Competitor’s Spring 2016 Editor’s Choice Running Shoes

Every year, our wear-test team puts more than 50 pairs of running shoes through the rigors of training and racing, making notes about the fit, feel and ride of each shoe. Here are the road and trail shoes that earned our Editor’s Choice awards for this spring.

 

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ROAD RUNNING SHOES—Editor's Choice: Hoka One One Vanquish 2, $170

HIGHLIGHT: Thickly cushioned and amazingly light


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: Impossibly light for a shoe with
as thick of a midsole as it has, the Vanquish 2 is
remarkably flexible and offers a nice mix of soft
landings and energetic toe-offs, especially at
moderate to fast paces. Not only is it considerably
lighter than the previous edition (almost 2
full ounces lighter per shoe), it also rides more
smoothly and is more responsive than the
original. It still features a cradle design in which
the foot and interior structure of the shoe are encased on the sides and bottom by a durable two-layer foam shell. Given the thickly cushioned chassis, a sense of ground-contact proprioception
and agility are understandably less in this shoe, but that becomes irrelevant once you find
your groove out on the run. Our testers found it
best for long runs, progression runs and tempo
runs, although it is still more than adequate for
slower recovery runs—even though it doesn’t feel
quite as smooth or responsive. “This shoe was
a blast,” said one wear-tester. “It is one of the
most responsive shoes I’ve ever run in. It sets the
standard for energy return in a running shoe.”


Weights: 9.8 oz. (men’s), 8.3 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 5mm; 32mm (heel),
27mm (forefoot)

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ROAD RUNNING SHOES—Best Debut (tie): Mizuno Wave Catalyst, $110

HIGHLIGHT: Low to the ground and stable, yet light
and fast


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: Sometimes a shoe falls between
two traditional categories, and this one is definitely an interesting ’tweener. Mizuno serves up a
nice mix of stability and lightweight performance
in this versatile, new everyday trainer. It’s lighter
and faster than most high-mileage trainers, but
it’s also more durable and stable than most
performance trainers. (It’s somewhat of a blend
of Mizuno’s Sayonara and Elixir shoes.) The key
element of this shoe is the plastic Wave plate in
the midsole that is tuned to offer a little bit of
structure. It has a fairly low-to-the-ground design,
but it’s still a well-balanced trainer with just
enough cushioning and protection for long road
runs. The bottom line is that it offers a touch of
responsiveness with enough cushioning. “This is
a great do-everything shoe,” said one wear-tester.


Weights: 9.4 oz. (men’s), 8.0 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 10mm; 26mm (heel),
16mm (forefoot)

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ROAD RUNNING SHOES—Best Debut (tie): Skechers Performance GoRun Forza, $120

HIGHLIGHT: The first high-mileage stability
trainer from Skechers Performance


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: Although Skechers entered the
performance running category with lightweight,
low-to-the-ground models, it’s now venturing
into shoes with more structure. The Forza is a
well-balanced, high-mileage stability trainer
with a modern rendition of a medial post that’s
integrated into the softer layer of foam from the
heel to the forefoot, a sleek, seamless upper and
a slightly wider footprint. It’s a super-sturdy shoe,
but all of that stability and support is hidden in
a comfortable, smooth-riding cruiser that even
has a touch of responsiveness. It’s the shoe Kara
Goucher has been training in, which makes sense
since she played a role in developing it. Regardless
of the weight, it’s a shoe that runs a lot lighter
than it feels out of the box. “The best Skechers
has ever made,” one wear-tester gushed.


Weights: 10.8 oz. (men’s), 8.2 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 8mm; 30mm (heel),
22mm (forefoot)

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ROAD RUNNING SHOES—Best Update: New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v6, $150

HIGHLIGHT: Soft, stable and supremely smooth


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: New Balance continues to evolve
its Fresh Foam neutral shoes using data derived
from a wide range of runners. (That data helps
create a stride with more flow, smoothing the
foot’s transition between touchdown and takeoff.)
Our wear-testers loved the thick, soft cushioning
of this edition and the extra-wide footprint. One
of the biggest changes to this shoe is the addition
of flex grooves in the midsole and outsole that
help increase flexibility and lend a smoother
heel-toe transition. This edition also has a new
engineered mesh upper that offers both greater
flexibility and comfort, while an interior bootie fit
system helps keep the foot in place. Our wear-testers
loved the comfortable interior and stable ride
of this high-mileage workhorse, noting its slightly
wider footprint and locked-down fit.


Weights: 10.3 oz. (men’s), 8.5 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 8mm; 29mm (heel),
21mm (forefoot)

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ROAD RUNNING SHOES—Best Value: Zoot Solana 2, $100

HIGHLIGHT: More stable, more breathable, but same
ride


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: The brand known for triathlon
gear and its surf-oriented Southern California
style continues to make a shoe for the heartland.
The second edition of this easy-riding neutral
trainer is even better than the award-winning
original. The biggest changes are its updated
heel construction that secures the foot better and
a new, more breathable and flexible upper that
helps create a snazzier fit. It retains the luxurious
blend of softness, snappy responsiveness and just
enough inherent stability from the injection-molded
midsole, making it a versatile, smooth-running
everyday trainer with a little bit of kick to it. It has a
plush, seamless interior that will tempt you to wear
it barefoot—and then you might never wear socks
again! This is a solid trainer at any price, but at
$100 it’s an amazing bargain.


