z1 is Back first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

This week Shimano released details about their newest triathlon shoe, the S-Phyre TR903. It marks the first time that Shimano brings out a triathlon shoe that earns the S-Phyre line designation. Designed specifically for fast transitions, the new addition to the top-shelf S-Phyre line is more than an adaptation of their RC9 road shoe.

Notable features include the lower profile heel cup and pull strap designed for ease of slipping them on. The single, wide Velcro strap secures the top of the foot with a single Boa dial for the bottom of the foot. The upper features large perforations in the quick drying microfiber material and a foot liner designed for use with bare feet.

The TR9 comes in the team blue color or the familiar Shimano gunmetal gray. The carbon sole of the shoe includes drain holes for shedding water as you pedal out of transition.

We have yet to receive a pair of the new TR9 shoes, but you can bet one of our triathlon veterans will be putting these to the test and reviewing them soon.

The new S-Phyre line also includes updated road and mtb/cx shoes. Notable changes include a return to a single Boa dial on the RC903 road shoes and updated uppers and Boa dials on the XC903 mountain bike/cyclocross shoes. The new RC9s come in white, and the new XC9s come in team blue and gunmetal gray.

More to come after we have a chance to put some miles on this new S-Phyre line of shoes.

The post Early Look: Shimano S-Phyre TR9 first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

The Shoe(s)

The GS:TAM is, unquestionably, the best pair of shoes I've ever run. Not just trail shoes. Best of any kind. Now, they aren't great outside of their intended purpose – which is trail running, but they aren't meant to be. But in terms of a shoe that excels at the thing it was designed to do, the Speedland GS:TAM is without equal in my experience.

I'll talk through each component first, because that mimics the way that the shoe was designed. But really, it's the total package that is what's so incredible. The shared ideal that I have with Kevin and David, Speedland's founders, is that "engineering at its best allows you to just enjoy running." The thought that went into every decision is remarkable. But the end result is just a shoe that you can throw on and forget about in the pure bliss of running on the trails.

My first run in the GS:TAMs, I intended to run an hour. That turned into 10mi, which then turned into a half, and ultimately 15 miles that reminded me everything I love about running, particularly on the trails, which is what drew me to where I live, on the edge of a 1500 acre state park. In total, I ran just over 200 miles in the GS:TAMs in a period of just under two months, including a self-supported 50Km that I did to celebrate my 43rd birthday. In that time, the shoes continually exceeded my expectations, though really I mostly just forgot they were there until the time came to pop the BOA dials rather than unlacing them.

Speedland calls specific attention to some of their partners. They choose partners when they think someone else can do something better than they can. I've carried these references over, because it's representative of the way they approach development. Just like a high-end automotive companies and tuners will call out the premium parts they use, Speedlands expertise and value lies not specifically in each of the individual components – though something like the last itself and the overall fit and design of the upper are Uniquely theirs – but in bringing them together such that the total package is greater than the sum of all parts. I really don't want to make it seem like these things are just "off the shelf" parts cobbled together. Kevin and Dave certainly do that with existing shoes and parts with the Speedhacks projects, and this shoe is not that. They think of themselves like automotive tuners – and their Speedhacks show reflects this, but Speedland is definitely a shoe (or, rather, "equipment") company, albeit a very non-traditional one. But this is almost universally true. Very few shoe companies have their own factories. Speedland is just more vocal about highlighting where they do not have expertise – carbon fiber manufacturing, for example – as well as where they do – how a carbon plate should feel and perform.

Speedland also can never sell enough shoes – nor command what would necessarily be an astronomical price – to follow the model of a Ferrari, where everything is manufactured in-house. But that also doesn't really make sense. Again, the car company here that they remind me of the most is Lotus, rather than a "tuner." Critically, Lotus offloads engine development. While they have made their own engines, for nearly two decades, they've relied mostly on Toyota engines, though recently they make use of a Mercedes AMG engine and gearbox. Like Speedland, this allows Lotus to focus on what it does best – weight and handling. Lotus is more than a tuner, but it exists as a car company because it knows what it shouldn't build equally well as what it should.

While this is somewhat atypical in the shoe industry, it is slightly more common in trail shoes in one specific area – outsoles. Many manufacturers that would never advertise another brand on their own shoes use – and highlight – the use of Vibram rubber for outsoles. Adidas has partnered with Continental for outsoles on its road shoes, and so perhaps there is a growing sense that as shoes become more technical, finding – and recognizing – partners with specific expertise is a critical part of making higher and higher performing shoes.

Pebax Insole And Midsole

Interestingly, Speedland themselves benefit from this type of explicit recognition. Arkema – the company behind Pebax, which is the tradename for one version of the high-rebound polymer that, along with carbon plates, has revolutionized running shoes – highlights Speedland in a similar article about technology partnerships.

