NorthernRunner.com Blog

Topo make running shoes that are designed to allow your feet the space to function. The toe box is rounded and broad which gives your feet the space to spread on impact. Your feet spreading when they hit the ground gives you cushioning, stability and spring from your feet. Also as your feet are able to work they get stronger. So, you are less likely to get any foot related problems. Topo shoes have a low heel to forefoot drop. This allows your feet, ankles and lower legs to function... Read More

VJ hails from Orivesi in Finland and was set up in 1981 by an enthusiastic Orienteer. In the last 40 years VJ has been using the best material’s available to make the best gripping and hard wearing trail shoes available. The VJ Spark is the latest model to enter the marketplace from the Finish brand. It is designed for harder packed trails than other long studded VJ models like the Xtrm and Irock . This makes it ideal for runs that are a mix of hard packed trails and softer... Read More

The Fli-lyte has been a popular shoe in Topo’s range since the brands inception. Each version has been different to the last as Topo like all brands look to make the shoe better for its intended use. All Topo shoes are designed with a broad rounded toe box. This is so that your toes have the room to spread on impact and there to absorb shock, stablise you and spring you into your next stride. For the same reason the midfoot doesn’t have the same shaping as you get in... Read More

The Ronhill Hyperchill Jacket has been designed for those days when it’s a bit too cold for just a base layer. So, you need a little bit more warmth and weather protection. This is a tricky layer to get right for running as the moment you start to run you start to generate heat. The Hyperchill Jacket has been designed to be versatile enough to be used in 10 degrees but, still offer enough warmth when the temperature dips below freezing. To do this the Hyperchill Jacket is constructed of... Read More

The Altra Superior 5 is Altra’s lightest and least cushioned trail shoe. This doesn’t mean that it is hard or that it offers minimal protection for the foot. The stack height is 21mm which is a good level of cushioning. It is the same as the previous version and offers the same initial softness with ground floor feel. This is perfect for a shoe designed to allow your feet to function. As your foot can feel that it has touched the floor and gets the message to spread. This absorbs... Read More