Puma Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Review: Bold, Hyperlight, High Performance! 6 Comparisons

Article by Ryan Eiler

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 ($300)

Introduction

Ryan: If I had to nominate a brand as the most underrated of the last couple years, it’d be Puma. Despite a slightly late entrance into the super shoe contest, it's abundantly clear that the folks in Herzogenaurach have thrown a ton of talented brain power into crafting both their trainers and their racing shoes over the last few years. 

Their uppers are superbly crafted, their Pumagrip outsoles are highly regarded, and the midsole foams they choose are surprisingly versatile and performant.

And they don’t just go the route of knocking off the ideas of fellow competitors. Each iteration of their Fast-R line has been described as ‘exotic’ and ‘wild’, yet manages to perform well. Even by looking at only the press release for this latest version of the Fast-R, it’s clear that they’re pushing boundaries again and trying new things.

Pros: 

Highly dynamic, deeply cushioned, energetic ride - Ryan

Forefoot cushioning and stability - Ryan

Composure during toe-off phase - Ryan

Ultra-light, low inertia feeling - Ryan

Minimalist, yet comfortable and secure upper - Ryan

Rockered shape + soft midsole harmonizes transition - Ryan

Cons: 

Heel stability - Ryan

Versatility / ride dynamics at < race pace - Ryan

Heavily favors mid/forefoot runners & requires good form - Ryan

Price - Ryan

Stats

Approx. Weight: men's 5.73 oz / 162g US9

  Sample Weight: 

     men’s 5.93oz / 168g US M9.5

Stack Height: men’s 40 mm heel /  32 mm forefoot (mm  drop spec) 

Platform Width: 79mm heel / (n/a) mm midfoot / 113mm forefoot 

Puma Spec Projected Lifespan: 300 km/200 mi

Tester Profile

Ryan Eller A hopeless soccer career led Ryan to take up running, and after taking a decade-long break from competing, he is back racking up mileage whenever he can.  He calls the 2018 Boston Marathon the hardest race of his life, where he finished in 2:40, barely remembering his name at the finish line.  Rya more recently has a PR of 2:13:36 at the 2024 NYC Marathon and ran 2:14:23 at the 2024 Boston Marathon, finishing 3d American and 15th overall.

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro Review: 4 Comparisons

Article by Jeff Valliere

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro ($195)

Introduction:  The Prodigio Pro is La Sportiva’s take of a trail super shoe, with the intention of providing top end, fast running, long distance performance without compromising technical mountain trail performance.  

Featuring their XFLOW midsole, a dynamic and energetic blend of dual supercritical nitrogen-infused TPU (inner core) and EVA (outer carrier) for the midsole, secure and durable Power Wire mesh booty style upper, combined with a Frixion White (XF 2.0) super sticky rubber outsole compound.  There is no plate in the mix here but we do have a film based ground filter layer.

The Prodigio Pro is an ideal shoe for any duration or distance, fast training or racing, any terrain and is for certain my favorite La Sportiva to date and one of my favorites of any shoe. Please read on for all the details

Racer Story: Ryan Sullivan's Gorge Waterfalls 100K Race Report

Article by Ryan Sullivan

Gorge Waterfalls 100K Race Report

I ran the 2025 Gorge Waterfalls 100K with big dreams of securing a top-2 position, which would have earned me a spot on the US team in the 80K for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain in September. I needed to have a 95th percentile day, and ended up having a pretty average, but not bad, day, which landed me in 5th place in a very stacked field, and under Vincent Bouillard’s previous course record (Walmsley’s record was on a slightly different course)…but not in the coveted top two. And so it goes.

Test des adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4: une évolution majeure (French)

Article par Jérémy Marie

Adidas Adios Pro 4 ( €250)

Introduction

Les Adidas Adios Pro 4 représentent la dernière évolution de la gamme de chaussures de course haut de gamme d’adidas, destinées aux coureurs de compétition et aux amateurs de marathon. 

Ce modèle succède aux Adios Pro 3, avec des améliorations notables dans plusieurs domaines, allant de la semelle à la tige: nouvelle formulation de la mousse LightStrike Pro, nouvelle géométrie, nouvelle semelle externe, nouvelle empeigne…c’est une véritable refonte à laquelle Adidas s’est attelé, s’inspirant de l’exclusive Adios Evo 1.

Autre amélioration notable, le poids, qui a baissé de 10% par rapport à la version 3, ce qui positionne l’Adios Pro 4 parmi les chaussures de marathon les plus légères.

Testbericht: Under Armour UA Infinite Elite 2 7 mit 7 Vergleiche (German)

Artikel von Markus Zinkl und Nils Scharff

UA Infinite Elite 2 (160,00 €)

Einleitung

Markus: In diesem Testbericht stelle ich den Under Armour Infinity Elite 2 vor – mein erster UA-Laufschuh, den ich testen durfte. Als jemand, der stets auf innovative Lauftechnologien achtet, war ich besonders daran interessiert, wie sich dieser Schuh in puncto Passform und Dämpfung präsentiert. Im Folgenden teile ich meine detaillierten Eindrücke und Erfahrungen, die von der ersten Anprobe bis hin zu ausgedehnten Trainingseinheiten reichen.

