Hoka Huaka (2014)

Model :  Hoka Huaka (2014)  

Weight :  Approx: 9.2 oz
Cushion : Medium Plus
Toe Box Room : Reasonable
Zero Drop : No
Heel to toe drop : 4 mm
Control : Neutral
Manufacturer : Hoka One One
Purchased : Yes via Running Warehouse

Test Surface : Trail and Treadmill
Miles : ~20 miles
Tasty?  A shoe I planned to love for hybrid running on Trail and Road, but alas it was not meant to be. That said let me clarify, I have a pair of Hoka Cliftons (2014), that I totally love.  In fact they have provided me with one of the best running experiences to date, so I was hoping for the same. However the Huaka’s use a stiffer RMAT material that creates just that, a stiffer ride.  I prefer a cushier and softer ride. So these are leaving my rotation, but I will remain a Hoka fan based on the Clifton.

Second Opinion:  Via The Ginger Runner

On Cloudsurfer (2014)

Model :  On Cloudsurfer (2014)
Weight :  Approx: 9.2 oz
Cushion : Min + bounce
Toe Box Room : Better than average
Zero Drop : No
Heel to toe drop : 7 mm
Control : Neutral
Manufacturer : On
Purchased : Yes via leftLane Sports

Test Surface : Road and Treadmill
Miles : ~62 miles
Tasty?  Love this shoe. This is a reasonable light weight, low to the ground trainer, and it lives up to its name. This shoe claimed a solid slot in my rotation for exactly what its designed for, and it offered a unique slightly bouncy ride. In fact the experience has been so positive that I continue to experiment with other On shoes for road work and trail running.  However, I have been preferring something with a bit more full cushion feel, so right now my daily trainer for the road is a Hoka Clifton.  That said this was a solid shoe and enjoyed every run in them.  And I should mention – never a blister did I have!

Second Opinion:  Via Wired

Altra Lone Peak 2.0

Model :  Altra Lone Peak 2.0
Weight :  Approx: 10.9 oz
Cushion : Moderate
Toe Box Room : Roomy
Zero Drop : Yes
Heel to toe drop : 0 mm
Control : None
Manufacturer : Altra
Purchased : Yes via Running Warehouse

Test Surface : Trail 
Miles : 13.x miles
Tasty?  I have hesitated writing this review for a very long time. Primarily because I have only put about 13 miles on the shoe and I wanted to put more miles on it before I provided a review. However, I just have not been able to bring myself to run in the shoe again. My trail miles tend to be on the order of six or more miles per run and I don’t see myself ever wanting to put more than three mile in these at a time.  It seems to be a good shoe and perhaps I had the wrong expectations for it. Early on I had very good luck with the Altra Torin and I really wanted to this shoe to be the Altra Torin designed for trails.  Its just not that. It needs more cushion to be that, and that’s my only real issue with this shoe. I really would like it to have more cushion and have a softer feel, much like the Altra Torin but without the odd cushion slope / foot mechanics I experienced in the Altra Olympus. That said I have a lot of faith in Altra and I will probably be back to Altra in the future, but for now this shoe has left my rotation.

Second opinion :  Review by TheGingerRunner

Nike Zoom Terra Wildhorse

Model :  Nike Zoom Terra Wildhorse
Weight :  Approx: 9.6 oz
Cushion : Minimum in forefoot
Toe Box Room : Average
Zero Drop : No
Heel to toe drop : 4 mm
Control : None
Manufacturer : Nike
Purchased : Yes via RoadRunner Sports

Test Surface : Trail and Treadmill
Miles : 18.25 miles
Tasty?  The Nike Air Zoom Terra Wildhorse has a very long name and people love it. I however have decided to retire it from my running rotation. Its a good looking shoe and fun to wear, but the cushioning is just too minimal in the forefoot for my taste. In this case I think I should have gone with the Nike Zoom Terra Kiger.  The Wildhorse has an air cushion in the heel only, while the Nike Terra Kiger has air cushions in the heel and forefoot.  I do plan to keep this shoe around and use it for cross-training  days. It works great in the Gym, it locks me in place and lets me concentrate on the move, not my feet slipping out from under me while attempting a Pike Press.

Second opinion :  Review by TheGingerRunner

Reebok ATV19

Model :  Reebok ATV19
Weight :  Approx: 11 oz
Cushion : Medium
Toe Box Room : Narrow
Zero Drop : No
Heel to toe drop : Not published
Control : Multi-layer midfoot overlays 
Manufacturer : Reebok (Current version)
Purchased : Yes via Reebok Retail Store

Test Surface : Trail and Treadmill
Miles : 27.6 (~3 miles on Treadmill)
Tasty?  Its a fun shoe, but not perfect. I purchased this shoe to wear while running a long trail that dishes up soft, to hard, to rocky terrain, and back again. The trail is relatively flat, with a few hills and grades mixed in just to spice things up. And while the ATV19 out performed my Altra Torin’s on the rocky terrain they performed the same or worse over the long haul. In fact I experienced blisters on one or both feet after every run except one. To put that in perspective, I have never ever ended a run with any blisters in the Altra Torin’s.  My non-blister run was a short 3 miler. They are also heavy at 11oz, and after running in lighter shoes for long periods its noticeable. All of that said, I have to be honest and tell you I took these out on a rainy day through a muddy trail run and they were just plain fun. I stayed in place on the trail and hammered the ground with boyish pleasure. So they remain in my rotation for the moment as a fun trail shoe, but I am also prepping to do some trail runs in a pair of Altra Lone Peak 2.0.

