hello, i am looking for some shoe recommendations for a 100 mile race that is not particularly technical
i want good cushioning for the long distance, but i much prefer a firmer feel underfoot as i feel this helps with speed (might be placebo but still important)
i tried some shoes today and have given some feedback below, but appreciate there are many more options out there so i’d like some recommendations
asics trabuco max 4 - felt too soft underfoot (springy/bouncy)
salomon ultra glide 4 - again too soft underfoot
altra olympus 6 - loved the firm feel but no experience with zero drop
inov8 trail fly max - again loved the firm feel
Asics Trabuco (non max!) is stable and similar to your Kayano's. I personally like Nike Zegama 2's as well they are very comfortable and very stable. In trails shoes you are just looking for stable shoes, pronation correction doesn't really exist there.
Only really bad shoe I ever had was the Trabuco Max 3, very high stack + very soft. For that same reason you might want to stay away from the Mafate 5
I’ve ran shorter trail races in asics trabuco 12, and I do my runs in a nimbus 27.
I would actually recommend a trabuco max 4 if you can try it in a store. I tried it recently and still debating if I should get it for my race next year(half marathon tho not a 50k, i’m not that brave like you lol)
I just put 500+ miles on my Asics Max Trabucco 3 through the mountains and where my go tos for post Helene trail clean up and I got to say, those babies are indestructible.. the only thing I tore up towards the last 80mi was the back of the heel part/material, which could have been avoided and even now still repaired with some heel patches.
I’m now running with Topo Ultraventure 4 because I needed a wider toe box option. These only have a little over 30mi on them so I can’t speak to the quality just yet.
I can’t speak as to how these may fit you but the quality/comfort of the Max Trabucco is definitely on point.
A lot of interesting recommendations. It’s difficult to assess though without knowing more about the characteristics you find problematic. IE, stability, width, volume, stack height, etc.
That said, I’ve found the ASICS Trabuco 4 Max to be a great alternative for my needs. Their proprietary outsole really surprised me with its grip in all conditions. I’ve been a Vibram megagrip maxi, but these perform exceptionally well here in the Rockies. They are slightly more firm, but have more stability and a wider footprint. Also, with Speedgoats, I felt like they went lifeless after 75-100 miles. The foam in the ASICS have been very resilient. In terms of ride, I prefer the Trabuco on the rocky trails we have here bc I don’t feel the rocks pressing through the sole as much. Also, the uppers on Speedgoats would always get cut up quickly, whereas the Trabuco’s have had no issues over 300+ miles.
I’ve also enjoyed the Merrel Agility Peak 5, but those didn’t hold up as well in technical terrain. I found them less stable and similar issues with the uppers. One other characteristic about the Trabuco upper is the padded tongue right below where you tie the laces. This makes them more comfortable for me on long descents when my foot is pushing hard against the lacing.
I’m a lot more limited in my choices as I wear a size 15.
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