According to Speedland, Adidas really deserves credit for kickstarting this revolution with their variant of this foam, called Boost. Boost really revolutionized the industry. The original recipe was relatively heavy, looked cheap – that sort of pellety-styrofoam-esque appearance, and was only available in white. But the energy return was incredible. The weight came down; solutions to color were developed; and energy return went up. But it's impossible to overstate just how remarkable the impact of Adidas's introduction of boost – ousting the EVA which had been the standard midsole material essentially for as long as "modern" running shoes have existed.

For an interesting history that I mostly agree with, Gear Patrol has an awesome article on The Most Innovative Running Shoes of All Time, which covers the Brooks Villanova – the first shoe to use EVA in the midsole, which was developed based on feedback from the legendary Marty Liquori.

The GS:TAM has a lot of this plush material. With a stack (at the heel) of 37mm, it's a high-stack ultra-oriented shoe. But really, the stack is part of what Speedland calls the GS platform. The GS platform is joined by the lower-stack SL platform, which is what the SL:PDX – Speedland's first shoe – and SL:HSV are built on.

This Platform:Model approach is reflective of Speedland's attention to detail. The platform is a macro philosophy – say high-cushion – and then the model makes explicit tweaks to suit its specific purpose. In the case of the TAM – named for Mt. Tamalpais – that's typical Northern California conditions such as you might find at the iconic North Face Endurance Challenge in San Francisco. This is in contrast to the soon-to-be-released GS:PSG, named for Mt. Pisgah in Oregon. The shoes look very similar, but Speedland's founders assure me there are important differences that allow each shoe to excel in its specific territory.

Speedland's approach to achieving 37mm of stack is quite different from basically anyone else. Rather than a thick midsole – with embedded plate – a lot of the stack height comes from a Pebax insole. This does mean that Speedland's shoes are entirely incompatible with orthotics. But Kevin and David are okay with this. They actually believe that a lot of the need for orthotics comes from under-spec'd insoles. But for people for whom that's a non-starter, they are willing to accept that they can't please everyone. They believe this is the right way to make a shoe, and I appreciate the conviction. That I happen to agree with it certainly makes things easier, but I think it's great to see them acknowledging that explicit design choices in the name of performance is going to mean the shoes don't work for everyone.

The best part of this design is that it resurrects what was the killer-feature of the original Hokas – the Bondi B and Mafate – which is that your foot was "within" the shoe. The lateral stability that comes from this design – imagine your foot being on the second or third deck of a cruise ship where the cruise ship is your shoe. Especially for trail shoes, this offers incredible lateral stability. I think this may even supplant the need for orthotics in some runners, but that's really a fairly overwhelming tangent. In any case, I think this is the correct way to build trail shoes, and it was a joy to go bombing around on trails in a pair of high stack shoes that felt even more stable than a pair of XC flats. It offers a ton of both medial and lateral support that helps keep you upright – and your ankles intact – even when the trails get tricky.

Carbitex Plate

As with most current plated shoes, the plate is sandwiched between thick layers of high-return polymer. But the Speedland plate has three important differences. The first is that it's removable – which also highlights the second point – it's reusable. The plate costs extra, but it's an extra cost you don't have to pay repeatedly. While I am sure the plate will wear out eventually, it'll last a whole lot longer than any one pair of shoes. This also cuts down on waste.

The third most important aspect is the design. The plate is split at the forefoot, to allow good independent movement laterally, which is important for off-camber terrain. And the specific carbon layup also allows for good lateral flex while keeping responsiveness and rigidity front-to-back. These specific design choices were key to making a trail-specific plate and highlight why just taking a road shoe and adding lugs isn't enough to make a great trail shoe. It also speaks to some of the very specific challenges in translating the performance gains seen on the road into similar gains on trails.

For me, personally, without a plate, the shoe is still very good, but not magical. It reminded me of what was missing in the original Bondi B. The shoes were comfortable, but had no pop. They didn't *feel* fast. Even for an easy run, the plate is great. At least for me. But it does feel different. Knowing what the emerging research is saying about training with a plate, I may use it less often. But it's hard because I really just enjoy the feeling so much. It makes the shoes feel alive. I wouldn't give it up because of any sort of training performance benefit – though there does seem to be some; but the potential for injury risk from the carbon plate does make me appreciate that I have the option to take it out, and I probably will do so more often – it's very easy – especially on easier runs.

BOA Laces And PerformFit Upper

The true wisdom of the BOA lacing system was evident on my first run where I realized I had left them a bit loose for technical running. I Just reached down and made a few clicks. It was easy to do one-handed. And it was really fast, taking only a few seconds. Compared with relacing a pair of shoes, I was like, "oh, this is way better."