Rossignol Venosk Trail Running Shoe Review

Article by Jérémy Marie

Rossignol Venosk ($140/ €140)

Introduction

Rossignol is a French brand that weathered a few storms in the 2020s, suffering from the general ski malaise of the COVID era, and suffering from a few unsuccessful strategic choices (takeovers and resales of Raidlight, Felt, Time...).

In France, the fear of seeing one of the sport's historic companies disappear was palpable, but in the end, things settled down with the resumption of winter activities, and better-judged investments (installation of R-Bikes beacons for amateur and pro mountain bikers, partnership with the Federation, development of technical fabrics...). 

The brand hasn't stopped there, and at last year's UTMB presented the Vezor, a performance-oriented trail shoe (RTR Review), and now the Venosk, a reasonably priced all around option.

Montane Men's Sirocco Lite Hooded Insulated Jacket & Men's Genoa Lite Pants Reviews

Article by Matt Kolat

Montane Men's Sirocco Lite Hooded Insulated Jacket & Men's Genoa Lite Pants

Introduction

Montane is a brand that most UK outdoor enthusiasts will be familiar with as it sponsors many events in the UK but most famously the Spine Race. It's one of the most difficult outdoor pursuits in the world, only for those of us truly made of steel. One thing that always differentiated Montane in my mind, from other UK based outdoor brands was the fit it offers. I would call it a ‘Nordic’ fit. Almost all of their clothing is tapered / slim fitted and slightly longer. I have tried many of their items before and I cannot remember any of them being ‘boxy’. If you find that other brands don’t fit you well because they are always ‘too loose’ Montane might just be the brand you are looking for. 

As a part of their 2025 shoulder season collection Montane sent me two items to review on my hiking adventures in Scotland. Please find them reviewed below.

Altra Running Lone Peak 9 Review

Article by Ernst Linder

Altra Lone Peak 9 ($140)

Introduction

Altra released the newest version of its Lone Peak, the Lone Peak 9 early this year.  It is the latest in the evolution of this model that has not changed substantially since the Lone Peak 6 from 2022, and noticeable also, the price of the shoe has not changed either.  

Rather, Altra tweaked or added small features while staying true to the main formula of a light-weight trail shoe using its Altra EGO™ midsole foam, a zero-drop modest 25 mm stack height, a soft but strong mesh upper, and a MaxTrac™ outsole. 

Nike Vaporfly 4 Multi Tester Review: A Definite (and Fast) Departure! 9 Comparisons

Article by Jen Schmidt, Courtney Kelly, Renee Krusemark, Sally Reiley, and Ben David

Nike Vaporfly 4 ($260)

Introduction

Courtney:“The Original Super Shoe”, as stamped on the medial forefoot of the new Vaporfly 4 says it all. 

Although it has become well-loved by racing shoe enthusiasts everywhere, the evolution of the Vaporfly has ebbed and flowed for me. I actually skipped version 3 heeding the advice of a friend and stock piled an extra pair of V2s. When I heard about the release of V4 with its lighter weight and lower stack height, I was anxious to see changes that could really recreate that excitement! 

Pros:

• Extremely light - Jen/Sally/Courtney/Renee/Reed/Peter/Ben

• Excellent energy return - Jen/Sally/Renee/Courtney/Reed/Ryan/Peter

• Faster transition from landing to toe off. Encourages a high cadence-Courtney

• More “ground feel” than predecessors - Sally/Jen/Courtney/Ryan/Peter/Ben

• Excellent and secure hold of my narrower foot - Sally/Jen/Renee/Reed/Ryan

• Smooth transitions at slower paces as well as uptempo - Sally/Renee/Ryan

• More of a “natural” feel to the stride - Sally/Jen/Renee/Peter

• Vs V3, upper is less baggy with better containment - Ryan/Ben

Cons:

• Can feel a little more wobbly underfoot than the previous version, especially in the rear and midfoot - Jen/Sally

• Less of a full marathon option for mid pack runners - Renee/Peter/Ben

• Could use more heel lockdown - Ryan/Peter/Ben
• Upper of toe box takes a few miles to break in - Jen

• I am personally missing the aggressive rocker of previous versions for marathon racing - Sally/Jen/Renee

• Question on durability for some due to thinner rubber padding in heel (but this is somewhat expected in this kind of race shoe)-Courtney

• 5mm less foam in heel means less cushioned ride, limits volume of running in the shoe, plus plate rides closer to heel -Courtney

• More narrow midfoot as Nike cut into this area by 5mm -Courtney

• Less versatility than prior Vaporflies - Reed

Jen is a 2:41 marathoner, Courtney has PR’s of 3:04:27 marathon 1:25, 5 mile 30:17, and a 5k 18:20, Sally has a 3:24 PR as a 60+AG, Renee has PR’s 1:30:59 for the half and 3:26:45 for the marathon, Ben has PR's of 3:15 marathon and 1:30 for the half . 