Weights: 9.5 oz. (men’s), 8.5 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 8mm; 28mm (heel),
20mm (forefoot)

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TRAIL RUNNING SHOES—Editor's Choice: Brooks Cascadia 11, $120

HIGHLIGHT: Protective, stable and versatile


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: If you want a trail shoe that tackles most types
of terrain pretty well, this is the shoe for you. You can run on
technical routes with sharp, jagged rocks in the Cascadia (it
has a forefoot rock plate) or you can run smooth dirt trails
to your heart’s content, and anything in between. The slight
tweaks to the latest edition of this tried-and-true trail fiend make it the best all-around version yet. It still offers a supportive
ride, thanks to four pivot point posts throughout the
midsole—they work like a medial post on a stability-oriented road shoe, but are less rigid and controlling. The posts do a good job at providing support over changing terrain without
overcorrecting stride. Ample cushioning and a comfortable upper make this shoe feel good from the get-go, and the array
of small knobby outsole lugs underfoot grips even slick dirt and rock. The updated, more rugged toe box is durable and
protective, while a new saddle configuration and more sensibly placed overlays offer a better fit with less material. Some of
our wear-testers found this shoe a little bit stiff, but we loved that it’s versatile enough to run on all types of trails (and even
roads when necessary). Rare is the trail shoe that can conquer so much ground, which is why like this one so darn much.


Weights: 11.8 oz. (men’s), 10.1 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 10mm; 27mm (heel), 17mm (forefoot)

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TRAIL RUNNING SHOES—Best Debut (tie): Montrail Caldorado, $120

HIGHLIGHT: Moderately rigid, very supportive


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: Montrail, one of the original trail
running shoe brands, is back in a big way this year,
starting with the Caldorado. For a firm, noticeably
supportive shoe that can handle burly mountain
terrain, it feels lightweight and comfortable, and
fl exes well at the forefoot for a smooth ride. The
mid-foot stability was appreciated by those who
tend to pronate on smooth terrain, and helped
neutral runners fight foot fatigue on long runs. The
midsole/outsole blends responsive cushioning
with solid traction and a jab-blocking, hard plastic
protective rock plate under the forefoot. The
seamless upper is comfortable and breathable,
while overlays and a toe bumper provide structure
and abrasion protection. The insole wraps high
around the sides of the foot, adding to the seamless
feel of the interior.


Weights: 11 oz. (men’s), 9.1 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 8mm; 19mm (heel), 11mm
(forefoot)

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TRAIL RUNNING SHOES—Best Debut (tie): Scarpa Neutron, $129

HIGHLIGHT: Cushion, protection and trail “feel”


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: This shoe seems a bit firm and
stiff out of the box, but testers were pleasantly
surprised by the responsive cushioning underfoot
and smooth ride. The Vibram outsole and
widely spaced lugs do a great job at grabbing
everything from dirt trails to slick rocks. The traction,
along with the protective upper wrapping
feet securely, inspired confidence going both
uphill and down. Overall, the Neutron made
testers feel notably nimble. It’s a full-volume shoe
that might feel too roomy to some, but many of
our testers appreciated the breathing room. The
smartly designed “lace pocket” lets you tuck in
laces to avoid getting tripped up by a snagging
branch. If your aim is to run fast or maintain the
same consistent gait you might on the roads, the
Neutron will be right up your alley.


Weights: 9.7 oz. (men’s), 8.2 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 6mm; 25mm (heel), 19mm
(forefoot)

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TRAIL RUNNING SHOES—Best Update: Hoka One One Challenger ATR 2, $130

HIGHLIGHT: A forgiving—but not too squishy—ride


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: The updated Challenger ATR has a more secure upper for less foot movement within the shoe on technical terrain. And the 4mm lugs on the outsole grab the trail, but aren’t too pronounced; this shoe runs fairly smooth on pavement.
The Challenger ATR is a more firm-feeling Hoka than many in the line, and has a lower-to-the-ground ride while still serving up plush Hoka cush. The result is a forgiving yet somewhat agile shoe. One tester likened its capabilities to “a monster truck,” rolling over terrain while protecting
the driver; yet on off-camber trails, the ATR 2 can
still feel a bit wobbly. The toe box is a tad narrow
and shallow; some complained of pressure on
toes after many miles. The first edition of this
shoe was our top pick last year and this updated
version was one of our favorites this year.


Weights: 9.5 oz. (men’s), 7.8 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 5mm; 31mm (heel), 26mm
(forefoot)

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TRAIL RUNNING SHOES—Best Value: Merrell All-Out Crush, $100

HIGHLIGHT: Super-flexible, lightweight, low-profile


FIT-FEEL-RIDE: The All-Out Crush is a shoe that
gives you a tactile running experience—its slight
cushioning and low-to-the-ground profile forces
you (in a good way) to feel your way along the
trail, picking your way through rocks and roots
like a ninja. Its featherweight construction, major
flexibility in the forefoot and minimal feel overall
is speed-inspiring, as is the grippy traction underfoot.
The mesh upper breathes well, and drain
holes at the bottom of the arch make this a good
choice for wet climes. We also liked that the
insole is connected to the shoe, which seemed to
add to the proprioceptive feet-to-trail feel of this
shoe. Although a few testers thought this shoe
had too spacious of an interior, we liked how the
thermoplastic polyurethane overlays add a bit of
structure to the upper without adding weight.


Weights: 8.0 oz. (men’s), 7.0 oz. (women’s)


Heel-to-Toe Offset: 7mm; 21mm (heel), 14mm
(forefoot)

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