Xero Shoes Scrambler Low Review (2023)

Xero Shoes Scrambler Low Review: Feel The Trail
By Matthew Klein

While there are plenty of minimal running shoes still left in some capacity from Xero shoes, Vivobarefoot, Merrell and Inov8, serious minimal trail running shoes are scarce. The benefits that come from flexible minimal shoes can be challenging on rocky and technical terrain were some degree of protection and grip are often needed. Enter the Xero Shoes Scrambler Low: a rugged minimal trail running shoe for those wanting to go offroad with traction and protection that maintains flexibility and excellent ground feel. 

Topo Athletic Atmos Review (2023)

Topo Athletic Atmos Review: Rolling
By David Salas

When I think of the company Topo Athletic, maximum cushioned shoes don't normally come to mind. Outside of the lightweight Specter model they made recently there hasn't been anything north of 35mm of stack height. The Atmos changes this and brings a 38mm platform and nice rolling ride for many miles to come. 

Newton Isaac Review (2023)

Newton Isaac Review: Action/Reaction Goes High Stacked!
By Andrea Myers and Matthew Klein

The Newton Isaac is Newton's first highly cushioned shoe, with a full length Pebax plate, NRG+ (TPE and EVA blend) foam, Hytrel foam strobel, and aggressive rocker geometry. In classic Newton fashion, the upper and laces are made of 100% recycled plastic and the Pebax plate is bio-based. Newton also redesigned the forefoot lugs for the Isaac, utilizing eight split lugs of varying heights that have more flexibility and feel less prominent underfoot.

Adidas Prime X 2 Strung Review (2023)

Adidas Adizero Prime X 2 Strung: Stable (!?) 50mm (!!) Training
By Matthew Klein

The Prime X series debuted in the words of Adidas as an "Illegal" racing and training shoe. With a 50mm stack height and multiple stiffening agents, the company has been open about intentionally and blatantly violating World Athletics rules to push boundaries. The first two versions were similar, outside of upper differences as relatively light shoes for how much midsole they had. They had incredibly bouncy midsoles that felt like higher and less stable versions of the Adios Pro 2. Unstable is an understatement. Unless you had highly stable and efficient mechanics, they were difficult to run in, at least for those with any form of stability needs. In fact, they were borderline dangerous during sharp turns. The trade off is that they were still incredible performance shoes that many people used to race because they were still light enough to move fairly fast. The new Prime X 2 Strung has completely changed that, not only because it looks different but it functions completely differently. A far more stable shoe that will be usable by more people for more types of training, but does lose the speedy edge the original had. Whether this is a good or a bad thing will depend on you.

UltrAspire Review: Element Waist Pack and Momentum 2.0 Vest

 

Reviewing UltrAspire: Element Waist Pack and Momentum 2.0 Vest
By Bach Pham

UltrAspire is a unique company that focuses on hydration tools, belts, lighting, and tools for athletes to perform their best. Founded by Bryce Thatcher, his interest in athlete tools started at an early age back in 1979 when he decided to take it on himself to sew his own pack for his hydration needs. This interest became the innovative space that is UltrAspire, where many industry innovations all runners have today spawned from experimental work out of Thatcher's team. Today we're taking a look at two of their latest products, the Element Waist Pack and Momentum Vest.

Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 v2 Review (2023)

Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 v2 Review: Locked In, Way In - Too In?
By David Salas and Matthew Klein

The Salmon S/Lab Ultra 3 V2 is the ultra running trail shoe for the company that is able to tackle a little bit of everything. The shoe has moderate-sized lugs and a relatively low profile. The overall experience is a firm riding shoe with enough cushion to tackle long distances that require varying terrain.

Shoe Rotations and the Prime X 2, In-Depth | DOR Podcast #157

 

Shoe Rotations and the Prime X 2, In-Depth
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 157

This episode is a special double-feature from David and Matt. First off, David give you some advice on building a two, three, and four shoe rotation for both the road and the trail. He'll help you answer questions like: What kind of shoe do I start with? What should I use for my faster workouts? When do I need a racing shoe? Whether you (or a friend) are new to the world of running shoes or a seasoned veteran looking to refine your approach, David's tips are sure to help.

Then, Matt gives his review of the completely redesigned Adidas Adios Prime X 2 Strung. The first edition was wild, fun, and polarizing with its energetic, bouncy, yet unstable ride (not to mention the $300 price tag). Matt has found this huge update to bring big changes to the ride of the shoe. Think your mechanics can't handle such a high stack shoe? You might want to give this one a shot!