Second opinion :  Review by Blond Ponytail

Newton EnergyNR

Model :  Newton EnergyNR
Weight :  Approx: 9.0 oz
Cushion : Medium
Toe Box Room : Better than average
Zero Drop : No
Heel to toe drop : 6 mm
Control : None
Manufacturer : Newton Running
Purchased : Yes via Newton Running

Test Surface : Road and Treadmill
Miles : 12.1 miles
Tasty?  The EnergyNR was my attempt at transitioning into the Newton world, but I have to say that the EnergyNR just didn’t pop for me. The upper is very soft and I love many things about the shoes, but the lugs and I just do not get along.  I must confess that I purchased the EnergyNR tried them, moved to the Newton Motion III which I did like much better, and just like with the Newton Motion III, I love the Newton concept and I still love the way everything felt about the shoe except for the lugs.  And all that said, I am likely to try some more Newton’s down the road, I am very interested in the POP2 or POP3 versions. These shoes have left my rotation, but I see more Newton’s in my future!

Second opinion :  Review by Runblogger.com

On Cloudracer

Model :  On Cloudracer
Weight :  Approx: 8.1 oz
Cushion : Min
Toe Box Room : Better than average
Zero Drop : No
Heel to toe drop : 5 mm
Control : Neutral
Manufacturer : On
Purchased : Yes via On

Test Surface : Road and Treadmill
Miles : ~12 miles
Tasty?  Love this shoe for its purpose. This is a light weight, low to the ground racer, and it lives up to its name. This shoe claims a solid slot in my rotation for exactly what its designed for, and offers a unique slightly bouncy ride. In fact the experience has been so positive that I am experimenting with one of the other On shoes for road work.

Second Opinion:  Via Runblogger.com

Newton Motion III

Model :  Newton Motion III
Weight :  Approx: 9.3 oz
Cushion : Medium
Toe Box Room : Roomy
Zero Drop : No
Heel to toe drop : 3 mm
Control : Medial side
Manufacturer : Newton Running
Purchased : Yes via Road Runner Sports

Test Surface : Road and Treadmill
Miles : 63.14
Tasty?  I wanted to love this shoe so much, and I kept waiting to get the POP effect. I can’t say I ever felt the POP effect, and I could never get lost in the run. That said, I never had a single blister in these shoes and I never felt like my feet were overly hot.   I love the Newton concept and I still love the way everything felt about the shoe except for the lugs.  And all that said, I am likely to try some more Newton’s down the road, I am very interested in the POP2 or POP3 versions. These shoes have left my rotation, but I see more Newton’s in my future!

Second opinion :  Review by Believe In The Run

Altra Olympus

Model :  Altra Olympus
Weight :  Approx: 10 oz  (Size 9)
Cushion : Max
Stack Height : 36 mm
Toe Box Room : Roomy
Zero Drop : Yes
Heel to toe drop : 0 mm
Control : Neutral
Manufacturer : Altra
Purchased : Yes via Running Warehouse

Test Surface : Road, Trail, and Treadmill
Miles : 22.6
Tasty?  Something about my foot mechanics make this shoe not work for me. I love the Altra Torin and really fully expected just a more cushy version of the ride. But the cushioning on the Olympus seems to drop off steeply right at the mid-foot to forefoot transition point and that seems to be right were my foot lands. The resulting incline of cushion creates an uncomfortable run for me.  As a result I have removed the Olympus from my rotation, but I love the Torins so much, I plan on experimenting with more Altra shoes in the future.

Second opinion :  Review by The Ginger Runner

Skechers GOrun Ultra

Model : Sketchers GOrun Ultra
Weight : Approx: 8.7 oz (Men’s Size 9)
Cushion : Max
Stack Height : Forefoot 23 / Heel 27
Toe Box Room : Better than average
Zero Drop : No
Heel to toe drop : 4 mm / 8 mm with insole
Control : Neutral
Manufacturer : Sketchers
Purchased : Yes via Road Runner Sports

Test Surface : Road, Trail, Treadmill
Miles : 24.35
Tasty?  Maybe – This is a shoe inspired by Ultra races with a ton cushion, and I love the idea: A high cushion shoe with a minimal heal to toe ratio.  In fact I love the Sketchers brand, but the shoe did not work for me in my normal size.  Run after run I found myself with blisters on the inner part of my left or right foot, in one case both.  To remedy the situation and give the shoe a fair chance I keep debating buying another pair a half size up, but I have not as of yet.  If I do and get different results I will update the review, but as of now these shoes are no longer in my rotation. Things I loved about them: The cushioning was awesome and the tread worked great on multiple surfaces, making this a great hybrid shoe.  Down side: Maybe the fit or sizing. Perhaps try going up a half size if your considering this shoe.  

Second opinion :  Check out the Ginger Runners review.