Shoe Review: ALTRA Mont Blanc

                REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS AS IMPRESSIVE AS MONT BLANC ITSELF PREMIUM PREMIUM PREMIUM. The newest member of the Altra family, the Mont Blanc, has literally sold out everywhere with demand outrunning supply. But don’t worry. Altra has heard the call and is returning this month in August with plenty of new sets available. And just why has it been such a success? Well, I’ll tell you one thing. The Mont Blanc shoe is…

Shoe Review: ALTRA Lone Peak 6

                REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS SO I HEAR FROM HARDCORE ALTRA USERS that once you go Altra, you never ever go back. And quite frankly, after putting on a pair of these babies in the form of Lone Peak 6, I can absolutely understand and attest to the fandom that comes with having them. Firstly, I’m just going to say that the zero drop on these is unbelievable. For someone who usually runs in…

Shoe Review: BROOKS Cascadia 16

                REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS THE BROOKS CASCADIA SHOE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME NOW, and the newest version, the Cascadia 16, has gone through several changes and updates that make it more durable and stable than its predecessors. Known throughout its lineage for adventure versatility, Brooks have increased the stack height by 2mm in the Cascadia 16 to accommodate the new foamy midsole which features DNA Loft v2 technology for a more plush feel…

Now’s a good time to buy: Pillar Performance Micronutrition

REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS SPORTS NUTRITION IS A BIT OF A PERSONAL THING. Whether you consider yourself a professional athlete or not, most humans need a little bit of help when it comes to vitamins and minerals – aka micronutrients. Crucial for a variety of activities in the body, including turning food into energy and keeping your joints stable, you may find it interesting to note that there are some which can affect how well you perform on the trails. Let’s face…

Shoe Review: VECTIVE Enduris by The North Face

              REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS FOR ANYONE WANTING A SUPER CUSHY RIDE along the trails, the VECTIV Enduris by The North Face will be your go-to shoe in amongst your collection of runners piling up in your closet. Personally, my trail shoes were long overdue for replacement, so when I laced up this plush pair of marshmallows to my feet, I felt like I had a spring in my step before I even got out…

Review: Coros Vertix 2 Watch

            REVIEWER: KARL FORCEY One hundred and forty hours. I’m an electronics geek when I’m not out running, and I know how these things work, but still. One hundred and forty hours of battery. One-second GPS. In a watch. That is just incredible. The new VERTIX 2 is an absolute beast of an adventure sports watch with some amazing new features, and we’re about to get into all of them – and whether this new…

Shoe Review: On Cloudultra

              REVIEWER: KARL FORCEY Ultra cushioned, ultra comfortable, ultra versatile. So says the marketing tag from Swiss company On Running about their new max-cushioned, long-day-out trail shoe, the Cloudultra. Sounds promising, right? I thought so, too, and was happy to give these a trial. Do they deliver? Let’s find out. All shoes from On Running have one thing in common: the distinctive Cloudtec sole. This gives the shoes not only a unique appearance, but…

Review: Coros APEX and APEX Pro

              REVIEWER: KARL FORCEY OK, so the APEX Pro has just turned one, and the original APEX is three years old now. Hardly a new release, so why are we reviewing them? Well, firstly because for some reason we here at Trail Run Mag haven’t had a chance to write about the APEX yet. And secondly, it sets the scene for the awesome new release from COROS that I will be reviewing in depth…

SHOE REVIEW: LA SPORTIVA HELIOS III

REVIEW BY KARL FORCEY Someone once advised me that you should never race in a new pair of shoes. Wise words, but to hell with that! My La Sportiva Helios IIIs arrived the day before a night-time 21km race in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, which included the notorious “Dungeon”. It was too good an opportunity not to put these shoes through the wringer! La Sportiva is an Italian brand that started way back in 1928. They originally made hand-crafted wooden…

GEAR REVIEW: RONHILL PIONEER 8L VEST

  REVIEWER: LAUREN FORCEY Good value, durable, comfortable and lots of pockets – all things you want in a running vest! The Ronhill Pioneer 8L Vest ticks all these boxes and more. Soft yet robust, this is a versatile pack that will be your go-to for commute runs, day hikes, trail runs and ultras of 50km to 100km. Firstly, I was surprised at how comfortable the overall feel and fit of this vest was. I typically have a lot of…