Karhu is a niche running brand with a long history. Founded in 1916, the Finnish company got its start producing various athletic equipment, including running spikes. Their spikes seemed to catch on, seeing vast use by numerous Olympic athletes through the ‘60s.

Newly released from Karhu is their Flow line, a collection of lightweight shoes geared toward the performance runner. Receiving positive marks in a recent Running Times shoe review, Karhu’s latest offerings have turned some heads in the running community. They’ve also found a place in the shoe rotations of several staff members here at the ‘house.

Fulcrum Technology

At the heart of their Flow collection is Karhu’s unique Fulcrum technology. Consisting of a high density EVA wedge in the midsole forward of the heel, the Fulcrum promotes a quick and efficient transition from footstrike to mid-stance. Karhu claims this quicker transition reduces the runner’s vertical movement, in turn focusing more energy toward forward motion.

The Shoes

The Karhu Flow Light is the lightest shoe within the Flow range, intended for racing and fast training. Sporting a lightweight, bare bones upper and a moderate offset platform with a responsive feel, the Flow Light is tuned for performance.

The Karhu Flow3 Trainer is a beefed-up version of Flow Light, ideal for fast running and daily training. It features increased rubber on the outsole and more protective details around the upper. At 8.3 oz for a Men’s 9, the Flow3 Trainer still has plenty of performance chops.

The Karhu Flow Trail takes the Flow3 Trainer and readies it for off road use. The outsole is lined with multidirectional lugs for traction on varied terrain, and a water-resistant panel around the upper provides added protection from the elements.

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If you’re running on trails, it may be a good idea to invest in a pair of trail running shoes. Using your retired pair of road shoes doesn’t count (they are retired for a reason), even if you don’t mind getting them dirty. Trail shoes are built differently than road shoes to protect your feet and help you navigate varied terrain.

Finding a pair of trail shoes that suits your needs can make your offroad running experience that much better. Below, choose the type of trail running you’re doing and check out what you should look for in a trail shoe.

I run mostly roads, with a little bit of fire road thrown in the mix.

If your off-road running is limited to fire roads, in many cases you’ll be able to get away with running in your road trainers. But a shoe that can handle both roads and trails will offer you more traction and stability when you’re running on dirt. Several “trail-ified” versions of popular road models provide a bit more grip while still remaining fluid and flexible during road duty. As a couple of examples, look at the Asics GT 2000 Trail or the Brooks Adrenaline ASR 9.

I run fire roads and well-maintained trails.

You’re running on trails, but none of it is too technical. The type of trail shoe you should look for really depends on the running experience you’re seeking. If you want a more minimal shoe with a closer feel for the surfaces you’re running on, then check out the Brooks PureGrit 2 or the Altra Lone Peak.

If you want a traditional running shoe experience with plenty of protection from the ground and a more substantial upper, then lace up the Asics Gel Scout or Brooks Cascadia 8. Since your foot will encounter more ground angles over varied terrain and you are more likely to be up on your toes as you navigate trails, trail shoes typically have less pronation support than their road-specific counterparts. If you wear a max support road shoe, don’t fret if you can’t find a trail shoe with exactly as much support.

I run technical, uneven trails with mud, loose rocks and debris.

When you head out the door, your goal is to tackle the toughest trails you can find. You don’t shy away from hills or loose, rocky approaches. You need a shoe that can keep up with your adventure-seeking soul. In this category, you want to look for a trail shoe with intense lugs, and a secure fit. The lugs will help you mountain-goat your way through tricky terrain and the secure fit will help you feel more stable and confident in your shoes. For this type of running we like shoes such as the Salomon Speedcross 3 and Inov-8 Mudclaw 300.

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The Saucony Cortana is a shoe that sits in its own class, blending a low profile, 4mm offset design with premium cushioning and posh features. For its third iteration, the Cortana undergoes a top-down redesign, featuring both a new upper and tooling, but the core concepts behind the shoe remain. Expect the Cortana 3 to offer a lightweight and cushioned ride that will keep your feet happy during high mileage training yet can easily keep up when picking up the pace.

What to Watch For

• Forefoot Overlays: FlexFilm has been added to the forefoot, providing a secure fit while maintaining low weight and a seamless interior.
• Increased Heel Support: A new Support Frame around the heel collar helps keep your foot locked in place.
• Slight Weight Decrease: Both the Men’s and Women’s models are expected to lose a few ticks off the scale, with claimed weights of 9.5 oz (Men’s 9) and 8.4 oz (Women’s 8).

