Topo Athletic‘s latest addition to its gym collection is a functional fitness training shoe named Santé (pronounced Sahn-tay, meaning “health” in French). With an adjustable Boa closure system and durable mesh upper, the Santé is tough enough for functional fitness, strength training or HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). A flexible outsole with lateral stabilizers allow…
Category: Running Gear Reviews
VIVOBAREFOOT biggest sale EVER now going on
Here’s your chance to load up cheaply (HUGE markdowns) on your favorite VIVOBAREFOOT zero drop minimalist shoes – road, trail, casual, business, travel. VIVOBAREFOOT is taking their eCommerce back in-house after working with a third party and is celebrating by running a month long promotion on the site with special reduced prices. Full announcement on the bottom of…
Inov-8 Tri-X-Treme 225 Triathlon Running Shoe Review
From the United Kingdom and fell running footwear manufacturer, Inov-8, comes a super-lowered one-arrow (3mm drop) model, the Tri-X-Treme 225, an insanely lightweight and fast triathlon shoe. This stripped back speed demon brings the foot closer to the ground. The latest in inov-8 Dynamic Fascia Band (DFB) technology and the Terradapter heel unit allows triathletes…
Newton Running Tri Racer Review
The Newton MV3 is my favorite Newton running shoe since Aug 2013 when I wear tested it. I like it so much that I even used it for training and competing in track and field events: 400m and Triple Jump. Newton has not released a follow-up to their MV3 model for 2014 but they did…
Newton Running Fate & Kismet Review
We have reviewed the Newton P.O.P 1 platform featuring the Newton Gravity III and Newton Distance III models about 6 months ago here. The P.O.P 1 platform is good for long distance training and high intensity workouts and races with a ride that is lightweight and power packed. It is also designed to amplify efficient…
Looking for a minimalist triathlon running shoe? Inov-8 and Newton Running recently launched their Tri models.
If you are looking for a pair of minimalist running shoe that you can save time putting on (no laces) and going sockless, then Newton Running, Altra Running, and Inov-8 may have a pair that you might like. I’ve already wear tested the Altra 3-Sum last year (the colors have changed) but will be testing…
New shoes from Topo Athletic coming Fall ’14 and Spring ’15
Topo Athletic, the leader in natural-fit innovation for performance footwear, has recently launched the first of two new Fall ’14 model, the Sante, which we just started wear testing. Topo Athletic is one of less than a dozen companies still making zero drop and low drop (<4mm), wide toe box, lightweight, and lightly cushioned natural running shoes….
Xero Shoes September Giveaway
For the next two weeks, Xero Shoes is giving away a Xero Shoes Gear Kit in a sweepstakes. The kit includes a pair of Amuri Cloud, a Xero t-shirt, a pair of ToeSox, and an Earth Ball foot massager. This has a $90+ value. The giveaway starts on Friday, September 5th at 6am, Pacific Time,…
Five years of minimalist shoes – running, walking, barefoot
I ran in my first pair of minimalist running shoes, the Vibram FiveFingers (VFF) KSO, in August 2009, just three months after reading Born To Run by Christopher McDougall (published May 2009). My first blog post on this web site was on May 27, 2010, titled, ‘My Story‘. At the end of the post, I…
Save your knees with Opedix KNEE-Tec Running Tights
We first covered Opedix CORE-Tec Shorts when I used them in conjunction with my compression calf sleeves on sprint and jump events to reduce or eliminate back and knee pains – providing a shortened recovery period! And preserving my muscles and joints for future track and field events. I recently wear tested Opedix KNEE-Tec Running…
SKORA Running 15% OFF SALE
Limited Time Offer for our readers – 15% OFF Sale Thank you for being a loyal reader and/or subscriber to our web site! SKORA Running is offering a 15% discount on all their full-priced products (limited time July 21, 2014 to July 25, 2014) to all our visitors by using the following discount code: MRSSKORA15 http://weartested.org/skora.php…
The multi-purpose Topo Athletic Oterro
We previewed the Topo Athletic Oterro six months ago and now we have exhaustively wear-tested the shoe while hiking and walking over 100 miles! The light, rugged and versatile Topo Athletic Oterro is ideal for trekking, light hiking, fast packing and multisport activities. A speed lace and traditional lace option allows you to customize your…
Altra Zero Drop ONE2
It has been over a year since we tested the original Altra ONE. The new Altra ONE2 is the next generation from the Altra Running neutral low cushioning collection. The ONE2 is billed as a ‘fast, do-it-all performance shoe’ with an incredible cushion-to-weight ratio. From a casual seven-mile run to a full marathon, this shoe…
SKORA end of season sale – 5 days only!