Please find the testers full run bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.

ASICS S4+ Yogiri Review

Article by Sam Winebaun

ASICS S4+ Yogiri ($200)

Introduction

The limited release S4+ Yogri is ASICS answer to the need for less prescriptive, more stable supershoes for the marathon mid pack. 

The 4 “S” stand for "speed, stability, safety, and sub4". It’s a racing (and training) option that recognizes  that not all marathoners are “fast”, have perfect form or $250 plus to spend.  And that is what ASICS delivers here. Please read on for all the details.

2025 Boston Marathon Preview

 Article by Rabbi Benjamin David

2025 Boston Marathon Preview

Following a harsh winter, amid the endless turmoil of our complex world, the Boston Marathon arrives on the third Monday of every April. 

In the immortal words of Joni Mitchell: ‘And the painted ponies go up and down; we’re captive on a carousel of time.’ Indeed, with great unrest in untold places, the Boston Marathon comes roaring round on the carousel (for the 129th time), reminding us that not all is enmity and tension. 

For many, the third Monday in April - Patriot’s Day - is a day as important as any other. It reminds us that there is still good. There are still reasons to be hopeful. There are still days that fill the spirit with awe and wonder. Let’s get to it. 

Stio Ridgecap Low Hiking Shoe Review

Article by Jeff Valliere

Stio Ridgecap Low ($159 also in a waterproof Mid)

Introduction:

Based in Jackson Hole Wyoming, at the base of the Grand Tetons, Stio makes the highest quality outdoor clothing, shoes and accessories for a wide range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, running, lifestyle, biking, fishing, paddling, skiing and snowboarding.  

I was fortunate enough to attend the launch of the Ridgecap hiking shoes at the Stio Mountain Studio in Boulder recently, where they provided me with the Ridgecap Low, as well as samples of their clothing (review upcoming).  The Ridgecap is described as “A fast, lightweight and comfortable all terrain shoe that hits the sweet spot between stability and agility”.  

At 15.4 oz/437 g, they are not light by any means, or at least not when compared to most trail running shoes, but a reasonable weight for a hiking boot and offer the highest quality construction, comfort, protection and traction.  Stio is committed to using the finest, most sustainable materials, creating partnerships and extending the life of their products reducing waste.

Craft Nordlite Tempo Review: Tempo and Much More! 7 Comparisons

Article by Sam Winebaum

Craft Nordlite Tempo ($160)

Introduction

Craft Sportswear of Sweden, long known for great nordic ski apparel worn by many national teams, in recent years has plunged into running shoes.  They were one of the earliest brands focused on “gravel” and thus with more outsole depth and grip than typically seen in road shoes. Their shoes tended to have great midsole foams and awkward, baggy fits with their gravel outsoles not always worth their extra weight and impact on smooth surfaces performance. 

In 2025, all of their shoes including the Tempo here will be on a new last (fit). Craft is also now more clearly distinguishing its road, gravel, and trail offerings with two “pure” road models the Kype Pro (RTR Review), a state of the art marathon racer and reviewed here the Nordlite Tempo. Tempo has two foam compounds (15% PEBA plus another unnamed foam) in a supercritical processed blend. 

It is a strong tempo shoe. I have concluded that it is also a great all around daily trainer due to its substantial (but not excessive) 40mm heel, 34mm forefoot stack height and stable and smooth rocker based plateless ride.

Rabbit Marathon Majors Race Kits Review

Article by Sally Reiley

Rabbit Marathon Majors Race Kits

Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City—some of the largest and most prestigious races on the planet. One dream unites them all.

Rabbit has created a collection of race day kits for each of the six majors.  Inspired by each iconic race and crafted for ultimate speed, their highest performing apparel eliminates distractions and maximizes comfort. Each style combines ultra lightweight, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking fabric with sleek design and innovative tech.

Review: Camelbak Octane 22 Hydration Hiking Pack met Fusion 2L Reservoir Eén rugzak, eindeloze mogelijkheden (Nederlands/Dutch)

Artikel geschreven door Kurt Biesemans

Camelbak Octane 22 met Fusion reservoir (€160, $150)

🎒 Ontdek de Camelbak Octane-lijn – slimme veelzijdigheid voor elke buitenliefhebber.

De Octane-serie combineert het beste van drie werelden: het draagcomfort van een lichte rugzak, de opbergruimte van een grotere pack en de stabiliteit van een loopvest. Of je nu gaat hardlopen, hiken of een snelle bergtocht plant – er is een Octane voor jou.

Alle drie de modellen zijn uitgerust met het innovatieve Fusion-reservoir, gelanceerd in 2022 en meteen bekroond met de ISPO Design Award. Daarnaast geniet elk model van het ergonomische Command Center™-harnas voor slimme opbergoplossingen binnen handbereik.