March Round-Up: New Reviews, In-For-Testing, and Running Essentials Vol. 1

Hey runners! The sun is shining and the temps are rising. We made it through March and we got a full slate of action coming in April to kick off the Spring. Before we do, let's take a look back at everything that went down at Doctors of Running this past month.

We had a record amount of reviews this time around with fourteen drops in March including our first exclusive video review. We also had four podcast episodes and a huge expansion of our YouTube with first impression videos, the introduction of Doctor's Corner, and more Q&A videos. On top of this we also had some huge news on our team as our very own founder Matt Klein officially became a full time faculty member at Stanbridge University!

We're keeping insanely busy here and are excited to be bringing you even more new content ahead as we keep expanding.  

ASICS Magic Speed Multiple Tester Review

ASICS Magic Speed Multiple Tester Review

ASICS is back again with a new carbon plated racing shoe to add to the arms race that has become "super shoes". The ASICS Magic Speed is one of several carbon plated racing shoes to come to the market and features their traditional Flytefoam Blast midsole. The series of racing shoes is designed to cater to different stride patterns and strategies reflected in ASICS' research. An example would be using a hip versus and ankle strategy, or using a higher cadence versus a lower cadence. The series will feature the Magic Speed, Metaspeed Sky, and the Metaspeed Edge. The midsole of the Metaspeed Sky is updated and will feature Flytefoam Turbo. 

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite Review (2021 Release)

 

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite Review: Top Tier Racing
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein and Contributor David Salas

PUMA is bringing the heat with the Deviate Nitro Elite. With aims of competing with the likes of the Nike AlphaFly/VaporFly and the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro the Deviate Nitro Elite features a Nitrogen infused PEBA based midsole and carbon fiber plate. The upper is minimalistic and track spike like. The shoe is impressive through and through. This is the elusive shoe that has been seen on the feet of Molly Seidel in her recent half marathon where she ran a personal best (and most recently won bronze at the Olympic Games Marathon. GO MOLLY!). Puma has risen from the shadows of the running world and is here with a shoe to not overlook.  

PUMA Velocity Nitro Review

PUMA Velocity Nitro Review
Written by Nathan Brown

In the last few years we have seen a number of companies, big and small, jump into run specialty and performance running shoes (Reebok, Diadora, Allbirds, TNF, Under Armour, Brand Black, etc). Some have certainly been successful in their first crack at it -- looking at you, Reebok -- and others haven't quite nailed it down as well as others. Most recent on the scene is PUMA, who is debuting their NITRO line that has been in the works since around 2016. This line of shoes was developed through collaboration with multiple researchers, teams of developers, and universities. Today we are diving into the daily trainer of the line and what will likely be the "go-to" for most people wanting to try out PUMA, the Velocity Nitro.  

HOKA Mach 4 Review - 100 MIle Update (Nov. 2021)

Hoka One One Mach 4 Multiple Tester Review
By Chief Editor Matt Klein and Contributor David Salas

The HOKA ONE ONE Mach series has been a pretty successful performance uptempo trainer for HOKA for some time now. The shoe keeps a lot of its original design features such as a rubberized EVA outsole and high stack height, but also re-engineers itself entirely. The HOKA ONE ONE Mach 4 utilizes a dual midsole with PROFLY as the midsole and a more streamlined design for the rocker and outsole. The result is a shoe that feels very light on the foot but protective enough for daily mileage or long runs. We like the shoe so much, it made our list of 2021's best daily trainers.

Hoka One One Mach 4 on a railing. Bright hello side wall and striping across the heel. Hoka written over midfoot.

Mizuno Wave Horizon 5 Review (2021)

Mizuno Wave Horizon 5 Multiple Tester Review
Editors Note: You can find our Wave Horizon 6 (2022) review out now. Click here to read.

Mizuno continues to innovate with the Wave Horizon 5. The Mizuno Wave Horizon series is interesting, for it incorporates maximum cushioning while still integrating maximum stability without the usage of traditional posting. The Wave Horizon 5 expands upon the comfortable 4 by featuring full length Mizuno Enerzy. Enerzy is the new midsole they debuted in the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 and Wave Sky 4 last year. The result is a plush, protective, yet responsive and snappy ride to the premium stability trainer.

adidas Ultraboost 21 Multiple Tester Review

adidas Ultraboost 21 Multiple Tester Review

David: Adidas Boost has been an integral part of the midsole game for Adidas for many years now. Some could argue that Boost was the first "new generation" foam to arise in a time when everyone was making EVA the standard foam for running shoes. Now we are in a time of PEBAX or EPU type foams that are also reducing weight and keeping responsiveness. Ultraboost over the years seemed to transition from a daily training option gradually more into the lifestyle lane, but the Ultraboost 21 is different. This is most definitely a running shoe with great durability and protection. The shoe features their new torsion system LEP that increases forefoot rigidity. There also is a new upper material feature  called PRIMEBLUE made from recycled Parley Ocean Plastic and also uses no virgin polyester.