I had piloted some BOA-lace shoes when I was at Zoot, but they weren't nearly as refined. Those shoes had only a single dial and the overall upper design wasn't explicitly built with BOA dials in mind, and I think that kept it from being as effective as the BOA on the GS:TAMs.

There are two BOA dials per shoe. The forefoot dial hooks into two wide bands and the upper band connects into a pyramid shape band that offers a ton of medial arch support. The straps are made of PerformFit, which is a proprietary material developed by BOA specifically for use with their dials. The forefoot has some TPU around the outer perimeter, fairly standard for a trail shoe. It's a wide half-circle – or maybe a rounded box – that offers a lot of room, especially for your pinky toes. This is not an upper that's going to become cramped if – and when, during an ultra – your foot swells. It's possible to run it quite loose on double-track, but you'll want to tighten it up for technical descending, especially if you have relatively narrow feet. I'm a B-width, and I found my foot would slide laterally if I didn't remember to tighten the dials down before descending. Even when run tight, it's still very comfortable, and the BOA dials are so fast to adjust that I think it makes sense to go a few clicks in either direction to suit the terrain. Though you'll have no problem leaving them tighter for a more technical run or leaving them looser if you find yourself mostly on fire roads.

Overall, the upper itself is purely a Speedland creation. PerformFit is both a material (or, really, materials) and approach designed to work well when replacing traditional laces with BOA dials. If you look, for example, at La Sportiva's Jackal or Altra's Mont Blanc, they are some obvious similarities to the GS:TAM's upper. But they are not the same. Each shoe has distinct features, defined both by the overall last but also things like toebox reinforcement – the GS:TAM has the common-on-trail-shoes TPU layer over the front.

The tongue-less design and elastic-knit collar do a great job of keeping out debris; you won't find yourself stopping to shake out stray pebbles or grit. And I doubt you'd need gaiters except on super gnarly runs. The roomy toe-box meant I could comfortably wear slightly thicker socks, and I mostly ran in Injinji toe socks in their standard weight, so I could take full advantage of the roomy toe-box. If you're an Altra fan, I think you'll love the Speedlands. It's a similar anatomically sensible toebox, especially for trail running. And the upper is designed around the BOA dials, both ensuring that the thinner "wires" – which appear to be a high-strength textile (Kevlar or similar?) rather than actual metal wiring – never cut into your foot. And the broad straps also ensures that you get a much more supportive fit – more similar to a full lace-up – than you'd expect from just looking at the dual-dial system.

Michelin Outsole

The trails that I run are not overly technical. Certainly not in comparison with what serious trail runners may encounter. Accordingly, I wouldn't say the outsole was of particular importance to me. I'd actually prefer something slightly less aggressive, as the GS:TAM is not great on the paved sections that connect some of the trails I run. It's fine, but it's not a shoe I'd ever choose for anything even remotely close to a paved run. Likewise, I don't think I ever really stress what an outsole needs to do – no wet roots or rocks, no loose scree. The sole has held up relatively well over 200 mi+. But I've had road shoes – including racing flats – that have performed entirely adequately in terms of traction on these same trails, so this just isn't something I expected to be remarkable. I'd have confidence in the outsole for treacherous conditions because Michelin has proven they know sports – Michelin bike tires are superb, especially when it comes to grip – and because Speedland is just so obsessive about the details. But I can't speak directly to this aspect of the shoe with any sort of experience.

Reuse And Recycle

Uniquely, the shoes are also meant to be "recyclable." Certain components – like the BOA laces and dials – are reusable and/or repairable. Other materials may be recyclable, if they are properly separated out and sent back to the correct facility. This was something that I didn't cover with them in-depth, but it's yet another area that shows Speedlands unique approach to shoes. Along with donating 10% of all sales to the charity of choice of the elite athlete for which each shoe was designed, it's reflective of a sense of purpose that extends beyond just performance. Their motto is "Run With The Land," and it's important gestures like this that reveal the depth of this commitment.

The Total Package

Each individual component is selected to be the best choice for its given role. But the GS:TAM is certainly meant to be more than just the sum of its admittedly superb components. And it is. More than anything else, it's fun. It's a shoe I want to run in. And every time I ratchet – rather than lace – them up, I head out the door with a smile on my face.

photos 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 © Speedland. photos 2, 9 © Slowtwitch.com

[edit: a previous version of this story incorrectly noted that the PSG is named for Mt. Pisgah in Tennessee, for which the Litespeed mountain bike is named, as it's an offroad haven. Turns out there's *another* Mt. Pisgah – in Oregon – which is the one for which the shoe is named.]

