Salomon DRX Defy ($140)

Introduction

Sam: The DRX Defy is Salomon’s lightweight neutral daily trainer with the sibling DRX GRVL having a more aggressive outsole and the Spectur 2 (RTR Review soon) the fiberglass plated speed trainer. 

The Defy features a soft and bouncy Energy Foam midsole with rear Active Chassis wings for support and light guidance, and a comfortable, soft and broad fitting and relatively unstructured upper. 

At about  8.55 oz / 242g US9  it is commendably light for its moderately high stack height of 34mm heel /  26mm forefoot and quite broad platform.

It’s a shoe in the” fun to run” trainer category: light, very energetic and friendly underfoot and not overly aggressively or locked down in fit. I see it as a solid option for those quick out the door moderate distance daily runs. Let’s get into the details. 

Pros: 

• Fun to run: energetic, bouncy, softer ride

• Upper will favor higher volume wider feet

Cons:

• Overly relaxed rear fit/heel hold required unusual lace lock for Sam’s narrow to medium fit, needs a gusset tongue: Sam

• Not ideal for runners seeking pronation control

• Below average grip on any road grit

Shimano GRX Di2 2 x 12 RX825 Gravel Groupset & GRX WH-RX880 Carbon Wheelset Review

Complete GRX 2x12 Groupset Weight: 2,937 grams - ~$2,530

Wheelset: 1,394 grams - $1,550

Available now

Pros: Incredibly accurate “set it and forget it” shifting, super easy front shifting, dual control lever ergonomics, easy and powerful braking, shift customization, quality, Garmin (and other computer) integration, ease of setup, battery life..

Cons: perhaps a touch heavy for gram counters (though IMHO, the performance is well worth the weight), difficult to connect app with system, limited gear range (cassette options/RD max capacity).

Introduction:

This past Spring, Shimano released their 2x12 GRX Di2 groupset, with the most notable update being, well, 2x12, but also subtle improvements to the brake/shift lever ergonomics, wireless levers (in line with Dura Ace, Ultegra and 105), a revamped rear derailleur, and a gravel specific front derailleur.  Prior to testing the 2x12 Di2, I was using a 2x11 mechanical GRX groupset (for a short while, as I found a great deal on a Trek Checkpoint just prior, which I purchased specifically for this project/review.  The 2x11 on the Checkpoint was amazing, but I was quite excited to give the new Di2 a whirl.

FuelCell SuperComp Pacer v2 (200,00 €)

Einleitung

Markus: Der New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Pacer v2 ist ein Laufschuh, der für ambitionierte Läufer und Wettkämpfer entwickelt wurde und durch sein leichtes Design sowie eine dynamische Mittelsohle überzeugt. Um ein umfassendes Bild zu gewinnen, habe ich den Schuh zusammen mit meinen Kollegen Nils und Marcel auf Herz und Nieren getestet. In diesem Testbericht teilen wir unsere gemeinsamen Eindrücke und Erfahrungen – von der Passform bis zum Laufgefühl – und beleuchten, wie der Schuh sich in verschiedenen Trainingssituationen bewährt.

Pro:

• Mittelsohlenmischung und -geometrie sehr ausgewogen (Markus / Marcel)

• Aggressive Geometrie, die zum schnellen Laufen animiert (Nils)

• Vielseitig einsetzbar (Markus / Nils / Marcel)

• Sehr leicht (Markus)

• Atmungsaktives Obermaterial (Markus / Nils / Marcel)

• Sehr gute Passform (Markus)

Contra:

• Zunge nicht seitlich vernäht (Markus / Nils)

• Schnürsenkel neigen zum einschneiden (Markus)

• Möglicherweise Reibung an der Ferse für einige (Markus / Nils)

• Schwerer als die Konkurrenz (Nils / Marcel)

• Fällt ein wenig kurz aus und - je nach Fußform - beengt in der Zehenbox aus (Marcel)

On Cloudsurfer Next ($150)

Introduction

The Cloudsurfer Next sits in ON’s “Everyday” running category. It features a Helion super foam midsole and the CloudTec Phase elements we first saw in the Cloudsurfer 2023 (RTR Review),  the Cloudeclipse (RTR Review) and the Cloudsurfer Trail (RTR Review).  The upper is a woven mesh worthy of a trail shoe in support and debris resistance.. A hint to where I found the Next most useful?

The Cloudsurfer Next is actually not a new Cloudsurfer but is called out as an update to the Cloudgo with a lower 6mm drop and 5mm more front cushion at about the same heel height with now CloudTec Phase elements. All things considered I think it is really a Cloudsurfer Trail with a less aggressive “looking” outsole but one that I actually found very effective off the pavement on easier trails and even very wet grass. 

Confused? Well On will start to group its shoes in categories and will have a new Cloudsurfer next year. 

This Cloudsurfer should not be compared to the OG as it has firmer foam, no front bottoming out, is more stable and for sure has cross over uses to the gym, everyday wear and travel and as I also found light trail.

Such “all around”  or multiple use shoes can have compromises: too firm and rigid, heavy, ponderous to actually run, etc… but I found not much of  that here in my testing which included road runs, door to light trails including wet leaves and grass and everyday wear. 

Scarpa - Spin Race (199,00 €)

Introduction

C'est le deuxième modèle Scarpa que j’ai en test, après la Golden Gate Kima qui m'avait laissé une très bonne impression. La Spin Race se situe presque à l'opposé du spectre des chaussures de trail, avec une épaisseur de semelle minimale et un poids contenu.. 

