Looking at options for my next racing flats, I have pretty much narrowed down my search to these two. Has anyone tried both of them, to give a good comparison? Both in fit, performance, and durability. I wouldn't plan on racing marathons in them, but would hope to use them for faster training and shorter road races up to a half marathon.
I have trained in the NB FuelCell Rebel v2 and Propel v2, and actually like the Propel a little better because the Rebel seems a little too soft. From what I have read, the SuperComp Pacer feels a little more firm than the Rebel, and that is a plus in my estimation.
I can’t fully answer your questions but I have both the Rebel V2 and Super Comp Pacer (still at low mileage with the Pacer, though) and have previously run in several pairs of the Propel V1. If any commentary relative to those shoes is useful I can chime in. Adidas shoes are way too narrow for my feet so I can’t offer anything there.
I can’t fully answer your questions but I have both the Rebel V2 and Super Comp Pacer (still at low mileage with the Pacer, though) and have previously run in several pairs of the Propel V1. If any commentary relative to those shoes is useful I can chime in. Adidas shoes are way too narrow for my feet so I can’t offer anything there.
Commentary on all the NB models would be appreciated! Do you have any sense of how long the Super Comp Pacer might last? I am relatively big at 6'4" and 175 lbs, but the Propel generally seems to last around 600 miles for me. I've probably put 250 miles on the Rebel and get the sense they might not last quite as long but they still have some life in them.
For the Pacer, I'm curious if they would be good for just a few key workouts and races, or if they would be more durable and able to handle at least 300+ mile. From everything I've read about them, they sound pretty nice right out of the box. Not sure if it is heavier runners and/or heel strikers who have had the biggest issues with durability, or if it may be a general concern.
What do people think of the pacer? Does it have a plate?
I absolutely love the Takumi Sen 8. It’s similar to the Streak 7 but with higher stack and more cushioning. I feel way less beat-up than if doing a workout in the streak.
I can’t fully answer your questions but I have both the Rebel V2 and Super Comp Pacer (still at low mileage with the Pacer, though) and have previously run in several pairs of the Propel V1. If any commentary relative to those shoes is useful I can chime in. Adidas shoes are way too narrow for my feet so I can’t offer anything there.
Seconding candid feedback on the Pacer. How do you see using it or working it into a rotation? What is the maximim distance you would race in it? How long do you think it would last? And how is the traction on wet roads (many super shoes have absysmal traction)?
Takumi Sen 8 has a weird fit IMO. Do not buy without trying them on.
Narrow and long
Thanks for that tidbit. I have probably been fine on fit about 90% of the time when buying online, but I have certainly had a few cases when the shoe ended up being unwearable (sometimes solved by sizing up, but sometimes just a design that didn't work on my foot).
Commentary on all the NB models would be appreciated! Do you have any sense of how long the Super Comp Pacer might last? I am relatively big at 6'4" and 175 lbs, but the Propel generally seems to last around 600 miles for me. I've probably put 250 miles on the Rebel and get the sense they might not last quite as long but they still have some life in them.
For the Pacer, I'm curious if they would be good for just a few key workouts and races, or if they would be more durable and able to handle at least 300+ mile. From everything I've read about them, they sound pretty nice right out of the box. Not sure if it is heavier runners and/or heel strikers who have had the biggest issues with durability, or if it may be a general concern.
I have less than 50 miles on my Pacers so take all this with that in mind. I'm also not fast (1:33 HM PR) and on the smaller side though not particular lightweight as runner (5' 8.5", 150 lbs.):
1. I am a heel striker at 8:00/mile and above and on my forefoot by 7:30/mile and under. I've done maybe 15 miles at the slower pace and the minimal rubber at the heel of the Pacer isn't doing much to protect the surrounding foam. Not that many would, but I would not recommend this shoe for easy/recovery runs or for someone who is generally a heel striker. The heel is also very narrow which makes the shoe feel decidedly unstable, for instance if running off a sidewalk curb into the road.
2. At the forefoot, I have minimal concerns about durability and suspect that as long as I keep my main contact point there, I might get 300-400 miles out them. I currently have about 500 miles on my Rebel V2s and they are still performing nicely for me, aside from the upper tearing at the forefoot on the inside on both shoes (my feet at wider than the sole here). The Rebel has a lot more rubber at the heel, though. FWIW I ditched all three pairs of my Propel V1s at around 400 miles, not because of wear, but because the shoe just started to feel sluggish.
3. Regarding the Pacer's upper, it is heavily perforated but the actual material feels thicker than the thinner 'mesh' areas of the Rebel (where mine tore). While I love the tongue on the Rebel, the Pacer's takes some time to get properly situated. I also have found that I really need to pull the laces tight otherwise my foot feels loose around the heel. Aside from that, the fit is in-line with how any other New Balance size 9 2E fits me.
4. The max I've done at a time so far is 9 miles but I'd have no concerns racing a half marathon in them. I plan to do some long runs (15ish miles) in them but I get the sense that I may be better off in the Rebel for those given that I like to start fairly slow and only really hit that forefoot pace for the latter half of the run.
What do people think of the pacer? Does it have a plate?
I absolutely love the Takumi Sen 8. It’s similar to the Streak 7 but with higher stack and more cushioning. I feel way less beat-up than if doing a workout in the streak.
I ended up getting the Takumi Sen 8. They only arrived the afternoon before a 5k race, so I did a short evening run to try them out and then raced in them. Still interested in how they compare to the aforementioned NB Pacer, but they were definitely a step up from my aging road flats that I had on hand.
Seconding candid feedback on the Pacer. How do you see using it or working it into a rotation? What is the maximim distance you would race in it? How long do you think it would last? And how is the traction on wet roads (many super shoes have absysmal traction)?
The roads were damp to wet for my morning run today but I had no traction issues wearing my Pacers. Today’s run really reinforced, though, that this is a forefoot running shoe. It honestly feels sluggish otherwise but comes into its own with appropriate form.
Seconding candid feedback on the Pacer. How do you see using it or working it into a rotation? What is the maximim distance you would race in it? How long do you think it would last? And how is the traction on wet roads (many super shoes have absysmal traction)?
The roads were damp to wet for my morning run today but I had no traction issues wearing my Pacers. Today’s run really reinforced, though, that this is a forefoot running shoe. It honestly feels sluggish otherwise but comes into its own with appropriate form.
Good to hear that feedback about the Pacer. The roads were a little wet for my race with the Takumi Sen this morning, and they seemed to do pretty well (few sharp turns to test them in that capacity). I know I have felt a little loss of traction with the NB Rebel v2 on wet surfaces, but nothing extreme.
The roads were damp to wet for my morning run today but I had no traction issues wearing my Pacers. Today’s run really reinforced, though, that this is a forefoot running shoe. It honestly feels sluggish otherwise but comes into its own with appropriate form.
Good to hear that feedback about the Pacer. The roads were a little wet for my race with the Takumi Sen this morning, and they seemed to do pretty well (few sharp turns to test them in that capacity). I know I have felt a little loss of traction with the NB Rebel v2 on wet surfaces, but nothing extreme.
Where (be specific) are you people buying these shoes and for how much?