MSRP
$150.00

Release Date
August 2013 Read more…

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Forefoot Zoom Air Unit

Air is to Nike what DNA is to Brooks, Gel is to Asics, Grid is to Saucony, and the Wave Plate is to Mizuno. When it was released in the 1979 (in the Tailwind), Air technology made Nike a powerhouse in running footwear. Since then, the company has introduced several updates to Air, with the goal of providing lightweight, long-lasting cushioning. The version currently used in many Nike running shoes is called Zoom Air.

So What Exactly Is Zoom Air?

Released in the late 90’s, Zoom Air went by a few names at first and some are still used as nicknames. One of these names is Tensile Air. All you engineers out there are probably scratching your collective heads over that one – how can a gas have a property associated with solids? We answered that riddle by chiseling out a Zoom Air unit from the midsole of a Nike Pegasus 29.

Cross Section of Heel Zoom Air Unit

What We Found

On the surface, a Zoom Air unit looks a lot like any other Air unit released by Nike over the years, except maybe a bit cloudier. That cloudy look actually is from a fabric piece glued inside the unit. These units are relatively lightweight for the volume they take up in the midsole. The Zoom Air unit is certainly not as pretty as its Air Max brother, which is probably one of the main reasons why Nike hides it away deep in the recesses of the midsole.

Attaching one side of the Zoom Air unit to the other is an army of thin fabric strings held in tension from the pressure inside. Like the cables on a suspension bridge, the strings appear to reinforce the exterior shell of the Air Unit. This allows the Air Unit to be pressurized to ideal levels without the worry of shape deformation over time.

The tension that holds the unit together permits the low profile that makes it possible to hide within a shoe but still offer seemingly endless cushioning. By lashing two ends of what is in essence a balloon, Nike has made Air tensile and a way to provide long lasting cushioning while remaining light. It’s actually a pretty accomplished piece of engineering.

Talk to Us: What shoe should we hack at next to see the technology inside?

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The Mirage 3 is a fast and flexible shoe for the mild overpronator.

You’re forgiven if you haven’t paid much attention to the Saucony Mirage. After all, the Kinvara series has received most of the limelight, and the first and second versions of the Mirage had a bit of a stiff, heavy feeling ride. That’s changed with version 3. A lightweight trainer with high mileage cushioning, the Saucony Mirage 3 is a great choice for the slight overpronator looking to run with efficient form.

Big Updates

• Brand New Tooling: A new midsole gives the shoe softer cushioning in the heel and a smoother transition through the forefoot.
• Seamless Upper: Welded overlays provide a snug fit while offering a seamless interior environment for reduced friction on the foot.
• Reduced Weight: We measured the Mirage 3 at 8.7 oz for a Men’s 9 and 7.7 oz in a Women’s 8, both close to an ounce lighter than their predecessors.

Road Test

Unlike Saucony’s highly successful Kinvara, the first couple versions of the Mirage weren’t quite a homerun. So the company decided to give the third version of this lightweight, minimum support trainer a complete top-down redesign. The result: a much more flexible and satisfying running shoe.

Utilizing heat-transferred film overlays, the upper provides a snug but flexible fit that conforms to the shape of the foot. Testers did find the fit slightly narrower than previous versions, but it was never constrictive or too tight. A seamless interior limits irritation and blistering for a comfortable run.

Where some runners found that previous editions of the Mirage were a bit clunky, softened heel cushioning in this update guides the foot forward, making for a very smooth transition. The forefoot remains fairly responsive, for a lively toe-off and an electrifying run.

Despite the changes to the Mirage in this update, the shoe holds true to its core design philosophy of providing a fast feel for runners who need a touch of pronation support.

Video Road Test
Tired of all these words? Check out our video review of the Mirage 3 to get the lowdown in less than 90 seconds.

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Not gonna lie, we’re kinda hyper about how good the new Saucony Virrata is. Justin Bieber has his Beliebers, and the Chicago Bulls have their Superfans, but here at Running Warehouse, we’ve got our own little club forming: the Virratamaniacs.

Turns out, Pete Larson over at Runblogger is a card-carrying member of the Virratamaniacs as well. In his Saucony Virrata running shoe review, he found many aspects to love about the shoe, including the well-cushioned platform and streamlined upper fit. He makes a lot of comparisons to the Kinvara 2, and we think that’s a fair comparison in many respects (though of course the platform of the Virrata is level and the Kinvara is and has been at a 4mm offset.

Not to pile on the Virrata resources, but our superfan scrapbook also includes:

• Our Own Saucony Virrata Review
• Our Video Road Test of the Saucony Virrata

We’ll keep the photos of our Virrata shrine to ourselves…for now. Have you put some miles on the Virrata? We’d love to hear how you like it!

