REVIEWER: ABDUL-RAOUF MOHAMED-ISA IMAGE: SUZANNE POLI THE ‘OOH LA LA’ AKASHA II CREATED WITH A FOCUS ON ENDURANCE, the La Sportiva Akasha II fits snug, but not too tightly around the forefoot. It’s a high cushioned shoe built specifically for longer runs on technical terrain, with its aggressive tread providing great traction and its ability to work at its best in wet and muddy conditions. In saying that, I found them less…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
REVIEWER: KARL FORCEY The Lone Peak is now 10 years old (the same as this magazine!), and it has come a long way in that time. Previous models have been reviewed on these pages before, and this shoe still has a legion of loyal fans. It is Altra’s flagship trail shoe, mid weight and tough as nails. But does this latest iteration, the Lone Peak 5, still deliver the goods? I took them out to see for myself. Before lacing…
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…
