NorthernRunner.com Blog

The 361 Meraki 6 is a well-cushioned, neutral road running shoe designed for everyday use. It offers a smooth ride that delivers a cruising, long-distance feel. It’s ideal for the bulk of your running mileage, including long runs. 361 sales have been steadily growing in a Newcastle-upon-Tyne store for several years, primarily driven by the 361 Kairos 2, a road running shoe that offers some pronation support, or a more supportive feel for runners who don’t need that support (316 Degrees Kairos 2 Review), and the 361 Centauri 2, a... Read More

The Hoka Bondi 9 is a max-cushioned road running shoe designed for neutral feet. It is specifically created for easy runs, recovery runs, and long runs, offering a plush, cruising feel alongside a high level of step-in comfort. It has been over two years since Hoka released a new version of their popular max-cushioned road running shoe. There are some significant updates, but if you love your Bondi 8s, there’s no need to worry – the updates are in line with the original concept and don’t detract from the fit,... Read More

The VJ iRock+ is a wider-fitting, soft-ground trail running shoe from the Finnish Orienteering Specialists. The main feature of all VJ running shoes is the use of Butyl rubber for their outsoles. This natural rubber is both grippy on wet, slippery surfaces and durable. Soft rubbers tend to grip better on wet rock, which is why they are used in rock climbing shoes, where the rubber needs to stick to the rock. The downside of these rubbers is that, when used on flat, hard surfaces like tarmac or even hard-packed... Read More

The Topo Ultraventure 4 is a trail running shoe designed for hard-packed trails, disused railway lines, gravel paths, and road-to-trail use. Like all Topo shoes, it features a broad, rounded toe box that allows your feet the space to function naturally inside the shoes. The Topo Ultraventure has been a popular trail running shoe since its inception. The Ultraventure 3 introduced a few significant changes: a less aggressive outsole and slightly softer cushioning, giving the shoe a more defined purpose. These updates were well-received by Northern Runner customers, and the... Read More

The Inov-8 Trailtalon is a trail running shoe designed for use on soft ground but versatile enough for harder tracks, trails, and short sections of tarmac. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for the UK winter, where frequent rain turns unsurfaced trails muddy. The Trailtalon features a broad, rounded toe box that allows the runner’s feet to spread on impact, promoting natural foot function within the shoe. The heel-to-forefoot drop is 6mm, encouraging a midfoot landing that correctly distributes load. This midfoot strike helps the foot absorb impact by... Read More

The Brooks Glycerin 22 is a highly cushioned, everyday neutral running shoe. It is also available in a GTS version (Brooks Glycerin GTS 22), which incorporates Brooks’ Guiderail technology, providing mild anti-pronation support for runners who slightly overpronate. Like its predecessor, the Brooks Glycerin 22 features a 10mm heel-to-forefoot drop. The foam measures 38mm in the heel and 28mm in the forefoot. However, the ride has changed with the introduction of Brooks’ DNA Loft v3 foam. This foam is also used in Brooks’ max-cushioned neutral running shoe, the Glycerin Max.... Read More

The Topo Specter 2 is a road running shoe designed for quicker runs but cushioned enough for long runs and marathon workouts. It is versatile enough to serve as an everyday trainer and an ideal marathon racing shoe for many runners. The original Topo Specter was a popular all-purpose road running shoe. Topo has improved upon it by making the Specter 2 lighter, increasing the stack height (and thus the cushioning), softening the ride, and boosting the midsole foam’s responsiveness. Where the original Specter was a solid cruiser but too... Read More

The Inov-8 Roadfly is a versatile road running shoe designed for everyday training. Its broad, rounded toe box and responsive, connected ride are intended to give runners’ feet room to function inside the shoes while encouraging natural foot movement. The human foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 ligaments and tendons, all working to stabilize, cushion, and propel you forward. Running shoes with excessive cushioning and stiff, curved, rocker-shaped midsoles are designed to replace the foot’s natural mechanics rather than allow it to function within the shoe. By... Read More

The Inov-8 Trailtalon Speed is a trail running shoe designed to provide excellent traction on softer trails while maintaining a good level of ground feel. It also offers enough cushioning for hard-packed trails and some road sections, making it a versatile choice for UK winters and wet summer days. In terms of cushioning, grip, ground feel, and flexibility, the Trailtalon Speed occupies a similar niche to where the original Roclite once stood—as a training shoe for fell runners or cross-country athletes. The Trailtalon delivers high traction in mud and on... Read More

The Hoka Torrent 4 is a versatile everyday trail running shoe. Positioned at the lower end of Hoka’s stack heights, it offers a more responsive ride and better feel for the terrain underfoot. Since the Torrent 3, Hoka has introduced several updates to improve comfort, traction, and cushioning. As expected from a trail running shoe designed for regular use, the Torrent 4 features ample padding at the heel and around the cuff to enhance step-in comfort and allow these areas to mold to the runner’s foot. The tongue is equally... Read More