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Saucony Ride 6 Women's Shoe

The Saucony Ride has been a dependable trainer for neutral runners since its debut in 2008. With every update, we’ve seen the Ride evolve into a sleeker shoe, losing weight and dropping to a balanced 8mm offset, becoming an excellent option for runners looking to pick up the pace or for those simply seeking a great run.

The Ride 6 looks to follow this trend, with a few minor updates that should result in a smoother and more flexible running feel. Saucony lists weights of 9.9 oz for a Men’s size 9 and 8.8 oz for a Women’s 8. Those weights are very close to the current Saucony Ride 5.

What to Watch For

• Upgraded Cushioning Tech: Like several of Saucony’s other Fall 2013 updates, the Ride 6 receives an upgrade to PowerGrid for reduced weight and improved impact protection.
• Improved Ride: Increased forefoot flex grooves and a reduced midfoot shank makes for a smoother transition from heel to toe.
• Added Toe Spring: A 5mm increase in toe spring makes for a more responsive toe-off and gives the shoe a sleeker silhouette.

MSRP
$110.00 Read more…

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By Jonathan
Running Warehouse Shoe Tester

For the last two weeks I have been like Goldilocks looking for just the right trail running shoe. I love to run in lightweight, low-profile trail shoes that provide a great feel for the ground. The Salomon Sense Mantra has been a recent favorite, but for some reason I recently began to feel the need for a little more cushioning. So I moved on in search of a little more impact protection:

• Asics Gel Fuji Racer – First up was this light and low trail racer. Though it is super nimble and more flexible than the Sense Mantra, this shoe did not give me the extra padding I was looking for.
• Merrell Mix Master 2 – Still light, low and fast, but I did not find the extra padding I have been seeking in forefoot. Next!
• Salomon Speedcross 3 – Plenty of cushion, but maybe a little too much. While it was comfy and great for an easy day, it was just too much shoe to run in the next time out.
• Asics Gel Scout – Funny thing about the Scout: while it provides great traction on the trails and good rock protection, I like the shoe better as a road shoe. I actually prefer the Scout for daily road use, to any current Asics road shoe. Alas, I wanted the Scout to be a svelte, yet protective trail shoe and it was just too much shoe for my current craving.

And after this shoe odyssey, I rediscovered the Inov-8 Trailroc 255. When I originally tested the Trailroc 255, I was testing the Trailroc 245 and Trailroc 235 at the same time. Since I am partial to lighter shoes, I ended up falling in love with the 235, liked the 245 and thought the 255 was a good shoe but in comparison to the lighter, lower versions it was not my preference.

But today, the Trailroc 255 hit the sweet spot. It was more flexible than the Sense Mantra and softer under the forefoot than both the Sense Mantra and Fuji Racer, while being way more streamlined, nimble and faster than the Speedcross 3 and Gel Scout.

For the time being, the Trailroc 255 is the trail shoe that is just right. But give me a few weeks or days . . . .

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Men's Free 4.0 v3 Grey/White/Blue

As any middle child will tell you, it can be tough to be wedged between two siblings. Such is the fate of the Nike Free 4.0, soon to be released in its third version. Still, it does a great job of standing out and making its own name for itself. The Free 4.0 v3 will slot between the Free 3.0 v5 and the Free 5.0+, offering a blend of the benefits of each shoe.

Like its siblings, the Free 4.0 v3 carries over the platform of the prior model, and focuses on improvements to the upper design. We expect weights to remain almost identical to the current model.

What to Watch For

• New Upper: Breathability is increased thanks to large mesh panels, while welded overlays continue to provide lightweight, seamless structure.
• Carryover Platform: The Free 4.0 v3 keeps the mid/outsole of the Nike Free 4.0 v2, with its 6mm heel-to-toe offset.

MSRP
$95.00 Read more…

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Men's Nike Free 3.0 v5 Running Shoes

Nike’s most minimal Free option in the run speciality category, the Free 3.0 enters its fifth update with a new engineered mesh upper. Gone is the NanoPly wrap from the Free 3.0 v4 that provided structure but also felt a bit too hot for some runners.

In its place, Nike adds engineered mesh as seen on the Air Pegasus+ 29. This lightweight mesh offers built in support where you need it and plenty of open areas for enhanced breathability. We expect weights to remain almost identical to the current model.

What to Watch For

• New Upper Mesh: Engineered mesh is designed to provide structure in areas such as the midfoot and heel, while remaining breathable in other parts of the shoe.
• Bootie Construction: Underneath the engineered mesh is an integrated bootie for a sock-like fit.
• Carryover Platform: The Free 3.0 v5 keeps the mid/outsole of the Free 3.0 v4, with its 4mm heel-to-toe offset.

MSRP
$110.00 Read more…

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