As the snow melts and slender blades of green grass begin to shoot up through the patches of icy white, small buds begin to blossom, and the daylight slowly stretches on a little longer, a new season is ushered in. Spring is here, and for runners that means it’s time to ramp up training and gear up for the spring racing season. Soon it will be time to put away the hats, gloves and track suits for something lighter, cooler and more liberating.
Our run guru’s took some time to preview some of the new shoes and run apparel hitting the shelves this Spring. Following are some of our favorite selections that will carry you in comfort and style mile after mile…
New for the road this Spring…
When you’re knocking out long miles on the tarmac you need a shoe that’s ready to go the distance and never let you down. Towards those ends, here’s some of our favorite new road shoes for Spring 2013.
Saucony Guide 6
When your go-to trainer is named “the best shoe in the world” by the international editors of Runner’s World magazine what do you do for an encore? You update your flagship shoe with a fit and ride even more attuned to the needs of runners seeking stability in an everyday training shoe. Think of the Guide 6 as the best of both worlds: an extremely lightweight neutral trainer with the cushioning and support of a much heavier shoe. Weighing in at a mere 10 ounces, the Guide 6 might feel insignificant in your hands, but once it’s on your feet, you’ll find a highly responsive and comfortable ride. A new sole unit with triangular IBR+ pads integrated with deeper grooves in the forefoot for better flexibility and responsiveness offer a smooth and comfortable ride. Three independently responsive pods in the SRC crashpad provide a smooth, efficient transition onto the midfoot, while a midfoot saddle promotes a snug, secure fit in the upper.
Saucony Guide 6 (10.0oz. Men’s / 8.9oz Women’s) $110 MSRP
New Balance 890v3
This third generation of the 890 series delivers a surprisingly light experience once again, in a fresh yet very familiar new update. Whether you’re heading out for a quick 5k or planning for a long day on the trails, The New Balance 890 v3 Running Shoe keeps you on pace the whole way thanks to its lightweight, breathable, and flexible minimalist design. An 8mm offset from heel to forefoot to encourage a midfoot strike while a slightly more forefoot outsole is ready to withstand the extra mileage that comes with your Spring run routine. A REVlite midsole and an ABZORB crash pad plus a comfortable, seamless upper, make this a lightweight shoe that feels light and fast mile after mile.
New Balance 890v3 (9.55oz Men’s / 7.65oz Women’s) $109 MSRP.
ECCO BIOM Run Trainer
For 2013, ECCO introduces the launch of the BIOM EVO TRAINER, an all-round NATURAL MOTION running shoe that is ideal for both regular and more occasional road runners. The BIOM EVO TRAINER integrates a thin rubber outsole to provide better traction on the road. A reduced sole height and heel drop integrates naturally with the foot for runners who want more miles out of lower-profile shoes. The ECCO BIOM Run Trainer is ready for anything from full marathons to short training days, and count on this state-of-the-art runner’s design to help you get the most out of each stride with smarter and lighter tech packed into smaller spaces. Available in leather and textile versions for men and women.
Ecco BIOM Run Trainer (9.88oz Men’s / 7.7 oz Women’s) $180 leather MSRP
Hoka One One Bondi B and Evo Tarmac
Since entering the market, Hoka One One has been charting a distinct course that stands apart from the rest of the running world. The Hoka One One family of shoes is engineered for maximum cushioning, comfort, protection and energy return, while still offering lightweight, nimble performance and uninhibited movement. For Spring 2013, the Hoka One One flagship models remain true to the original design while making adjustments to the upper for greater comfort and overall fit. The Bondi B now features a more open mesh along with revised overlays that aim to reduce friction. Add in a softer ankle pad for increased comfort, and your favorite ride just got even better. It’s the only shoe our run team can wear for an 18 mile run and actually feel better than they did on the 16 mile run the day prior.