Karhu Fusion 2021 Review

Karhu Fusion 2021 Review

David: The Karhu Fusion comes with a completely redesigned midsole and geometry and continues upon the great uppers that Karhu continues to come out with. The Karhu Fusion features the classic fulcrum that helps with guidance of the foot while still keeping a lot of the elements of the shoe neutral. The result is a rolling sensation throughout the shoe with a really stable platform.

Matt: The Karhu Fusion 2021 kicks off a new running concept from Karhu: Every Runner's Right. This is based around the understand that every runner has unique feet and biomechanics. This also comes from the Finnish belief in equal right and access to nature and the beautiful countryside. That every person has a right to be active and enjoy the outdoors. This has culminated in Karhu's continuation of using large scale foot scan data from every day runners to find a way to design a shoe to fit everyone's feet. The result is a fantastic fit, with a fantastic upper. The sole is more cushioned too, moving in the cushioning direction, yet reducing the weight from last year's model (REVIEW). The Fusion 2021 is far improved from the previous model and creates a much smoother ride. The continued use of a fulcrum is interesting and I think it is worth diving into a biomechanical discussion on what it may do.

The North Face Flight Vectiv Review

The North Face Flight Vectiv Review
Review by Editor Matt Klein 

As carbon fiber plated road shoes have increased in prevalence, trail racing shoes have remained fairly consistent. They have (at least previously) continued to be on the heavier side, although some featured rock plates. The North Face is the first to debut a series of full length plated trail shoes for both racing and training. Enter the Vectiv series. The Flight Vectiv is the lightest of the group, featuring a full length carbon fiber plate and is the first carbon fiber plated trail RACING shoe to hit the market (the Nike ACG Mountainfly is technically the first carbon fiber plated trail shoe, but feels far more like a hiking boot than a running shoe). The Flight Vectiv is designed as a ultramarathon shoe with a carbon fiber plate that is not only meant for propulsion, but also stability and fatigue resistance.

Skechers GORun Razor Excess Multiple Tester Review

Skechers GORun Razor Excess Review

The Skechers GORun Razor Excess expands on the highly successful performance trainer line that they have built with the Razor. The Razor Excess continues to use a similar bevel and rocker design with a full contact outsole with the main change being an increase in the stack height. The Razor Excess also re-introduces the non stretch mesh upper but with a more accommodating fit throughout that does not fit as snug or narrow as the previous models.

Note: Find our review of the brand new Razor Excess 2 here.

Brooks Caldera 5 Review

Brooks Caldera 5 Review

David: The Brooks Caldera 5 continues on the successful ultra running high stack trail racer from Brooks running. The shoe provides plenty of protection for long miles, surprisingly good ground feel, and traction that will be able to take you through a large variety of trails. The ride has a nice rocker to it and it is a shoe that will most likely agree with a lot of people. 

ASICS Noosa Tri 13 Multiple Tester Review

ASICS Noosa Tri 13 Multiple Tester Review

Matt: The Asics Noosa Tri series, inspired by and for triathlon and Ironman events, has been a longstanding performance running shoe with some of the most bold visual designs. They have generally been geared toward triathlon racing events, usually featuring slightly lighter weight, slightly more aggressive sole designs, ability to wear sockless (usually) and sometimes some mild stability elements. The Asics Noosa Tri 13 keeps some of the essence of previous versions, but evolves very much in line with Asics shoes like the EvoRide 2 (REVIEW) and GlideRide 2 (REVIEW). Featuring a larger amount of midsole, Guidesole technology and a major weight reduction, the Asics Noosa Tri 13 is a fast shoe that should be checked out by more than just triathletes.

361 FIERCE Multiple Tester Review

361 FIERCE Multiple Tester Review

361 has a decent history with solid simple lightweight trainers. The Spinject was one of the originals, featuring a simple knit upper and a solid, flexible sole (REVIEW). The Fantom was the evolution of the Spinject, gaining a bit of weight but adding a thicker and more secure upper (REVIEW). The Fierce is the next in line. Featuring a similar but guided flexible outsole and an evolved knit upper, this should be a similar shoe right? Well... yes and no.