The post Speedland GS:TAM first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

The People

It's impossible to discuss Speedland's shoes without first discussing its people. Kevin Fallon and Dave Dombrow have been designing and making shoes together for over twenty years. They have worked together at Nike, Under Armour, and – as they joke, the other German shoe company – Puma. They bring a unique perspective to footwear, and in speaking with them, I was immediately struck by how much of the Speedland ethos resonates so deeply with my own beliefs about the benefits of engineering-driven design.

We ended our interview with a simple statement that encapsulates the way Speedland approaches footwear. Engineering at its best allows you to just enjoy running.

To achieve this simplicity, they apply an unprecedented level of thought to literally every decision about every aspect of the shoes they build. But the practical aspect of development is paramount. They have their own YouTube show – Speedhacks – that offers insight in what they describe as their, "method of working." Speedhacks is the running version of Top Gear. And they think of themselves in similar terms. At the end of the day, they want to make something that someone can actually wear and actually run in.

And their approach is in-demand beyond what they can achieve with their own company. Speedland also runs a consultancy business – something (in what will become an obvious running theme… sorry… I had to) that is unique to this business. And they consult with a wide-range of businesses including HP (yes, the computer company…), Descente, Arc'teryx, Tracksmith, their old employer UnderArmour, and more. This consultancy stems both from their incredible expertise and unique perspective and also because they aren't really a competitor with … well, anyone. Speedland is absolutely focused on what they call hyper-performance trail and mountain shoes. They are – in their own words – obsessed. The vlogs on the decisions that went into each major "component" decision on their first shoe – the SL:PDX – reveals a singular passion for making shoes.

Especially given their history at major shoe brands, one never gets the sense that they want Speedland to follow the model of Hoka or ON in terms of becoming a major footwear brand. They remind me a lot of Lotus – another quirky, performance-obsessed brand that loves its niche and is happier playing in that niche than expanding beyond it to the mass market.

Shoes As Equipment

The shoes-as-equipment approach works, in particular, because good trail shoes are the result of such explicit choices. To a certain extent, all trail shoes are equipment. Lug patterns, in particular, matter a lot for terrain. But Speedland takes it beyond issues of simple traction. This is a bedrock philosophy for the brand. It's grounded in the belief that there is a right way – and a wrong way – to design and build a shoe. Kevin and Dave would like people to think of shoes – at least trail shoes – more like skiers and cyclists think about their gear. The closest analogy I have experienced is track cycling. Track bikes are highly-specialized, incredibly optimized pieces of equipment – or, more specifically, multiple pieces of equipment put together into a composite "thing" that we call a bike. Track bikes are a good analogy because there is a very clear limit on what's required. No brakes. No bottles. One chainring. One cog.

A shoe is similarly bound. Outsole. Midsole. Insole. Lacing system. Upper. And, nowadays anyway, plate. When you come up with an explicit set of requirements, you can then make careful, objective decisions about what each piece needs to do both individually and as part of the collective. As a quick glance at the pricing of Speedland's very small range of products will reveal, price is not a consideration. Though the price – while high – is no longer outrageous thanks to Nike readjusting everyone's perspective on what ultra-performance footwear actually costs.

Why Trail?

The high end road market is saturated. Because this is the mainstream, competition is higher. And so it's harder for a niche brand – however competent – to go up against the likes of Nike and ASICS. The road is also just simpler, and there is less clear opportunity for design influence. Trail lends itself more to explicit design. A shoe with a narrow profile where you *might* be more likely to roll your ankle might very well be a reasonable tradeoff on the road. But not on trails.

Likewise, the specifics of various trail conditions offer nearly limitless opportunities for optimization. Pavement is pavement. Asphalt and concrete are just not meaningfully different. But arid Southern California desert trails are dramatically different from the forested trails of the Pacific Northwest which are then massively different from the Deep South. Type of rock, type of dirt, type of mud, lack or likelihood of water, etc. All these conditions make a difference for trail shoes, in particular around outsole design. There is no single right tread. Likewise, the cushioning requirements on soft loamy trails might be very different than on rocky trails. Distances also vary much more widely on the trail. While there are notable ultras on the road – Badwater being likely the most iconic, most ultras take place off road. A shoe that's good enough for a road 10K is likely at least passable for a marathon. But a weight-optimized trail shoe for an equally short trail race will never be sufficient for a 100mi. The variety of distance and topography on trails just dwarfs what you see on the road.

