Altra One Men's Shoe
With the turn of the page into the New Year, we are seeing an expansion in offerings from Altra. Despite being a relative newcomer to the running shoe world, Altra saw a very successful 2012, gaining traction within the running community with their winning combination of cushioning for underfoot protection and a zero heel-to-toe drop platform.
The One is Altra’s entry into the lightweight performance category. Light enough for racing yet protective enough for training, this shoe should be right on the money for fans of Altra who want to cover racing distances up to the marathon and do some speedwork.
What To Watch For
- Standard Altra Traits: It’s an Altra, so expect a wide forefoot to allow for toe splay and a zero drop platform to encourage a more forward foot strike.
- Low Stack Height: Altra measures stack heights differently than we do, and is claiming an 18mm height. This will likely translate into a 12mm stack height by our measurements, or 4mm lower than the Altra Instinct 1.5.* There still should be a good amount of protection underfoot to reduce impact, while focusing on responsiveness and energy return.
- Low Weight: Altra has measured the One at 7.3 oz in a Men’s size 9 and 6.4 oz in a Women’s size 8.
MSRP
$100.00
Launch Date
March 2013
Men’s Colors
Lime Punch Altra One
Women’s Colors
Lime Punch Altra One
* CORRECTION: Bullet point updated above to change incorrect stack height measurement listed in Altra’s catalog
Altra One Men's Shoe
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Merrell Ascend Glove Men's Shoe
For anyone not keeping track, a big story in 2013 is zero-drop running footwear with more cushion than the “barefoot” shoes of prior seasons. This geometry caters to runners who like a level platform but aren’t huge fans of the bare-bones pounding of models with little to no underfoot padding.
The Ascend Glove is Merrell’s solution for runners who want a zero-drop trail shoe with a bit of protection. Compared to the more minimal Trail Glove, the Ascend Glove should excel on more technical or rugged trails. According to Merrell, the Ascend Glove is expected to come in at 8 oz for the Men’s model.
What to Watch For
- MotionMesh: A new open mesh pattern allows for optimal breathability and flexibility without compromising security.
- Zero Drop: The Ascend Glove is designed with stack heights of 10.5mm in both the forefoot and heel to encourage an uninhibited stride.
- Vibram Outsole: A lugged outsole offers durability as well as traction on a variety of terrain types.
MSRP
$120.00
Launch Date
July 2013 August 2013
Men’s Color
Zest Ascend Glove
Women’s Color
Black/Pink Ascend Glove
Merrell Ascend Glove Women's Shoe
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Saucony Carrera XC Men's Shoe
Fresh for the 2013 cross country season is Saucony’s new Carrera XC. Saucony has long been a player in the XC market with their popular Shay and Kilkenny models. What’s been missing is an ultralight performance spike for the elite athlete. The Carrera XC should fill this void nicely, and at an expected 3.9 oz for a Men’s size 9 and 3.5oz for a Women’s size 8, we see it as a strong competitor to shoes like Nike’s Victory XC.
What to Watch For
- Lightweight Upper: A thin mesh upper features FlexFilm overlays throughout for a secure and supportive fit.
- Full Length Spike Plate: The six pin Pebax plate extends to the heel to provide unrelenting grip and torsional rigidity.
MSRP
$110.00
Launch Date
July 2013
Men’s Color
Slime/Vizipro Orange Carrera XC Spike
Women’s Color
Pink/Citron Carrera XC Spike
Saucony Carrera XC Women's Shoe
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Saucony Kinvara 4 Women's Shoe
Since its introduction in 2010, there have been few running shoes that have received the attention and buzz to match that of Saucony’s Kinvara. Part of Saucony’s Natural Series, the Kinvara’s legacy continues with the release of it’s fourth iteration in 2013.
Don’t expect any huge departures from the hugely popular Kinvara 3. The 4 retains many of the design elements of its successful predecessor, though a few tweaks (such as an improved upper and the addition of a PowerGrid heel insert) should make for a more enjoyable running experience. Saucony claims weights of 7.7 oz in a Men’s size 9 and 6.7 oz for a Women’s size 8.
What to Watch For
- Revisited Upper: Overlays around the forefoot have been stripped down to increase breathability without sacrificing security, and a redesigned heel collar should reduce rubbing on the Achilles.
- Upgraded Cushioning: We expect that the switch from ProGrid to PowerGrid in the heel will deliver a smoother and more plush transition from heel to toe.