The Monday Shakeout: Strength Training to Prevent Injury - a New Study

The Monday Shakeout: Strength Training to Prevent Injury
By Nathan Brown

In our latest Monday Shakeout, Nathan explores a new study about strength training and running. The Monday Shakeout is our weekly series which lets us go a bit further into subjects we have been looking to discuss a little bit more about. Have an idea for a Monday Shakeout? Share it with us by emailing doctorsofrunning@gmail.com

Mailbag! Best Beginner Carbon Plate, Best Performance Plated Shoes Is Icing Good? and Discontinued Shoes We Want Back | DOR Podcast #156

 

Mailbag! Best Beginner Carbon Plate, Boston 12 vs. Everything, Is Icing Good? and Discontinued Shoes We Want Back
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 156

Time for another mailbag show. You asked, and we answered. On this episode, Nathan and Matt field listener questions about shoes, biomechanics, and more. Tune in for a couple shoe comparisons: the Boston 12 against several other similar options, and the Endorphin Elite vs. the Vaporfly 3. They also take a look at stability & asymmetry in running mechanics, the latest research on icing for recovery, "beginner" carbon-plate shoes, and even more. Be sure to stick around to the end where they discuss what old running shoe lines they'd want to see resurrected. 

As always, we want your questions, so be sure to leave comments on our social media or email us at doctorsofrunningpodcast@gmail.com!

Brooks Beast (Ariel) GTS 23 Review (2023)

Brooks Beast/Ariel GTS 23: The Biggest and Baddest Stability Shoe
By Bach Pham and Matt Klein

The Brooks Beast/Ariel series are now the longest-running motion control shoe series. For a moment, we thought they might disappear as version 20 remained un-updated until recently. It outlasted others like the Asics Gel Foundation, Mizuno Wave Alchemy and many more as extreme stability shoes disappeared. Its close cousin, the Addition, remains the only other major motion-control shoe on the market and current plans for an update or continuation remain unknown (we probably should just ask our friends at Brooks what the plan is instead of acting mysterious). Regardless of the series age, there have been a solid balance of changes and consistency. It retains its highly rigid ride and high drop while gaining softer cushioning and a better upper, continuing an extremely slow progression forward while being one of the sole remaining motion control shoes.

On Cloudboom Echo 3 Review (Updated)

On Cloudboom Echo 3: On Made a Real Super Shoe
By Matthew Klein and Andrea Myers

On Running has be moving in the right direction recently. Their clothes are a favorite of the DOR team, but the shoes have been hit or miss. Some of the recent models (like the On Cloudmonster) have finally begun to feel cushioned and all the shoes seem to have an improvement in cushioning (some more than others). However, their racing model still left something to be desired. One of the biggest disappointments for me was getting my hands on the original On Cloudboom Echo (technically version 2). It featured an incredibly high price for a non-super foam, carbon speed board shoe that did not even feel that fast. When I saw the upgrades on the Cloudboom Echo 3, I was immediately excited and began checking the On website weekly for news. I had high hopes this shoe would fill the gap that was not filled by the previous version. After almost a year of waiting, we finally managed to get our hands on a pair. After 80 miles of running (as of this review), I can confirm Version 3 fills that gap. In classic On fashion, the upper is premium and sits on top of a firmer riding super shoe design. The high price tag maintains, begging the important questions of who this shoe is most appropriate for and whether it is worth the price. We will try to answer both of those questions in this review.

Editor's Note: 9/15/23 - Andrea Myers review added.

Brooks Cascadia 17 Review (2023)

Brooks Cascadia 17 Review: A Trail Shoe for All
By David Salas

There have been a lot of big changes in the trail running footwear world recently. We have seen changes in foams, geometries, plates, and distance-specific footwear. Despite all of this when I traditionally think of a trail running shoe I think of one word, sturdy. The Brooks Cascadia 17 does not have any major bells or whistles to the package but it brings a very sturdy and predictable ride that I find many will appreciate. 

Brooks Ghost Max Review (2023)

Brooks Ghost Max: Your Modern, Ortho-Friendly Trainer
By Matthew Klein, Andrea Myers, and Bach Pham

When it comes to maximal shoes, Brooks has been a bit quiet. While the heels of the majority of their shoes easily reach into upper 30s, the forefoot heights usually do not given their more traditional heel-toe offsets. The Hyperion Max and Hyperion Elite do have higher stack heights but a training shoe within their traditional line has been missing. Of all the shoes to bring into this realm, Brooks decided to evolve their Dyad series, an orthotic-friendly shoe, into the Ghost Max. While it shares the friendly, easy-entry feel of the Ghost, it is a completely different shoe. A lower drop, soft, wider soled design brings some elements of a stable neutral shoe with a comfortable, orthotic-friendly ride in a surprising maximal training shoe, one of the first for Brooks.

