 True story: I was recently at a trail run where one of the participants pulled into the midpoint aid station and said (I’m paraphrasing): “Punch me out. I’m done. My headphones broke, and the thought of running any farther without music is too depressing.”
An extreme reaction, to be sure, but I think we can all relate. There’s nothing more frustrating than having your earphones die when you need them the most…well, except when they only mostly die. One ear works but the other doesn’t, or the sound cuts in and out, or the earbuds won’t stay in place. Fortunately, I found the Yurbuds Inspire 400 while at my local Fleet Feet store. They retailed for $49.99, but I’ve had my brushes with other so-called “sport earphones” and decided I’d try something a little more premium. It was well worth every penny! Not only are these earphones ergonomically designed for long-lasting comfort, they come in women’s specific sizes for a more accurate and secure fit. They also have strong bass response and a handy three-button “command center” and microphone for music and calls on your Apple mobile device. The fit on the Inspire 400 is unbeatable. The TwistLock feature guarantees they’ll stay in place at variety of different angles and never fall out. The earphones also allow ambient noise to seep in, helping to keep you aware of your surroundings while running or cycling. They’re sweat-proof, and the flexible silicone eartips are easy to remove for cleaning. I love the microphone and inline control feature; you can answer and end a call, and control the volume and music track, all with push-button ease. Another feature I like are the Quick Clik tangle-free magnets, which prevent the earphones from getting all knotted up. I use them when I’m not listening to music and loop the cord around my neck; the magnets hold the earphones in place and keep them from dangling loose. The only con I’ve found is that, on occasion, there are some distorts on deep bass tracks at high volumes. But, for me personally, a secure fit is the priority when running long distances, and therefore, the sound issues aren’t a deal breaker. www.yurbuds.com Author: Shalini Kovach is a trail junkie and ultra distance runner, forever in search of the perfect gear that will make life easy out in the wilderness.
The Motion Singlet design is inspired by movement and nature, making it a perfect choice for an ultra-distance trail runner. The background is done in the style of a watercolor painting and is sharply contrasted by the overlain black-ink image. Up close, people may not realize that the image is actually a runner in motion, but stand back and it comes into focus.
The fabric is Dry I.C.E (Instant Cooling by Evaporation), a super-soft, lightweight technical fabric that allows for quick moisture wicking while you’re out on the trail or pavement. I never once felt my clothing wet or weighted down with sweat. The flat seams with seamsoft thread are chafe resistant, which is important, especially for those high-friction areas while running. The Motion Singlet is wrinkle free and easy to pack while traveling — and, bonus, all INKnBURN products are handcrafted in the USA. Just follow the care instructions properly, and you’ll have a piece of eye-catching and dependable clothing that will stay vivid for miles and miles and miles! The Motion Singlet retails for $39.95 and is totally worth the splurge. Available in both Men’s and Women’s sizes, this is quality gear done right! www.inknburn.com Author: Shalini Kovach is a trail junkie and ultra distance runner, forever in search of the perfect gear that will make life easy out in the wilderness.  It looks like a cross between a Roller Blade and some sort of medieval torture device, but the R8 is actually an award-winning tissue massager that takes the work out of recovery.
Massage tools used for post-workout recovery — be it a traditional foam roller, a stick or any other device — are built on the notion that they will help manipulate trigger points, increase blood flow, help flush out lactic acid and, in the process, reduce recovery time and prevent injury. The R8 accomplishes all of the above, with a twist. By using two sets of smooth-rolling polyurethane wheels and tension provided by torsion springs and resistance arms, the device allows you to stand, sit or lie down and simply roll over the parts of your body that need attention. (No more rolling on the floor.) The R8 self-adjusts for different body parts and sizes, whether IT-bands, quads, hamstrings, calves, arms, whatever, allowing you full control to target hard-to-reach spots and add or reduce pressure as needed. And because of its compact size — it measures 11.5” x 9.5” and weighs 2.5 lbs. — it’s easy to travel with and take to workouts. It even comes with a handy carrying bag. The only negative I found is that some of the bearings in the resistance arms loosen up after continued use of the R8 and need to be re-tightened, which you can do with a set of allen wrenches and pliers. It’s a small price to pay for a tool that will revolutionize the way you approach recovery. I got my R8 at Maplewood Bicycle in St. Louis, but you can also order online. ROLL Recovery R8; MSRP: $119, www.rollrecovery.com Author: Shalini Kovach is a trail junkie and ultra distance runner, forever in search of the perfect gear that will make life easy out in the wilderness. If there’s one trail shoe out there that can give the Salomon Speedcross a run for its money, it would have to be the Scott Kinabalu Supertrac. I picked up a pair in my search for something rugged without the 11mm heel-to-toe drop and weight of the Salomon, and I really like them. In fact, I’m now on my second pair!  Promo Copy from Scott: The updated Scott Kinabalu Supertrac shoe is your trail weapon to help negotiate the toughest of terrains; whether soft mud or technical mountain trails. It is built to be fast with a supportive upper, full-length cushioning and an extremely lugged outsole ensuring excellent traction to help traverse over soft and rough surfaces. Stats & Construction:
