Three Running Shoe Questions We Get Asked All The Time | DOR Podcast #81

DOR Podcast #81: The Three Questions We Get Asked All The Time

At the roundtable today, Nate, Matt, and DJ discuss the three questions their asked most often as shoe reviewers and physical therapists: How does X shoe fit and is it responsive? How stable is X shoe? And what shoe would you recommend for a certain condition or pain? Also, they take an in depth look at Asics's latest update to the classic neutral daily trainer Gel-Cumulus 24.

Asics Gel-Cumulus 24 Review

Asics Gel Cumulus 24 Review: Reborn
By Chief Editor Matt Klein and Senior Taco Legend David Salas

The Asics Cumulus series has been a consistent and predictable shoe for a long time. A straightforward, dependable and boring daily trainer, it has always been in the shadow of other more premium shoes like the Nimbus or even the Kayano. The Cumulus 24 completely changes that with a complete overhaul that looks similar but runs completely different. A new upper and the integration of FF Blast completely changes the ride in a way that may make you excited to go on easy training runs.

Karhu Ikoni 2022 Review

Karhu Ikoni 2022 Review: The Finnish Trainer
By Senior Contributor David Salas and Contributor Andrea Myers

The Karhu Ikoni is a neutral daily training shoe that utilizes a 1/2 length fulcrum through the midfoot to help give some guidance and responsiveness to the ride of the shoe. The Ikoni in the past has traditionally had a slightly firmer profile with a slightly beveled geometry throughout. Much of the same formula is seen in the 2022 veresion though, with some small adjustments that enhance the ride of the midsole and fit of the upper throughout. The Ikoni also comes in a HiVo option for those that may require a little more volume through the upper or space for wider foot accommodation.

Nike ZoomX Dragonfly Spikes Review

Nike ZoomX Dragonfly Review: Fast As You Can
By Senior Contributor David Salas

Can Nike strike gold twice with the Dragonfly? Short answer is yes, but this time there are some competitors in close pursuit. The Nike Dragonfly is a highly versatile distance racing spike for everything ranging from 1500m to 10,000m on the track. Some people have been seen to wear this on XC courses and that is certainly possible if it is all grass. The Dragonfly features the same ZoomX midsole seen in the Vaporfly and Alphafly and features a PEBAX spike plate that runs the full length of the spike. Weighing in at 4.7 ounces the shoe brings a very impressive package combining protection underfoot and responsiveness.

Mailbag: Super Shoes for Women, Morton's Neuroma and More | DOR Podcast #80

 

 

DOR Podcast #80: Mailbag: Super Shoes for Women, Morton's Neuroma and More

At the roundtable today Nate and Matt are joined for the first time by Doctors of Running Contributor, Megan Flynn to answer a variety of listener questions. How does body weight change the impact of super shoes, especially for women? What is Morton's neuroma and what should you look for in shoes to help you deal with it? How do stability shoes impact conditions like genu varum? Join us for answers to these questions and more.

Hoka Arahi 6 Review

Hoka Arahi 6 Review: Consistent Stability
By Senior Contributor David Salas, Chief Editor Matt Klein, and Social Media Manager Bach Pham

Known for the J Frame technology, the HOKA Arahi series returns with its 6th iteration. The shoe appears to be mostly an upper update but does seem to provide some improved upper lockdown throughout the shoe. Though there are no major design changes to the midsole itself to my knowledge (David), the shoe does seem to ride a tad more stable in the rearfoot from previous versions. The Arahi  6 is still a solid daily training option for those that require mild to moderate stability.

Asics Gel Kinsei Blast Review

Asics Gel Kinsei Blast Review: The Whole Asics Kitchen Sink in One
By Chief Contributor Matt Klein

The Asics Gel Kinsei series has been a mythical creature of sorts. Years ago (now well over a decade) when I worked in running retail stores, the Kinsei was the most expensive shoe on the market and was only seen if someone special ordered it. Featuring more Asics Gel than any other shoe, it was purported to be the most cushioned and advanced shoe in the line. Being someone who preferred lighter and more minimal shoes at the time, I steered clear. Now that I will run in anything given the chance, the Asics Gel Kinsei Blast sparked my interest given the complete overhaul in design. Featuring a maximal stack and rockered design, a Pebax plate, more Gel and FF Blast, the Kinsei Blast returns with a new look but maintains most of its roots.

