I ran my first marathon in 4 hours 45 minutes in New balance 1080 v13. I highly recommend them. I tried the nike invincible 3 and novablast 4 in my long runs, but the 1080s were just perfect, comfortable and stable.
Puma magnify and magmax, Saucony Endorphin Azura (just came out), Novablast 5, Hoka Mach 6, (narrow foot friendly for sure), Tyr Maverick V1 are all lighter and protective but not mushy from my personal experience/research. The 1080v13 and v14 is also my go to casual/walking shoe and they increased the weight quite a bit from one to the other. But even then the 13 was a bit of a slog for me. I think modern trainers have the ability to pick up the pace and protect you on slower runs as well.
I’m a slower runner, so caveat emptor.
Right now my rotation is basically three shoes. NB Rebel v4 for shorter tempo runs where I want some ground feel, NB 1080s when I want to go super easy, and the ASICS Megablast for everything else.
The rebels have been great and were dirt cheap so I got two pair. The Megablast I got slightly used on r/therunningrack and they’ve been a real surprise. They are great for any pace from slow to sprinting for me and the cushioning and bounce is surprisingly good.
I've been running consistently for the last few years (primarily for workouts) and putting out 5k runs at least 3 times a week. I am also an expierienced weight lifter (12-14 years) and like to supplement my lifts with a light run afterwards (usually 3 km max at around 6 min/km).
I have been bogged down with the amount of shoes on the market and need some recommendations coming from New Balance 1080v13 which are pretty soft and lack the push I want for higher tempo runs. I have size 14 feet, so mid-foot support and true to size fit is the most important to me. I love the New Balance fit and the 1080s felt like a dream compared to the Downshifters I used to run in. I am also a mid-foot striker, like to run sprints every now and then, and have a neutral pronation. I tend to get sore around the mid foot and never around the knees (thanks knee-over-toes workouts!). Also located in Canada.
I'm not looking to run marathons (I just dont care) and need something that is going to support my workouts/longer runs up to 15 km. Any help is appreciated!
OFF THE TABLE: Puma, Mizuno, Adidas, Solomon - they just dont fit me well.
Weight: 250 lb @ \~19-20% BF
5k PR: \~23-24 min
10k PR: 1h 01m
Avergae KMs/ week: \~20 km
Price range: \~200 CAD
I'm rotating my Evo SL and SL2, the latter being more of the easy run pick. I'm actually liking my NB 1080v13 even more though, soft midsole, comfy plush upper,...excellent easy/long/recovery shoes. Not as versatile as the SL2, but for tempo runs I use the Evo SL anyway.
I'm a couple cm/kg bigger than you, and a litte faster, and my main work horse is also the Evo SL.
I rotate them with my Hoka Mach 6 and NB 1080v13. The M6 don't feel the same as the Evo SL, but they serve the same purpose. Versatile and comfy enough for all distances and paces imo, a nice balance between cushioning and snap/bounce.
The 1080 are a bit clunky and slugish, I only use 'em for easy/recovery runs, but they're SO plush and comfy.
Anyway, when the Evo SL or M6 go into retirement, I might get the Endorphin Azura, or maybe the Mach 7 or Novablast 6, depending on what the reviews will say.
The Evo SL are some of THE best value for money daily/super trainers up to date. But like others already said, they might lack some structure and stability for beginners.
ON is just not a serious running shoe brand imo. ON seems to spend a disproportionate amount on publicity/endorsements to appeal to new runners who are susceptible to the gimmicky air pocket concept and to their clever marketing.
My main gripe though, is that their inflated prices just don't seem to translate to the specs and reviews.
Anyone, out of those 3 you mentioned, based on my experience with the Evo SL and 1080v13...I'd say the latter might work nicely for a beginner who prioritizes comfort over performance/efficiency.
There are countless other good options though, imo it makes a lot of sense for a beginner to walk into a running shoe store to try a bunch of different shoes and maybe even get a gait analysis.
The M6 might work, but they’re not the most obvious pick to run your 1st marathon in. Comfy max cushion daily trainers like the Nimbus, Triumph or 1080 would probably make more sense.
I'm shooting for a 3h marathon myself. Or not, haven't actually decided yet if I wanna settle for a more mellow fun marathon this time.
I've got my 1080 v13 for my recovery runs. They can handle longer and solmewhat faster runs too, though slow and easy is where they shine. Not sure, but I'm assuming the v14 and v15 are similarly soft and comfy.
Also, the upcoming Saucony Endorphin Azura are kinda on my radar at the moment. They're not marketed as plush recovery shoes, but they might be versatile enough to handle a wide enough range of tasks. Guess I'll have to wait for some more user reviews.
So why not just the Evo SL or 1080? The former is lighweight and has plenty of cushioning for a 2h run, the latter should be super comfy and stable for longs.
Just mpo, ymmv...but as a 2h half marathoner you shouldn't be overestimating the importance of a "rotation".
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ASICS
SUPERBLAST 2
71% positive of 805 users
Marathon workhorse, but loud and clunky at slow paces.
Any-Ad7693
