Comparative impressions: Which running shoes are strong for long distances and long hours? ?

the previous article brought to you by a triathlete who doesn't rush and does his own pace, we've picked out five shoes you're interested in for endurance.

First, please take a look at the results of a survey (graph below) from the perspective of "Choosing shoes for ultra marathon and triathlons" that we announced on the market research to narrow down the comparison candidates. This is just a reference, but the manufacturers of shoes that have actually been used in races are by far the most number one, followed by ASICS, followed by adidas, and third place is on the same side as the long-established triathlon manufacturer ZOOT, the newly-established On, and it's very light despite its thick soles! HOKA ONE is a hot topic, and is a long-established domestic company Mizuno.

 

With these opinions in mind and consultations with the shoe fitter, we will narrow down the search to three more from the previous pickup shoes.

My first visit was "RUNNING LAB," a Tokyo store directly operated by Asics, a manufacturer that was the most popular in the survey. I measured my foot shape using a measuring instrument called a QUICK scan.

I will provide you with information about my feet in advance to compare your choice of shoes. Recently I've been using Zoot or Adidas as my main shoes, and I've been choosing 24cm shoes for a long time. However, the actual measured value was 24cm, and according to the fitter's judgment, the shoe size was quite large, at 25.5cm. I also thought it was wide, but when I measured my foot circumference, it was a little narrow and it felt like it was flat. It was found that the right foot is particularly inwardly inward, and it is an overpronation type. That's where Gel-KAYANO 23 was recommended. This is a material called Duomax built into the inner part that tends to tilt, supporting wobbling of the feet. First, I decided to go with this as my first pair of shoes.

Next, we moved to the location and visited the Victoria Aoyama Gaienmae store and the Ochanomizu Wardrobe store to put our feet in a variety of shoes. Among them, the HOKA ONE ONE CLIFTON 3 has a soft feel to it and makes a good first impression, and is the lightest of the selected shoes, and the final one was the BROOKS Transcend 4, which is praised by two shoe fitters, so it was decided because it felt good.

Adidas, which ranked second in the survey, is my favorite manufacturer, but there was nothing that could really be seen in this season's model, the Zoot, which was missed from the selection I presented last time, was not available in domestic stores, and I was unable to test out the product, and On was a bit worried about the durability of the special rubber sole, which is selling its cushioning function, so I was forced to leave this candidate.

Now, we've finally decided on three models to compare. Next, we will perform actual driving tests and summarize each impression in a comparison spec table.

table of contents

• Comparison results and spec comparison table for three carefully selected items
• Impressions of each model
• Summary and preview of the next episode

Test environment, results and spec comparison table

Test environment

First, we will compare the two in several sessions, including changing races such as on-road with a flat base, light up and down off-road, when climbing and descending stairs on pedestrian bridges, and light dashing 1km, and then conducting long-term endurance tests. The runner, a typical volume zone with the user at a sub-4.5 level, is a shoe that is selected with the theme of protecting it from long-distance damage on roads, so can you run faster? How easy and easy can you continue to run for longer? In addition to the cushioning and protection effect, the ultimate comfort is key to the overall rating.

In this comparison, the factors necessary to safely and comfortably for long running are evaluated as the following five points:

• Overall "comfort" including breathability and fit
• "Weight" that reduces the burden of lifting your legs as much as possible
• "Grip" necessary for effective kicking and braking
• "Protection" reduces the impact on the soles of the feet and the burden on the knees
• Stability is necessary to reduce centroid shaking

Test results and spec comparison table

*5km (JOG 4km + WS 1km) Running dynamics results. The pitch is said to be over 180 steps per minute, and it is said that the ideal pitch for a full marathon is over 180, but this time it's a lighter JOG, so it's a little lower. The stroke is the stride length. Pitch (number of steps) x stroke (strike width) = parameter to see the running speed. (From Garmin 920XJT data)

Impressions of each model

From here we will report on the impressions of each model.

ASICS Lady Gel-KAYANO 23

Honor student who adapts smoothly to all routes

It is often mentioned online as a beginner, but even when I actually wear it, it doesn't get too heavy and doesn't feel too heavy. Comparing the thickness of the sole, this is the thinnest of the protective items we chose this time. This is due to FlytForm material, which is a lighter weight than the conventional midsole by about 55%, and the GEL part is larger, giving it better cushioning than the previous model. The careful stitching of the upper, which is unique to domestic manufacturers, is beautiful and delicate, and the high functionality of the product, such as fit and breathability to prevent stuffiness, is also impressive. When I ran, I felt a strong sense of stability that didn't wobble. This not only provides the effect of Duomax, which prevents the overpronation type feet from falling inwards, but also provides a high level of stability, as the heel part is held in the firmest, hard cup in this comparison. The grip power allows you to kick your feet with confidence, whether you drive on or off-road. The GUIDANCE LINE function, which assists in smooth center of gravity movement, is also one of the keys to improving stable driving.

Looking in the middle of the photo above, you will likely notice that the distinctive plastic shape called a trusstic is reinforced in the midfoot. This increases the rigidity of the midfoot, which is prone to twisting, and increases the stability of the running. yeah? Is the plastic on the outside? You may think so, but it is slightly dented from the front and rear rubber parts, so there is no contact with the ground and there is no need to worry about wet roads. I'm in awe of the carefully calculated structure. The term "honor student" is a perfect pair of shoes that shows stable running no matter what the running route is.

