GA0509_ShoeReview_BB2.qxp:GA03_xx_xxFeature 4/28/09 12:49 PM Page 33
PERFORMANCE
ASICS GEL-DSTrainer 14 — $110
ASICShasrefinedthethreekeyareasoftheGEL-DSTrainer:upper,midsoleandoutersole.Theupperisstillopenmeshwith
BiomorphicFitinserts,butbyadjustingtheasymmetricallacingtorestorethefamiliarsizingandsupport,theupperfitsbetter.
Theoverlayssportnewtailoringthatgivesabetterfitthroughtheheelandmidfoot.Themidsolefeaturesashortermedial
seconddensity,whichmaybepartlyresponsiblefortheslightlysofterfeel.ASICSreportsthatthemidsoleisamillimeter
thinnerandtheoutersoleis2mmthicker,makingtheforefootalittlemoreresponsive.Thatextramillimeterhasbeenadded
totheblownrubberintheforefoot,improvingtherideandhelpingtocradleaninsertofhigh-tractionrubbercalledWet-Grip.
“Ireallylikethesnugnessoftheseshoes;theyfitaroundmyfeetverywell.Greatfeel,lighterthanaverage,goodcushioning.
Theflexyregion[BiomorphicFitinserts]oftheuppersisfabulous.”
Sizes:Men6–13,14,15;Women5–12•Weight:Men11.4oz.(size11);Women9.1oz.(size8)•Shape:semi-curved•Construction:
slip-lasted•For:low-tomedium-high-archedfeetwithmildtomoderateoverpronation,forfaster-pacedruns
MizunoWaverider 12 — $100
NEUTRAL
TheWaverideralternatesbetweenbeingaperformanceshoeandamidweighttrainingshoe.Version12hasslimmeddownto
aperformanceweight. Aquickglanceattheupperrevealsamoreopenmesh,withoverlaysthatareabitmoresubstantial
andsupportive.Tryingthemonrevealsasnuggerfitandasofterstep-infeel,thankstotheadditionoftheOrtholiteinnersole.
Themidsoleisnoticeablythinner.Therideismoreresponsive,whichisgoodforlighterrunnersandshorterruns,butonlonger
runs,testersnotedthatitseemedabitlesscushionedthanearlierWaveriders.Thewomen’sversionfeaturesmoreflexgrooves
toaccommodatelessbodymasstoflextheshoe,whilethemen’sversionhasabroaderflareinthesoleforabetterlanding.
“Ilikethelowercutontheback—manyshoesaretoohighontheAchillestendon.Needmoresupportandcushioning,
thoughtheydidfineformid-lengthruns.LightcomparedtowhatInormallyrunin—IhardlyknowI’mwearingthem.”
Sizes:Men7–13,14,15,16(D,2E);Women6–12(AA,B)•Weight:Men11.9oz.(size11);Women9.4oz.(size8)•Shape:semi-curved
•Construction:Strobelslip-lasted•For:medium-tohigh-archedfeetwithneutralbiomechanics,formid-mileageruns
Nike Zoom Start+ — $88
NEUTRAL
TheStartwasconceivedasashoeforthosewhowanttobeginrunning.Allrunnersneedgoodshoes,andtheStartisagood
shoe.Theupperisairmeshinfrontandclosedmeshfromthemidfoottotheheel.ThenNikeminimizedtheoverlaysand
threwonsomeFlywirefor“tech”appeal.ThemidsoleisCushlon(thinnedabittoreducepriceandweight,andimprove
flexibility),withaZoombagintheheel,andgender-specificdesignreflectedinvariedflexgroovesandcrashpads.Theoutersole
istheWaffledesignoftheBowermanshoes,Nike’sbestmultisurfacetraction.Therideiswell-cushionedandresponsive,whichis
thehallmarkoftheCushlonfoam.Thepricetagisperhapsthebestsurprise—thevaluehereisoutstanding.
“Ilikedthewaytheseshoesfeelfromthefirsttimetheywentonmyfeet.Thecushioningandflexibilityintheforefoot
makethemverycomfortabletorunin.Overall,Iamveryimpressedwiththisshoe.Comfortable,lightandstable.”
Sizes:Men6–13,14,15;Women5–12•Weight:Men11.8oz.(size11);Women10.0oz.(size8)•Shape:semi-curved•Construction:
Strobelslip-lasted,EVAStrobelboard•For:medium-tohigh-archedfeetwithneutralbiomechanics
Puma Complete Concinnity III — $95
STABILITY
TheConcinnityIIImakesafewwell-consideredchanges.Theupperisanopenairmeshwithawell-finishedinterior.Atraditional
lacingsystemreplacestheasymmetricallacingoftheIandII,givingthisversionasecurebutroomyfit.Adeeperthroatand
areshapedtoealsohelp.Themidsoleisreconfiguredwithasmallerseconddensity,aslightlymoreflexibleforefootanda
lowerprofilefeel.Whilethecushioningisgoodforalightweightrunner,someofourtestersfoundthatitwasnotsubstantial
enoughforlongerrunsorheavierrunners.TheoutersolefeaturesEverTrackcarbonrubberthroughout,withblownrubberin
thelateralforefootfordurablecushioning.Overall,theimprovementssucceedinprovidingasolidstabilityalternative.
“Ireallylikedthesnugfit.Thecomfortandbounceweregreatforshort,fastruns,butIwouldnotrecommendthemfor
anythinglong.”
Sizes:Men6–13,14,15,16;Women5.5–11.5•Weight:Men11.9oz.(size11);Women9.5oz.(size8)•Shape:semi-curved•
Construction:Strobelslip-lasted,full-lengthEVAStrobelboard•For:medium-tohigh-archedfeetwithneutralbiomechanicstoverymild
overpronation,forfaster-pacedruns
Zoot UltraTT 2.0 — $135
NEUTRAL
Zoot’sUltrafootwearlineisgearedtotriathletes.The2.0offersbettercushioningwhileshavingweightfromaverylightshoe.The
upperhasmoreopenmesh,anexposedneopreneinsertforasnugbutforgivingfit,andaDryLexmoisture-wickingliningcombined
withanti-microbialsilvernanotechnology.ThemidsoleoffersamoregenerouslayerofZ-BOUND,andanextendedshankfor
betterstability.Thermoplasticoverlaysandlargeholesinthetongueandheelimprovethegrip,andhelpyougettheshoeonfast.
Theoutersolehasbeenupgradedtoatoughercarbonrubberinthehigh-wearareasandcombinedwithblownrubberandTPUto
lightenitandimprovetheride.Allthesefeaturesmeettheneedsoftriathletes,whileprovidingallrunnerswithlow-profile,efficient
performance.Theupgradedmaterials,designandperformanceearnedtheUltraTT2.0ourBestPerformanceShoeaward.
“Fitlikeasecondskin,veryminimal.Greatlightweight.Ilikeitwhenshoecompaniesunderstandthatashoedoesn’t
havetobebeefytobegoodatwhatitdoes.”
BEST SHOE
Sizes:Men8–12,13,14;Women6–10,11•Weight:Men9.9oz.(size11);Women7.7oz.(size8)•Shape:semi-curved•Construction:
Performance
Strobelslip-lasted•For:medium-tohigh-archedfeetwithneutralbiomechanics,forfaster-pacedruns
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SUMMER 2009 | GETACTIVE! 33
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