If you train in flats - what are the good flats in 2017?

neutral planet wrote:

The Nke Streak LT 2 was my favorite by far - light, durable, no-nonsense shoe great for training.

What else is out there right now? Here's what my research found, would appreciate opinions on these or other suggestions.

- Nike Streak LT 3 seems ok

- Saucony Type A seems ok

- Adidas Takumi Sen seems ok. Their Adios had too much heel lift for me

- New Balance has the Hanzo, which sounds a bit heavy

- Mizuno dropped the Wave Universe and has no racing flat now?

- Brooks has the Hyperion, which looks to have a pretty big heel on it

- Hoka's shoes all seem to put you 5 inches off the ground

- Sketchers shoes all look heavy

Did I miss any?

Mizuno Ekiden

Mizuno wave cruise 10

Mizuno Hitogami

New Balance 1400 and 1500 ( stability)

NIke Zoom Streak 6

Nike Lunaracer 4

Asics Hyperspeed

Asics Lyteracer RS 4

Asics Tarther Kainos

ASICS TartherZeal 3

The Skechers Gomeb Speed with the knit upper is a cheaper, more comfortable version of the Nike Streaks, IMO. I tried on a pair of the Nike flyknit streaks, and found them superior only in the area of breathability, but the Skechers are still plenty breathable. The foam is quite durable, too. I've got about a thousand miles on them. Pretty good for fifty bucks on amazon.

I really like the Lunaracer 4. It feels great on the roads. I have just gotten back to training in flats after about ten years of off and on running in trainers. They have been a fantastic transition shoe. I don't think I'll ever be able to train in Streak XCs (LT, whatever now) like in the past but the LR4 is definitely working out

May try the Streak 6 next if I can find them on clearance.

I tried on the Asics DS trainer and i thought it would be a perfect training flat. The only reason I didn't buy it is my legs are beat up at the moment and I'm not in crazy training mode. But if I was training seriously, I'd have snatched it up.

Right now I'm just doing all my running in Hyperspeeds and NB1400's. I do all my running on track or trail. I used to also train in the Piranha's, Kilkenny's and original lunaracers. I really liked the lunaracers soles but not the uppers.

Nike Lunaracers for everything. Only shoe you need.

light 'n fast wrote:

I really like the Lunaracer 4. It feels great on the roads. I have just gotten back to training in flats after about ten years of off and on running in trainers. They have been a fantastic transition shoe. I don't think I'll ever be able to train in Streak XCs (LT, whatever now) like in the past but the LR4 is definitely working out

May try the Streak 6 next if I can find them on clearance.

I went through several (maybe even 10) pair of Lunaracer 3. Didn't give the 4s more than 20 miles. Just not the same shoe - maybe for some that's good.

Just picked up my 3rd pair of the Streak 6 and absolutely love them. Highly recommended. I mix in a little Flyknit Racer, too.

OneDayRunner wrote:

light 'n fast wrote:

I really like the Lunaracer 4. It feels great on the roads. I have just gotten back to training in flats after about ten years of off and on running in trainers. They have been a fantastic transition shoe. I don't think I'll ever be able to train in Streak XCs (LT, whatever now) like in the past but the LR4 is definitely working out

May try the Streak 6 next if I can find them on clearance.

I went through several (maybe even 10) pair of Lunaracer 3. Didn't give the 4s more than 20 miles. Just not the same shoe - maybe for some that's good.

Just picked up my 3rd pair of the Streak 6 and absolutely love them. Highly recommended. I mix in a little Flyknit Racer, too.

I never tried the 3s and am not very picky about my trainers, but I have heard that before about the 4s.

Is the Flyknit Racer an actual racing shoe? I have narrow feet, is the Flyknit upper secure?

Y'all are really missing out with the Saucony A-type. The model four and five are the best shoe I've ever run in & the six is great too.

Flyknit racers are pretty good racing shoes but I wouldn't recommend them off a track or well cleaned roads as the sole of the shoe is really thin.

Oh my goodness... wrote:

Y'all are really missing out with the Saucony A-type. The model four and five are the best shoe I've ever run in & the six is great too.

Might not be enough shoe for daily road miles for me. You train in them? The weight and offset do look appealing tho.

