361 Strata 2 Review

361 Strata 2 Review

As someone who used to be a Brooks Adrenaline regular, despite the variety of footwear I wear and test, a stability shoe is always in my arsenal.  That "type" of shoe is changing radically as we redefine what stability means in the footwear world.  The Strata 2 is a mixed example of this shift.  It is smooth riding in the front, slightly lower drop yet has a stiff heel with a very traditional post and rigid heel.  It has served as a shoe that I pull for on days I am beat up or looking to handle longer miles.  Yet it has the hint of something faster that has been able to handle my increased addition of hill repeats and strides after runs.  361 is on the right track so let's talk about this.

Running Movement Impairments: Excessive Pronation

Running Movement Impairments: Excessive Pronation

Pronation is a term frequently thrown about by shoe companies, form "experts", medical professionals and many others  Often it is used as a terrifying term to scare people into motion control shoes, custom orthotics and other excessive, expensive or potentially unneeded devices.  While people will claim all kinds of things, the literature is confusing and sparse.  So let's take a look at what it actually says in regards to injury risks.

A few well known pronators.  Haile Gebrselassie is especially known

for his excessive foot motion, yet is a multi world record holder over a very long

running career.  

RUNNIN

Asics GT 1000 7 Review

Asics GT 1000 7 Review

I have had a love hate relationship with Asics.  I love the amazing array of Japanese racers they produce.  I love the durability of most of their shoes.  I love how their shoes look.  I like the biomechanical concepts they have tried to apply with their shoes.  II dislike the fact that they are slow to adapt, that they had kept archaic technologies, they fit on the narrow side and hadn't seemed to change much in the last 15 years.  My experiences with the GT 1000 7 and the DS Trainer 24 have blown most of my dislikes out of the water.  The separated outsole is now full length, the upper is far more flexible and adaptive, the ride is smooth and light and it costs $90.  Let's talk more about what makes the Asics GT 1000 7 such a great shoe.

Running Movement Impairments: Lateral Trunk Lean

Running Movement Impairments: Lateral Trunk Lean

A common and easily identifiable running movement impairment is excessive trunk motion.  The more common one is lateral trunk lean, which is seen in extremes in the recreational athletes all the way to more subtle movement as fatigue sets in with elite athletes.  Many attribute this to core weakness, but the actual source may be elsewhere.  While core stability, or control as it should more appropriately be called, is indeed important for athletic movement, what is missed is whether that excessive motion is the source of the problem or a symptom. 

Image from www.spokesman.com

Altra Escalante Racer Review

Altra Escalante Racer Review

I enjoy shoes that fly under the radar.  The Altra Escalante Racer is one of these shoes that oddly has not gotten the press it deserves.  I tried this shoe looking for a long distance workout/racing shoe after having success in the Altra Paradigm 4 (REVIEW).  I had enjoyed the EGO midsole, but was curious to see it in a faster shoe.  While simple in design, this shoe has blown me away, continuing to prove that simple is the way to go.

Specifications (per Running Warehouse)
Weight: 7.4oz (men's size 9)
Stack Height:  17mm / 17mm (heel/forefoot)
Drop: 0mm
Classification: Marathon Racer

FIT/UPPER

The Altra Escalante Racer fits true to size length wise (if not a slight bit short).  Width wise they fit quite wide in the forefoot, but finally have fixed the baggy midfoot fit.  The Escalante Racer runs far snugger through the midfoot and heel compared to most Altra shoes.  While there is no heel counter, the laces pull very well on the knit mesh to create an almost custom fit.  The lock down during sagittal plane motion is very good in these shoes.  However, given the flexible upper, these would not be my first choice for activities that require tons of frontal or transverse plane (side to side or rotational) movement.  Going forward though, this upper will keep you comfortable for miles.  Hence why it makes such a good lightweight half/full marathon racer. 

RIDE/MIDSOLE

As an Altra shoe, the Escalante Racer is a zero drop shoe.  As a racing shoe, it sits much closer to the ground with only 17mm between your foot (not including the insole) and the pavement (or whatever surface you are running on).  This would normally make for a harsh ride, however the Escalante Racer features Altra's relatively new midsole material EGO.  Unlike Boost or some of the other new foams out there, EGO sits on the firmer end.  It is very responsive and responds well especially at high speed.  This is why it remains my favorite new midsole material by far.  The midsole in the Escalante Racer is full length EGO, so the ride is consistent throughout no matter where you land.  The EGO is surprisingly protective for how close the Escalante Racer sits to the ground.  So it feels fast but there is enough there to get you through long miles at uptempo paces.

The sole is both foot shaped and flexible.  There are no additional shanks or plates, just the EGO midsole as well foot specific flex groves.  The sole is flexible but responsive and does not have much toe spring.  So you will need to make sure you have good foot strength, ankle/great toe mobility and lower body stability to run your potential in these shoes.

STABILITY

Given the wider forefoot and close to the ground feel, the Altra Escalante Racer is a fairly stable shoe.  However, there are no additional stability features in this shoe.  There is no heel counter (which is great for those with sensitive calcani/heel bones),  no midfoot shank, plates, guide rails etc.  Unlike many new midsole foams though, the EGO midsole is not super soft.  It is responsive and protective, but not cushy.  So there is inherent stability, but no additional added forms.

SPEED

This is a shoe meant to go fast.  The low to the ground sole, lightweight and responsive EGO midsole all do best at higher speeds.  It isn't the lightest shoe out there, but there is just enough cushioning to take most individuals through longer distance racing.  5k to Half Marathon will be best for the average individual, although some who are used to zero drop and light shoes will be able to use these for the marathon.  Personally these would be my go to half and full marathon shoe.  However, despite my billing them as a great long distance racer, the EGO midsole responds very well to high speed.  During my introduction back to speed work, these were on my feet during my first sub 5 minute miles in some time.  So despite not being the lightest shoes out there racing shoe wise, they can still burn rubber.

DURABILITY

Due somewhat to the outsole rubber, the Altra Escalante Racer has been a very durable racing shoe.  The outsole has remained in good shape despite almost exclusive high intensity use.  The EGO midsole feels exactly the same after 80 miles than it felt during the first few steps.  There is some natural wear for me in the posterior lateral heel, but that is fairly normal.  As the Escalante Racer walks a line between a racer and lightweight trainer, you should expect a fairly high number of miles for a racing shoe out of it (at least 250-300 miles if not more.

