Running Shoe Reviews and Information

The Brooks Catamount is designed to hit a niche in the trail running shoe market. Currently most trail shoes are one of two extremes; trail shoes designed for softest, muddy ground with long studs and a minimal level of cushioning or must more softly cushioned training shoes. These extremes were created because trail running races were almost non-existent and trail running was more for recovery. The races were found on fells, cross country or over mountains. Well studded minimal shoes were the best footwear for this kind of racing. In... Read More

The LA Sportiva Mutant has been on the market for a few years now. It might seem funny to be spending the time writing about an ‘old’ model of shoe. Most running brands change their shoes regularly updating and altering. La Sportiva spend their time developing their shoes so when they come to market they are already tried and tested. So, they often stay unchanged for many years. The Mutant is one of those shoes and is worth a mention because it is a good shoe that often isn’t in... Read More

The Hoka Speedgoat is well established as one of the most cushioned trail running shoes on the market. Named after Karl ‘Speedgoat’ Meltzer who has won more 100 mile races than anyone else you get the idea of what this shoe is designed for. The rocker that is in all Hoka shoes is positioned to allow the runner to run with a quick cadence and midfoot strike. The cushioning isn’t as soft and pillow like or bottomless like it is in other shoes designed for running Ultra’s in. The Speedgoat... Read More

In the middle of a pandemic when there are very few races to take part in, it seems strange to be reviewing a racing shoe! However, the Altra Escalante Racer is for much more than just competition. Like all Altra shoes, the Escalante Racer is Zero Drop. This means that there is no raised heel. They are designed to allow your foot to land more naturally on your midfoot. The shoes also have a broad and rounded toe box, which Altra trademarked as ‘FootShape’. This is to allow your feet... Read More

As winter approaches and the trails get wetter, it’s the time many runners start to look for a versatile trail running shoe that can do it all. The Akyra is an offering from La Sportiva that might just tick all the boxes. La Sportiva is an Italian Mountain Brand. Founded in 1928 in Val di Fiemme. They started making rock climbing shoes and transitioned 90 plus years later into all aspects of mountain-based activities. The La Sportiva Akyra is described as a mountain running shoe. Designed for long days out... Read More

The latest Torin 4.5 Plush is the latest in a line of shoes designed as Altra’s everyday training shoe. A shoe designed to offer a good level of cushioning so you can put in the higher miles. The previous Torin 4 was actually available in two versions. The Torin 4 has a firmer more responsive feel and the Torin 4 Plush has a much softer, more pillow like ride to it. The Torin 4.5 Plush is an updated version of the softer variant. The main change to the shoe is... Read More