NorthernRunner.com Blog

The Mount to Coast M1 is their most cushioned trail running shoe. Designed for long-distance trail runs and races, the M1 has a soft and bouncy feel to the ride. The focus is on cushioning and protection rather than being responsive with some feel for the ground. A lot of trail running shoes designed for Ultras become plodding shoes. The shoes are stiffened up so they offer some support when you have been on your feet all day. They feel great at ‘Ultra pace’ but lack the versatility to feel... Read More

The Altra Vanish Pulse builds on the zero-drop experience of the Escalante Racer series to create a shoe that is dynamic and fast. The Vanish Pulse is designed with speed in mind, for high-intensity workouts such as fartlek and track sessions, where your focus is on pace and running fast. The mantra of Altra is to run as nature intended, creating a wide toe box that enables the foot to sit relaxed, rather than boxed in, and allows it to function naturally from heel or midfoot strike through to toe-off.... Read More

As the interest in ultra running and trail running continues to expand, so does the evolution of the ultra trail shoe, which has got to be great news for us hardy runners. The Altra Olympus 7 takes the knowledge acquired from its predecessors and refines and retunes it to produce the new Olympus 7. When I got my Olympus 7s, my first impression was wow (the Black Purple colourway is definitely a head-turner!), but also because they are a really substantial shoe, which is exactly what you want from a... Read More

The Brooks Glycerin Max 3 is Brooks’ most cushioned neutral road running shoe. Designed for easy runs and longer runs, the high level of cushioning and rocker profile take away some of the impact and stress of running. This can make easier days feel less demanding, leaving you fresher to tackle more challenging training. The third version of the Glycerin Max oozes comfort, as you would expect from a running shoe that belongs to the Brooks Glycerin family. The Brooks Glycerin has been Brooks’ most luxurious and softly cushioned neutral... Read More

The Topo Ultraventure 5 is a well-cushioned trail running shoe that is best used as a road-to-trail shoe for routes that are a mixture of road and hard-packed trails, or for runs predominantly on hard-packed trails. Like all Topo running shoes, the Ultraventure 5 has a broad, rounded toe box to give the feet room to spread and function inside the shoes. On longer runs, this reduces how much the feet expand, which in turn reduces rubbing. The low heel-to-forefoot drop helps to promote a more midfoot landing, which loads... Read More

The Escalante 5 from Altra is the next generation of one of Altra’s original, minimal running shoes, the Escalante 4. If you’re new to the Altra brand, in a nutshell, they embrace the simplicity of Mother Nature’s mechanics, creating running shoes that not only allow, but encourage the feet to work naturally. The main features of Altra shoes, therefore, are the wide, roomy, anatomically shaped toe box that gives your forefoot space to sit straight within the shoe, which in turn allows your foot to function as you land and... Read More

The Altra Torin 9 is a great shoe with a great look. Re-engineered from the Torin 8, there are subtle differences between them, but there is a lot that stays the same. For me, as I got on well with the Torin 8, I’m pleased with that because there’s nothing worse than loving a shoe only to find the new version is nothing like the previous one! “But I’ve Always Been a Size 5!” Firstly, the Altra natural foot-shaped toe box. All Altra shoes follow the FootShape™ toe box design,... Read More

The Brooks Cascadia 20 GTX is a waterproof trail running shoe designed to be versatile enough to be used to run to your trail or for running routes that have a mix of road and trail. The cushioning level and length of the lugs make it more suited to hard-packed trails. It does offer some traction on softer ground, but the Brooks Cascadia 20 GTX wouldn’t be considered a good choice for cross-country running or routes with very soft, deep mud. Brooks makes their most popular trail running shoe in... Read More

The New Balance SC Rebel is a neutral, carbon-plated road running shoe designed to provide some propulsion, making it easier to run fast with good form. For some runners, the SC Rebel will be their race-day and faster training-session shoe. For others, it will be used for steady runs, tempos and threshold workouts, with the lighter and more responsive New Balance SC Elite v6 being used on race day. The New Balance Rebel v5 has established itself as a road running shoe that can be used for everything from easy... Read More