Accordingly, trail running just lends itself to both interesting problems and also niche solutions to those problems in a way that road never could. What's the value of the rapid adjustment of a BOA lacing system as compared with a few extra grams of weight? How do you value lateral stability against overall weight? These are nuanced discussions without a single right answer, unlike on the road. High performance trail shoes are a reflection of the terrain, the designers, and the athlete who chooses them. And it's the way athletes make choices that inform the way that Speedland makes shoes.

The Athletes' Needs

Even though two-of-its-three (current) shoes are high-stack, ultra-focused shoes, Speedland is not an inherently high-stack brand. This is in obvious contrast to the brand that seems most similar – Hoka. At least, original Hoka – when it was still Hoka One One, and when it was still the niche creation of Nic Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard. Their perspective as mountain athletes certainly influenced what they wanted Hoka to be. And in this way it's most obvious that Kevin and Dave's perspective primarily as designers accounts for a lot of the difference. Jean-Luc Diard is of course a designer as well, but ultimately Hoka seems to have been a response to what its founders wanted to wear, whereas the repeated line in my interview with Dave and Kevin was, "what do our athletes need?" The question they ask is, simply, "what would make THE BEST trail shoe?"

Initially, this was the SL:PDX, which is not a high-stack shoe. Because it wasn't meant for ultra-distance racing. It wasn't not meant for ultras, but it was more about traction and stability. And it was also about establishing what Speedland stood for. They wanted to, in their own words," do what we do." And, in doing so, "create a market." They wanted to show what was possible and to create a product – and an appetite – for shoes that represent the absolute pinnacle of design and execution for that very specific purpose.

Interestingly, they said footwear tends to move in seven year cycles. And they believe the era of high-stack, ultra-cushion, and carbon-plated shoes may end – or at least evolve and give way to something new, in the same way that minimalism gave way to high-stack. I'm less sure. I think the performance benefits of both carbon plates and high-energy return foam are too much of a paradigm shift. And, fundamentally, people just really do seem to prefer super-cush shoes that are obviously comfortable to minimal shoes that may or may not be more "natural" (whatever that means) and certainly don't – as the class action lawsuit against Vibram revealed – necessarily "strengthen your feet." But I also don't have nearly the perspective or history in this area that the Speedland founders do, and I'd definitely not bet against them. And certainly the pace of innovation in footwear is not slowing. We've now pretty clearly moved beyond EVA, and based simply on the embrace of new materials for both uppers and midsoles, I think that it's entirely reasonable to think that shoes may change again. There certainly are the first indications that maybe training in ultra-responsive carbon-plated shoes may not be optimal – thanks to Alex Hutchinson (@sweatscience) for sharing the link to this research

We'll talk more about the carbon-plate – which is removable – in the follow-up article on the GS:TAM itself, but Speedland's design gives you a choice here, as well as allowing you to re-use this part of the shoe that won't wear out as fast as the rest of it. While they didn't build their shoes in this modular fashion because of this research, it did stem from the empirical data that is showing up along the same lines. Athletes like to be able to train without a plate.

Conclusion

I'll admit to an inherent fondness towards tinkerers like Kevin and Dave. People who not only enjoy thinking about how to solve interesting problems, but who go out and start tinkering with things in an attempt to actually apply that thinking in a practical way. As fantastic as their shoes are, I think that Speedhacks – their YouTube show – is their most important contribution. Along with their consulting, which allows the impact of their processes and approach to innovation to be larger than Speedland as a brand while also serving to grow it beyond what it could achieve simply through the sale of shoes.

But the shoes are, of course, the realization of all of this thinking. And they are superlative. The fit and finish is incredible. And the subtle innovations really do just make running more fun. I'll cover my adventures in the GS:TAM in a follow up, but I didn't think that piece would have made nearly as much sense without understanding the process that led that shoe to be the way it is. And I hope this provides that. I love the shoes. But I love everything that Speedland stands for as a brand even more.

Epilogue: The Bra Shoe

Even when they were at mainstream companies, Kevin and Dave were innovating. Me – "when were you guys at UnderArmour?" Kevin and Dave – "mid-2000s." Me – "were you there when Chris McCormack was sponsored? I remember UnderArmour came out with this crazy shoe where the upper was built to mimic the approach they took to making sports bras." Kevin and Dave – "yeah, that was us…"

UnderArmour never really made the sort of impact I think they were hoping in triathlon and, given the overall headwinds the brand faced around that time, it's impossible to know if this was just an idea that should have got more traction than it did or if it was just – like many trials – a neat idea that didn't really work out. It's more of a "the sports world is surprisingly small…" type of story that I think readers on this site, many of whom remember these various footnotes, will enjoy.

All photos © Speedland

[edit: an earlier version of this article misstated the Speedland's founders on the specifics of footwear cycles and their belief that era of high-stack, carbon-plated will end. We've edited the phrasing to better reflect their position.]