THOUGHTS AS A DPT 

Finding the optimum level of cushioning for a marathon shoe is an interesting conundrum.  As athletes, we generally want the lightest possible shoe.  At the same time, we want as much protection as possible (relatively) to try to keep our legs fresh over long distances.  Many runners, who are usually more biased toward minimalist and barefoot running, will argue that one should have the lightest possible shoe in order to run fast.  As seen by a recent trend in increased cushioning in elite racing shoes, that may not be the case.  A study by Dr. Rodger Kram PhD back in 2012 demonstrated that running barefoot versus a lightweight cushioned shoe showed no metabolic advantage over each other (Franz et al., 2012).  In fact, other studies (also by Rodger Kram that I am having difficulty finding at the moment) have also demonstrated that while there is a 1% increase in VO2 max demands per 100g additional weight in the shoe, there is a cut off to where that is effective.

On the other side of the fence, we know that the more cushioned a shoe is, the great impact and joint loading a runner experiences as demonstrated by a recent study out of Oregon State (Pollard et al., 2018).  There is an optimal balance between cushioning and lightness in a racing shoe.  The Nike Vaporfly 4% and Adidas Adios series are great examples of this.  They are definitely not the lightest shoes out there (mid 6 oz to 8 oz) but they are the most frequently used marathon racing shoes.  Now that is also partly because those two companies sponsor the most runners, but also because they are still fast and cushioned.  The marathon is a game of efficiency.   There is only so long you can go running in a super lightweight and firm shoe.  A little cushioning provides a little extra protection, allowing for your muscles to work more on propulsion than shock absorption.  Hence Altra Escalante Racer is such a great marathon racer for those looking for a zero drop long distance shoe.  It is close enough to the ground to be fast, but the EGO midsole provides enough rebound and protection to keep you going over long miles.  So for those still arguing the cushioning vs lightness, find something that fits your fancy or something in the middle.  A mix of both will get you where you need to be DEPENDING on what your body likes (not someone else's). 

WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR (Conclusion)

This shoe is for those used to zero drop looking for a racing shoe for long distances.  Some may be able to use this as a slightly cushioned lightweight trainer, but most should use this as a racing shoe that can handle a variety of distances from 5k to marathon.  I hope Altra revamps their current racing shoe line and includes a ultra lightweight shoe with EGO instead of the Vanish (which I returned to them being bone crushing firm and having sub par durability).  For the moment, this is a great racer that will fill the racing needs of those looking for a long distance zero drop racer.

GRADING

Fit/Upper          8/10
Ride/Midsole    10/10
Stability            7/10
Speed                9/10
Durability          9/10

Total Score: 86% (DEFINITELY check this shoe out if you like zero drop)

Thanks for reading!

Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.

Dr. Matthew Klein, PT DPT  OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Kaiser Southern California LAMC Manual Therapy and Sport Fellow

***Disclaimer: These shoes were purchased for their full US retail price. This in no way affected the honesty of this review. We put at least 50-75 miles on trainers and 10-25 miles on racing flats prior to reviewing them. Currently I have 85 miles on my pair. My views are based on my extensive history in the footwear industry and years testing and developing footwear. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.

References

1. Franz, J., Wierzbinski, C, Kram R. (2012). Metabolic cost of running barefoot versus shod: is
lighter better? Med Sci Sports Exerc; 44(8): 1519-1525. doi: 10.1249/MMS.0b013e3182514a88

2. Pollard, C., Ter Har, J., Hannigan, J., Norcross, M. (2018). Influence of Maximal Running Shoes

on Biomechanics Before and After a 5k Run. Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 6(6). DOI:

10.1177/232596118775720

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New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon Review

New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon Review
This review comes from Chris Park, a fellow shoe geek and contributor to Doctors of Running. Chris has recently come off a healthy cross country season and has been able to put some solid miles on this shoe. Read on for his thoughts!

A Beacon of Hope?

Asics Tartherzeal 6 Review

Asics Tartherzeal 6 Review

Japan does things differently.  While the American market continues to focus on cushioning, Japan continues to remain traditional with their history of interesting, firm, lightweight racing shoes.  The Tartherzeal has been a shoe I experienced once as I went through a frenzy trying the pre-Boost Adidas Takumi Series, Nike LunarSpider and Nike Zoom Speed series.  Like most of the others (and thanks to Japanese Tradition) the Tartherzeal has remained a high drop, lightweight fast ride.  I figured it was time to grab a pair and write a review and was pleasantly surprised that the tradition of this shoe has been maintained. 

Trying to get good photos with an all black shoe at night is difficult.  

There are more and brighter colorways I promise. 

Running Movement Impairments: Pelvic Drop

Running Movement Impairments: Pelvic Drop

Pelvic drop, often referred to by some of my patients as the "sexy walk" is not sexy at all.  In fact, it is a very common running and walking movement impairment that places many structures at risk including the lumbar spine, hip, knee and pelvis for injury.  It also is a tremendous zapper of energy, efficiency and speed.  This is something I see frequently with my elite runners when they tell me something feels off and they aren't hitting their splits.

I have posted this image before of the pelvic drop that occurs with my right weight bearing.  When I get this under control, there is a noticeable increase in speed, endurance and efficiency.  When I don't... then things start to fall apart.   

Nike Zoom Span 2 Review

Nike Zoom Span 2 Review

Many a time I have mentioned that light stability shoes are quite special to me.  A little guidance goes a long way for many people, including myself.  That being said, I have have struggled to find a light stability shoe from Nike.  The Lunarglide series was always overly soft and unstable for me.  The Lunarspeed Lite + ST was a shoe I missed but am currently searching ebay for.  A few of the Structures have worked well, but recently they have become far too heavy and overly supportive.  Even the recent Structure 21 is very much a trainer, although is far improved over previous versions.  I had known about the Zoom Span and thought it was just a cheap running shoe until I saw Sole Review post an impressed review.  Seeing that and a version two come out with improved upper, I decided to take the plunge, which being a cheaper shoe luckily was not hard on the wallet (and finding it on sale helps even more).  I am fairly impressed at what is available for the price of this shoe and am surprised this shoe isn't available on Nike.com.  Let's talk about why this shoe needs a bit more press. 

