The K-Swiss Kwicky Blade weighs a mere 9oz, exceptionally light for a training shoe. But if you are an efficient, and not too heavy, runner with a midfoot or forefoot strike, you might get it done in this shoe.
by Dan Empfield, December 7, 2010
Do you subscribe to the “natural” running philosophy, but need a bit more support? This shoe borrows from both the Kinvara and a regular training shoe. Saucony is about to score another hit in this architectural theme.
The all new Kayano 17 for 2011 features small updates on the previous 16th version. It’s still a shoe that invests a nice amount of support with a lot of cushioning. It’s also still on the heavy side.
We’re talking running footwear against the backdrop of an article in today’s NYT that either misunderstands, or faithfully represents a misunderstanding, of how feet are best mated to running shoes.
Light and stable at a weight of 9.7 oz., the big feature is this shoe’s rubber Wave plate. This Mizuno is a lightweight trainer, good for neutral runners, maybe slight pronaters.
The Konesic is a pure stability trainers like those built ten and fifteen years ago. K-Swiss might have found a niche market for the heavier runners who loved the motion control shoes no longer widely available.
Is this still a shoe? Or is it a running sock with a midsole glued on it? Whatever it is, smart money says it’s fast. And fast it is, but it’s just there for the most efficient lightweight runners.
Without thinking, some of the athletes taking the outside line put themselves at a disadvantage by running further. Over a common race course with turns, taking the outside line can make quite a difference.
This Germany company is a behemoth, making shoes for athletes in sports many people have never heard of. They were on the right track with their ’09 running collection, and their ’10 Spring line is even more promising.
The Ace, at 7.3oz in a size-9 men’s, is a very lightweight trainer that gives a reasonable amount of cushioning and stability in a neutral shoe. Keep in mind, it’s a neutral shoe.
This more “substantial” cousin to the Adios differs from the Adios in the thickness of the midsole. It’s the thickest among the lightweight trainers from Adidas. Its weight is 9.7 oz.
The Mana is the shoe for those who might want to run in the Adizero, but, need a bit of medial posting. Just keep in mind that posting comes at a price: a slightly harder feel.
The new 2010 Nike LunarElite is one of the best updates I’ve seen this season, and it may be a favorite for all but the heavy runners who can run with success in a neutral shoe.
