Which shoes make the cut when airlines are ever stingier on weight? Can you wear trail shoes for a night out on the town? Which are the best summer track shoes for getting fast? This July monthly round up might help answer some of those questions.
July Monthly Round Up: Nike Pegasus Trail 5
Silke: With summer holidays to come it is time to travel. If you have to keep an eye on the weight of your suitcase, there is of course one important question for all runners. Which shoe will I take? Of course you will have to answer that yourself, however, here is just a little tip for those of you who like to take a fresh pair on your travels.
The 41st iteration of the Pegasus dropped with a lot of media hype and its little trail brother the Peg Trail 5 fell completely out of sight. What a pity!
Just like the Pegasus 41, the Peg Trail 5 has the new ReactX midsole which has a great underfoot feel. It is roomy for travelling, even if your feet swell during a long flight. They are so comfy for walking around when you are visiting cities and queuing for hours before museums. Moreover, there is enough grip for some nice trails walking or running. They dry fast and they have a lovely casual look which can take you from trail to city.
Recently, I took the Peg Trail 5 for my summer holiday in Crete. Getting up very early, spending hours at the airport, flying and then travelling for another two hours in a bus. I Didn’t even have to loosen up the laces. Furthermore, I ran every morning just for fun (even early, the temperatures were super high) and the Peg Trail 5 did that just fine. Running through the historical city with its slightly slippery polished stones I did not fear slipping. I did a trail run/walk through a fantastic gorge and here the Peg Trail 5 was excellent.
And do not forget, Nike puts out some beautiful colourways, so you are well dressed for an evening out.
Ivan’s New B(alance)est Friend
Ivan: My ‘New Balance Friend’ has become my ‘New Best Friend’. At least during the summertime when I’m focused on regaining speed at the track in preparation for some late summer 10k and half marathon competitions. This is why it makes the cut for this July Monthly Round Up.
I was fortunate to receive the New Balance Pacer 2 just in time, and this shoe has far exceeded my expectations.
New Balance shoes rarely work well for me. I often struggled with the fit and, in many cases, they felt overly soft. However, the New Balance Pacer 2 strikes the perfect balance. It’s fast enough on the track without trashing my legs, and it’s even comfortable for easy warm-ups and cool-downs going back and forth to the track, which is a bit far from where I live.
So thank you, my new Pacer, for not only pacing me through the summer months in style but also providing all the support I needed to make this summer both fast and fun.
Andy’s July Monthly Round Up: ASICS Superblast
Andy: As we are talking summer, holidays and travel in this monthly round up, I am going to head back to my favourite single shoe rotation. The ASIC Superblast. I don’t have the Superblast 2, but then I haven’t needed it. My original pair of Superblast has over 700 km on them at the moment and are still going strong.
This is a shoe that I have been on a journey with. When I first bought them, I didn’t feel that they weren’t worth the money. They weren’t the best fast shoe in my arsenal, they weren’t the greatest easy day shoe I owned. Yet, I still reached for them a lot. Moreover, the more I reached for them, the more I liked them. An absolute marvel of engineering, a shoe of such magnificent size but with such a low weight. Cushion for days but also an ability to pick up the pace when needed. The only real change I would make is adding a little more rocker to them for days when the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Even now, with the abundance of shoes I have been lucky enough to test, it is hard to beat this balance of versatility and durability. New Balance recently tried with the Balos, but it didn’t feel quite as versatile to me. Perhaps, when I’ve run through the v1, I will upgrade to the v2. However, with some of the prices around for v1, I might just grab another pair of them which is why they are my July Monthly Round Up pick.
Josh’s Pick: adidas Adizero Half Tights
Josh: Half tights have become the staple in my running wardrobe. Having received the adidas adizero Promo Running Tights, they have made it to the top of my list as my favourite pair.
These shorts are the ones worn by professional adidas athletes during hard sessions and on race day. They are extremely lightweight and breathable. My initial thoughts when putting them on were how much tighter they felt than some of my other half tights. The whole material offers a very snug and compressive fit, which I found especially nice on race day.
What appears to be taped seams throughout the tights make them extremely comfortable. Meanwhile, the breathable, soft and smooth upper feels like a second skin on your legs while running in them. Not only is the material soft on skin, it also considers the environment with over 70% of the material being recycled plastic.
My only gripe is around the waist where the only bit of non-taped stitching creates quite an abrasive pressure point around the circumference of the waist-band. Considering that these shorts fit me well otherwise makes me think that this is likely to be an issue for anyone else who may wear these shorts.
The adizero Promo Running Tights aren’t only extremely comfortable, they are also a great looking pair of shorts. The aurora black colour paired with the preloved fig and yellow accents creates a unique, but great bit of kit. One which I always look forward to putting on for race day.
Ivan
48 years old
180cm (5’9″) – 63kg (138lbs)
Midfoot striker – Cadence runner
Mild pronator