- Color Variety: The May 2013 release will consist of five colorways on both the Men’s and Women’s sides, so there should be something to suit everyone’s tastes.
MSRP
$100.00
Launch Date
May 2013
Men’s Colors
Citron/Black/Green Kinvara 4
White/Navy/Orange Kinvara 4
Blue/Black/Slime Kinvara 4
Red/Black/Citron Kinvara 4
Grey/Yellow/Black Kinvara 4
Women’s Colors
Purple/Pink/Citron Kinvara 4
White/Grey/Vizipro Coral Kinvara 4
Citron/Black/Pink Kinvara 4
Blue/Orange Kinvara 4
Black/Pink Kinvara 4
Saucony Kinvara 4 Men's Shoe
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Asics Gel Noosa Tri 8 Men's Running Shoe
A full redesign of the Noosa Tri is on tap for December, but don’t expect big changes from the core “party on your foot” design spec. The Noosa’s psychedelic confetti look remains intact, and the shoe drops some weight for improved responsiveness. Plus, if you were sorely missing the kangaroos from the Tri 6, they make a pretty snazzy comeback in this update (take a close look at the triangle by the midfoot).
What to Watch For
Asics Gel Noosa Tri 8 Women's Running Shoe
- Reduced Weight: Asics lists weights of 9.7 oz (Men’s size 9) and 8.1 oz (Women’s size 8), down from their published weights of 10.6 oz and 8.5 oz in the current model.
- New Support System: Dynamic DuoMax, being added to many of Asics’ most popular models, makes its first appearance on the Noosa Tri for a smoother, yet still supportive ride.
- Reduced Overlays: Fewer stitched-on elements in the upper reduces weight, and the open mesh in the forefoot continues to offer plenty of water drainage.
Launch Date
December 2012
MSRP
$130.00
Men’s Colors
Black/Confetti Noosa 8
Yellow/Orange/Multi Noosa 8
Blue/Yellow/Punch Noosa 8
Storm/Lightning/Black Noosa 8
Women’s Colors
Black/Confetti Noosa 8
Yellow/Pink/Multi Noosa 8
Violet/Purple/Multi Noosa 8
Storm/Lightning/Mint Noosa 8
Women's Gel Noosa Tri 8 Yellow/Pink/Multi
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Mizuno Elixir 8 Men's Shoe
Here at the office, we’re big fans of the Mizuno Wave Elixir 7, a shoe featuring an excellent blend of performance, cushioning, and a bit of support for everyday training, high mileage, and fast running – truly an all-purpose everyday trainer. So we were actually pretty excited to see minimal changes in store for the Elixir 8.
A refined upper should make the shoe better fitting for an even wider range of runners, while the unchanged platform will deliver the Elixir 7′s firm and responsive ride with a smooth transition. Expect weights to go unchanged: around 9 oz for a Men’s size 9 and 7.5 oz in a Women’s size 8.
Design-wise, what do you think? We’re split. A lot of us like the current tiger stripes, but a few big 80′s fans are jumping for joy over the New Wave print.
What to Watch For
- Fewer Overlays: Mizuno did away with many of the overlays from the Elixir 7, which should result in a more adaptive fit and increased upper flexibility.
- Carryover Platform: We can expect the same cushioned yet lightweight and responsive ride that Mizuno nailed with the Elixir 7.
Release Date
January 2013
MSRP
$120.00
Men’s Color
Orange/Lime/Anthracite Wave Elixir 8
Women’s Color
Electric/Lime/Anthracite Wave Elixir 8
Mizuno Elixir 8 Women's Shoe
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New Balance 810 v2 Men's Shoe
Not gonna lie, we weren’t the biggest fans of the original MT810 from New Balance. A heavier shoe with a near-excessive amount of protection, this traditionally designed trail model just didn’t really do it for us from a running standpoint. We are pleased to see a complete makeover in the shoe’s first update, and welcome the 810 v2 with open arms (or open feet?). Expect the 810 v2 to be a rugged yet relatively nimble shoe capable of all-terrain performance.
What to Watch For
- Complete Redesign: Nothing from the original 810 has gone untouched in this update. New Balance has reformed the shoe to become a more performance-oriented trail offering.
- Dramatically Reduced Weight: Down from a whopping 13.7 oz in the original, the new 810 v2 checks in at 10.9 oz in a Men’s size 9 and 8.4 oz in a Women’s size 8 according to New Balance.
- Lower Offset: An 8mm heel-to-toe differential will promote running on the toes for a swift and agile trail running experience.
