Fall Shoe Guide - Midwest Events

Fall Shoe Guide
With fall weather upon us, we’re finally able to get out for cooler runs, longer
distances, and the big races we trained for all summer long. With these perks
of the season in mind, shoe companies have put forth their best designs and
most innovative installments of fan-favorite shoes. Our rundown of the best
Fall 2013 shoes features plenty of newcomers alongside faithful models that have
withstood time and miles of long running. Below are our picks for the crop of
the season — a variety of minimalist, stability, and cushioned models that will
help runners of all stripes make the most of their running this autumn.
Category: Neutral
Weight: Men’s 11.8 oz. | Women’s 9.6 oz.
Price: $150
brooksrunning.com
GEL Nimbus 15
Category: Stability
Weight: Men’s 11.8 oz. | Women’s 9.6 oz.
Price: $170
adidas.com
The adiStar Boost is a cushioned trainer for roads,
dirt and gravel that provides a new approach to the
conventional EVA-based foam. Ideal for heel strikers, this
stability-minded shoe provides a lightweight experience
for a shoe category often relegated to heavier models.
Our testers found the Boost to be responsive on long and
short runs, providing a bold new option in its category.
Category: Cushioning
Weight: Men’s 11.5 oz. | Women’s 9.4 oz.
Price: $145
asics.com
This year’s update to the perennial
favorite Nimbus model pairs innovation
with predictability, featuring a flexible
forefoot, ample cushioning, and memory
foam to create a comfortable and
supportive ride. The latest version of
the Nimbus builds upon the strengths of
the brand, providing subtle modifications
while staying true to the design runners
have come to know and love.
FALL 2013
Biom EVO Racer Lite
Category: Lightweight
Weight: Men’s 8.5 oz. | Women’s 6.4 oz.
Price: $130
ecco.com
The ECCO Biom Evo Racer is the second
generation of the brand’s Biom line, which
presents runners with a novel, anatomical
design that’s shaped to the human foot. The
Evo Racer employs a durable polyurethane
outsole rather than typical EVA foam,
providing responsiveness and cushioning
upon ground-strike. The Evo Racer’s weight
aligns with that of most lightweight trainers
or long-distance racers, and our wearers
found its neutral profile to be accommodating
for a wide number of runners.
ESMG-Fall13-ShoeGuide_8.5x11.indd All Pages
A brand-new model from Newton, the EnergyNR is a lightweight trainer geared toward
the lightweight sect. Featuring a new take on the company’s signature lug design, the
EnergyNR seeks to bring the “Newton experience” to the broader running market. The
EnergyNR aims to promote a seamless transition for newcomers to the brand’s design,
providing just enough of its signature design elements found in other models to
introduce runners to the Newton experience.
Glycerin 11
Asics
adiStar Boost
Mizuno
VALUE
FALL 2013
Wave Sayonara
Category: Lightweight
Weight: Men’s 7.9 oz. | Women’s 6.7 oz.
Price: $120
mizunousa.com
FALL 2013
Mizuno revamps their performance
trainer
line with the Wave Sayonara. The Sayonara
has a generous toebox and a snug, secure fit
throughout. A flexible forefoot combined with a
slightly lower heel-to-toe offset creates a smooth
ride. Full ground contact provides just enough
stability. Our reviewers found the Sayonara to be
a capable everyday trainer or a racer, providing a
responsive and lightweight running experience.
EnergyNR
Category: Lightweight
Weight: Men’s 9 oz. | Women’s 7 oz.
Price: $119
newtonrunning.com
Brooks
adidas
ECCO
Brian O’Connor
The newest incarnation of Brooks’ popular
Glycerin model builds upon the strengths of
its forbearers, featuring a 3D printed overlay
and soft mesh fabric upper, ample cushioning
throughout the heel and forefoot, and the
subtle support that has brought the shoe to
its eleventh iteration. Major alterations include
the removal of the midfoot shank, optimizing
ground contact and foot transition.
Puma
Faas 100r
Category: Minimalist
Weight: Men’s 6 oz. | Women’s 4 oz.
Price: $90
puma.com
FALL 2013
Skechers
GOrun Speed
FALL 2013
870v3
Category: Stability
Weight: Men’s 9 oz. | Women’s 7.8 oz.
Price: $110
newbalance.com
New Balance modifies the outsole design of
their mild-stability trainer during this year’s
reboot to the 870v2. The newest model is
flexible enough to fit the neutral runner, but
is reinforced in the right places to support
the moderate overpronator. A very versatile
shoe, the 870v3 can do everything from
everyday training to racing.
LunarGlide 5
Category: Stability
Weight: Men’s 10.1 oz. | Women’s 8.1 oz.
Price: $110
nikerunning.com
The Faas 100r is a racer for runners not looking for a strictly minimalist
experience, but who still appreciate responsiveness in a racing shoe. The model
is thin, breathable and flexible — a refreshing combination of characteristics on
race day. Our testers found the sole to have enough give and cushion to absorb
the explosive pressure of push-off during the heat of a race, but reported it
doesn’t feel like a platform. An excellent racing flat for the 5K-10K range, the
shoe also shows potential for half marathons and weekly training.
VALUE
New
Balance
Nike
The Nike LunarGlide 5 is the fifth incarnation of the
LunarGlide shoe line, providing ample cushioning, a slight
amount of stability, and the feel and weight of a neutral
trainer. Featuring Nike’s Lunarlon midsole material, the
shoe offers a reliable and durable trainer for stability
seekers. Reviewers found the new LunarGlide 5 to offer
improvements in the comfort and ride departments,
providing a smooth and reliable experience in all conditions.
Saucony
PowerGrid Ride 6
FALL 2013
Category: Minimalist
Weight: Men’s 7.5 oz. | Women’s 5.8 oz.
Price: $110
skechers.com
Built to U.S. marathoner Meb Keflezighi’s specifications,
the GOrun Speed is Skechers’ new racing flat that puts
speed and weight at the forefront of its FALL
design.
2013 A new
staple within the brand’s performance division, the GOrun
Speed provides a 4mm-drop platform with just enough
cushioning to keep minimalist enthusiasts happy, while
allowing newbies to make a foray into the world of
minimalist running and racing. Designed as a marathon
racing shoe, our reviewers say the model has more
cushioning than a 5K maven might be accustomed to in
FALL
a flat. But that said, it performs excellently
as2013
a minimal
trainer and a middle- to long-distance racing shoe.
VALUE
FALL 2013
Category: Neutral
Weight: Men’s 9.9 oz. | Women’s 8.8 oz.
Price: $110
saucony.com
The Ride 6 provides minor alterations based off of the revolutionary
changes in the Ride 5. The cushioned forefoot, flexible ride, and dependable
fit are all found within the newest version of the shoe — leaving the shoe’s
treads to be the key difference-maker between the two models. As highly
acclaimed as the Ride 5 was in 2012, the Ride 6 was designed to keep the
best part of its previous version intact with few substantive differences.
ABOUT
2013
Newton
Running
THE AUTHOR
Brian O’Connor is the managing editor for runningshoesguru.com (a
leading running shoe review website) and an avid runner. When not
looking for new trails and uncharted paths in the New York City area,
he is responsible for coordinating the website’s reviews and content
along with a staff of seasoned runners and writers.
7/25/13 9:20 AM