Altra Paradigm 4.0 Review

Altra Paradigm 4.0 Review

Altra has a special place in my heart.  Years ago when I was experimenting with minimal running shoes, I still remember getting my first pair of Altra Instincts.  It was awesome to finally have a zero drop trainer that had enough cushion to protect my legs from my +100 mile weeks (college) but still had everything I wanted in regards to shape and drop.  I went through 9-10 pairs until finally my lack of knowledge regarding achilles health at the time (being in college) steering me back toward traditional running shoes.  Fast forward to my current knowledge base, I made the plunge back into Altra with appropriate achilles, calf and foot/ankle preparation and the Paradigm 4 has been like meeting and old friend that has absolutely transformed.  The EGO midsole, the guide rails, the improved flexibility (even in a "max cushion" shoe) is a clear demonstration of the evolution that is Altra.  Let's jump into what makes this a unique shoe. 

Running Movement Impairments: Excess Anterior Knee Translation (Knee Forward to Toe)

Running Movement Impairments: Excess Anterior Knee Translation

Most people have heard that during squatting they should try to keep their knees from moving in front of their toes.  Then I am sure you have also heard the argument that it is indeed ok for those knees to go forward.  The answer to what is right simply depends on what what you are doing and what your goals are.  If you goal is to load the quadriceps and the patellar tendon more, then let that knee move forward.  If you are trying to minimize load and stress on the quad and patellar tendon, keep that knee back.  There is some literature on this effect, with more coming out in the recent years (Kernozek et al., 2018; Zellmer et al., 2017).

When it comes to running, there is no literature on excessive anterior knee translation that I am aware of.  However, clinical experience has shown me a similar movement impairment present in many runners with patellofemoral (knee) pain.  This may be due to the fact that running has a much higher impact load that squatting (depending on how much load you carry with the squat and the speed to which you move).  So while individuals may be able to get away with knees forward to toes with squatting, during running athletes may not have as much leeway. 

A big thank you to Ashley Bell for modeling some photos for this piece!  This is a clear example of the excessive knee anterior translation.  Her foot has not passed under her body yet and that knee is already forward of her toes!

Reebok Floatride Run Fast Review

Reebok Floatride Run Fast Review

I have been very intrigued by Reebok's recent return to serious running.  From the few shoes I have tried, they have been doing interesting things.  Among one of my favorites is the PwrPad which may helps actively engage the depression of the first metatarsal (unsure if it does).  Along comes the Floatride Run Fast and Run Fast Pro, Reebok's new racing shoes utilizing their Floatride Foam in lightweight fast packages.  While I have not tried the Run Fast Pro, the Run Fast has been on my feet for every workout and a few long runs the last month and it has shined far brighter than expected.  Let's talk about why.

Running Movement Impairments: Excess Hip Internal Rotation

Running Movement Impairments: Excess Hip Internal Rotation

Everyone knows someone that has a wobbly knee gait.  The knees seem to touch and dive inward while the feet splay outward.  This looks especially awkward during running and runners may complain of scuffing their knees or scuffing the inner part of their calves (due to the rotation).  Some individuals are indeed born with their hips in this manner (also called femoral anteversion) and will naturally stand with their feet turned in due to their hip structure.  Most people are either weak or have poor movement patterns.  Today we are going to talk about why this might be happening, the implications and what to do about it.

Image from www.sporting-heroes.net 

The classic Priscah Jeptoo.  Granted she is very fast, but that is a clear femoral internal rotation deficit (combined with knee valgus).  This is an example that people can still running very fast with these deficits, but you cannot beat biomechanics and tissue physiology. 

Skechers GOrun Maxroad 3 Ultra Review

Skechers GOrun Maxroad 3 Ultra Review

I have mixed history with max cushion shoes.  I understand the concept, but have been wary due to the excessive cushioning almost always impeding my proprioceptive relationship with the ground.  I have discussed some of the biomechanical benefits and limitations previously here, but have found myself feeling sluggish and limited in most max cushion shoes.  The Skechers GOrun Maxroad 3 Ultra has been different.  Different in that I actually get spring out of the midsole, rather than sinking in to it, there is forefoot flexibility, it is lightweight and the toebox shape is great!  I have enjoyed training in this shoe and it has become my go to long run shoe.  The only thing I am confused about is the major name change, but that does not affect the ride quality of the shoe.

New Balance Fuel Cell Impulse Review

New Balance Fuel Cell Impulse Review

While other guest contributors here have had some recent success with New Balance, my history is mixed.  My introduction was the New Balance 904, a lightweight stability shoe that was right up my ally back in 2010.  From then on however, I had issues with fit, durability and responsiveness.  Things have definitely changed with 890v6 (REVIEW) and New Balance has shown a clear shift toward the performance end of the spectrum in terms of fit, feel and responsiveness.  The Fuel Cell is nitrogen infused foam that New Balance has used in a limited number of shoes, but none of them lightweight until now.  The Impulse fills the gap as a faster workout/race shoe utilizing this compound and it certainly lives up to those expectations.

Adidas Adizero Boston 7 Review

Adidas Adizero Boston 7 Review

I have mentioned many times here that I have a special thing for lightweight trainers.  I like their versatility to be able to handle high mileage and be able to drop the pace at a moments notice.  The Adidas Adizero Boston 7 is a great example of that and takes it a step further.  If you watch high level road races, you will notice the Adidas athletes wear a smattering of shoes.  Currently you will see plenty of Adios, Takumi Sen, Sub2s.... and Bostons.  Why?  Because this shoe is fast.  Fast, cushioned and perfect for the marathon or long distance race.  Many elites get away with lighter shoes, but more still opt for that additional protection.  I was very confused when I saw a few of the top runners at the LA marathon racing in these, until I talked to them afterward.  Kenyans I have learned are notorious for only training on dirt (when possible).  The athletes I have treated have repeatedly told me that they do not want to deal with the pounding unless they have to in a race.  So it makes sense that many would opt to use a shoe that has a bit more protection, but still feels very fast.  I would describe the current Boston as a slightly better fitting Adios with more protection.  Lets dive into the details a bit more before you take my word for it.