The post Speedland: The People first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

We’ve been charting Slowtwitcher training shoe preferences since 2007 and as you can see from the chart there's been big movement over the by certain brands. Only 33 months separate the first poll from the most recent. If you’re HOKA you’re losing a little of your lead but not enough to concern anyone there, especially as HOKA’s sales grew from about $900 million to $1.4 billion from fiscal 2022 to 2023 and it’s still rocketing upward. The part of humanity that stands upright has begun to figure out that more cushion feels better than less.

The big movers are ASICS and Saucony and the moves are striking. Saucony has almost doubled its share, from 12 percent to 21 percent, in a 3-year span and I believe this began with the Endorphin line, which I first saw and reported on at its unveiling at The Running Event near the end of 2019. But I don’t think this is the whole story. Saucony’s big upsurge, as with ASICS (which I’ll get to) reflects a new approach to run shoe design. During a roughly 30-year stretch and let’s call this from 1985 to 2015 tech running was terribly beset by not-invented-here-think. All the brands, including Saucony, and infamously ASICS, defended both their trademarked technologies and in the theses that underpinned their design decisions. HOKA blew that up, and then Nike blew it up again.

As a result not just the Endorphin Pro and Speed but the darling of the tri world before HOKA – Saucony’s Kinvara – are heavily influenced by carbon plates, superfoam (PWRun PB is Saucony’s foam) and midsole height. Your foot sits a whopping 42mm off the ground in the heel of a Kinvara, and 34mm off the ground in the forefoot. Mind, the Kinvara has added a full 2 ounces since its glory days (roughly 2007 to 2011), but who cares? It’s such a breeze to run in, and generates so much energy return, that you don’t feel that this is a 9.5oz shoe.

HOKA’s lead over Saucony in Slowtwitcher preference was 26 percent to 12 percent in 2020, and that was in training footwear (where HOKA shines). That lead is now 23 percent to 21 percent. (In each of our polls over the past 3 years we had at or over 1300 respondents). So, even as HOKA continues to take chunks out of the rest of the shoe brands, in the most technical arena (isn’t that Slowtwitch?) Saucony is the object closer than it appears.

But wait, there’s more! ASICS has had something to say about this and Slowtwitchers have been listening. HOKA’s lead over that brand had been 26 percent to 8 percent only 3 years ago and now that’s closed to 23 percent to 15 percent. What did ASICS do? I wrote about the MetaRide last year and what was most interesting to me was not the shoe per se, but what seemed to me a long needed repudiation of its unhelpful design narrative spun during 30-year stretch to which I referred. Running in ASICS felt to me like running in pumps – not that I have a lot of experience with that – and the posterior of my lower leg (achilles tendons, gastrocs) complained with every step (unless I was running uphill).

But I suspect that the Meta series is only part, and perhaps not the major part, of the ASICS upswell among you all. The Gel Kayano has a 40mm/30mm heel-to-forefoot height and its 4D GUIDANCE SYSTEM, with the wider and rounded heel, the wider footprint in the arch area, looks very HOKA-like but with its own wrinkle. In short, if I can channel my inner ASICS and Saucony I would say this: HOKA and Nike have taught tech run shoemakers a lot about the next generation of shoes, but, we think we're better shoe makers. My instinct tells me that ASICS wants to out-HOKA HOKA while remaining true to its commitment to understand and react to how runners run.

Who are the losers in the training footwear trends, at least among Slowtwitchers? Most obviously it’s the minor brands. That ubiquitous brand “Other” has fallen from 10 percent of Slowtwitcher preference to 5 percent. That would be Newton, Mizuno, Skechers, Topo and so on. Nike has slid from 15 to 11 percent and I think it’s because users may very well race in a Nike supershoe, but Nike doesn’t offer as much promise on the training side. Brooks continues its slow slide, from 9 to 8 to, now, 7 percent and if you look at the Adrenaline 22 the shoe height is 30mm/18mm. How much different is this geometry than how that shoe was first made about 30 years ago?

On Running is a very popular brand at the cash register, but it’s never quite caught on with Slowtwitchers. Our Hollie Sick reviewed the Cloudboom Echo 3 earlier this month and when she wrote that You feel the ground more, and there isn't a lot of energy return, that’s reminiscent of a Newton Running narrative and contrary to what we see from the brands that are making up ground on HOKA.

The post Saucony, ASICS Gaining on HOKA first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Finding the right pair of running shoes can be daunting. And costly. Compared to some of the other elements within our sport, running shoes aren't that pricey. The most important and expensive item you need is a good, properly fitted pair of running shoes. But with shoes now regularly cresting the $200 mark, it's better to get it right the first time around than trial and error.