I like the Takumi Sen boosts. I use them for primarily track work, though. I've only used them on the roads for some hill sprints and one 5k.

light 'n fast wrote:

Oh my goodness... wrote:

Y'all are really missing out with the Saucony A-type. The model four and five are the best shoe I've ever run in & the six is great too.

Might not be enough shoe for daily road miles for me. You train in them? The weight and offset do look appealing tho.

I used them mainly for fast reps (800s and down) and races.

light 'n fast wrote:

OneDayRunner wrote:

I went through several (maybe even 10) pair of Lunaracer 3. Didn't give the 4s more than 20 miles. Just not the same shoe - maybe for some that's good.

Just picked up my 3rd pair of the Streak 6 and absolutely love them. Highly recommended. I mix in a little Flyknit Racer, too.

I never tried the 3s and am not very picky about my trainers, but I have heard that before about the 4s.

Is the Flyknit Racer an actual racing shoe? I have narrow feet, is the Flyknit upper secure?

Just ran Boston in the FR (2:33), as well as all my 16+ runs. Never had a problem. Of course, I'm n=1. I never felt like I was slipping it it, even in wet runs. My only "knock" against the shoe, and this is entirely climate-dependent and obvious, is that it's really cold. I also have the flyknit streak 6, and they are much warmer - it's a different type of flyknit. But in neither do I have lockdown issues, at least thus far.

I was a devout Streak LT (really the earlier Streak XC even more) for many years. When they went to the most recent design I bailed. It's just too tight of an upper now, and the change to the new forefoot is too radical. The Streak used to be part of the 'Bowerman' series, which I had understood meant that Nike wouldn't drastically alter the shoe from one iteration to the next. I guess that concept is dead.

Anyway, I have been using the Streak 6 recently and it's a pretty great shoe. It reminds me of the Streak LT prior to the current version, albeit it just slightly more built up. The difference is small though. Overall the shoe is still light, flexible, responsive and comfortable. I've read that the uppers aren't the most durable, but I don't have enough miles on mine yet to confirm or deny. Thus far I highly recommend this shoe.

I just tested out 4 pair of flats (utilizing running warehouse free returns).

Nike Streak LT3 - It is super light, firm, a lot of road feel. A "track spike for the road" is the most common description, and i'd say its accurate. The rounded outsole feels awkward to me at slower paces. It's meant to race in only. Most everyone would not want it as a regular trainer.

Nike Streak 6 - Light, firm ride, but doesn't have that low to the ground feel some want in a flat. It still feels fast and responsive though, despite the thicker sole. Plenty fast for 5k, but you can tell they would really shine at HM and Marathon where you want some protection. The 8mm drop is forgiving on the calves (I have chronic achilles problems). Probably the best option of the 4 as a trainer.

Asics Hyperspeed 7 - Light with a soft midsole. Your foot really sinks into them on landing making them feel really comfy. My first run in them was a slow 8 miles, and they felt great. But then I did a tempo and decided they are too soft for a racer, and felt less responsive than the others. Durability as a trainer is probably not great, but they are also much cheaper than most.

Adidas Takumi Sen - Has the same cushioned yet responsive feel of the other boost shoes. I would have bought them if not for the price. The adios would be better for training though, mostly because of the added durability. The nubs on the outsole of the takumi would wear down fast.

Thanks everyone for the responses so far.

- The Nike Streak 6 is getting good reviews but the bulk and 8mm drop sound too much to me for a flat. Ditto NB1400. I prefer the low-to-the-ground feel, like the Lunaracer is too spongy for me (or was when I tried it a few years ago).

- Jury is still out on Sketchers.

- With the LT2 gone, the Type A and Hyperspeed sound the best, but both seem to be discontinued or on the way out - not all sizes available from the manufacturers. Will look around for deals.

- Otherwise, I'll give the LT3 a chance but not expecting good things. Next choice probably the Takumi Sen.

- I just want a flat sole, shoelaces, and fabric that won't rip after 200 miles, but I guess nobody's interested in manufacturing something like that these days.

Running Warehouse let you run in these shoes then return them?

Thanks for the review.

light 'n fast wrote:

Running Warehouse let you run in these shoes then return them?

Thanks for the review.

they're supposed to only accept a used return for store credit, not a refund. But i just run enough to make a decision then put them back. If they don't give the refund I just hang on to the credit till the next time i need some trainers.