MSRP
$90.00
Launch Date
February 2013
Men’s Color
Black/Red MT810 v2
Women’s Color
Blue/Yellow WT810 v2
New Balance 810 v2 Women's Shoe
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Asics Gel NoosaFAST Men's Running Shoe
What do you call a shoe that’s a little bit Aussie, a little bit Rasta, and a whole lot speedy? Asics calls it the Gel NoosaFAST. This shoe replaces the Gel Hyper Speed 5, a pretty spectacular racing flat that will be missed. (On a side note, check out our sale on the Hyper Speed 5 if you’re looking to stock up before they’re all gone.)
Asics Gel NoosaFAST Outsole View (Note Drainage in Forefoot)
So what’s the deal with this flashy new model? The NoosaFAST is an entirely new design that drops nearly a half ounce from the Hyper Speed 5 (according to published weights from Asics), and is built with a low 6mm offset. Plus, there’s a Women’s model on tap for all you speedy ladies out there.
What to Watch For
- Light Weight: According to Asics, the Men’s NoosaFAST checks in at 6.6 oz (size 9), with the Women’s model at 5.3 oz (size 8).
- Ready to Race: Take these on your next 5K, 10K or beyond, or pop in the included elastic laces and ace your next triathlon outing.
- Tri-Specific Features: Other triathlon-ready features include grips on the heel and tongue, no-sew construction, and drainage holes in the front of the shoe.
MSRP
$100.00
Launch Date
January 2013
Men’s Color
Flame/Black/Yellow NoosaFAST
Women’s Colors
Hot Pink/Black/Electric Blue NoosaFAST
Pink/Orange/Yellow Blue NoosaFAST
Asics Gel NoosaFAST Women's Running Shoe (Note Elastic Laces)
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Zoot is making several updates to its footwear line for Spring ’13. The brand’s offerings are known best for their sockless comfort with quite a bit of performance, and this trend looks to continue in the updates of the Ultra Kalani, Ultra Race, and Ovwa. The following are all scheduled for a February 2013 release.
Ultra Kalani 3.0
Zoot Ultra Kalani 3.0 Women's Shoe
Zoot’s neutral, high mileage trainer returns in its third iteration. There aren’t too many departures from its predecessor in the Kalani 3.0. Expect the same seamless upper construction for friction-free, sockless wear, along with full-length Z-Bound cushioning. Zoot’s published stack heights are 15mm in the forefoot and 25mm in the heel, lowering the entire shoe by 4mm for a closer to the ground feel.
MSRP
$140.00
Men’s Color
Black/Yellow/Green Ultra Kalani 3.0
Women’s Color
Black/Pink/Blue Ultra Kalani 3.0
Zoot Ultra Kalani 3.0 Men's Shoe
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Nike LunaRacer 3 Men's Shoe
To make changes to the LunaRacer is to make a bold move. The last time Nike messed with the shoe and introduced the LunaRacer 2, runners got grumpy and the Swoosh reverted back to the cult favorite’s original design. But even with all the love it gets, the original LunaRacer, first released way back in 2008, is not necessarily a “perfect” shoe. The slim upper design made for a claustrophobic fit for some runners, and we’ve heard a few reports of overheating due to the material used in the upper.
Nike addresses these concerns in their second attempt to update the shoe. A completely redesigned upper replaces the plastic-y thin mesh material with a more pliable and breathable open mesh, while the absence of overlays should make for a more accommodating fit. We expect the LunaRacer 3 to appeal to a much wider range of runners, while retaining its original fanbase.
What to Watch For
- New Upper Design: A new mesh upper features both Engineered Mesh, eliminating the need for overlays, as well as Dynamic Flywire, allowing for a fit that changes along with the shape of the foot during the gait cycle.
- Carryover Platform: Lunarlon cushioning provides a soft yet responsive ride without adding much weight to the shoe, and carbon rubber in key areas provides traction and durability.
- Reduced Weight: Nike claims a weight of 6.2 oz for the updated model, a slight decrease over the 6.6 oz weight we measured for the current LunaRacer.
MSRP
$110.00
Launch Date
January 2013
Men’s Color
Volt/Black/Teal LunaRacer+ 3
Blue/Black/Crimson LunaRacer+ 3
Women’s Color
Pink/Grey/Fuchsia LunaRacer+ 3
Turquoise/Anthracite/Crimson LunaRacer+ 3
Nike LunaRacer 3 Men's Shoe Medial View
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