While you can read dozens of reviews on the internet (including here on Slowtwitch), the only surefire way to decide whether “a shoe works for me" is to actually try different shoes. You can expedite this process by going to a local running store. But many runners don't know how to get the best results from a trip to the store. They know they'll walk in, an employee will look at their feet, maybe watch them run, and they'll come out with shoes that the employee thinks are the best for them. 

If you want to get the most out of your run specialty store, you need to come prepared to run with your old running shoes, and bring your injury and running history. A good shoe is a shoe that works for your particular gait, stride, and feet. Everyone has a different gait, and a good pair of shoes for me doesn't mean it's a good pair for you.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Local Run Shop

Be prepared to tell the store’s employee the following information. Bring a list if you need to.
–Do you have pain when you run? ?
–?Tightness somewhere? ?Shin splints?
–If you answered yes to any of the above: does one leg hurt more than the other?
–?Have you lost toenails while running before?
–What shoes have you been wearing? Anything you liked or didn't like?
–What sock are you running in?
–What are you training for currently?

Don’t feel like you are rambling by telling the employee all this information. The more you can tell the employee about your running history, the easier it is for them to narrow down the kinds of shoes that will be best for you. Most stores reliably carry between 50 to 70 SKUs (not inclusive of color choice within those shoes), and the fitter's job is to narrow that shoe wall down to the three to five most likely options to work for you.

After talking with you, then the fit will move onto some type of gait analysis. Depending on the running store, they may have you run on a treadmill, run outside or watch your gait when you walk. Some stores use video so they can break down your gait in slow motion. But in general, this is where a shoe fitter is looking for any type of motion that might warrant some type of guidance or medial density changes.

The last piece of the puzzle before bringing out shoes: the employee will measure your feet with socks. Now, you may think you're a size 10. And you've been a size 10 all your life. But that doesn't mean that you should be wearing a size 10 running shoe today. First there's the accommodation for any type of swelling that may happen when you run. But secondly, and arguably most importantly, is that run shoe size is driven by arch length, not just total foot length. If you've ever put on a pair of running shoes and felt like the arch is either too far back in the shoe or too far forward, chances are you need to adjust accordingly due to arch length. (Editor's Note: I have a size 11.5 length foot with a size 14 arch. I wind up wearing a 13 to get the best overall fit.)

It's now that you'll have shoes brought out to you. Trust the employee's first choices. There's a reason why, out of a shoe wall with dozens of options, these were selected for you. More often than not, it's due to some combination of the information you provided up front regarding any issues you're having while running, as well as something that they picked up on while going through your initial gait analysis.

And now it's time to try on shoes! The most important thing to look for is comfort. If it's not comfortable now, it's not going to get any more comfortable while trying to run in it. Now is a good time to ask questions. Why were these shoes brought for me? What did you see before and what do you see now? That's what the fitter is there for. Your questions, and comments on how shoes are feeling, will help guide the fit more. Perhaps there's a change that needs to be made to bring out another pair or two to try on. Or it might just end there. Again, comfort is king — and you're in charge.

Returns, Exchanges, and Pricing

Once you've finished making your shoe selection, it's time for purchase. More often than not, the shoes you see in the store are not going to be cheaper online. A common misconception is that running shoes are more expensive in stores. At least in the United States, minimum advertised pricing (MAP) policies prevent most retailers from discounting heavily outside of selected time periods or end-of-season sales.

Because run shoe fit does involve a bit of trial-and-error, there are times where shoes just don't work out as well as they should have based upon the initial fit. Most stores will cover for that with a return or exchange policy. The most ubiquitous specialty run stores, Fleet Feet, offer a 60 day return / exchange policy within reason. Obviously, if you've run 200 miles in a shoe in 60 days, you're not going to be able to return that shoe. But if it isn't working for you, there's no reason to continue to suffer through a poor experience. Life's too short to run in bad shoes.

Other Things Stores Offer

Running stores can be a wealth of training information. Getting information from running stores typically doesn't stop after you've been fitted for the right shoes. Most stores have information about training plans, local races, local running clubs, and coaches that are in the area. The more you ask, the more information and advice you’ll get.

Most running stores also have group runs, fun runs, and activities to bring the running community together. Brand representatives sometimes come out to the running groups and have shoes for you to try. Maybe you've always wanted to try a Hoka shoe, even if you never really wanted to buy it. If a Hoka rep shows up, they'll often have shoes that you can test (and often, sometimes a selection of shoes that might not be available in the store yet). Typically, stores list which shoe companies will be at these group runs, so if there is a certain shoe you want to try, you know when to come.

