NorthernRunner.com Blog

The New Balance SC Elite v5 is the latest version of New Balance’s carbon-plated road racing shoe, built for distances up to the marathon. There are some significant updates that affect both the fit and the ride. The upper now has less volume. While it’s not as low-volume as the SuperComp Pacer v2 (which has more of a spike-like feel – read that review here), it’s still significantly reduced compared to the previous model. Fortunately, the SC Elite v5 is available in both D (regular) and 2E (wide) widths, so... Read More

The Hoka Mafate 5 is a highly cushioned ultra-distance trail running shoe designed to handle a variety of trail surfaces. Following the success of the Mafate Speed 4, which gained a solid following among trail runners, the updated Mafate 5 arrives with some significant changes—especially in the ride—while keeping key features like fit and comfort consistent. The fit of the Mafate 5 remains similar to the previous version. The heel cup is semi-rigid with generous padding that extends around the collar, providing excellent step-in comfort. The upper is a lightweight... Read More

The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is a neutral, everyday road running shoe designed to help you cruise through your miles with ease. It offers a smooth, rockered ride and a high level of underfoot protection, reducing the strain on your body across long or frequent runs. Rocker Geometry & the Evolution of Cushioning Running shoe design has evolved significantly over the past decade. While earlier shoes focused heavily on soft cushioning—especially in the heel, with 12mm or more heel-to-toe drop—modern designs now aim to improve both comfort and biomechanics. The... Read More

The Topo Phantom 4 is a neutral road running shoe built for everyday mileage, offering moderate cushioning and a roomy toe box. Like all Topo models, it features a broad, rounded forefoot designed to let your feet splay and function naturally. This encourages a more efficient running gait and helps distribute the impact of running across the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back—engaging muscles and tendons that are often underused in more restrictive shoes. In contrast, traditional running shoes with narrower, more structured fits tend to restrict foot movement.... Read More

The VJ Ultra 3 is a well-cushioned trail running shoe designed for long-distance comfort without compromising ride quality or grip. It offers enough protection to keep your legs fresh over long efforts, yet avoids feeling overly soft or sluggish. Previous versions of the VJ Ultra shared all the hallmark features of VJ’s trail range: excellent grip from the Butyl rubber outsole, a thoughtful lug pattern, and a responsive midsole that offered good ground feel. The shoes felt nimble and agile over rough terrain, letting you skip over obstacles with ease.... Read More

The Altra Experience Flow 2 is a mid-cushioned road running shoe designed for everyday training. Altra makes shoes that are built to work with your body. They allow your feet to function inside the shoe, which helps your ankles, knees, hips, and lower back move more naturally—improving posture and reducing the risk of injury and general wear and tear. Many other running shoe brands design shoes that do some of the work for your feet or legs. This alters a runner’s natural movement pattern. So, in effect, you’re running in... Read More

The New Balance Rebel has evolved significantly over the past five years. Originally a lightweight, minimal racer-trainer with a hint of propulsion, it has transformed into a more cushioned and versatile daily trainer. The Rebel v4 introduced a softer ride, making it suitable not just for fast workouts but also for easier runs. The Rebel v5 continues in this direction, refining the fit and ride while retaining its lightweight, responsive character. The Rebel v5 features a more refined upper. While the v4 had a high-volume toe box, the v5 trims... Read More

The Inov-8 Trailtalon Zero is a zero-drop trail running shoe designed to handle a wide range of soft and hard trail surfaces. It features a broad, rounded toe box that gives your feet room to function naturally, and a flexible midsole that allows the shoe to bend where your foot wants to bend—delivering a more natural ride and a higher level of foot function than stiffer trail shoes. On broken or uneven ground, where cambers shift constantly, a shoe that adapts to the terrain is a big advantage. The flexibility... Read More

The Hoka Rocket X 3 is the most stable carbon-plated road racing shoe in Hoka’s lineup. That makes it the best race day option for most runners looking for a shoe that adds propulsion on the roads without feeling unstable. How much of an advantage you gain depends on how fast you’re running and how well you can maintain good posture—specifically landing on your midfoot with your foot under your centre of gravity to properly load the carbon plate and get that spring-loaded stride. Unlike the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0,... Read More

The Scott Supertrac RC 3 is a lightweight trail running shoe built to be nimble and responsive on technical terrain. Like previous versions, it’s cushioned enough for tarmac sections or hard-packed trails, yet flexible and agile for use on technical trail and fell. The original Supertrac RC landed back in 2016. At the time, fell shoes had little cushioning, making them harsh on hard-packed ground, while trail shoes were often too stiff and over-cushioned, lacking ground feel—good only for smooth, hard trails. The Supertrac RC hit the sweet spot between... Read More