361 Spire 3 Review

361 Spire 3 Review

361 has been unique when it comes to marketing.  Their recent campaign for the Spire 3 has been "Runners care about miles, not likes."  Which personally is true.  Perhaps it is my hipster-ish tendencies (I am originally from Portland, OR), but I tend to gravitate toward shoes that may not have a ton of hype around them (yet).  Why?   Because I like exploring different things.  Hence why you may see so many Japanese only racing shoes reviewed here.  The Spire 3 is different in that it is a neutral trainer with a carbon fiber plate in the midsole.  I enjoyed the previous version but felt like it was a little outdated due to the use of a very thick midfoot shank.  Seeing the full ground contact outsole got me very excited for the Spire 3.  And while it did deliver, there were some other interesting things that came up...

Adidas Solar Boost Review

Adidas Solar Boost Review

I hated the original Energy Boost. The introduction of Boost was fantastic and I loved it in the Adios and Glide series.  The Energy Boost just did not work for me.  The Tech Fit upper was great but the excessive toe spring, the chunky heel and slightly unstable ride pushed me away.  Years later... I had the opportunity to try the Solar Boost due to the interest in the Solar Propulsion Rails and extended torsion system into the forefoot (which I loved in some of the original Adios series).  And I was blown away.  A completely different shoe that provides a great fit, very stable (without posting) and energetic ride.

Altra Golden Spike Review

Altra Golden Spike Review

Today's review comes from David Salas, a student physical therapist from my alma mater Western University of Health Sciences. David was (and is working his way back to being) a very fast collegiate runner and has a great interest and knowledge of running. He was kind enough to lend his thoughts on a pair of the Altra Golden Spikes. Read on for more!

-Dr. Matthew Klein, PT, DPT

A true XC spike, the Altra Golden Spike is a shoe that has grown on me quite a bit after a few runs. Running through all terrains, it runs smooth as butter through grass or all-weather tracks, a firm road flat through dirt, and a super firm ride on concrete. The shoe almost seems to be best described as a natural feeling track spike that carries over grass and dirt incredibly well.

Mizuno Waveknit R1 Review

Mizuno Waveknit R1 Review

I have had mixed experiences with knit uppers.  My first one was with the Nike Flyknit Trainer, which took a significant amount of skin off my achilles area.  I had some success with Skechers knit uppers (great with the Ride 7, not so good with the GOrun 6).  Mizuno tends to either be the OG or waits to get things done right.  They had one of the original minimalist shoes in my opinion, the Mizuno Wave Universe, but never called it that.  Slowly they have begun to lower the heel drop of some of their shoes like the Wave Shadow (8mm).  Now they have decided to go after the knit uppers.  These can be seen in the Waveknit R1, which is essentially a knit upper on the Wave Rider sole and the S1, a knit upper on the Wave Sky sole.  Given my preference for lighter shoes, Mizuno was nice enough to send me the Waveknit R1.  I am impressed that Mizuno has done their homework and this is by far my favorite knit shoe to date and the only one I have been able to wear sockless without issue.  So let's talk.

Mizuno Wave Emperor 3 Review

Mizuno Wave Emperor 3 Review

For those of you who may know, I have a thing for Japanese racing flats.  From the Takumi Sen/Ren, the Nike Zoom Speed Racer, the New Balance 1100 (ran in those before this website) and more.  They were cool, unique and different.  Racing flats generally do not sell well in the United States.  Most runners are either not interested in faster lighter shoes (and would rather choose super cushioned shoes) or are intimidated by them.  Rarely do I walk into a local running store and see an extensive array of racing flats (although I am impressed when I do).  For this reason, I frequently look to Japan and the Asian market for unique racing shoes because they seem to take the art of running fast more seriously.  Thus came my interest in the Mizuno Wave Emperor 3.  Many Mizuno racing shoes like the Ekiden, Cruise and Universe were either  discontinued or are no longer available in the US.  Being someone who loved both series, I figured I had to continue exploring and found my way to the Emperor.  Although European websites state this is a 5k-10k shoe, this is a do it all, 5k to marathon racer. Why? Let's talk.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 14 Review

Mizuno Wave Inspire 14 Review

I have an interesting history with Mizuno.  The Wave Universe series is still my favorite group of racers to date.  I enjoyed the Wave Ekiden 8, loved the original Sayonara (went through 4-5 pairs).  Yet I have never run in one of their traditional trainers.   I have been interested in the wave technology as I see it as a great alternative to posting and foam cushioning.  Mizuno is also know for firmer shoes, which I tend to gravitate towards.  So with a minor achilles irritation (most Mizunos are high drop) I finally decided to take a plunge and try the Inspire, the classic Mizuno stability shoe.  What are my thoughts?  Why didn't I try these sooner???

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 Review

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 Review

The Brooks Adrenaline 14 was one of the first trainers I reviewed several years ago.  I have switched back and forth between stability and neutral for years and at the time had transitioned back to high drop with some stability due to a mild achilles irritation (from running 100 miles per week in the early parts of DPT school).  The Brooks Adrenaline at that time was the perfect choice due to the great fit through the forefoot, higher drop, the firmer ride and progressive stability.  Despite the heavier weight, the shoe felt quick due to the firmer ride and I was consistently pushed up on my toes.  Many years later now, I decided to give the 18 a shot after seeing it return to a similar feel as the 14 (I did not like the fit or feel or the 15 and 16, subsequently giving up on the line after).  In most ways, it retains the essence of what I liked about the 14, but in a different manner.  How so?  Let's talk.

New Balance 890v6 Review

New Balance 890v6 Review

This is the start of some rare shoe reviews here, as this will be one of three New Balance running shoe reviews (Matt also has one coming down the pipeline soon!). I have been hesitant to try anything of New Balance’s running shoe since my grand disappointment in the original Zante and similar disappointment in the Zante v2 (*gasp* he didn’t like the Zante?!?!?!).  The one New Balance shoe that I did enjoy was the 1500v1, but I think that is why I have enjoyed running in the New Balance 890v6 and have had blissful runs in the 1500v4 (review to follow this 890v6 review).  New Balance hasn’t pulled out any “miracle foam,” but as I have mentioned in other reviews, you have to have function follow form.  Because if the design of a shoe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good the materials are, the shoe is going to suck.  What New Balance is doing presently is designing shoes with excellent form, which lends them to perform beautifully on foot.  I digress, let’s jump into my take on the New Balance 890v6.

