Monday, May 1, 2017

The Shoe Graveyard

As a pretty active guy, I go through shoes like a runner goes through toilet paper. Trying to find  a pair that looks nice, fits well, and can last is tough. On top of that, I expect a lot out of my shoes. They need to be able to hold up to lateral movements for P.E. class (i.e. basketball, soccer, and tchoukball) and also at track and cross country practice. Throw in ultra training, and I'm basically S.O.L.

So far, I have had many shoes come close; however, they always end up dying. Below, I pay homage to those that almost made it.

First up - Merrell Vapor Glove.
One of the best road shoes I've ever ran in. My usual 5k racers.

I've been through 4 pairs (and 3 colors) of these bad boys! If you are looking for a minimalist shoe that can take a hit, look no further. Every pair I have owned has surpassed 400 miles. For a zero drop, low profile minimalist shoe, that is almost unheard of.

They are lightweight, fit like a glove, and grip like a champion. Yet, the Achilles heel is the upper. It is a weird tight mesh material that gets messed up pretty easily. Also, where the lower and upper meet is a super weak point. Every pair has blown out almost 180 degree from mid-foot, around the toe-box, and to the other side. But the crazy thing is, I can still wear them! Seriously, the tread is still great on my main pair, even after logging close to 500 miles!

Shoes #2 - Merrell Ascend Glove
Tough shoe with a good amount of foot feel. Stronger upper, but still fell short.

Yet another super durable shoe by Merrell (I swear I am not a spokes person, but if Merrell wants me to be, hit me up!). This pair didn't see as many miles, but it got trashed on the trail. Roots, rocks, water, poop, you name it --- it's seen it.

Speaking of rocks, I never once questioned my footing with these. I caught my big toe a few times with a few choice words, but never once complained about stepping on a sharp rock. They gave great ground feel with high protection. Sadly, this will be my last pair since they are no longer in production :sad face:

However, even with ~350 miles, they are still run-able. Again, the area between the upper and lower is busted. There is also another spot near my toes that got cut open. The tread, though still reliable, is starting to show some heavy wear. With that said, they will probably turn into creek shoes with my recent purchase of the New Balance MT10v1.

And finally - Skora Phase



Wear patterns galore! The no sew upper helps keep the structure sound, but the inside... not so much.
When getting close to retirement with my other shoes, I needed another durable shoe to help with high mileage and marathon training. Enter the Skora Phase.

Hands down my favorite shoe I have ever owned (two pairs!). The injected blown rubber (IBR) kept the shoe amazingly lightweight and cushiony, but still strong enough to hold up against small rocks and uneven surfaces. This 11mm, zero drop shoe was also chopped down a bit more by taking out the insole giving it a new stack height of around 9mm.

I ran these shoes into the ground... HARD! I literally burned a hole in them. However, even then, they were still SO FREAKIN' comfortable that I kept running in them. Because of this, I have ruined about 5 pairs of socks. Whoops!

After a few months of holy running, I decided to get another pair... uh-oh. Sold out.

No biggie, I will try another style. Sold out. Ugh.

I then messaged a rep and she helped me get the same shoe, but in a female style. SCORE! The fit was the same, and the color scheme was actually cooler in my opinion.

Unfortunately, shortly after this transaction, the company went into a bit of a hiatus. However, they should be back in September (hooray!). Just in time for another purchase before the Yeti100 :)

Take aways:
Shoes will always be the most important and most expensive part to a runner. Spend the extra $20-$50 on a shoe that fits your foot and is durable. Furthermore, with ever changing styles and trends, your favorite is likely to be discontinued, so find a shoe you like and stock up!