Seven new running shoes to put a spring in your step this season
With developments in new technology there are lots of exciting models to explore and lots more to come throughout 2022. Here we review seven new running shoes on the market.
The new kid on the block, True Motion use their unique ‘U-tech’ system to provide both a balanced support to the rear foot and a trampoline-like effect at push-off. The technology uses a horseshoe shaped cushioning material; this essentially sits around the outer edges of the foot, allowing it to ‘sink’ into the space in the centre.
As well as providing cushioning this creates stability, by centring the foot strike and helping to keep the foot and knee in the correct movement plane. The feel is a little different but after just a couple of miles we found it reassuringly stable and effective.
The upper is a plush, dual layer engineered mesh that is very well made and feels luxurious around the foot with soft padding and a great fit.
The midsole is the brands U-Tech foam material and is every bit as good as you’d expect on a premium model. The stack height of 25mm in the heel with a 10mm drop is a little low compared to many competitor models, but it performs very well and gives the shoe a light feel and more performance orientated ride.
True Motion will be a brand to keep an eye on, with several other models on the range which will expand over the coming months.
While not the most advance running shoe in comparison to many of today’s offering this shoe does offer great value, functionality and versatility.
The shoe is rather reminiscent of a running shoe from around 20 years ago, but given its price it’s certainly worth a look, particularly for those that travel light and want a one-stop shoe for a variety of uses.
The shoe is made largely of recycled materials, is lightweight, flexible and it must be said, extremely comfortable. The cushioning isn’t as advanced as many but, given the price it stacks up well against similarly priced options from the better-known brands.
The soft, seamless mesh upper is breathable and drains water quickly, as does the sole so for adventurous travels it really is a no-nonsense solution.
The brands most popular support shoe is updated to the 12th edition this season. Support remains unchanged by way of the medial post and works as well as ever in controlling excessive pronation. The rest of the midsole is updated to Fresh Foam X, the brands premium cushioning material and one which makes the shoe a little softer and a little more responsive. It’s a subtle change but we’re sure it will make the overall feel better for the life of the shoe.
A new upper sees changes to the engineered mesh which now has a specific stitch pattern running throughout it to add structure and support, especially in the midfoot. It’s a clever idea and works well, giving the shoe a snug and comfortable wrap-around fit.
The unusual looking heel collar from the previous version has been replaced with a little more traditional design, with more internal padding but still keeping the shape of turning away from the Achilles to reduce and possible irritation. It’s a good move, fits well and should prolong the durability around the heel.
In summary it’s a considered update with many positive changes while remaining true to the core features of the shoe.
Changes are minimal in the second generation of this shoe which redefined the category of racer/trainers on its launch. With ‘supershoe’, highly responsive cushioning and a nylon (as opposed to carbon) plate it offers high performance at a slightly more affordable price point.
A new, more breathable upper and a snugger heel fit improve the fit as do the anti-slip laces, but other than that the performance side of the shoe remains unchanged. That said our second-generation model does feel ever so slightly deeper in terms of stack height, but this could of course simply be due to tolerances in the manufacturing process.
Ultimately, it’s the same shoe that offers excellent cushioning and a responsive, almost ‘springy’ ride which gets better the faster you go. It’s also a supershoe that you can use on a more regular basis thanks to a full-length outsole that adds durability to the package.
Pushing the pace at the front of the pack, the new adizero Takumi Sen 8 is already taking the world by storm with records galore!
Already considered by many to be the best challenger around to the Nike Vaporfly, the shoe features the brands Lightstrike Pro cushioning with ENERGYRODS in the forefoot to give it a now expected super-responsive toe-off.
At 185g, the shoe feels very light and disappears around the foot with the very first steps out of the box giving a smile inducing feel as you set off on a super-responsive ride.
The stack of cushioning is 33mm in the heel dropping 6mm into the forefoot, so lower than many racers that seem to have ‘maxed out’ with the World Athletics rules, but such is the ability of the Lightstrike Pro to soak up the impact, the shoe feels very capable.
The upper is typical racer, light and breathable with a single layer construction created from at least 50% recycled materials.
The outsole uses Continental rubber and covers most of the outsole, so whilst not very thick it should remain a little more durable than its nearest rival. The forefoot section has a low-profile textured design and adds enough traction when cornering at speed.
In summary, it’s a great race day performer which should be capable enough for most even up to half marathon distance.
A new model to the brands line up, the Kairos is a support category shoe suitable for over-pronators. Support comes from a medial post and midfoot ‘QU!KSPINE’ shank. This spine runs through the midfoot of the shoe and adds a good deal of torsional stability to the shoe.
Cushioning comes from the dual layer midsole which offers a compression moulded EVA section with QU!KFOAM, a responsive foam material that gives the shoe a more familiar feel when compared to the competition.
It’s a smooth riding, stable feel and totally comfortable for daily miles day in, day out. The upper fits well and is reminiscent of many other better-known brands, with an engineered mesh and neat heel collar that with a different logo on the side could well be a much more expensive shoe!
It’s a good value everyday trainer that will deliver the good for road runners.
Hoka describe this model as an ‘accessible trainer’ perhaps suggesting it’s not entirely aimed at serious runners but having worn the shoe I’d say it’s probably one of the best shoes from the brand to date!
It’s certainly the nicest fitting Hoka shoe we’ve tried, not as narrow as other, particular around the midfoot and arch and the shoe immediately feels good around the foot.
The cushioning feels great too, more structured and generally a great ride. Cushioning is a CM-EVA material, although it’s described as a ‘lively CM-EVA’ it’s probably their best foam to date. Whilst there is no specific support or obvious control features to the shoe it does feel very stable and simply a great ride.
The shoe does feature the Dovetail design in the heel, except only on the lateral side, but it serves no purpose, it’s far too exaggerated to be of use so simply adds weight. It’s unnecessary but doesn’t really detract from the shoe at all, which given the price sits at the lower end of the brands range yet is surely one of the best performers!
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