NorthernRunner.com Blog

La Sportiva has been making footwear for mountain use for over 90 years. Based in the Dolomites, Italy—an area known for its steep and technical mountain paths—the brand has long been focused on creating shoes that perform in challenging alpine environments. When La Sportiva began developing mountain running shoes in the early 2000s, they tested prototypes on the rugged trails surrounding their factory. As a result, their early models prioritized grip on steep terrain, underfoot protection, and just enough ground feel to allow nimble foot placement. However, with the rise... Read More

The Topo Athletic Aura is a highly cushioned road running shoe that also provides some pronation support. Designed for everyday road running, it’s a suitable option for easy and recovery runs as well as longer efforts. Within Topo’s road running range, the Aura sits as a more cushioned version of the Topo Ultrafly 5—an everyday stability shoe—and a more stable counterpart to the Topo Atmos, which is a high-stack neutral shoe. If you have a strong, neutral foot, your foot naturally spreads on impact to absorb shock, stabilize the body,... Read More

The Ronhill Freedom Ultra is a well-cushioned trail running shoe that’s versatile enough for everyday road-to-trail use. It’s responsive enough not to hold you back when you want to pick up the pace, yet cushioned enough for ultra trail races too. The first thing to note is that the Freedom Ultra has been designed by a British designer, in Britain, for British trails. Most trail running shoes available in the UK are designed by overseas brands aiming to serve a global market. As a result, their uppers often aren’t as... Read More

The Saucony Guide 18 is a road running shoe designed for daily training, offering pronation support for runners who over-pronate and need a supportive shoe. When the runner’s foot strikes the ground, the arch compresses to absorb shock and stabilize the runner. The arch should then reshape, propelling the runner into the next step and allowing them to push off from the end of their big toe. In some cases, the arch doesn’t reshape quickly enough, causing the foot to roll inwards. This inward roll affects the leg and knee,... Read More

The 361 Futura 2 is a softly cushioned trail running shoe designed to provide excellent traction on both wet and dry terrain while maintaining high comfort levels. The cushioning makes it a great choice as a road-to-trail option, positioning the Futura 2 within the everyday trail running shoe category. A common complaint from Northern Runners customers is that trail shoes designed for the global market often have insufficiently long lugs to offer good traction on wet, muddy trails. It sometimes feels like no one else experiences as much rain as... Read More

The Saucony Peregrine 15 is a versatile trail shoe designed to handle a variety of trail conditions. It’s cushioned enough for long runs but nimble enough to pick up the pace. Grippy enough for wet, slippery bridleways, including sections of mud. A few years ago, Saucony made two versions of the Peregrine: one for hard, compact trails that was light and nimble, and one with longer lugs and more cushioning for softer, muddier ground. The recent versions, including the Peregrine 15, merge these two models into one versatile shoe. While... Read More

The Topo Cyclone 3 is a neutral, lightweight road running shoe designed for fast running. However, those who prefer slightly less cushioning could also use it for regular training runs. Like all Topo shoes, it features a broad, rounded toe box to allow the feet to spread upon impact and function naturally inside the shoe. The Cyclone 2 was a revelation. It provided ample room for my feet to function while still feeling snug, like an old-fashioned road racing shoe from the 1980s and 1990s. It was so light that... Read More

The New Balance 880v15 is a neutral road running shoe designed for everyday runs. It is versatile enough for slow recovery runs, long runs, and even some faster-paced efforts. The 880v15 is significantly different from its predecessor, the New Balance 880v14. While it is intended for the same type of road running, it delivers a completely different feel and ride experience. The stack height has increased from 29mm in the heel and 21mm in the forefoot to 40mm and 34mm, respectively—an 11mm increase in the heel. This level of stack... Read More

The Saucony Ride 18 is a road running shoe designed for everyday use on most road surfaces. It is classified as a neutral shoe, meaning it provides no additional anti-pronation support. If you require extra support for pronation during your runs, you might consider the Saucony Guide 18, which offers a similar level of cushioning but with added pronation support. One of the key updates in the Ride 18, compared to the Ride 17, is the midsole material. The Ride 18 features PWRRUN Plus, which offers a noticeably softer feel... Read More

The Altra Lone Peak 9+ is a zero-drop trail running shoe designed to allow the runner’s feet to function naturally, promoting good biomechanics on a variety of trail conditions. The Lone Peak, Altra’s original shoe, has become an icon, helping many runners and walkers address biomechanical issues that previously prevented them from running or walking, simply by allowing the feet to function properly within the shoes. Like all of Altra’s original shoes, the Lone Peak 9+ is a zero-drop shoe. This means the height of the midsole is the same... Read More