Review: Advanced Skin3 12-set

TRM Assoc. Editor, Tegyn Angel reviews Salomon’s Advanced Skin3 12-set.  It was around 2013/14, Ultra168 had just reviewed the Salomon XT Advanced Skin S-Lab 12 Set Hydration Pack, still possibly the longest product name in trail running history.  I’d pre-ordered the first Suunto Ambit, and now this piece of incredible goodness was about to do away with my CamelBak M.U.L.E. for good. A pack shaped like a vest! Of course, body hugging, bounce-free, gear-carrying glory, and just in time for The…

REVIEW: Suunto Spart Sport Wrist Heart Rate

TRM Associate Editor,Tegyn Angel, reviews – finally – the latest from Suunto, the Spartan Sport with Wrist (aka Optical) Heart Rate. So why did it take so long…? This is the hardest review I’ve ever had to write.  To my chagrin it’s taken a lot longer than I think is fair to Suunto (who provided the watch for this review) and for that, I apologise. I started writing this review on the flight from Melbourne to Ultra-Trail Australia, a full two months…

Trail shoe review: Saucony Peregrine 7

trail shoe review – Saucony Peregrine 7

Trail shoe review: Brooks Caldera

Caldera Crushers: Minimalism is dead? We’re unsure – maybe it’s still on life support waiting for its own next big breath of fresh air (although read If These Shoes Could Talk, final page of ED#22 Trail Run Mag printed edition, and you might argue otherwise). Regardless, the big boys in trail shoe land are certainly putting the max factor back on the table following the tidal wave of fat-bottoms that Hoka had gumption to float into the market with. And – especially…

Gear review: Patagonia Houdini Jacket

Grant Guise is bit of a gear expert – as an elite trail runner, he has professionally banged gear along trails and up mountains for years – he knows his stuff. And he was intrigued enough by murmurs of Patagonia beefing up its trail running presence Down Under. Here he gives the lowdown on the Patagonia Houdini jacket along with a brief four-one-one on just what the hell is the point of a wind shell anyway… (RUN IMAGES: Brook van…

Stryd Footpod – early review

Gear guru, Paul Day, is lucky enough to get his hands (and feet) on a bunch of run technology well ahead of the retail curve. We’re lucky enough to be able to get eyes on – and permission to publish – his insights, here investigating the latest (maybe greatest?) Stryd Footpod, where it’s all about measuring and reacting to your instant power output, more so than being dictated by your heart rate (which is kind of a horse has bolted indicator)….

Review: new Suunto Spartan Ultra

When it comes to gear releases, trail running has come a long way – the anticipation surrounding the new Suunto Spartan Ultra GPS watch has been speculatively spectacular. The murmurs. The guesses. The pre-judgements. It’s the trail equivalent to the release of a new Apple Mac. The trainspotters and tech geeks go a bit manic. They wee themselves a little. Luckily we have access to our own ‘Q’ (hello Bond fans) when it comes to inspecting the intricacies of space-aged boxes…

Trail shoe review: Adidas Terrex Agravic

Aggravated Assault First up: what the hell is the use of a pretty darn good trail shoe if it’s hard to come by, try and buy? Worse still, if you don’t even know that it’s in the market? When it comes to the Adidas Terrex Agravic I didn’t, until I walked into Run Stop Shop in Melbourne. And my eyes lit up. Spoiler alert: it’s a top end performer. But who knew? So when I tell you it’s a contender,…

Review: shock therapy with Compex SP8.0

If you follow the racing and social media exploits of any of our elite trail athletes, you may have noticed the random growth of strange white discs on their wearied post-race legs, as seen on a myriad of athlete Instagram and Facebook posts. What you’re seeing is the application of electro muscular stimulation (EMS), a new wave of self-applied treatment using old (but updated) technology that promises  to refresh your legs quicker than Kilian can knock off a suburban Park Run…

Review: Salomon S-Lab Sense 4 Ultra SG

IT’S A CLICHÉ TERM: FITS LIKE A GLOVE. USUALLY TAKEN AS A POSITIVE DESCRIPTOR, IT’S APTLY APPLIED TO THE SALOMON S-LAB SENSE ULTRA SG. THESE RACY NUMBERS CUDDLE YOUR FOOT, LIKE A FULL BODY CONTACT SPOONING SESSION FOR YOUR FEET. I MENTION THIS UP FRONT BECAUSE IT’S THE FIRST ‘FEELING’ YOU GET PUTTING THEM ON – A NOTICEABLE ‘WOW’ FACTOR OF SILKY, FORM-FITTING COMFORT. [the following review first appeared in Edition #21 of Trail Run Mag. Download now at www.trailrunmag.com/magazines] The…