Saucony Freedom 5 Review

Saucony Freedom 5 Review: Does it Really Do it All?
By Senior Contributor David Salas and Contributors Andrea Myers, Ryan Flugaur

The Saucony Freedom series has been a pretty versatile shoe in the lineup of Saucony running over the years. The shoe has always maintained a low profile, sleek design, and something that a lot of people can wear for things other than just running. The Freedom 5 expands on this with an even more sleek design and redone upper. The shoe still utilizes the same geometry and PWRUN PB midsole that was in the Freedom 4. The shoe in a lot of ways feels like a performance lifestyle shoe and I mean that in the nicest way possible (David). The geometry does lean more towards the flat end but gives it a more grounded feel that helps with crossover activities in the gym or lifestyle wear while still being runnable.

Does More Shoe Cushioning Lower Your Injury Risk? (ft. Dr. Laurent Malisoux) | DOR Podcast #79

 

DOR Podcast #79: Does More Shoe Cushioning Lower Your Injury Risk? (ft. Dr. Laurent Malisoux)

In a very special episode, Matt interviews Laurent Malisoux, PhD about his extensive research into the connection between shoe cushioning and injury rates. Dr. Malisoux is the Group Leader of the Physical Activity, Sport and Health (PASH) research group at the Luxembourg Institute of Health. Over the last 5 years, he focused his research activities on the prevention of sports injury and the evaluation of physical activity. Matt and Dr. Malisoux explore the differences between hard and soft shoes, research methods, injury risk, and more.

Inov-8 F-Lite G 300 Trainer Review

 

Inov-8 F-Lite G 300 Review: Stable Lifting
By Contributor Ryan Flugaur

Inov-8 was founded in 2003 with the philosophy that an athletes’ interaction with the environment is the single most important factor when designing products. This is evident in Inov-8's trail and hiking shoes that provide great grip over a variety of surfaces using their graphene-enhanced rubber. I have worn Inov-8 hiking boots previously, but the Inov-8 F-Lite G 300 was my first time in one of their training shoes. It offers a different experience in the gym than that of many traditional running shoes and may be a good upgrade for those individuals looking for a more structured lifting shoe.

Hoka Mach Supersonic Review (Limited 2022 Release)

 

Hoka Mach Supersonic Review: Is Worth the Upgrade?
By Chief Editor/Founder Matt Klein, Senior Contributor Nathan Brown, and Social Media Wizard Bach Pham

The Hoka Mach series has seen some large shifts in design over its lifespan. An odd option that almost didn't fit in the line up, the Mach 4 was a favorite among our team for its lightweight cushioning that made it more accessible as a workout/racing shoe for those who wanted softer cushioning in a faster ride that could also be used for training. The Hoka Mach Supersonic comes in as a variation of the Mach 4 using a PROFLY+ midsole foam, a new supercritical EVA and a modified upper that again changes things drastically.

Saucony Axon 2 Review

Saucony Axon 2: Rocker and Cushioning at a Value
By Chief Editor Matt Klein, Senior Contributor David Salas, and Social Media Wizard Bach Pham

One of the most consistent things we have seen increase in running shoes is the price. With the introduction of many >$200 super shoes, training shoes have steadily climbed closer to that mark as well. Although running is a relatively cheap sport and recreational activity compared to others (where the required pieces of equipment can cost thousands of dollars), not everyone has the financial ability to make expensive shoe purchases. However, there is a certain level of quality that is required for decent running shoes, particularly when it comes to providing adequate shock absorption and durability. Fortunately, there are still some high-quality budget shoes that are staying on the market or being introduced. The Saucony Axon 2 is one of the shoes. A favorite of ours from last year, this maximalist budget shoe, which remains at $100, maintains a high level of performance at a pretty sweet price.