 My Take Appearance & Price Out of the box my first impression of the Scott Kinabalu Supertrac was that the shoe looked sturdy yet a bit bulky. The shoe retails for $145, and trust me, the price is well worth every penny. You can find them online for as low as $120. Fit & Feel I wear a women’s size 9 in trail running shoes, and Scott brand shoe sizing is pretty spot on. Foot in the shoe, it feels a bit stiff although comfortable. It’s got a roomy toe box and a soft upper. This shoe requires a breaking in period along with getting used to the eRide technology, but the 8mm heel-to-toe drop is a welcomed support from my 4mm drop shoes. Ride I logged about 700 miles of trail in my first pair of Kinabalu Supertrac, including a 100-mile race in muddy, wet conditions. I’m currently on my second pair, as my first pair sits in my garage with screws in the lugs for winter running. I’ve used these shoes for training and racing, and they are my go-to shoe for running on technical terrain, wet and muddy trails, and snowy trails. Bottom line: This shoe is built to last through the most aggressive of trail conditions. Once broken in, the shoe is pliable; it’s perfect for anyone looking for that sweet spot between the extremely high and very low heel-to-toe offsets. The shoe offers superior grip, and the wet traction outsole rubber compound works really well on a multitude of surfaces. The eRIDE technology in these shoes offers a “rocker” platform that is designed for a more efficient mid to forefoot strike. For those of you who already have an efficient foot strike, this may be less noticeable. However, for someone with heel strikes, the rocker does aid in rolling you forward on to your toes. The shoe upper has a tight weave fabric with rubberized strips, and the toe box is reinforced extremely well to not only provide good protection but also withstand serious contact with rocks or other obstacles. The tongue is padded, which makes it extremely comfortable when laced, and the bungee laces are thin and textured to stay tight when tied. The lace locker is another feature on these shoes that provides a no-nonsense solution to store loose laces when running. Conclusion This shoe is a trail beast! If you are looking for an extremely dependable shoe with cushion, solid grip and all-day comfort without any gimmicks, then this shoe is for you.  Pros
Cons
Author: Shalini Kovach is a trail junkie and ultra distance runner, forever in search of the perfect gear that will make life easy out in the wilderness. Fact: I’d never before run in a New Balance shoe, but after reading some positive comments about the Leadville 1210v2, I decided to test run it for myself and see what all the fuss was about. Here are my thoughts.  Promo Copy from New Balance: Now nothing has to stop you from going deeper into the woods or traveling faster on the trail. The Leadville 1210v2 running shoe is as tough as its namesake race, combining a responsive ride with durable traction. It’s the shoe high-mileage trail runners wished for, designed with input from ultra-runners. Stats & Construction:
My Take Appearance & Price My first impression of the Leadville 1210v2? Meh. I wasn’t jumping up and down with joy when I first saw the shoe in person. It looks a bit bulky. But I reminded myself not be hasty; we all know that looks can be deceiving. The shoe retails for $124.99, which is competitively priced for most trail running shoes, and you can find them online for as low as $90. Fit & Feel I normally wear a women’s size 9 in trail running shoes, but for this shoe I chose a wide width and got fitted for a size 8.5 instead. (Side note: Anytime you pick a wide toe box for a shoe, go down half a size.) Foot in the shoe, it feels ultra-light — nothing compared to my “first impression” of the way it looked. Not only does the shoe feel nimble, it feels soft and extremely flexible despite the cushion and stack height. I didn’t feel the 8mm heel to toe drop at all. I should point out here that I run in minimal shoes — zero to 4mm max heel to toe — so I’m very receptive to that drop and was hesitant before I test ran the 1210v2 because of its 8mm drop. Ride I’ve logged about 400 miles of pure trail in these shoes since I bought them, on terrain ranging from technical to rocky to muddy. I’ve used these shoes while training and liked them so much that I decided to run the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile race in them. Long story short: I ran the entire length of the 100-mile race in LT1210v2 without having to change the shoe, which is not “normal” for me. During almost all of my races I end up having to swap shoes at about 60 to 80 miles into the race because of blisters or issues with the toe box. Not here! The shoe did not require a break-in period; straight out of the box I was able to knock out 12 miles with no problem. The shoe has a soft feel, and despite the cushioning is extremely responsive to the rugged terrain. In fact, the extra cushion was a welcome feature as it kept my feet from getting banged up while running in the 100-mile ultra — less fatigue and great response to help with toe offset, minus the added weight. The shoe upper is lightweight and breathable, and I absolutely dig the gusseted tongue! I’ve run in multiple shoes from multiple brands, and the gusseted tongue is a huge feature in trail running shoes that gets neglected, in my opinion. It keeps the tongue from sliding and holds the shoelaces in place, and you can run debris-free on any uneven surface with loose rocks and roots. It’s the attention to little details like this that make for a smooth ride! The wide toe box is a lifesaver as it allows for foot expansion on long runs and keeps blisters from forming under your toenails while you’re bombing those downhills. The shoe has an aggressive lug that offers great traction on ascent and decent while running on multiple surfaces. The flex grove system on the forefoot allows the shoe to feel more pliable under foot rather than stiff and rugged. With this shoe you get full ground contact; not only does it offer stability, it feels great on your feet and is extremely responsive. Conclusion
I love these shoes! I would recommend the Leadville 1210v2 for anyone who is looking for that median between the minimal and maximum shoe movement. It’s a no-bullshit kind of shoe: not much for looks, but it will get the job done and your feet will love you for that. QUALITY: 5/5 COMFORT: 5/5 PRICE: 3/5 LOOKS: 2/5 TOTAL: 15/20 Author: Shalini Kovach is a trail junkie and ultra distance runner, forever in search of the perfect gear that will make life easy out in the wilderness. |
AuthorsOur blog writers are members of Terrain Trail Runners, local athletes just like you, who want to share their love and knowledge of the sport. Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed