Guide by Sam Winebaum, Mike Postaski, Sally Reiley, Renee Krusemark, Jeremy Marie, Marcel Krebs, Jeff Valliere, Dom Layfield, and Matt Kolat
RoadTrailRun contributors ran thousands of miles and kilometers in 2024, testing all kinds of gear and apparel and here bring you 50 Gift Ideas for the runners in your life.
Article by Jeremy MARIE
Easy to use
Comfortable, even with swimming goggles
Playlist+ feature is still unique and brilliant
Improved battery life
Best sound in the pool is achieved when using ear plugs.
Sound is still lesser than with standard earphones.
I’ve already reviewed a H2O Audio product, the pool-specific Sonar Pro.
This was a very well-rounded device, with a very specific and some might say limited usage.
H2O Audio has now revamped their lineup and offers the Tri 2 bone conduction headphone, as a replacement for their previous Tri sport device.
The Tri 2 is designed for multi sports enthusiasts, and as such offers a IPX8 waterproof certification (can withstand a 3.6m submersion for an unlimited time), onboard storage of 8GB for your music (MP3, FLAC, aac, m4a) without your phone, or when the Bluetooth does not work (underwater), bone conduction design so that you can stay aware of your surroundings, and an easy to use 3 buttons interface.
The “Pro” version adds the Playlist+ feature for on board, no phone listening.
The idea is simple and comes from a clear trend. These days music is listened to using streaming services, and by a large margin. But those require an Internet connection, a phone and all those things that are not really easy to bring to the pool.
Article geschreven door Kurt Biesemans
Salomon Aero Glide (160€)
Introductie:
Salomon is al lang een belangrijke speler in de trailwereld, maar met deze schoen hebben ze een sterke allround wegschoen ontwikkeld. De Aero Glide maakt deel uit van Salomons Aero-collectie, die ook de Aero Glide (maximale demping), de Aero Blaze (lichtgewicht voor dagelijkse training) en de Aero Volt (voor tempo- en intervaltraining) omvat.
Deze schoen is een uitstekende allround wegschoen: lichtgewicht, goed gedempt en met een fijne, soepele afrol. Hij is ontworpen voor de neutrale loper en past goed bij trainingen op een laag tot gemiddeld tempo en lange afstanden, zoals duurtrainingen.
Article by Sam Winebaum
Diadora Nucleo 2 ($160)
Introduction
Iconic sports brand Diadora of Italy has emerged as a top run contender in recent years with beautifully styled and super fun to run trainers and a solid carbon racer.
Featuring their own in-house developed DD Anima foam which is light, energetic, moderately soft with a clearly felt and leg saving measured bounce, the Nucleo continues the progress.
Ir'an “inherent stability” trainer meaning its geometry provides light stability and without overdoing the platform width or adding firmer inserts or plastic inserts. It all also works brilliantly for me, a runner who definitely typically steers clear of stability and pronation control shoes! Please read on for the details.
Article by Kurt Biesemans
Salomon Aero Glide (160€)
Introduction:
Salomon has long been a key player in the trail running world, but with this shoe, they've crafted a quality road running shoe. The Aero Glide is part of Salomon's Aero collection, which includes the Aero Glide (maximum cushioning), the Aero Blaze (lightweight for daily training), and the Aero Volt (for tempo and interval training).
The shoe is a great all-round road running shoe that is lightweight and well-cushioned with nice rolling characteristics. It is designed for the neutral runner. The Aero Glide is best-suited for low- to moderate-paced runs and long distances, such as endurance training.
Article par Jennifer Schmidt et Sally Reiley
Nike Zoom Fly 6 ($170)
"Testée et approuvée par Kipchoge"
Jen : Oubliez ce que vous pensiez savoir de la Zoom Fly 5, et considérez la #6 comme une nouvelle chaussure à part entière. Nike a fait quelques mises à jour et améliorations majeures dans cette version, créant une supertrainer plus légère, plus amortie et plus rebondissante avec beaucoup des mêmes avantages, mais à un prix inférieur à celui de ses homologues Le poids de la chaussure a diminué de manière significative tout en augmentant la hauteur de coussin de la chaussure.
Article par Sam Winebaum et Jeff Valliere
S/Lab Genesis Spine (250€)
Test original en Anglais traduit avec l'aide de Deepl.com
Introduction
Sam : La S/Lab Genesis Spine est une version haute de la chaussure ultra haut de gamme de Salomon, la S/Lab Genesis. Destinée à la course et à la randonnée rapide dans des conditions humides et froides, elle ajoute une résistance à l'eau et au froid ainsi qu'une protection contre les débris et la poussière grâce à sa tige supérieure scellée pour les conditions difficiles, à ce qui est une plate-forme exceptionnelle sous le pied.
La tige extérieure, très similaire à celle que Salomon utilise pour ses chaussures de ski nordique classiques S/Lab, est dotée d'une membrane interne résistante à l'eau, tandis que la "chaussure" intérieure avec les lacets rapides n'est pas un matériau Matryx comme dans la Genesis classique, mais un mesh plus conventionnel et ouvert avec des superpositions étendues.
La plateforme sous le pied et la semelle extérieure sont identiques à la S/Lab Genesis "été". Bien que la Spine n'ait pas "légère" en raison de la tige, le poids de 361 g US9 est raisonnable pour un une chaussure trail haut de gamme avec une protection contre les intempéries. Entrons dans les détails, Jeff et moi avons testé cet automne dans le Colorado et l'Utah USA, les tests hivernaux et les mises à jour sont à venir.
Artikel von Ingrid Zasa, Markus Zinkl & Nils Scharff
MNSTRY - Fueled by Nature
Nils: Neuer Name, gewohnt gute Produkte. So könnte man das Rebranding des deutschen Sportnahrungsherstellers beschreiben. Das noch junge Unternehmen aus dem Baden-Württembergischen Freudental ist nunmehr unter der Marke MNSTRY bekannt und konnte schon vor seiner Umbenennung deutsche Top-Athlet:innen wie Laura Philipp (Triathlon) oder den deutschen Marathon-Rekordhalter Amanal Petros für sich gewinnen. Auch wir bei RoadTrailRun durften schon einmal einen Teil der Produktpalette unter die Lupe nehmen und waren von den meisten Artikeln angetan. Vor allem das Gel-Mango ist nach wie vor mein persönliches Go-To in der Wettkampfverpflegung! Anfang des Jahres wurde dann ein Rebranding umgesetzt und aus dem zuvor etwas umständlichen Namen wurde vereinfacht MNSTRY. Dieses Update zum Anlass wurden uns erneut einige Testprodukte zur Verfügung gestellt. Neben Gels mit der neuen 1:0.8 Rezeptur (höherer Fruktoseanteil), durften wir die neuartigen ICE-Gels testen, die (halb) gefroren verzehrt werden. Außerdem waren Teil des Testpakets neuartige Riegel mit dem Namen Intensity Bar, die in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Radrennstall Bora-Hansgrohe entwickelt wurden, die Recovery Riegel Recover8 und zu guter letzt das hochdosierte Kohlenhydratgetränk Power Carb.
Article par Sam Winebaum
Rossignol Vezor ($180/ 180 €)
Article traduit de l'anglais original avec l'aide de Deepl.com
Introduction
La marque iconique de sports d'hiver Rossignol a surpris lors de l'UTMB 2024 en présentant sa première chaussure de trail haute performance, la Vezor. Lors de mon test, cette chaussure de trail conviviale, agile, rapide et bien amortie n'a pas déçu !
3 ans de développement avec plus de 150 testeurs, la Vezor dispose d'une semelle intermédiaire en double mousse (EVA à haut rebond sous le pied, EVA supercritique vers le sol).
Les couches de mousse prennent en sandwich une plaque en forme de diapason flexible en composite Diapazon+ qui assure la stabilité du médio-pied et la propulsion vers l'avant.
Au sol, nous avons le caoutchouc Michelin Formula dans un réseau multidirectionnel de crampons de 3 à 4 mm.
L'empeigne appelée "Dragonfly" est un mesh débris/air monocouche avec un large éventail de superpositions internes.
Avec un poids raisonnable de 278g / 9.7 oz US9/EU42 pour une hauteur de talon de 30mm et une hauteur d'avant-pied de 24mm (un seul sockliner, un second de 2mm est également fourni), cette chaussure s'est avérée être une chaussure polyvalente et très amusante à courir lors de mes tests qui comprenaient des randonnées rapides, des sentiers, des chemins de gravier et même de la chaussée. Il est rare qu'une chaussure de trail pleinement performante ne fasse aucun compromis sur les terrains plus fermes et plus doux et sur la route, et la Vezor est aussi justement une chaussure de ce type.
Article by Sam Winebaum, Ben David, Renee Krusemark, and Peter Stuart
ASICS Novablast 5 ($140)
Introduction
The Novablast is ASICS lightest and one of its most highly cushioned daily trainers. For its 5th edition, it drops 9g to about 8.75 oz / 247g in a US9 while retaining its max cushioned 41.5mm heel 33.5 forefoot stack height. Originally positioned as a fun trainer for more casual younger runners, it rapidly became a classic for its light and lively ride while over the years gaining in stack height, platform width and dropping in weight as new foams and upper constructions evolved.
Recent editions largely kept the momentum going. A neutral shoe for runners with decently efficient form, it is strongly differentiated from similar stack height ASICS such as more stable Nimbus (RTR Review) as the more uptempo focused rainer in the line and sits closest to the 1 oz lighter somewhat lower stack height, irmer and more stable Noosa Tri 16 (RTR Review)
A new FF Blast Max midsole foam, a lighter engineered Jacquard mesh upper, a 5mm narrower heel and forefoot platform width and a new outsole design are the key changes for the 5th edition.
I have taken them out for an initial progression run as well as an A/B comparison run with the Novablast 4 on the other foot and share my first impressions with a full multi tester review coming soon.
Article by Jennifer Schmidt and Sally Reiley
Nike Zoom Fly 6 ($170)
“Kipchoge tested and approved”
Jen: Forget what you thought you knew about the Zoom Fly from the Zoom Fly 5, and treat #6 as its own brand new shoe. Nike has made some major updates and improvements in this version, creating a lighter, cushier, and bouncier supertrainer with many of the same benefits but a lower price tag than its race-day counterparts. It drops significantly in weight while increasing in stack height.
Pros:
Immediately comfortable, dialed in true to size fit: Sally, Jen
Noticeably lighter, softer, and snappier than the Zoom Fly 5: Jen
Nike did away with the unresponsive recycled zoom x foam of previous versions: Sally
Nice versatility, excelling at slower paces as well as uptempo faster paces: Sally, Jen
Good value for a plated zoom x supertrainer: Sally
Smooth rocker ride that trends faster than your perceived effort: Sally
Cons:
Laces are too skinny; why not the fantastic serrated edge laces Nike uses on their race shoes?: Sally
If you tend to lose toenails in the Alphafly, you may have the same issue with this one (runs short/shallow): Jen/Sally
True to Nike form, this shoe is a bit loud underfoot (although nowhere near as noisy as the Alphafly): Sally
Article by Mike Postaski, Dominick Layfield, and Jeff Valliere
The North Face Summit Series Vectiv Pro 2 ($250)
Introduction
Mike P: We’ve long been trying to get our hands on TNF’s flagship ultra racer here at RoadTrailRun. Finally it arrived for testing, and wow, it was worth the wait! I took them straight out of the box for a 27K race here in Boise right away after getting them. Please check my video review HERE for initial thoughts and footage from the race. I was blown away by the foothold, security, and plate impulse immediately. In terms of comparing them to other top trail supershoes on the market, I was reserving judgment until taking them out for a longer distance. Luckily I had Kodiak 100K coming up, so my portion of the review will focus on my thoughts and impressions after 10+ hours of racing.
Dom: Like every player in the trail shoe market, TNF have dabbled with plated trail shoes. But like (nearly) everyone else, their previous products have not been widely lauded. Rumors have been circulating recently that with their new Vectiv Pro they have stepped up their game. Is the excitement justified?
Video by Sam Winebaum
Glycerin Max $200, Ghost Max 2 $150, Hyperion Max 2 $180
In the video I compare Brooks three all new 2024 max cushion trainers. All are distinctly different in focus and best uses.Article by Jeff Valliere
Kask Elemento ($400) and Rex ($245)Performance Cycling Helmets
introduction:
Ever heard of Kask? If you follow professional cycling, you have probably seen them on the heads of Ineos Grenadiers (formerly team SKY). Made in Italy and founded in 2004, Kask makes helmets for Cycling, Snow Sports, Horse Riding as well as work safety helmets, with a focus on innovation, excellence, safety and innovative unmistakable design.
Their focus on safety is impeccable, and surpass the highest safety standards, including the WG11 rotational impact tests. With an unmistakable look, I had become more and more intrigued with the brand and fortunately got the opportunity to test them out.
Article by Sam Winebaum
Run Cargo Tights ($250), Winter Anorak ($440), Run Shorts ($150)
Norda is a Montreal, Canada brand whose motto is: “Inspired by the World’s Toughest Conditions”. To date this has meant a series of outstanding run shoes beautifully crafted and styled with unique builds of high performance materials such as a sailcloth sourced Dynemma uppers and all Vibram midsoles and outsoles.
Now in collaboration with fellow high performance and “high style” run brand Soar from London, they launch their first apparel capsule. And needless to say given Far North roots it is based on winter. The tested products included the Winter Anorak, Cargo Tights, and Run Shorts.
