Brooks Adrenaline ASR
With winter right around the corner it’s always a good idea to have a few shoes in your arsenal that can meet the demand of the changing weather. It’s also a good time of the year to head out to local trails and put in some quality miles that won’t be as tough and tiresome on the legs. For this type of running there are a few shoes on the market that can meet these needs while not sacrificing comfort or fit. One such shoe is the Brooks Adrenaline ASR.
The Adrenaline ASR is based on the wildly popular Brooks Adrenaline line. It is a hybrid shoe that has the same stability qualities that people love about the original Adrenaline but with some improvements for the occasional off road endeavor.
The shoe features a snag resistant upper that also is water resistant but still allows for breath ability in even the warmest conditions. One other major aspect to the shoe is that it has a more aggressive outsole that features HPR Green. This outsole material allows for better traction under wet conditions and terrain that may be unpredictable at times. As stated before the outsole is aggressive but it is not so aggressive that a runner would find it uncomfortable to run short stints on the road. It is perfect for hoping from one trail to another.
Running is no longer a sport of just pounding out miles on the road day after day. People are choosing to head out to the trails and put in some quality miles before their next marathon or even their first 5k. The Adrenaline ASR is a shoe that can help people achieve those goals by not limiting them to only one type of surface or one type of weather.
Nike Pegasus
There are few shoes that have stood the test of time. In an industry where every company is looking for the next technological innovation to give then a leg up, most shoes just fall behind. One shoe that has shed this burden and has grown a cult like following is the Nike Pegasus. The new version, the 25, is a throw back in many ways to the original shoe that was produced in 1983.
When the Pegasus came out 25 years ago it was a model in technology and innovation. It paved the way for the shoes we know today. Though a trailblazer in 1983 the industry has come along way. The thick midsole has been replaced with Nike’s full lengthen Zoom Air unit, which provides a soft, smooth ride for those who are biomechanicaly gifted. The suede upper of the original has been replaced with a soft breathable upper that allows for maximum air movement and moisture removal.
One thing that Nike did to preserve the image of the Pegasus was to adopt the original outsole. Shedding the directional lugs of its predecessors, the new Pegasus has a waffle outsole that provides maximum traction. This outsole harkens back to the days of Bill Bowerman and the building of the Nike brand on his own waffle iron.
For running enthusiast there are few things more frustrating than losing a shoe because it had been discontinued. In today’s industry where innovation is key its nice to know some companies have kept shoes around that have become staples of the running community. The Nike Pegasus 25 is one of those shoes.
Puma Complete Tenos V
The Puma Complete Tenos V is an excellent everyday training shoe, ideal for mild to moderate overpronators with low to normal arches. This shoe has great flexibility, cushioning, support along with a smooth, low profile ride. The Complete Tenos V is a great shoe for runners on every level.
Asics 2130 Trail
There are hundreds of shoes on the market these days that serve almost every purpose that a runner may need. One type of shoe that is commonly overlooked is the trail shoe. Trail shoes are typically a little more robust in their construction and have a more specific purpose for their design.
The shoe that we would like to introduce to you in this newsletter installment is the Asics 2130 Trail. Unlike other many other trail shoes, the 2130 Trail is based on a shoe design that has seen great success in the road shoe category, the 2100 series. Though the 2100 series road shoes and the trail shoes may look very similar in appearance, there are some fundamental differences between them.
To start, the 2130 Trail begins with a more aggressive outsole that allows for better traction in wet & uneven conditions. This outsole, however, is not so aggressive that it may cause issues while running on hard surfaces like pavement or concrete. It is not advised to log too many miles on harder surfaces but if you happen to run over a little from one trail to another this shoe might be a little more forgiving that its more aggressive rivals.
Along with the more aggressive outsole the material that makes up the upper of the shoe is more supportive & better suited for trail running. The upper is made of water resistant material & works so that your foot is safe from small particles of sand, wood or rock that might cause irritation if allowed to get into the shoe. All of the advances make for a better experience while out on the trails.
The Asics 2130 Trail is sure to be a favorite to those who want a trail shoe that is aggressive while still versatile enough for a quick venture onto more tame terrain.
Asics Gel Nimbus 10
There are many shoes on the market these days and it’s hard to find one that fits your specific foot shape & running needs. Every company has their own ideas & philosophies on cushioning & support. Even shoes that are in the same category will fit & feel much different from one another. One of those shoes categories is neutral. These are shoes that have little to no posting on the medial (inside) side of the shoe, which limits the amount of pronation of the foot. For those people who have a neutral gait, meaning flexibility in the foot is minimal, they typically benefit from these types of shoes.
The Asics Gel Nimbus 10 is a shoe that falls into the neutral category and has been getting solid reviews. This particular shoe is Asics’ flagship neutral shoe and utilizes most of Asics’ top-flight technology. The biggest improvement made to this shoe, from the previous model, is the fit. Asics has placed overlays & added asymmetrical lacing that allows the soft upper of the shoes to conform to the foot. This in turn supplies adequate support. The ride of the shoe has changed slightly with the placement of flex points & impact zones on the forefoot & heals. This gives the shoe a more cushioned & supportive feel as a person goes through the gait cycle.
Overall Asics has made some significant improvements to the Gel Nimbus making it a great choice for those who are biomechanically efficient & looking for a soft cushioned ride.