How Should Shoes Fit? + New Saucony (GIVEAWAY) - DOR Podcast #78

 

DOR Podcast #78: How Should Your Shoes Fit, plus Saucony Freedom 5 & Axon 2 Reviews

How do you assess whether a shoe fits you well? What should you look for when shopping for running shoes? What are the consequences of poor fit?

In this week's podcast, Nate, DJ, and Matt tackle these questions. They also take an in-depth look at Saucony's latest update of the Freedom 5 featuring the same PWRRUN PB midsole foam as their Endorphin line. They also review Saucony's updates to the Axon: a max-stack, rockered, budget-friendly trainer.

Xtep RC260 Review

Xtep RC260 Review: A Unique Plated Trainer
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein

As a true shoe geek, I keep tabs on what shoes are coming out around the world. Sometimes I just get to look at them and other times I am actually able to get my feet in them. I previously reviewed the Xtep 160X 1 and 2 (REVIEW), but saw the Xtep RC 260 released. While the Xtep 160X series are definitely racing shoes, the RC 260 appeared to be more along the lines of a lightweight trainer featuring a similar Peba foam. Several weeks later these came in and my first thought was that they would be similar to the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 (REVIEW), particularly with the Peba foam and nylon plate. That's where most of the similarities end as these are two different shoes.

Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 Review

Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 Review: The Italian Brand's Stability Trainer
By Chief Founder Matthew Klein

Diadora has been a company I've been interested in for some time. Always a shoe geek for racing flats and stability shoes, I had been eyeing the Diadora Mythos Bluhshield series and Equipe Corsa for a long time. Being an avid eBay hunter, I happened upon a pair just as I was about to finish destroying a previous pair of stability shoes (which is really the best way to describe what happens to shoes when I run in them). I generally associate anything Italian with being premium and found the quality to line up with that. What was more interesting is that the Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 is a meshing of current and prior ideas in footwear which makes for a unique shoe.

Adidas SolarGlide 5 Review

Adidas SolarGlide 5 Review: Refreshed Workhorse
By: Chief Editor Matthew Klein & Senior Contributor David Salas

The Adidas Glide series has changed its name a few times over the years but essentially is the neutral high mileage workhorse of the Adidas training lineup. The Solarglide 5 continues upon this tradition using a durable Continental outsole as well as a dual Boost and EVA midsole. However, this shoe is completely different from previous models. The addition of the LEP system seen in the Ultraboost 21, brand new midsole geometry, a new upper and a far smoother ride. With the addition of some good updates this shoe becomes a high quality workhorse daily trainer. 

PUMA 2022 Line-Up with Laura Healey and Todd Falker | DOR Podcast #77

 

DOR Podcast #77: The Resurgence of PUMA Running

Today Senior Contributors Nathan Brown and David Salas are joined by two very special guests from PUMA: Todd Falker (Senior Product Line Manager) and Laura Healey  (Manager, Footwear Innovation). They give us an inside look at how PUMA came out of nowhere with a great lineup of shoes in 2021 and what updates they have planned for 2022 and beyond. We also look at the development at two brand new shoes, the FAST-R and the RUN XX coming later this year and dig a bit into the biomechanical and tester feedback approach that PUMA is taking within their development.

Saucony Kinvara 13 Review (2022 Release)

Saucony Kinvara 13: A Refined Classic
By Chief/Founder Matt Klein, Senior Contributor David Salas, and Contributors Andrea Myers and Megan Flynn

The Saucony Kinvara is the quintessential lightweight trainer. A shoe that provides just enough cushioning for some daily miles while being light and fast enough to do workouts and race in. The midsole still sits fairly close to the ground, which is extremely rare in a trainer or performance trainer from any of the major footwear companies out there. Despite not having a maximal stack height, the Kinvara has continued to be a favorite among a variety of runners and demonstrates that there is still a place for lighter weight, closer to the ground shoes in rotations.

February 2022 Round Up at Doctors of Running

 

Despite being the shortest month of the year, we had a jam-packed February with over 16 reviews, podcasts, and more released throughout the month. In this month's round-up we take a look back at some of the highlights along with a few news items as we head into March and start doing some spring cleaning. Let's dance!