Specifications:

Weight – 9.6oz size 9 (men's)

Heel to Toe Offset - 6mm

Midsole Material – RevLite, TPU inserts

Category of Shoe – Neutral, lightweight trainer/up tempo

Streamlined mesh upper.  Note the midfoot region has a separate piece of fabric that works with the internal bootie to lock the midfoot down.  

Upper and Fit:

New Balance designed this shoe with an engineered mesh upper and an internal bootie design, which provides an irritant free wrap around the foot.  I am a big fan of engineered mesh and glad that New Balance has avoided using knit uppers.  Knit uppers in my experience, provide inadequate hold of the foot, cause irritation to the skin, hold moisture, and get really hot in warm weather . The upper overall is on a moderately narrow last through the midfoot, but opens up quiet spaciously in the toe box.  The heel grip is ok, as I have to use the lace lock trick and really crank on the laces to hold my heel in place.  You would think with a fairly rigid heel counter and bootie design that you would get a better hold on the heel.  This is a real shame for us narrow heeled folks, because this is a fun riding shoe! Have no fear if you have a normal width foot, because your foot will be held perfectly with a snug wrap from the bootie construction, forgiving engineered mesh, and anatomically shaped toe box.  The look of these shoes are top notch!  I love the look and they scream fast.  All the colorway options are fantastic and glad that New Balance is finally making sleek looking uppers on their running shoes.

Heel counter, which unfortunately in this shoe is not a good hold on individuals with narrow heels.  The heel counter isn't too stiff, so those with sensitive Achilles should have no need to worry.

Midsole/Ride:

There is nothing magical happening here, but the use of New Balance's tried and true RevLite midsole foam.  If you are not familiar with this EVA based foam, it is a firm fast riding foam that provides considerable protection despite its firmer character.  Those who like running on Boost, EVERUN, EGO, or DNA AMP, or mushy Hoka One One foam may not appreciate this midsole.  I am in the camp of runners who like a firm riding midsole, which potentially is due to my small frame, my gait, and the extra mobility in the posterior aspect of my feet.  This midsole is designed for speed, and speedy these shoes are!  There is one more design aspect of theses shoes that I should mention – the TPU strips that are embedded in the forefoot.  These forefoot strips act like a spring board every time you hit midstance during your gait and aggressively snap back propelling you forward from midstance to toe off.  It’s a really cool sensation and the midsole design simply works.  I like that New Balance didn’t go overboard with these TPU strips, but just enough to add tensile strength and resistance to the body’s weight on impact converting the potential energy to kinetic energy.  Paired with the firm riding RevLite, you have a fast and responsive midsole unit.  

The outsole design also is important to bring up as it contributes to the unique and fun ride of the 890v6.  The outsole is covered with blown rubber that is in segments that somewhat match the different parts of the human foot.  There is one segment that runs along the midfoot region, which acts almost as a medial wedge of support as the lateral edge of the outsole has more segments allowing for the midsole to collapse slightly more on the lateral aspect.  The outsole near the heel si quasi-decoupled in a sense, in that there is a separate “pod” of blown rubber that smooths out the landing from heel to forefoot.  Those TPU strips I mentioned before also lend to an inherent stable ride, by providing a very stable and firm forefoot to push off from.  In fact, you can kind of feel your feet rocking forward from midfoot to forefoot when you are standing still in the shoes.  By no means is this shoe a “stability shoe,” but simply has design elements that create a stable ride.  Which isn’t a bad thing!  I wish more companies would make similarly stable fast riding shoes, because the more speed oriented a shoe gets, the more unstable they seem to be.  Juts take any racing flat you have and you will notice how ridiculously narrow some of their midfoot areas are where your midfoot is practically sagging over the arch region (even Nike’s Vaporfly 4% has this same issue, with an overly narrow midfoot on a very high midsole stack height, contributing to even greater instability).

RevLite foam which is protective from wear with strategically placed blown rubber in podular sections.  Even though this has pod-like layout, the ride never feels like it.  The segments aid in giving a very smooth heel to toe transition.

Thoughts from a DPT (Dr. Matthew Klein PT DPT)
While this may not be a stability shoe, there are several elements that make this shoe stable.  Obviously the TPU strips in the forefoot add rigidity and stability up front and provide a nice pop off the groudn during toe off.  This is something that I very much liked in the Adidas Tempo 5 and 6 and Takumi Sen/Ren 1 and 2 that provided a fast and stable ride (which was then exchanged for Boost).  However, the firmer ride is important for not just shoe stability but joint stability.  In a study in 2015 by Baltich et al (with contributions from the great Dr. Benno Nigg), 93 runners were tested in three different densities of shoe firmness (categorized as soft, medium and hard).  Ankle joint stiffness increased as midsole hardness decreased across the board and decreased as midsole hardness increased.  Meaning that the body may have been better absorbing shock at the muscles rather than at the joints with a harder shoe (because it is required!).  So a firmer shoe may be better to protect joints because it may induce better protective response with muscle loading (this needs to be confirmed with EMG).  This was attributed to the reason for the increased vertical loading with softer soles.  The body needs some proprioceptive (body awareness) input to understand where it is and how to protect itself.  Softer soled shoes will provide less input, thus the body will land harder to figure out where it is.  A harder soled shoe may cause someone to land softer to decrease that loading.  So firmer shoes can be a great training tool to soften landing in those that respond and need good proprioceptive input. To those people who still slam the ground when they land barefoot, possibly due to a general lack of proprioceptive input (one of the important centers is at the foot.  The other two are at the pelvic and cervical spine), it may or may not be the best.  Further research is still needed.  However this is one of the main reasons I generally (not always) push people with poor joint sense toward a firmer ride because it is inherently more stable and provides a better sense of where the body is.  This again depends highly on the person, their individual gait and loading characteristics and why they have come to see me! 

Little wear after approximately 100 miles on the road. One can also appreciate the red TPU embedded strips in the forefoot.  They extend from behind the metatarsals up to the tip of the toes.  These TPU strips also help stabilize the forefoot and give a powerful toe off.

