Peg Turbo, easily. Bulky, soft, and yet fast-feeling. Weird.
Peg Turbo, easily. Bulky, soft, and yet fast-feeling. Weird.
I like the Fuel Cell Propel's, and at $32 that would probably make them my best buy of the past year. They are softer than anything that I've run in before, but that doesn't seem to be bad in any way. I guess got lucky finding them at that price.
There are still Zoom Elite 9's out there around the internet, but not in all sizes.
Where are you all finding shoes for $30-60? I feel like I'm rocking it if I get something around 80.
Fart Garfunkel wrote:
I like the Fuel Cell Propel's, and at $32 that would probably make them my best buy of the past year. They are softer than anything that I've run in before, but that doesn't seem to be bad in any way. I guess got lucky finding them at that price.
I just bought a pair of bright red Fuel Cell Propels off Amazon for $37. I wanted to try them and your post encouraged me to do a search. Not my color of choice as they appear almost pink but for $37 I'm flexible. I need either these or the new 890v8 to work for me otherwise I'll continue having to seek out NOS 890v6s.
Back on topic, my best purchase: another pair of 890v6s to replace my worst purchase and my-original-890v6-replacment, the 890v7. I've mentioned it several times but that shoe and me just don't run well together. They fit great and I love the way they look but running in them is a no-go.
Reebok Floatride Runfast. Paid $80 they feel very fast.
After a plantar plate injury in 2018 I spent 2019 trying a bunch of higher stack more cushioned shoes. Still miss my low, light, and flexible shoes like Altra Solstice and Kayenta. (wasn't a fan of the Escalante) Also the ST3 from Topo.
I didn't really have a favorite this year so this is more like what I tried and what I thought of them.
I've tried the Hoka Rincon but can't say I really love it although I like it a lot. There's nothing to complain about because it does just what it's supposed to do but doesn't excite in anyway. I may or may not get another pair when these wear out.
Altra Duo is a weird one for me. They're ugly, the fit through the mid-foot isn't great, and they can make weird creaking/popping noises when you walk in them. But they're light and well cushioned and it's easy to pick up the pace in them. I've been through 3 pair and have another in the box (was able to pick up a couple of pair for $75 each) but don't know if I'll buy any more of them.
The Hoka Carbon X is a nice shoe but don't know yet whether I'll buy them again. I think they do a great job of encouraging good form and then rewarding you for it. But they're not as cushioned as I'd like with that much rigidity. I've used them for some tempos runs and the Army 10 Miler and have about 125 miles in them and they're holding up well. I'm using them for the Houston Marathon this weekend and we'll see after that whether this will be my one and only pair of them.
I also tried 2 versions of the Nike Zoom Fly (Flyknit and Zoom Fly 3)
The Flyknit version is pretty good. Softer than the Carbon X but also less stable. It was between this and the Carbon X as my shoe for Houston but I just wanted a more planted feeling under foot.
The Zoom Fly 3 is just not a good shoe for me. More stack of the same midsole material as the Flyknit but is somehow firmer without being any more responsive. It doesn't feel bad but doesn't feel good either and sometimes will give me a hot-spot under the ball of my left foot.
Reebok Floatride Forever Energy (the first model) - bought four pairs during the year, including stocking up with two pairs on Black Friday for $60 and (in an ugly color) $40. Reebok's website has 40% off sales a few times a year, sometimes more than 40%. Reasonably light considering how responsive & cushioned they are. My legs are less tired after runs than when I wear other shoes.
Also bought a pair of Reebok Run Fasts. They're good for races (probably 5K-full, you may want something lighter for road miles), but I've only put about 30 miles on them, so it's hard to tell how long they'll last. No problems so far.
Peg 36 for $45 online December 27.
adidas boston 7 for 50$, best trainer ever
Thanks man. I just got the red ones for $35. Not my choice for color either, but at $35, I figured: why not!
Just picked up my second pair of the Adidas Boston 8 with the updated light strike top layer for $60 on Jack Rabbit even though they just got released and everywhere else is still showing $120. I weighed them and are 8.7 oz in a size 10 vs 9.1 in a size 10 in the original 8's which is interesting.
Runsplit wrote:
Just picked up my second pair of the Adidas Boston 8 with the updated light strike top layer for $60 on Jack Rabbit even though they just got released and everywhere else is still showing $120. I weighed them and are 8.7 oz in a size 10 vs 9.1 in a size 10 in the original 8's which is interesting.
interesting...my thought was that the Boston 8s already had lightstrike but they didn't put it in the marketing or written on the shoe...but 0.4oz is pretty significant. 0.2oz or less and I'd say it's within the margin of error for manufacturing...but 0.4oz...that's like going up a half size. does the new v8 feel any longer?
Nike Waffle Racers (vintage reissue)
Don't sleep on this classic, you people who love training in flats
reed wrote:
Runsplit wrote:
Just picked up my second pair of the Adidas Boston 8 with the updated light strike top layer for $60 on Jack Rabbit even though they just got released and everywhere else is still showing $120. I weighed them and are 8.7 oz in a size 10 vs 9.1 in a size 10 in the original 8's which is interesting.
interesting...my thought was that the Boston 8s already had lightstrike but they didn't put it in the marketing or written on the shoe...but 0.4oz is pretty significant. 0.2oz or less and I'd say it's within the margin of error for manufacturing...but 0.4oz...that's like going up a half size. does the new v8 feel any longer?
It feels the same upper wise and fit wise as the original v8. When I break them in I'll report back and see if there is any difference in the feel of the shoe but so far not really. I will take the 0.4 oz drop though for the same feel
I just got a pair of Hoka Carbon X about the first week of December. Wanted to see what all the hype was and i was not disappointed. Only run and out 35-40 miles a week but they have been the best out of shoes of had for a long time! Just not sure how long they will last as daily trainers.
Hoka Clifton 1 bought 4 pair.
Second pair of Adidas Adizero Prime. It's an Adios 3 with primeknit upper, the toe box is more flexible. No black toenails or chafed pinky toes in these shoes! I use them for fast track workouts and easy runs. Bostons/Pegs for tempo runs.
smartyiak wrote:
Thanks man. I just got the red ones for $35. Not my choice for color either, but at $35, I figured: why not!
Mine just arrived. Toe tip is definitely pink. The tongue and the rest of the upper is in between red and pink. Laces and outsole are red. I run in the dark through most of the winter and spring so I really don't care.
They fit very close to the rest of my New Balance size 9 2E width shoes. Weight is 8.9 oz. Lots of heel cushion and a decent amount of rubber on the outsole. They don't feel as stiff as the 890v6 but far more than the v7. This could work out, or not. I'll hopefully put a few miles on them today.
The only shoe I bought in 2019 that I liked better than the previous version is the Skechers GoRun Ride 8, so I guess that's the default winner for me. The Hyperburst midsole is interesting - it feels firmer and more responsive than the GRR7, but not harsh. I prefer a more responsive shoe so that was a plus. The fit around the midfoot and heel also improved, although the toebox seemed to get more voluminous and not in a good way. My only major complaint is that the insoles kept trying to slide out the back (think Kipchoge at Berlin, just not as severe) so I had to glue them.
However, my favorite shoe I ran in in 2019 was the couple of pairs of Adios 3 I still have left. I'll be sad when they finally go...