As we move from autumn to winter and transition from the roads to the trails, we look at the latest road and trail shoes this season
These reviews are independent and unbiased views based on running many miles in all these shoes. This piece also contains affiliate links which means we may receive a small commission when you purchase using these links.
Brooks – Hyperion Max 2 – £160.00
Brooks Hyperion Max 2
Not too long ago, this type of shoe would have been considered a maximal type, yet such is the pace of development in the footwear world that a 36mm stack of cushioning sits more in the ‘normal’ range than the shoe’s Max name would suggest.
The cushioning is the brand’s DNA Flash v2 foam, a nitrogen-infused material designed for their performance models. It’s light, responsive and durable. The shoe also features a SpeedVault nylon plate. This does a great job of adding both propulsion and stability to the shoe and means it’s much more versatile than an out-and-out race model.
The Hyperion Max 2 is a great tempo and interval-type shoe and would work well for races too for those who don’t want the much higher cost associated with carbon-plated models. It’s a fast-feeling shoe and the DNA Flash midsole has a good history of proving very durable and outlasting other responsive foams.
Under Armour – Velociti Elite 2 – £225.00
UA Velociti Elite 2
A deeper stack of bio-based Pebax foam gives the second generation of this shoe a much-improved ride. The full-length carbon plate is still present, as is the rubberless outsole, the shoe relying on the midsole to provide traction and durability. The sole works well enough on the roads and this firmer layer of foam provides good stability too.
It’s the brand’s softest, springiest and fastest shoe to date and has some good credentials, with Sharon Lokedi wearing them in both her second place finish at the Boston Marathon and then when she finished fourth over 26.2 miles at the Olympics. While the shoe isn’t as soft or as light as some carbon-plated racers, it is very stable.
New Balance – FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 – £230.00
New Balance SC Trainer v3
A new blend of the FuelCell midsole contains PEBA for an energised and responsive feel in what is the third generation of this model.
It feels just a little firmer than the previous model but for me hits the spot perfectly between soft cushioning and responsive long-run…
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