With Spring Marathon Season upon us, we take a look at the latest options to hit the road in
Saucony – Endorphin Elite 2 – £280.00
The next generation of supershoe, this model features what feels like the most responsive and ‘springiest’ foam ever!
The new IncrediRun midsole is very soft and with a deep, 40mm stack, it’s one of the softest-feeling race shoes on the market right now.
A full-length carbon plate helps maximise the return from the foam and adds to the toe-off, which thanks to the rocker toe design, gives the shoe an aggressive pop.
Unlike some carbon racers, which I often feel can be too aggressive for the marathon distance, this model feels better the more miles you cover. Over 5k, it felt a little too soft, but over a 20-mile tempo run, the shoe came into its own, with a highly responsive and cushioned feel that was smooth throughout the run.
This really could be the next shoe to take the marathon race day market by storm!
Saucony Endorphoin Elite 2
HOKA – Cielo X1 2.0 – £250.00
Although technically an update to an existing model, the X1 2.0 could easily be a new shoe, such are the changes. Now we have a shoe with great cushioning and a carbon plate but in a lightweight package that feels fast from the word go.
A combination of aggressive forefoot rocker, carbon plate and PEBA midsole foam make this shoe a super snappy race that propels the foot forward.
Despite the soft foam, the winged carbon plate keeps the shoe stable enough at speed to maximise energy return, while the Metarocker positively flicks the foot forward into toe-off much like a track spike.
Ultimately the result is a fast-feeling race shoe that’s versatile enough for a wide range of distances and the brand’s best racing shoe to date.
HOKA Cielo X1 2.0
Mizuno – Wave Rebellion Pro 3 – £210.00
Being a little less aggressive than the previous model, the new Rebellion Pro 3 should allow a wider range of runners to experience the brand’s ‘Smooth Speed Assist design.
While the new models look familiar, the tweaked heel design adds a little more stability and maximises the effect of the deep cushioning and propulsive geometry of the shoe.
It’s still a shoe that demands a more efficient, neutral gait but for those that suit the shoe it really does return every bit of energy you put into it. With this in mind, Mizuno is aiming the Pro 3 at runners covering the ground at around 6-minute mile pace and at this speed, it…
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