Take a look at these four shoes in our mini-review
Asics Roadhawk FF
Price: £100
Weight: 245g
Heel Drop: 8mm
First up, this is a neutral shoe and definitely not for those who over-pronate. The Roadhawk FF weighs in at a lightweight 245g and still provides plenty of plush cushioning (thanks to the Flytefoam midsole). The other noticeable feature is the comfort of the upper – very few seams, soft fabric, and a sock-like feel. We used the shoe for a variety of sessions but it ultimately performed best during a hard interval workout.
New Balance Fresh Foam Cruz v2 Knit
Price: £80
Weight: 250g
Heel Drop: 8mm
If you are looking for a casual looking shoe to double up for a bit of running, the Fresh Foam Cruz could be the answer. Cushioning is provided by the popular Fresh Foam compound, whilst the blown rubber outsole gave decent grip. The knitted upper won’t be to everyone’s liking as it is fairly minimal but does have a “natural running” feel to it.
Salomon Sense Ride
Price: £110
Weight: 275g
Heel Drop: 8mm
This is one of best all-round trail shoes which we have seen for some time. The Contragrip outsole gives great traction on nearly all surfaces whether they are wet or dry. The lugs aren’t quite deep enough for thick mud but handle the majority of other conditions well including some road running. The cushioning and fit is just about spot on, and combined with the grip gives you confidence that every foot strike will be comfortable and secure.
The North Face Ultra Cardiac II
Price: £100
Weight: 280g
Heel Drop: 6mm
This shoe from The North Face is not the typical hardcore trail shoe which we have come to expect from them. The sticky outsole is made from Vibram but resembles a road tread rather than a conventional lugged version. The result is a shoe whose grip feels at home on the roads, but just as happy on lighter trails too. Overall, this is a good solid, no-nonsense shoe which fits well too.