Monday Shakeout: On the Impacts of Different Stack Heights

The Monday Shakeout: On the Impacts of Different Stack Heights
By Matthew Klein

In this week's Monday Shakeout, Chief Editor Matt Klein shares some thoughts on what we know about the impacts of different stack heights and wonders how to balance it all.

What Even is a Maximal Shoe in 2023? | DOR Podcast #155

 

The Maximal Shoe Episode | Biomechanical Impacts, Training in Super Shoes
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 155

This episode is all about that max stack. With almost every shoe coming in with a midsole thicker than 30mm, it's becoming hard to define what "maximal" even means, but Nathan, Matt, and David will give it a shot. They take a look at the research on maximal shoes and how it applies to today's offerings. They also argue about what shoes even count as max-stack trainers these days (and what about once you get above 40mm?). They also explore the impact of today's shoes' large amount of cushioning on a runner's biomechanics. Finally, they discuss some of the latest findings on super shoes and how we should think about training in them.

Adidas Adizero Boston 12 Review (Updated)

 

Adidas Adizero Boston 12: The Real Successor the Boston 9?
By Matt Klein, Nathan Brown, & David Salas

The Boston series underwent a huge overhaul for version 10, which brought the line from a lower, lightweight trainer and racing shoe (for its time) and turned it into a higher stacked, stiff, and rockered shoe. Given the major shift, many former Boston lovers were turned away, while others found a liking in a trainer from Adidas that had an overall firmer and rockered ride. For our team, the 10th version became one of our main trainers for long runs and snagging high mileage. However, version 11's upper missed the mark in a major way with a few upper issues. Despite our enjoyment of version 10, there were still many things to be improved upon, as the shoe took a long time to break in and was just a bit too firm. Enter version 12, another major revamp to the Boston line, which feels like a much more natural progression from version 9. 

Xero HFS II Review (2023)

Xero HFS II Review: Keeping Minimalism Alive
By Matthew Klein

In a world of maximal stack height shoes, including those pushing 50 mm, Xero Shoes have continued as one of the few holding on to barefoot/minimalist footwear principles. The first HFS (Highly Flexible Shoe) was a unique, highly flexible, durable road-specific minimalist shoe that provided just enough protection balanced with a high level of ground feel. While a fantastic minimal/barefoot-inspired shoe, all things can be improved. The HFS II is the upgraded version, featuring better upper security, a tiny bit more protection underfoot and an outsole that provides better versatility across different terrains. While a small gain in weight (per our measurements) is a trade-off, the upgrades definitely move this shoe forward as it continues to be an excellent choice for minimal all-day wear and running/athletic activities for those looking for a more natural shoe.

Hoka Gaviota 5 Review (2023)

Hoka Gaviota 5: Out with the J, in with the H
By Bach Pham

Hoka came into 2023 with a mission of shaking up their entire line-up. There's everything from new foams (Peba in their racing shoes, lighter midsole in the Clifton), new stack heights (breaching 43mm in the Hoka Stinson), and new stability technology as seen here in the latest Gaviota. For those that don't know about Hoka's naming devices, their shoes take on names from all along the California coast. Gaviota - Spanish for seagull - represents a large portion of coastal front that remains pristine and undeveloped. In some ways, the shoe has also been the same til now; the Gaviota has remained a high stacked stability shoe that emphasizes stability through their J-Frame system. Version 5 breaks tradition for the first time by removing Hoka's signature J-Frame in favor of a new H-Frame system that provides a more universal-oriented form of stability.

The Monday Shakeout: The Importance of Heel Bevels in Shoe Design

The Monday Shakeout: The Importance of Heel Bevels in Shoe Design
By Matthew Klein

Welcome back to another edition of the Monday Shakeout! This week we dive into heel bevels, one of our three obsessions at Doctors of Running. Matt shares what a heel bevel is and why it is an element he feels many companies fix to easily improve the ride of their shoes.

Ashley Mateo, Running Journalist | DOR Podcast #154

 

Social Media Today, AI Tomorrow? Insights on Running Content Creation and Journalism with Ashley Mateo
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 154

The internet provides us with an endless amount of information about running, but between websites, social media, online magazines, and more, how do we sift through to find what's legitimate? On this episode, Andrea and Nathan are joined by journalist and influencer Ashley Mateo to talk all things running media and coaching. They take a look at the state of journalism and how it's changed over the years, vetting sources and influencers on social media, the future of AI, and more. Ashley's also a USATF-certified coach, so they explore the benefits of the athlete-coach relationship and how they can help you take your running to the next level.