BROOKS Transcend 4 Women's

These shoes have a sense of strength and speed. Brooks' skills and strength are alive and well.

I was curious about the GHOST 9 model, which has been selected as the best buy in the American running magazine, but it is suitable for sub-4-5 due to its balance between lightweight and light cushioning function. It was quite comfortable to wear, but the Transcend 4, which was supported by the shoe fitter saying, "This is the best model of this manufacturer," is an entry-level model with cushioning and support, yet it is an excellent product that also captures acceleration. Super DNA, a BROOKS's unique cushion, responds softly to light jogs and shows strong rebound when you increase your pace, making it change according to your running style, and the more you test runs, you can see the difference in the effect. However, I didn't notice it when I first put the foot in (test foot), but I was concerned about the stiffness of the tongue and tongue hitting the instep during the first ride. However, the second ride was better, and I only noticed when there was a tilt angle when climbing, but as I got used to it, I gradually got used to it and the discomfort became less common. Overall, domestic brands are very carefully crafted, and there are many honor students who can avoid discomfort when they put on the feet, but this familiarity seems to be a foreign manufacturer.

Despite the familiarity of the upper, I noticed something new on the second run. Off-road climb: On a slightly damp soil, I slipped lightly once. However, there is no problem on-road. Looking at the running dynamics, the pitch is the highest, and the force you kick directly responds to the shoe, making it fun to increase the number of rotations, which I think will also lead to speed. These shoes still have hidden techniques that have been described as the culmination of BROOKS, and have the feeling that you will be able to enjoy the changes in the road surface over extremely long distances. Compared to the hard Asics material, the heel cup is made of a harder ASICS material, which provides a sturdy, stable hold, but this material is made of a harder streamlined line to prevent heel shaking, but personally I like the relaxed hold that is more relaxed than the former.

HOKA ONE ONE CLIFTON 3 Women's

If you use the cushioning properties of the thick soles as rebound, you will not only get protection, but also speed.

What's the moment you put your feet in? this? These shoes were shocking in a good way. It looks like a thick-soled safety shoe, but it is fluffy and ultimate in comfort, making it an overwhelmingly lightweight of the three points. First, let me explain the parameters of running dynamics, and the pitch (number of steps) and stroke (strike width) are the lowest out of the three points. That means your running speed has decreased. One reason is that I ran 10km each for three pairs, and then I was able to get tired after running at HOKA at the end, so I tried comparing the shoes from the other day on the same day, but the data results were the same.

I was most looking forward to the actual ride because it felt like a marshmallow, but for some reason I couldn't run very well. At a speed of JOG, the cushion will drop due to its own weight, and it's frustrating to absorb the rebound force. but! When you speed up, your feet will naturally move forward without sinking or thrusts, changing your impression. This is probably due to the shape of the cradle-like outsole, known as metalocker technology, which creates natural rolling movement from landing to kicking. I think this shows the difference between JOG and speed driving. This rolling was naturally utilized on the descent, and I was able to travel in the smoothest way possible of any shoe I've ever had.

It's thick soles so how about grip? I was thinking that, but this one is pretty good. In particular, highly durable materials are used in areas with a large contact surface, leading to high grip, so you can even push in while driving downhill. The heel cup is the softest (in terms of appearance, there is no hard material that protects the former two types), and the upper material is also sewn without seams, so there is no sense of tightness and there is a high degree of freedom in toe movement. I think it's easy to wear for people with a wide foot circumference. Overall, HOKA is a very distinctive shoe, so it's definitely a bit quirky. I think these shoes are likely to be a great ally if you learn how to make use of this and drive.

Summary and preview of the next episode

This time, we have presented impressions and spec comparison tables for three carefully selected shoes chosen by the Planning Department and Editorial Department, the author, and a shoe fitter. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the shops and related parties who cooperated, as well as to everyone who responded to the survey. thank you very much. Asics came in first place overall, but BROOKS, second place, could have taken the number one spot if it wasn't discomfort when Bello Tan hit the instep. The HOKA, which I was most excited about at first, was third place, as I was probably not familiar with the thick soles that I didn't get used to wearing them with the features that I have never worn before, but I think this is a shoe that I would recommend to people who have the ability to quickly get into speed. Next, we will take a little time to complete endurance tests for long and long distance runs, and then provide details about each shoe. There may be more new discoveries. Stay tuned.

Sone Rinko

Part Time Triathlete and Full Time Dreamer.
An amphibious writer who enjoys triathlons with the motto of "Leady and take your own pace without rushing." 2015: Started a planning and editing production company and is currently working as a freelance. We strive to provide articles that convey your heart in a way that is easy to understand and conveys your heart in gentle language. If you have a 100km radius, you will always be riding your bike and running to interviews, and if you wish, you will run through the mountains, dive into the sea, and fly around the world. What I can be proud of is that I have a strong sense of smell to find interesting things.
Planning and editing production:Office Astro Writing　
Blog:Rinko's Diary

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