The post Getting the Most From Your Local Run Store first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Triathlon championship season has mostly come and gone – we haven’t forgotten about you, WTCS Final in Abu Dhabi – and with it, we’ve seen a bit of a sea change when it comes to running footwear on professionals and age groupers alike. The verdict is in – if you’re not racing in a supershoe, you are simply giving up far too much performance. Run times across the board at both the 70.3 and 140.6 distances are improving.

Here are some of the key lessons we’ve learned across this championship season about running shoes.

King and Queen of the Hill: Asics

ASICS is rarely at the forefront of footwear trends. They were one of the last companies to dip their toes into the natural running wave, and one of the first to pull back away from it. They were also one of the last companies to bring out a true maximum-cushioning competitor to the likes of HOKA. It was not entirely surprising, then, when carbon-plated run shoes were first introduced to the market by Nike and then followed by Saucony (among a few others) that it was ASICS who were slow to introduce a line to the marketplace.

It’s pretty clear that they got their shoes right, though. The MetaSpeed Sky, Sky+, and Edge were all well represented in both Kona and St. George this year, including on the feet of reigning IRONMAN World Champion Chelsea Sodaro (with former sponsor HOKA on her run kit) and IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Kristian Blummenfelt.

In fact, in Kona, ASICS took 27% of the combined top 15 men and women’s footwear share (the exception to the MetaSpeed line appeared to be Daniela Ryf, wearing the MagicSpeed – but she has also typically raced in a more traditional flat than others). It also appeared frequently on the feet of non-sponsored athletes, something that has usually been held by one of the two Nike shoes (Vaporfly and AlphaFly). It also was worn by Matt Hanson, who most recently was an On Running athlete.

The major component that, in my experience working in the run industry, ASICS has gotten right with their shoe is that it has more platform stability than the two Nike shoes. It’s wider in the midfoot by a healthy margin. There’s more carbon rubber on the outsole, particularly under the navicular region of the foot. And, crucially, there is plenty of cushioning and a reasonably light (7 ounces) platform. It’s unsurprising to see that there are some athletes who have pivoted to wearing these shoes for all of their training and racing.

It’s been almost a decade since ASICS appeared near the top of our running footwear polls. Based on what we’re seeing in the professional ranks, that number should soon be creeping upward.

On the Podium: Nike and HOKA

It shouldn’t come to any surprise that the Vaporfly and AlphaFly, respectively, remain incredibly popular. The genre-defining shoes from Nike matched the count from Asics in Kona, including being on the feet of long-time leader Sam Laidlow and eventual third-place finisher Anne Haug. The most interesting note is that it was the Vaporfly, and not the AlphaFly, that triathletes most often selected. This is despite the fact that Nike specifically calls out that the AlphaFly is more cushioned than the Vaporfly.

The other major representative at the front of the field was HOKA. A new prototype rumored to be released in January (some tagged as the next generation Carbon Rocket) made its way onto the feet of nine of the top 30 combined men and women in Kona. For those keeping score, it means that ASICS, HOKA, and Nike combined for 83% of the top finishers at the IRONMAN World Championships and 100% of the podium at 70.3 Worlds. HOKA has struggled a bit in the carbon footwear space relative to its overall market share, as shown by Sodaro moving from a HOKA sponsorship to wearing ASICS in Kona. Typically that’s been due to a harsher-than-average ride. The new shoe features HOKA’s attempt at a next generation foam along with the carbon plate, and early returns look promising.

New Footwear Rules Coming in 2023?

One of the major talking points coming out of long-course championship season were the prototype On Running Cloudboom Echo’s of IRONMAN World Champion Gustav Iden. The one-of-one prototypes were delivered to Iden shortly before the IRONMAN World Championships and prior to Iden’s signing with the footwear brand. They also featured a stack height north of 40 millimeters.

As of January 1, 2023, those shoes will be prohibited by World Triathlon (assuming approval of a rule proposal next week).

For context: the IRONMAN rulebook is silent as to what you can wear for running shoes. When the IM rulebook is silent, the World Triathlon rulebook “may be used by athletes as guidance when necessary only when the IRONMAN Competition Rules are silent on a specific rule or area.” At present, the World Triathlon rulebook is silent. That then means the sport relies upon the rulebook of the underlying discipline (so, FINA for swimming, for instance), unless the technical committee decides not to enforce a particular rule. As reported by Tim Heming, World Triathlon declined to enforce the World Athletics rule on shoe stack height until Iden’s record-breaking performance in Kona forced their hand.

Assuming that there is approval of enforcement next week, this rule will definitely pertain to World Triathlon racing. As for IRONMAN racing – a representative noted that their intention is to follow whatever guidance comes from World Triathlon.

All Photos: Aaron Palaian

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