Hoka One One Bondi B (10.23oz Men’s) $170 MSRP
Sometimes you just can’t help but have your head in the clouds. Especially when you’re running in the pillowy, cloud-like cushion of the Stinson Evo Tarmac. And while clouds are ever-changing, fans of this shoe will be pleased to know that the overall design remains largely the same. The Stinson Evo Tarmac offers a 4mm heel to toe differential so the foot sits in a more natural position, while at the same time providing a maximally cushioned midsole offering feet protection, comfort and propulsion. The Stinson Evo Tarmac keeps the same road friendly outsole so you keep the same great cushioned ride mile after mile. The only changes for Spring 2013 on this model are cosmetic only.
Hoka One One Evo Tarmac (10.23oz in Men’s size 8.5 / 9.17oz in Women’s size 6.5) $160 MSRP
NB Minimus 10v2 Road
This Spring, New Balance will update its original Minimus running offering with the all-new Minimus 10v2. Designed for the minimal road runner who requires the perfect balance of protection and proprioception, the Minimus 10v2 is the result of a complete overhaul and reconfiguration. The 10v2 features an anatomically correct natural NL-1 last with a 4 mm drop, barefoot friendly interiors, and a lightweight fit that will keep feet happy for the long haul. A Vibram™ Road Lite compound on the outsole delivers a lightweight ride without sacrificing the durability you need for miles of training. Other features your feet will love, a mono-tongue construction that wraps the midfoot in a secure burrito-like fit and the introduction of RevLite cushioning foam providing a bouncy underfoot feel. Come March 2013, slip these on and watch the miles melt away.
New Balance 10v2 Road Available March 2013 $109.95 MSRP
NB Minimus HiREZ
The human body was built to run barefoot, and that’s a little factoid that the NB Minimus line refuses to overlook. Ambitious in concept, simple in form, New Balance‘s latest adddition to the Minimus line, the Hi-REZ, is a running shoe designed to help maximize underfoot sensation. 42 independent lightweight midsole pods mechanically bonded to a durable yet flexible fabric base allows the shoe to move and flex in closer unison with the foot. The result, enough cushioning to be comfortable but not too much so as to dampen ground feel so you can relive that childlike spring through the neighborhood all over again.
New Balance Minimus HI-REZ launches April 2013; $119.95 MSRP.
SKORA Running
The SKORA SS13 collection is more than double the size of previous collections and brings two all-new models with innovative mid and outsole technology and construction techniques to the market. The two new SS13 models, PHASE and CORE, are both built on the groundbreaking new R02 unibody outsole platform, featuring IBR (Injection Blown Rubber) that provides the function of both midsole and outsole. IBR offers increased abrasion resistance, grip and compression at a much lower density and weight than rubber. This provides runners with an ultra-supple ground feel and outstanding durability, longevity and running comfort in a flexible, lightweight single unit. The new PHASE and CORE are zero-drop for the perfect blend of feel and function, like the original FORM and BASE, and feature 8mm forefoot/heel stack height – 1mm lower than the originals.
SKORA PHASE (7.2oz Men’s / 5.8oz Women’s) $110 MSRP
SKORA CORE (8.1oz Men’s / 6.7oz Women’s) $155 MSRP
Newton Gravity Neutral Performance Trainer
When your running form is constantly under assault from the physical and psychological forces of the day, take comfort in a running shoe that helps to keep you off your heels and bounding forward. Weighing in at 9.1 ounces the 2013 Gravity Neutral Performance Trainer from Newton Running is still the same great trainer – 3mm heel-to-toe drop and external actuator lugs that help you improve your natural running form while providing a little spring in your step – but includes new larger stretch panels, the top eyelet was moved to line up on the first metatarsal head and Softer mesh materials on the uppers which provide a more plush feel.
Gravity Performance Trainer (9.1oz Men’s) $175 MSRP
*Whether shoes or apparel, the selection of running gear is a very personal decision. Our run team has been putting each of the products listed through the paces, but as always, we recommend that before making your final decision, head over to your local run shop, try them on and make sure you have the proper fit. Then feel free to spend hours on end blitzing the pavement for miles and miles and miles.