Durability:

I have approximately 100 miles on my pair and see little to know wear on the outsole.  Furthermore, the midsole feels as fresh as it did on day one.  RevLite is good stuff, granted you like a firmer riding shoe.  Also the engineered mesh of the upper has shown no signs of wear.  I could easily see the average person getting around 400 to 500 miles on these.

Room for Improvements:

Please fix the heel!  I think that if New Balance just added some padding around the heel it would help immensely with holding the foot on the platform.  This would allow narrow heeled folks as well as average width feet to enjoy these fun riding shoes.  Also the laces provided are ridiculously long (note the white laces I used).  Other than that, I don’t really have anything else to complain about.

Conclusions:

New Balance has done a terrific job with the 890v6.  Granted, I never ran in the prior versions and have no point of reference, but from other shoes I have run in or have tried briefly.  I tested the Fresh Foam 1080v7 and v8 in store as well as the newer Zante and Boracay when I was the New Balance store in NYC.  The fresh foam feels dead, where the RevLite has pop and an excellent transition underfoot.  The RevLite midsole with the embedded TPU strips makes for one heck of a shoe that is fast and fun to run in.  If you are in need of an uptempo trainer or like firmer light weight shoes as your daily trainer pick up a pair of these.

Thanks for reading!

Dr. Nathaniel S Kollias, DVM, MPH

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Masters of Public Health 

Cornell University Laboratory Animal Medicine Resident 

***Disclaimer: These shoes were a personal purchase from Running Warehouse and were purchased at their full US retail price. We put at least 50-75 miles on trainers and 10-25 miles on racing flats prior to reviewing them. Currently I have 95 miles on my pair of 890v6. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.

Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.

Dr. Matthew Klein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Kaiser SoCal Manual Therapy and Sport Fellow

References

Baltich, J., Maurer, C, Nigg, B. (2015). Increased Vertical IMPact Forces and Altered Running
Mechanics with Softer Midsole Shoes. PLos One 10(4); e1025196. doi.org/10.1371/journal
.pone.0125196

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Please feel free to reach out, comment and ask questions!

Brooks Ravenna 9 Review

Brooks Ravenna 9 Review 

Introduction:

Brooks running company is a shoe brand that I feel has lagged in joining the 21^st century of running shoes.  I say this, because the overall design of the shoes up until recently has made one feel like you were running in the 1990s.  But this year appears to be a pivotal turning point for Brooks Running with the release of their DNA Amp midsole material and sleek new look of their uppers and midsole geometries.   One shoe in particular that exemplifies this new refreshing trend for Brooks is the Ravenna 9.  A shoe that looks nothing like its predecessor and simply calling it an update to the Ravenna 8 would be a gross understatement.  I also may or may not have found my new favorite shoe… but let’s get to the review!

Adidas Adizero Sub2 Review

Adidas Adizero Sub2 Review

I have subtly been an Adidas fan for some time now.  The Adidas Tempo 5 remains one of my favorite trainer/racers and if they still made them, would be my go to shoe for tempos and distance races.  The unboosted Adios 2 remains a favorite for long workouts and trail races (I still have a few pairs).  The Adidas Takumi Sen and Ren 1 and 2 will forever be one of my favorite racers.  Yet I have had some trouble with the boost.  I have enjoyed training recently in the Adidas Supernova, but likely due to the wider base which can offset the occasional unstable feeling of the Boost.  I always hoped Adidas would firm the Boost up a bit to give it a more stable feeling and always wished the Adios or Takumi series would be just a bit lighter.  My pair of Sen 1 and 2s are long gone, so looking for a favorite 5k-10k racer has been difficult... until the Sub2 came along.  I had been talking with various contacts about this shoe for over a year and was very interested to see what Adidas was going to produce in the race to the sub 2 hour marathon.  Now that it is here, is it the Sub2 shoe? Well.. let's talk.

Reebok OSR Harmony Racer Review

Reebok OSR Harmony Racer Review

When I was working in running retail stores years ago, Reebok was a bit of a myth/legend.  They were not selling true running shoes in specialty retail, yet many of the older retired elite runners I worked with spoke of how good they used to be.  ZAP Fitness was around and glimpses were seen of true running shoes on the feet of those elite, but for the rest of us?  Nothing.  Then things changed in the last few years.  A huge push was made (successfully in my mind) into the CrossFit market.  Then... finally.. a return to running.  I have not yet run fully in the Float Ride run, but having put them on was very interested in their new midsole material.  I have a pair Harmony Road 2 I am working on, but as always, the racing flat was what caught my interest most.  The OSR Harmony Racer.  I love racing flats, and these are no different.  A effective, fast but no BS ride that will race a variety of distances.  Let's talk about this shoe.

361 Chaser 2 Initial Review

361 Chaser 2 Initial Review

The original Chaser from 361 was an interesting shoe (REVIEW).  Upon try on, I felt that it was far too heavy for a short distance racer and that it MIGHT work as a long distance racer.  Then I used it for a 5k and was able to drop a 15:40 while not in good shape.  I was impressed but still felt the shoe was too bulky.  And finally along came the Chaser 2.  This is the racer I have been waiting for from 361.  Finally they have a lighter weight racing shoe that to actually differentiate itself from the KgM2 2 (REVIEW) .  How does it do that?  Let's talk.

Doctors of Running: Brooks Asteria Review

    I know, I know, the Brooks Asteria has been out for a couple of years….but it hasn’t changed yet and it is a shoe that has many features that many people will like.  It was almost a year ago when my colleague Matt gave a short review of this shoe (only one or two runs in the shoe).  Here I will dive in with a full review and give you all the nitty gritty details about this uptempo/racer from Brooks Running.

361 Sensation 3 Initial Review

361 Sensation 3 Initial Review

If you have read my reviews before, you know I have a special place in my heart for light stability shoes.  These are the types of shoes I tend to work best with because I usually need just a little bit of guidance.  I can easily run in neutral shoes but perform best in these.  So I was very excited when I saw the Sensation 3 (first on the feet of my girlfriend Regina Lopez, who is currently sponsored by them).  Upon inspection, it was immediately apparent that these were not moderate or high support shoes.  These were mild stability shoes meant to guide the foot, support you during mileage and help you pick up the pace.  Did I have the same experience?  Let's talk.