Les chaussures de trail, et les chaussures de course en général, ont tendance à épaissir au fil des versions, et j'étais impatient de tester la Spin Race qui peut presque sembler « démodée », étant une chaussure dépouillée, légère et agile faite pour les terrains techniques. Même Salomon ne fabrique plus ce genre de chaussures, eux pourtant précurseurs avec l'ancienne ligne Sense. Voyons ce qu'il en est de la Scarpa Spin Race, et dans quelle mesure elle a sa place en 2024.

adidas Adizero SL2 (130€)

Einleitung

Mit dem Adizero SL hat adidas vor mittlerweile 1,5 Jahren ein neues Modell herausgebracht, das zu einem relativ erschwinglichen Preis den Einstieg in die adidas Adizero Familie bieten möchte. Während Adizero Produkte wie bspw. der Takumi Sen oder der Adios Pro 3 stets auf maximale Performance ausgelegt und mit der Hilfe von Profiathleten entwickelt werden, stehen mit dem Adizero SL bzw. jetzt SL2 dagegen wir “Normalos” im Mittelpunkt. Der Adizero SL 2 will Alltagshelden, Jugendsportler und Gelegenheitsläufer ansprechen. Nur weil man ggfs. nur einen Schuh im Schrank hat, so die Idee, soll man trotzdem die Möglichkeit haben, sich wie ein Profi zu fühlen und persönliche Bestzeiten anzugreifen.

Und während beim besagten Launch mit dem SL (1) zwar die Idee eine herausragende war, aber noch ein wenig an der Umsetzung gescheitert ist, will adidas mit dem jetzt erschienenen SL 2 vieles besser machen: Der neue Adizero SL 2 ist leichter als zuvor, das Obermaterial wurde überarbeitet und vor allem bietet die Mittelsohle nun nicht nur einen Kern aus Lightstrike Pro, sondern gleich eine ganze Schicht davon. Im Ergebnis steht ein toller Schuh, der nicht nur mich zu überraschen wusste. Doch gleichzeitig hat er nach wie vor seine Tücken. Mehr dazu im folgenden Testbericht.

Introduction

Durston Gear just released the X-Dome 1+, a new addition to the world of ultralight freestanding tents. Combining innovative design with top-tier materials, the X-Dome 1+ offers a blend of strength, space, and versatility that is rarely seen in the ultralight tent category. Here’s an inside look at what makes the X-Dome 1+ stand out.

Brooks Glycerin Max ($200)

Introduction

Alexandra: The Glycerin Max is a highly cushioned daily trainer from Brooks. I have never run  in any of the Glycerin line shoes, but considered getting them many times due to their “tried and true” reputation. 

With the Max, Brooks brings out an extremely high stack & cushioned shoe with a new dual  supercritical Tuned DNA foam technology.  In fact, with a 45mm heel and 39mm forefoot it is Brooks highest stack height most cushioned shoe to date and one of the highest available . 

Together with Renee, Jeff, and Michael, runners of differing daily running paces and statures we share our thoughts on this giant in this review!

Pros: 

• Fun foam, cushiony but still responsive, cool foam/midsole design: Alex/Jeff/Michael

• Plenty of shock absorption: Renee/Jeff/Michael

• Stable for the stack height: Renee/Alex/Jeff

• Toebox has enough width to be an all day shoe: Jeff

• Short folks rejoice, easy way to look tall: Jeff**/Michael*

*Is 5’9” short? Debatable (Michael)

**Nah, I think short is like 5’4” and under, Mugsy Bogues-esq, but I’m just stoked to be 5’11” and then 6’3” in these things (Jeff)

Cons: 

• Outsole durability tbd? Alex

• Weight: Renee/Michael

• Limited use: Renee

• Cost: Renee/Michael

• Potential midfoot width problems: Jeff

Most comparable shoes 

Hoka Skyflow

ASICS Superblast and Nimbus

New Balance Fresh Foam More v5

Saucony Triumph 22

Instinct X10 running vest (150€)

Introduction

Jeremy: We’ve just presented the Instinct Trail brand in our Instinct Reflex belt review, one of the best high capacity, bounce free running belts available, so I won’t go into more details on the ethos of Sean Van Court, Instinct’s founder and constant innovator. Function drives form seems to be his main idea, with clever solutions and especially well-thought pockets disposition and accessibility.

The X10 Running vest sits at the sweet spot of the brand’s pack offering, which goes from the minimal PX 3.1L to the highly functional, high volume Alpi 40L that Sam will review. Their lineup is really extensive and should allow everyone to find precisely the volume and features they need.

One of the distinctive features of Instinct’s offering is their Ergo Quiver II: a never seen double quiver with each holding only one pole, and positioned in diagonal at the back by framing the volume of the larger pockets. I’ll discuss this solution later on but the brand new take on a now classic solution proves how outside of the box thinking can bring improvements even to simple things.

Sean himself suggested the X10 two days before UTMB’s CCC which I raced…after a short “validation run”. Yep, I was this confident.  What follows is my detailed review of the X10

Kalias Fuga DU BOA ($271)

Introduction

Sam: The Fuga DU is a moderate stack height trail shoe with a dual density PEBAX foam midsole, a dual dial BOA upper and a stout Vibram Megagrip outsole. Given how much shoe we have, it is quite reasonable in weight at 10.6 oz / 300 g US men’s 9. Clearly rugged terrain is its focus.

Kailas of China is a relative newcomer to the trail running scene yet offers an extensive line of high performance trail shoes, apparel, and packs/vests as well as hiking and climbing gear. They made a big splash at UTMB 2024 with not only a big booth and lots of buzz along with Kailas athlete Joaquín López of Ecuador taking a surprise 3d place at the 2024 UTMB in their EX 330 trail shoe.