What happened to the minimal, no-nonsense racing flat?

heyy brooo why don't you give New Balance a go.... i am also a big fan of racing flats and i do a lot of research trying to find the right one ....

Looks like In Japan, New Balance racing flats are also very common ...Check out the Hanzo S and Hanzo R designed by the legendary Japanese Shoe maker Hitoshi Mimura ..The out-sole grip looks phenomenal . .. I just tried New balance Zante Pursuit(Very affordable) which is not exactly a serious racing flat but man ! it just got me wondering how fast the Hanzos S/R would feel. Remember NB has Narrow /Wide Versions ...

But sadly i think its more easily available in the Asian shoe market but i guess when there's a will there's a way to get it somehow ...All the best!

Sounds like an opportunity. This is pretty how much how Nike began with Bill Bowerman making shoes for his athletes because the ones on the market were crap.

HRE wrote:

I have thought of Merrill at times. I've never actually seen a pair. At the moment, I've got a nice stash of Asics Sortie Magics (though I don't like the newer versions as much as the older ones,) Mizuno Wave Eikedens, Takumi Sens, and a Hanzo. I also have found the Saucony Killkenny cross country flat very useful and I believe that's still around. At my age I may have enough of a stash to last for the rest of my life, which is a simultaneously disturbing and comforting idea. But maybe I can outlast my stash and try some of your suggestions.

Unfortunately the shoe glue aging out on old shoes might cause them to be useless before you can even use these shoes.

Anyone know if the zoom streak - or the zoom streak lt - is discontinued?

The zoom streak 7 is sold out just about everywhere. Nike has some zoom streak lt stock, but the lt4 was a while ago now.

wickedgoogly wrote:

Hoka Rehi? Lightweight, flexible with a great combination of ground feel and cushioning. Different than any other Hoka.

I have them. They are comfy, but too flexible for racing. Essentially an overpriced Free.

Nike has a ZoomX racing flat in the works called the HyperFly for racing 5k-half marathon. I’m 99 percent sure they’ll stop production on the streak models as we know them and continue with this new line.

Realistically speaking, the Streak 7 was their pre vaporfly marathon racer and the Zoom Streak 4 was the 5k-10k racer. They’ve already phased out the Streak 7 basically, and with the popularity of the Alphafly being used for 5k-10k, by introducing a “new shoe” specifically for those races they’ll probably get customers buying both Vaporfly and Hyperfly.

The streak series is really only used for workouts now by most, it’s hard to see them making a comeback in an economy of high stack foams

Thanks, very helpful! Hyperfly, I'm guessing, has a carbon plate / higher stack height?

Its not a true flat but the NB Fuel Cell Rebel at 7.2 ounces and 24mm -18mm stack is a fantasic shoe.. kind of vanished underfoot but has some great pop

sub sub elite local hobby jogger wrote:

HRE wrote:

I have thought of Merrill at times. I've never actually seen a pair. At the moment, I've got a nice stash of Asics Sortie Magics (though I don't like the newer versions as much as the older ones,) Mizuno Wave Eikedens, Takumi Sens, and a Hanzo. I also have found the Saucony Killkenny cross country flat very useful and I believe that's still around. At my age I may have enough of a stash to last for the rest of my life, which is a simultaneously disturbing and comforting idea. But maybe I can outlast my stash and try some of your suggestions.

Unfortunately the shoe glue aging out on old shoes might cause them to be useless before you can even use these shoes.

I've never had that be a problem except in two very new pairs of a Nike model, can't think of the name now, from maybe thirty years ago. And I have used some very old shoes. I have a pair of Sortie Magics that have to be at least ten years old. And on the bright side, maybe I won't last nearly as long as I'm planning to and it won't be a problem at all. Now I'm going to drive myself crazy trying to think what that Nike model was.

cheesewiz wrote:

Nike has a ZoomX racing flat in the works called the HyperFly for racing 5k-half marathon. I’m 99 percent sure they’ll stop production on the streak models as we know them and continue with this new line.

Realistically speaking, the Streak 7 was their pre vaporfly marathon racer and the Zoom Streak 4 was the 5k-10k racer. They’ve already phased out the Streak 7 basically, and with the popularity of the Alphafly being used for 5k-10k, by introducing a “new shoe” specifically for those races they’ll probably get customers buying both Vaporfly and Hyperfly.

The streak series is really only used for workouts now by most, it’s hard to see them making a comeback in an economy of high stack foams

This looks to be correct, here's a look at them:

Don’t have exact specs on the stack height. But it no where near vaporfly levels, looks to be around the same stack as Peg 36. Can’t confirm or deny on carbon plate either but I’m leaning towards yes. ZoomX isn’t the most stable foam without react or a plate.

cheesewiz wrote:

Don’t have exact specs on the stack height. But it no where near vaporfly levels, looks to be around the same stack as Peg 36. Can’t confirm or deny on carbon plate either but I’m leaning towards yes. ZoomX isn’t the most stable foam without react or a plate.

They look really similar to the Pegasus Turbos with a stack height of 18/28, so that's probably a pretty good guess. About a cm lower than the Vaporfly.

NB has the FuelCell 5280, 1400v6 and Hanzo W and Hanzo R. The 1400 keeps going into 2021 and the Hanzo W and Hanzo R are coming this Fall 2020. They will all be available in Canada for sure, if you know anyone who will ship you a pair from up North.

There is a reason everyone is run in the spring shoes now. It is much faster. 2-3 minutes if you're elite or sub-elite is huge. I ran in Saucony Type A's throughout my career. But the evidence for the shoes like the vaporfly's is undeniable. I will definately run in a shoe from that family in the future and in all honesty, it will be Nike because I think their technology is better.

The days of the minimalist flat has been pushed aside by technology,

Understand the onward march of tech - but having spent decades in shoes like the original gel-lyte up to the zoom elite 9s, I actually get injured in “spring” type shoes. I’ve tried. Beacons, hyper-bursts, fresh foam+, Rincon, etc. Currently back in adios 5s and 1400 v6. I guess I have too many years in basic flats.

Brooks hyperion?

https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_gb/mens-running-shoes-hyperion/1102341D083.070.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1tzA5PO-6gIVmeFRCh1SYgWBEAQYAyABEgKQJ_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sounds like you need to try ZoomX foam. The Vaporfly’s have turned back the clock 10 years for my feet and legs. They’re absolutely worth it, even for those who wore traditional flats most of their life.

ONITSUKA TIGERS

Last encountered on the Wayland High School indoor track 1974-75

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

There is a reason everyone is run in the spring shoes now. It is much faster. 2-3 minutes if you're elite or sub-elite is huge. I ran in Saucony Type A's throughout my career. But the evidence for the shoes like the vaporfly's is undeniable. I will definately run in a shoe from that family in the future and in all honesty, it will be Nike because I think their technology is better.

The days of the minimalist flat has been pushed aside by technology,

I understand how these shoes are an improvement for half marathon and up. But honestly I have trouble stomaching a $200+ shoe with poor durability for the majority of my road races, which are between 5k and 10k. I just want minimal weight and fast turnover with just enough cushioning that costs less than a dollar per useful mile. An affordable, fast workhorse. I don't want or need a $250 super shoe to win my local 5k by 30 seconds instead of 20.