Skechers GOrun 6 Review

Skechers GOrun 6 Review

This review comes from a combination of Chris Park, a fellow shoe geek and contributor to Doctors of Running and myself, Dr. Matthew Klein, PT DPT. I had the pleasure of receiving this shoe early from Skechers Performance while Chris came upon it later. We both have unique thoughts on the shoe and are excited to share them.

Chris - Don't judge a shoe by its brand. While hundreds of people have preconceived notions about the Skechers brand, I ask that you keep an open mind with these reviews, for you might be surprised. The Skechers GOrun Ride 7s are my favorite and current daily trainer. Since its release, I have logged hundreds of miles of slow long runs and fast track workouts. Recently, Skechers released another of their new line, the GOrun 6. Toted as a ligthweight, cushioned neutral running shoe, the GR6 are designed for speed and comfort in an "all in one package".

Dr. Klein - I loved the GOrun 5 as a performance shoe that I used for many fartlek and interval sessions. It was the kind of shoe that asked for speed. The problem was that it was very similar in function to the Razor, which was confusing. I was very surprised to see the update with version 6. This shoe reminds me what I wanted during my minimal running days. A lightweight flexible upper and a low drop sole is something that I would have loved at that time. Now my tastes are a bit different, but I appreciate what Skechers has done with this shoe. It has several different personalities, so let's talk about them.

Specs:

Weight: 7.2 oz (size 9)

Drop: 4mm (20mm/16mm)

Classification: Lightweight Trainer

Chris - According to Skechers, the GR6 is the "latest generation in the Skechers GOrun series
of lightweight, cushioned neutral running shoes." Like the Vazee Pace 2s I reviewed
previously (REVIEW), the GR6 is marketed as the "jack of all trades" because of its lightweight,
responsive construction while still having enough cushion to be a daily trainer.

Ride/Sole/Drop:

Chris - As previously mentioned, the GR6 is marketed as a lightweight, daily trainer with
the needed cushioning to run a marathon but enough responsiveness for 200m repeats.
This is largely due to Skechers new FLIGHT GEN midsole which delivers a great responsive,
snappy ride. Skechers has been implementing FLIGHT GEN in many of their recent shoes,
and I can definitely say that I’m a huge fan of it. Despite the incorporation of FLIGHT GEN in numerous models, each model provides a completely different feel. Whereas the Ride 7s provide a softer, plusher ride, I would say that the GR6 offers a firmer, lower to the ground midsole.

It reminded me of a more responsive, comfortable, and lower to the ground Zante.

As I mentioned in my review of the New Balance Vazee Pace v2s, it was hard to fit those

shoes into a particular niche. While they were great shoes, the Pace v2s felt more like a
lightweight trainer than a racer. Unfortunately, this made the entire line quite confusing
because there were other models – from New Balance themselves – that offered more
versatility.  The GR6, however, I believe is the perfect blend between the Ride 7,
which is a cushioned, “long run” trainer and Razor 2, the perfect racing flat for a marathon.

It has the needed responsiveness and better ground feel in a lighter package to distinguish
it from the Ride 7s, but also the needed cushioning and comfort in a slightly heavier
package to separate it from the Razor 2s.  

Although I prefer a 6mm drop in most shoes, I was still a fan of the 4mm drop. The offset
helped the shoes feel more like a racer and distinguish it from the GoRun Ride 7s. A lower
drop encourages greater toe off and midfoot strike, hence why lighter racing flats feature little
to no drop.

Dr. Klein - Having tested the entire range of the new Skechers line, I have begun to appreciate
the many forms of FLIGHT GEN. The GOrun 6 is definitely a more minimal and slightly
firmer demonstration of this midsole. The shoe runs somewhat close to the ground, which
makes sense that it would be a bit firmer. It is not bone crushing firm and the FLIGHT GEN
adds some bounce for sure, but it is firmer than the GOrun 5. The nice thing about
Skechers is that their soles are very consistent. The same material and design is utilized
throughout the midsole, so expect to have similar riding features no matter where you land.
Like the previous version, gone is the M strike. The sole has a smoother ride and has full
ground contact. This contributes to better grip and a slightly more stable sole. The chevron
pattern on the outsole does add some mild grip to the road as well as awesome flexibility
throughout. This shoe is definitely the moderate minimalist's dream.

The sole appears to be slightly wider than the previous version. This makes the shoe
a little more stable and would have set it up to be a great uptempo shoe (which again would
have made the difference between the Razor and GOrun confusing), however the flexibility
of the upper defeats this a bit (read on below).

Fit/Feel:

Chris - The GR6 features a compression knit upper and molded heel counter.

While I am a huge fan of the sole/ride, the GR6 is not without faults. Don’t get me
wrong, initially I was a huge fan of the Compression Knit Upper. Right out of the box,
it felt extremely soft and almost supple to the touch. Unfortunately, this was the source of
my problems. Most uppers feature some sort of mechanism for lock down and support.
With the GR6s, however, I found that the upper had no sort of heel, midfoot, or forefoot
lockdown. Despite tying the laces as tight as I could, my foot was not stable (I believe this
is partly due to the upper and lace hole construction).

The Compression Knit Upper reminded me of the Adidas Energy Boost 3. It was extremely

stretchy. Almost too stretchy. While comfortable, I found that the stretch compromised some
mid/forefoot support. Again. This is all subjective. There were many people who were
absolutely thrilled with this breathable, knit upper. I, however, did not find it to pair well
with the responsive, snappy midsole. I found that my heel slipped out with the slightest tug
on the back. *I have fairly narrow feet and prefer a tight fit around my foot when running.
If you prefer or do not mind a looser fit, the fit may not bother you.

Despite the presence of a molded heel counter, I did not notice much of a difference in
comparison to similar knitted shoes (Nike Flyknit) with a knit heel counter. I want to
emphasize that these shoes were not uncomfortable by any means. I just found

them to be a little too loose around the heel and midfoot for a tempo/faster shoe. As I
mentioned, during some faster tempos, I was worried that my heels would slip out of the
shoe. **I am a huge fan of the upper on the Ride 7. While it is also knit, I found the upper to
provide far better lock down and heel support.

