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Archive for April, 2012

Nike Zoom Vomero+ 7 – Our Take

April 4th, 2012
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Nike Zoom Vomero+ 7 Women's Running Shoe

Our Tweet

For those who prize pillow over road feel, it doesn’t get any better than the Nike Vomero 7, now with a Dynamic Fit upper and lighter weight.
(View Men’s Zoom Vomero 7 and Women’s Zoom Vomero 7)

Big Updates

  • Lighter Weight: The latest Vomero is almost half an ounce lighter than the outgoing model.
  • Dynamic Fit: A supportive inner sleeve (the green material on the shoe shown above) wraps under the arch and around the midfoot for an adaptive fit and better arch support.

Road Test

The Zoom Vomero 7 keeps comfort cranked up to an 11 for distance runners who are all about long-haul pavement pounding. Our testers found plushness in every direction in this shoe. On the upper, the heel collar wraps you in comfort, the tongue is nicely padded, and the forefoot gives you plenty of room to spread out. Your heel feels locked in place, but even the heel cup is nice and soft.

But the upper isn’t just about plushness. The Vomero keeps your foot anchored in place thanks to the Dynamic Fit system, which wraps around the midfoot. We found this to be one of the best systems out there for customizing midfoot fit. The bands of material mold to your foot shape as you tighten the laces and can flex to adjust with changes in your foot during a run.

Of course the main attraction of the Vomero series is the cushioning in the midsole. As expected, testers found gobs of cushioning in the heel, making ground impact as soft as can be when heel striking. The forefoot Zoom Air unit also keeps things cushy up front. The experience of midfoot strikers wasn’t quite as plush – when you land in between the rearfoot and forefoot Zoom Air pockets, the Cushlon foam midsole is your main cushioning source.

Whichever way you land, don’t expect a ton of responsiveness on toe-off. Though testers found the latest Vomero to be firmed up a smidge over the prior version, this shoe is still happily disconnected from the ground underneath. That should come as good news for runners who love a luxurious ride.

Runners Say

“Dynamic fit is not a marketing gimmick – this is a real innovation that helps you customize the entire midfoot fit.” – Daniel

“To me, the Vomero 7 feels firmed up a bit compared to the prior version. That said, it’s still a highly cushioned ride.” – Joanna

“I found the Vomero a little on the dull side when midfoot striking, but it’s a very soft and pleasant landing for heel strikers.” – Matt

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Asics Gel DS Racer 9

April 2nd, 2012
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Asics Gel DS Racer 9 Women's Running Shoe

Our Tweet

Fit, feel and fast come together beautifully in the Asics Gel DS Racer 9, a lightweight racing flat with just a bit of pronation support.
(View Men’s DS Racer 9 and Women’s DS Racer 9)

Big Updates

  • Soft Mesh Upper: A new mesh design maintains ventilation and provides a soft feel.
  • Lower Stack Height: The platform height of the latest DS Racer has dropped 2mm compared to the prior version.

Road Test

The latest version of the DS Racer series gets a serious style makeover but thankfully the guts of the winning formula remain the same. Testers were expecting a light, responsive feel and that’s exactly what they got.

The light feel comes from a combination of low weight and a responsive midsole that’s got more spring than a mattress factory. The DS Racer 9 provides plenty of heel cushioning, which testers found great for long distance running. Still, with all that cushioning you never lose a connected feel to the ground. The added pronation support is noticeable but not distracting or blocky feeling.

Some testers felt that the close-fitting upper gave them the race-day feel they were looking for in this shoe, while others thought the shoe was cut just too close, particularly in the forefoot. Our measurements and those of Shoefitr indicate that the DS Racer 9 is in fact a little more snug in the forefoot than the DS Racer 8. Women who want a little extra width might want to consider bumping over to the Men’s model.

All told, the DS Racer 9 delivers a light, flexible, and stable ride for the runner needing a touch of pronation control.

Runners Say

“Near perfect shoe for a tempo workout, if you need the support. It could almost be a daily trainer except that the upper is pretty narrow.” – Daniel

“I feel like the DS Racer 9 was built just for me, since I’m a heel striker that needs a little pronation control.” – Matt

“Wow. This shoe feels incredibly fast but still gives you a very cushioned heel.” – Joanna

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