Amanda Brooks's Blog, page 3
November 11, 2025
New Balance 1080 v14 Review | Long Run Love Even After 200 Miles
Does the title give it away? This review is probably going to mostly be a love note to the New Balance 1080 v14. It’s changed from the moderate cushioned shoe that I fell in love with 6 or 7 years ago, but now I love it for a whole different reason.
The sign of a great running shoe for someone who tests new models every single week? It remains in the rotation and becomes a go to on the days when you get to pick your shoe!
If you liked the V13, then you’re going to be super happy with this minima...
Why We’re Obsessed With Shokz OpenDots: Secure-Fit Bone Conduction Earbuds
Curious about the fit, feel and sound quality of the new Shokz OpenDots? Us too, which is why we had to put them to the test!
I’ve been using the Shokz OpenDots One, and I’m honestly obsessed. I’ve always loved the idea of bone-conducting headphones; being able to hear my music/podcast/book while still listening to my surroundings is such an important safety factor for running. But the over-ear versions never felt comfortable after a few hours. With my hat and glasses, they’d start to put too mu...
November 10, 2025
Nike Hyperboot Review: Cool Tech, Eye-Popping Price—Here’s Our Verdict
You’ve seen the Nike Hyperboot all over some big magazines, but is it really something that you need? What does it even do?
In fairness, every Hyperice product has a pretty steep price point so it’s no surprise that when you throw on some additional Nike innovation we’ve now hit the $899 mark. Although it’s currently down to $699, sale or permanent we’re not sure.
As you may know by now Coach Stacey is a massive fan of all things Hyperice, so we probably should have let her take the first pass w...
Cozy Season Favorites: November Gear Roundup
November is a weird month. The temperatures are all over the place, you’re not sure if you’re hot or cold. You should add a layer, take a layer off. We get it.
So, this month’s gear roundup is a little bit of everything: cozy layers, comfy shoes, and a few smaller items we think you should check out. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or starting to gather ideas for holiday gifting, we’ve got something for everyone.
As always, if you’ve tried something we’ve featured, we’d love to hear your fe...
November 8, 2025
Suunto Vertical 2 Review | Ready for Adventures Well Beyond a Trail Run
Can the Suunto Vertical 2 convince a Garmin-using trail runner to switch?
Designed for adventures, the Suunto Vertical 2 promises to help users navigate unfamiliar terrain, ascend peaks, and provide everyday insights. These promises appeal to me, a trail runner seeking longer and steeper adventures.
Most recently, I had been using a Garmin Vivoactive 5 but was excited to switch to a more adventure-oriented device.
The Suunto Vertical 2 offered all the features I wished for in an adventure watch ...
October 19, 2025
Altra FWD Via 2 Review | Max Cushion that Doesn’t Feel Max
Our review of the updated Altra FWD via 2 with a 4mm drop, plenty of cushion and always the wide toebox.
What does a 19% improvement in softness and 15% increase in responsiveness feel like in a shoe?
Well, now I know (and you can too) if you try the new Altra FWD VIA 2. When I first slipped the shoes on, they felt just like the fresh 4mm drop Altras I’ve maxed out mileage on in the past. However, after several runs in the shoes, I think I’m starting to grasp why Altra is so excited about those ...
October 18, 2025
Why Runners Love the On Cloudsurfer Trail 2 for Roads and Groomed Trails
On is giving us the newest Trail version of their popular shoe – the On Cloudsurfer Trail 2. This is a great option if you’re looking for a comfortable and versatile shoe to take you from road to non-technical trails – let’s get into our review.
We reviewed the Cloudsurfer 2 earlier this year as a comfortable, energetic, and easy to wear road option for easy miles. This new iteration of the Cloudsurfer Trail is a similarly comfortable and stylish option but made to take you out on mixed surface ...
October 17, 2025
Running Shoe Deals And Discount Codes
They say running is a cheap sport. And maybe it was back when I ran in cotton shirts and used a basic Timex with no GPS to time my total run…but now, we know that it all adds up. Which is why we’ve compiled our running shoes deal page!
Here we will keep an ongoing list of all the running gear discount codes that we’ve negotiated with partners and where possible we’ll give you notes on current sales.
We’ve previously provided some great tips on how to find cheap running gear and the best budget ru...
Hoka Clifton 10 Vs Bondi 9: We’ve Run in Every Model, Here’s What’s New
Our team has literally put miles in every single model of the Hoka Clifton and Hoka Bondi, we think that makes us extra qualified to help you more easily pick between Hoka Clifton vs Bondi.
Coach Amanda started this article wayyyyyy back as a straight review of the Hoka Clifton when it was the only shoe that they made. We’ve continued to update it each year with more information as the shoes have changed and the line up has grown.
Despite the massive growth in their line up, the Clifton and Bondi...
AGM Legion Pro Review | Great Budget GPS Watch To Transition from Apple
The new AGM Legion Pro Smartwatch was made with the outdoors in mind, but with an eye on everyday life. It’s ruggedly built and packed with features that allow you to track over 100 different sports activities and daily health monitoring.
AGM is a brand primarily known for its smart phones and tablets, they recently leapt into the GPS smartwatch category. For a first entry into the series, but second in the lineup behind the Legion, AGM put a lot of thought into what features to throw in. While ...
