This spring, runners can swarm the pavements and trails in a host of new shoe offerings to match their terrain and stride. Gus Alexandropoulos of Canadian Running Magazine reviews a selection, from traditional stability models to barefoot-mimicking lightweight styles
Open this photo in gallery: 1. STABILITY
Asics 2160, $160
This season, Asics updates this hugely popular shoe with a heel-to-toe Guidance Line groove that encourages a more efficient transition from heel strike to toe-off. Asics also adds a plusher forefoot midsole and memory foam in the collar for increased comfort during long runs.
Ideal Runner:
Mild to moderate pronators wanting a smooth, efficient ride without compromising comfort or the secure, foot-hugging Asics fit. It?s perfect for anything from 10K runs to marathons. No wonder this continues to be the go-to shoe for so many runners.
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Open this photo in gallery: 2. MINIMALIST
Saucony Hattori, $120
With its zero-drop-height midsole and diaphanous uppers, the Hattori embodies what the minimalist shoe movement is preaching: Less is better. Saucony reduces weight by using a Velcro-style closure and eliminating the outsole except in high-wear contact areas. While most lightweight racing flats come in at about 200 grams, the Hattori weighs a shockingly low 127 grams.
Ideal runner:
Fast, lightweight runners seeking a highly flexible shoe with minimal cushioning.
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Open this photo in gallery: 3. NEUTRAL CUSHIONING
New Balance 890 RevLite, $150
New Balance delivers a racing-flat weight without compromising the plush ride desired by most neutral runners. The RevLite merges these previously incompatible traits by using a new midsole foam that offers the durability and responsiveness of midsoles weighing up to 30 per cent more. A seamless, foot-hugging upper provides support without adding weight, making the 890 RevLite one of the lightest shoes in the neutral cushioning category.
Ideal Runner:
Neutral runners wanting an everyday trainer with race-day weight.
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Open this photo in gallery: 4. TRAIL RUNNING
New Balance Minimus Trail, $130
The Minimus Trail is one of this year?s most radical trail-running shoes. Intended to be worn without socks and offering only a four-millimetre heel-to-toe drop, this shoe brings the barefoot-running ideal to the trails. Surprisingly, this minimalist approach works. The shoe feels agile on technical terrain, and the low-profile Vibram outsole is shockingly sticky on smooth, wet surfaces.
Ideal Runner:
Trail runners wanting a fast and agile minimalist shoe, while still maintaining some impact protection.
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Open this photo in gallery: 5. ROAD/TRAIL CROSSOVER
Salomon XR Crossmax, $140
Salomon has a reputation for building some of the best serious trail-running shoes available. Unfortunately, the qualities that make the shoes so sure-footed on challenging trails hinder their performance on pavement. The new XR Crossmax solves this dilemma by providing a lighter and more flexible platform suitable for both road and trail running. Runners get great cushioning on the road without sacrificing control and traction on the trails.
Ideal Runner:
This is a great shoe for anyone who has to run on pavement before hitting the trails. Perfect for urban trail runners.
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Open this photo in gallery: 6. RACING
Adidas adiZero
Adios, $150
Adidas adds a lightweight upper to a thin midsole and creates the quintessential road-racing shoe. But unlike other lightweight minimalist shoes that lack laces, or require a radical shift to a forefoot-strike gait, the Adios looks and feels like a more conventional running shoe.
Ideal Runner:
Light, biomechanically efficient runners looking for a no-compromise marathon shoe.
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