Dr. Klein - While the upper is incredibly comfortable and fits like a sock against the skin, it
is too flexible for faster running. I actually like the GOrun 6 better as a casual shoe than as
a running shoe to be honest for this reason. I used the GOrun 6 as a minimal trainer for foot
strengthening, but did not do much faster running other than one workouts and many strides.
There is not enough hold on the foot to handle changes in speed or quick turns. Turning in this
shoe would have my foot sliding off the platform. There are no additional mechanisms for
lockdown in the upper. It is stretchy throughout even with a very mild heel counter, which is
mostly just increased density of the knit upper.

I do understand what Skechers Performance was trying to do with the upper. The
"Compression Knit Upper" is designed to fit closely to the skin and try to hold the foot.
While this works great with low speed activities, it does not suffice for high speed or turning
movements. That being said, the upper is incredibly comfortable against bare skin and I have
been able to wear these sockless both for short easy runs as well as casually (they have some
cool colorways out there). There are points of increased density in the upper in an attempt
to hold the foot in certain places, but I do not feel like it is enough to provide a really
secure fit.

This shoe does fit very trued to size and I would stick with your normal size. The GOrun 6
runs a bit snug due to the stretchy upper If you find them a bit too snug, you can easily take
out the sockliner and that should give you more room. I actuallyprefer running without the
sockliner as I get a little better proprioceptive feedback (since I mostly use this shoe as a
short run shoe for foot strengthening).

Notice the laces integrated into the upper. This does a great job of snugging the upper

down but does not add additional lock down or security for the foot.

Thoughts as a DPT

Dr. Klein - Again I appreciate the more anatomic shape of the upper and the flexibility for
toe splay. However, balance is key here. The upper of a shoe needs to help secure the foot
to the platform (sole) while not being too restrictive. The amount of flexibility in the correct
areas is key to helping the foot move the way it is supposed to without having it fly out of
the shoe. In the case of the GOrun 6, the entire upper is flexible. Some people will love this.
Personally, I have found this makes faster running very difficult as there is little to no
foot lock down or security.  A key area the foot needs to be able to move at are the
toes, especially medial and laterally for toe splay.  Most of the rest of the foot, particularly
the midfoot, can be locked down decently.  Of course if one has sensitive calcani (where the
achilles inserts) then flexibility is great back there too.  However, having a locked in heel is
great to prevent heel slippage, something I felt was going to happen every time I tried to pick
up the pace in the GOrun 6 (although it never actually happened to be fair).

Skechers did attempt to change the densities of the upper to match where they wanted flexibility.  However I do not think it was enough to provide a secure fit. Somehow though you have to keep that foot locked down.  I highly suggest Skechers simply further increase the density of weave in the midfoot and heel to hold the foot down better.  Decreased security of the upper may lead to other methods of the body trying to keep the shoe on, with toe clenching (flexion) being the most common one I see.  This is very common in people who wear flip flops a great deal.  The toes curl and you over utilize the long flexors of the foot to try to keep those on.  Then people wonder why their feet hurt after walking all day doing that. Regardless, improved foot lock down in this shoe could help decrease some of those compensations (although people toe clench for many other reasons, but that is a post for another day).

Weight/Durability:

Chris - On Runningwarehouse.com, the GR6 is listed at 7.2 ounces in a size 9 US. This is the
perfect weight range for a shoe in this category. Not too light, but also not too heavy. It helps
distinguish the shoe from other models and fits into a larger niche: lightweight, daily trainer.
The outsole features Skechers’ Parametric Web Outsole which provides great traction on trails,

tartan, and asphalt. These are definitely durable shoes. While I’m not too sure how the upper
will hold up, if the GR6 midsole is anything like the Ride 7s, I expect the FLIGHT FOAM to
last well over 300 miles.

Dr. Klein - The GOrun 6 is light. As Chris mentioned, it is listed at 7.2 oz. Definitely
one of those very lightweight/minimal trainers. I'm sure some people could get away with
racing in this shoe as it is light enough. I personally would want something far more secure for
racing.
Durability is fairly average, especially for a ligthtweight trainer. I would not expect more
than 250-300 miles out of these but my pair have handled both running and casual wear
quite well. The midsole does last due to the FLIGHT FOAM but the outsole is wearing at a
fairly average rate.

Conclusion and Room for Improvement:

Chris - This shoe has a ton of potential. Although I’m not the biggest fan of the upper
lockdown, I love the responsive FLIGHT FOAM midsole. In future models, I’d like to see
a change in the upper design. I think I understand where Skechers was going, but I didn’t
really work for me. The soft upper made it felt more like a casual, walking shoe more than
a performance running shoe. I would recommend these for anything up to the marathon
distance and for anyone looking for a lightweight, versatile trainer. They will definitely
handle any workout or long run without beating up your legs. I appreciate what Skechers
did with their incorporation of the GR6 in their full lineup. It is now a very different and
unique shoe from the Razor 2.

Dr. Klein - I love this shoe as a casual shoe. The upper is so comfortable against bare
skin and actually looks decent. As a running shoe, the upper is not secure enough for
uptempo work (the Razor 2 definitely shines there) and there is not enough sole for me to
use as a daily trainer. Thus the GOrun 6 fits perfectly as a very lightweight or minimal
running shoe. Those that like minimal running shoes (and are still holding on to barefoot
running extremes) will love this shoe as a balance between cushioning and minimal feel.
This shoe is now VERY different from the Razor, so there should not be major confusion
between the two anymore. I do hope that Skechers does lock down the foot a little better
in the GOrun 7. The GOrun Ride 7 has a great example of this where the mesh is stretchy
but there are aspects of the upper that still hold the foot well. So it can be done.

Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.

Currently Chris has 25 miles on his pair of GOrun 6s and I have 143 on mine. We put at least 50-75 miles on trainers and 25 miles on racing flats prior to reviewing them. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.

Chris Park 
& 
Dr. Matthew Klein, PT, DPT
Kaiser LAMC Manual Therapy and Sport Fellow

***Disclaimer: These shoes were purchased by Chris Park for their full US retail price.  Skechers Performance provided my pair to me free of charge in exchange for a review.  This did not change the honesty of these reviews.  

References

Neumann, D. (2012).  Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation - Second Edition.  St. Louis, MI: Mosby Elsevier

Noakes, T. (2003). Lore of Running - Fourth Edition. Champaign, Il: Human Kinetics

Perry, J. (1992). Gait Analysis: Normal and Pathological Function. Thorafare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated.

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