NorthernRunner.com Blog

The Hoka Evo Mafate 2 is designed to be highly cushioned for long days of trail running, yet also nimble and light enough to run quickly in. The heel to forefoot drop is 4mm, with a high 35mm stack height in the heel, to 31mm in the forefoot. For those not used to such a thick midsole you will initially feel taller in the shoes! As with all Hoka trail running shoes, the Evo Mafate 2 has a rocker. This is designed to roll you through the gait cycle and... Read More

The Topo Magnifly 3 has the same midsole and outsole as the previous version. It is is a light, responsive, zero drop everyday training shoe. The midsole comprises a soft EVA under the foot to give a comfortable and initially soft feeling landing. There is then a firmer EVA underneath to give a more responsive overall ride, great for keeping you moving quickly and lightly on your feet. The stack height is 25mm and this coupled with a good toe spring makes this a shoe that you can easily run... Read More

Off the shelf Orthotic insoles are designed to offer some support for over pronation. When your foot hits the ground your foot rolls inwards slightly and your arch compresses. This is one of your bodies shock absorbers and springs you into your next step. In a strong neutral foot the arch springs back into shape and you push off from the end of your bit toe. If your foot isn’t as strong then the arch doesn’t spring back quick enough and you push off from the inside of your foot.... Read More

Obviously, no one shoe is for everyone. We all have different shaped feet and hit the ground with different forces. Some of us pronate and need some support in our shoes when others use an orthotic to give them some support. That being said, there is one at Northern Runner Newcastle that has been a top 3 best seller since it came on the market over 10 years ago.  The Brooks Dyad was created in response to the Dutch Brooks distributor wanting a stable, yet neutral shoe. Initially Brooks made... Read More

The New Balance Tempo is the replacement for the beloved New Balance Zante. However, the Tempo is not just the Zante under a new name. As the name suggests, the New Balance Tempo is a shoe made for running at a faster pace. Compared with something max. cushioned like the 1080, if you prefer a firmer, less cushioned ride and naturally faster tempo in all your training, then the Tempo could even be your everyday trainer. For most people though, this will be a shoe for your tempo runs, steady... Read More

Topo Magnifly 3 Review – Part 1: Intro For those unfamiliar with Topo, Topo is a brand that is all about letting the foot function. So all the shoes have a low heel to forefoot drop to allow a more natural, midfoot landing. The heel to forefoot drop ranges from 5mm to 0mm with a variation of cushioning levels/stack heights and different levels of flexibility. So whatever your skill level there is a Topo shoe that will meet your needs. The toe box is broad and rounded, more like a... Read More