Just in time for the summer! SKORA is having an end-of-season sale starting June 25 with site-wide savings through June 30th. SKORA premium running shoes are 25% OFF. Summer sale ends 6/30! Free-Shipping on orders over $90 + earn Gift Cards with qualified purchases. Shop SKORA here for your end-of-season savings.
VIVOBAREFOOT Trail Freak Review & Giveaway
The last VIVOBAREFOOT designed-for-trails shoe we wear tested two years ago was the Breatho Trail. At first glance, the new Trail Freak is similar but with a quick closure lacing system. That’s where it ends. After running in them for a few weeks, they are way different and the Trail Freak is my preferred VIVOBAREFOOT…
Taking the next step with minimal shoes… Track & Field Masters/Seniors Games
A few months back, I decided that in order to really field test various running and fitness products, I have to pick a race or meet that really bring out the best out of the products and myself. So I decided to test out my over 4 years of running and training exclusively with minimal…
Ryders Eyewear STRIKE, PINT, VIA
We last reviewed performance sunglasses from Ryders Eyewear over two years ago – Ryders Interchangeable and Ryders Standard. New in 2014, we wear tested three models with three different technologies: STRIKE with Polarized & Photochromic lenses, VIA with Photochromic lenses, and PINT with Polarized lenses. Ryders Eyewear VIA The Ryders VIA has a rimless design…
2014 Wear Tested Shoe of the Year Candidates
Here’s a sneak preview list of some of the candidates for the 2014 Wear Tested Shoe of the Year in minimalist shoes for Road, Trail, and Casual (includes Walking and Hiking). We hope to have test pairs for all the models listed here by the last quarter of 2014. All shoes available publicly by Fall…
Topo Athletic MT Mountain Trainer
Ever since we declared the Topo Athletic’s Speed Trainer (ST) as Wear Tested Shoes of the Year for 2013, we were naturally excited to get our hands (and feet) on their new trail running shoes, the Mountain Trainer (MT). The Topo MT offers the ultimate hybrid experience by pairing the best features of a trail…
New Balance Minimus Zero Trail v2 Review
It has been a long time since New Balance made radical changes to its Minimus collection. In the pipeline with major changes are two trail shoes, the NB Minimus Zero Trail v2 and NB Minimus 110 v2. We recently wear tested the Minimus Zero Trail v2 and is surprised at the changes! The new Minimus…
ZEMgear launches on Kickstarter.com today!
ZEMgear founder, Christina Bracken shares her 20-year footwear industry experience and passion for design and development as she brings her new collection of shoes “Engineered for WOW” to life through a Kickstarter campaign today, April 15, 2014. Crowd funding is the fast growing “out-of-the-box” approach to brand marketing and pre-production financing. For a “successful” campaign,…
Newton Running Distance III & Gravity III Review
It has been a long time since Newton Running came out with radical changes to their technology. The Newton MV3 with its 5 mini-lugs was a teaser and that model is still my one and only favorite Newton shoe that I still use today for speed work and competition in track & field. With the…
Altra Superior 1.5 Review
The new Altra Zero Drop Superior 1.5 is an update to Altra’s lightweight performance off-road shoe. The foot-shaped toe box provides maximum foot relaxation and speed while the zero drop platform gives you greater stabilization and better form. Conquer the rugged, rocky terrain in comfort with the stone guard rock protection system that deflects rocks…
Altra Olympus & Repetition Review
The Altra Olympus and Altra Repetition joins the rank of maximalist shoes that we touched on in our previous post, The Pendulum Swings… Fat & Flat Running Shoes?. The Olympus and Repetition are the only zero drop maximalist shoes currently available in the market. My mantra has always been to mix it up with both…