After Christmas I acquired quite a bit of new gear thanks to the generous people in my family:) I plan on writing a review for each item because I find reading reviews helpful when I’m about to make a purchase. Hopefully you’ll find my reviews helpful too. Let’s start with the big one: SHOES!
I’ve always been and Asics girl, but since Asics screwed up issued a new version of the Speedstar I’ve had to find another shoe. The Speedstar 5 just didn’t work for me: slipped in the heel, loose in the midfoot (no matter how tight I tied the laces) and just generally felt sloppy. And it was pretty freaking ugly too.
I guess I’ve been in a bit of Shoe-Limbo: that weird transition period where you can’t wear the shoes you’ve become comfortable with and have to find a new one. Yeah. That lovely place.
So I made my way to my local running store, Runner’s Alley in Portsmouth, NH to browse the shoes. I fully expected to leave the store with the Saucony Kinvara 3. I’ve been wearing the Kinvara 2 since May 2012 and have been pleased with the fit and ride, but not with the way it has broken down so quickly. I know that it is a lower-mile shoe, but the upper ripped not too long after I got them. Despite these issues I still liked the shoe enough to get another pair. But when I tried on the Kinvara 3 I wasn’t pleased. The footbed felt hard and stiff. I set them aside.
One of the gals at the store recommended trying something from the Brooks Pure line. I’ve never worn Brooks before, but since I’m in Shoe-Limbo I was willing to try anything. I tried the Brooks Pure Connect and immediately my feet felt like they were “home.” I loved the snugness of the fit which didn’t require super tight lacing to achieve. I like my shoes to feel snug on my feet and in the past I’ve had to tie my laces really tight to achieve this, often times too tight and I wind up having to stop on my run to loosen them up. I was pleased that I didn’t have to cinch up the laces on the Connects, the felt snug without being too tight.
I liked the fit of the heel. Very snug. No slipping.
When I first tried on the shoes it felt as if they had a negative heel, almost like an Earth Shoe (if you’ve ever tried a pair of those on). The Connects have a 4mm drop; I think the sensation of the negative drop comes from the snuggness of the insert at the arch. Once I started running though this sensation of a negative heel disappeared. The shoes felt very responsive when I stood and walked in them, the sole was flexible and nicely cushioned.
The sole is incredibly flexible and has a nice cushioned feel without the bulk of a traditional cushioned/neutral shoe.
When I took them for a test run they were everything I’d felt in the store: flexible, cushioned, snug. They felt light and fast too. I decided to get them, thinking that the Brooks Pure Connect would be my shoes for shorter distance training runs (13 miles and under), speed work and races. So far they have been a great buy and I am so pleased.
I walked into the store with my nails painted this color and walked out of the store with matching gear…totally not planned. (I’ll be reviewing my Garmin 10 soon.
I also wanted to find a shoe that I could wear for longer distances and for marathons, since I’m relatively new to running in minimal shoes for longer distances. I thought I might find that in the Asics Gel Lyte 33, a 6mm drop neutral shoe with more of traditional shoe construction it’s not billed as a “minimalist” shoe, as are the shoes in the Brooks Pure line. So I ordered a pair of those from RunningWarehouse.com.
Always exciting to get new gear in the mail. I loved the color of the Asics immediately.
When they came in the mail I was super excited about the colors. Typically I can wear Asics straight out of the box with now “breaking in period.” And I always wear the same size, but when I tried the Asics Gel Liter on I had this sinking feeling that they weren’t going to work. The plastic upper was incredibly stiff and I had to cinch up the laces for them to feel snug. And even after I had done so, there was this strange sensation in the arch: a tight pinching towards the outside edge of both shoes, as if the arch was positioned incorrectly on my foot.
The yellow upper was really stiff. The heel was not snug, notice it has no contour at all, pretty much vertical.
I re-laced the shoes hoping that would make difference and it did slightly, so I took them for a test run on my treadmill. I made it about a half mile and stopped. The heel was slipping slightly on my left foot (in addition to the stiff feeling and the pinching in the arch). I stopped, took out the inserts and tried the shoes on with my Kinvara inserts. This solved the arch issue (slightly) but didn’t affect the heel slippage or the stiffness. So they went back into the box. I don’t think I’ll be returning to Asics anytime soon. They seem to have changed the heel shape (verticle with little contour) on the most recent models I have tried on and it just isn’t working for my foot.
I’m really like my Brooks Pure Connects and think I’ll be exploring other shoes in the Brooks Pure line, possibly the Flow. I’ve also had my eye on the Mach 14 spikeless track shoe for track this spring. It is also possible that the Connects could be my distance shoe and I might switch to the T7 Racer as my speedwork and race shoe. Whatever I choose it’s nice to know that I’ve finally found a shoe that is “mine” again.
What shoes do your feet feel “at home” in?
Do you prefer trying shoes on in a store or do you order from the internet?
–Sarah
I was not compensated in anyway for the views expressed in this post. The opinions I share in this review are my own.
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Sarah – great to hear the Connects we’re a good match! For a distance shoe you might also check out the Brooks Cadence in addition to the Flow. I have the Cadence 2 and like it a lot, they bill it as a stability shoe but doesn’t feel a whole lot different than the Flow to me. For something a bit different with a cushy sole the Skechers GoRun 2 is also worth a look.
I’ve been looking at the Sketchers Go run and bionic. I like the price point too. I’ve always found your blog and reviews very helpful, I’m constantly sending people to your site when they ask me for shoe advice.
I love Brooks! I’ve always been a Brooks gal
Since I haven’t done much running for the past year (has it REALLY been that long?!?), I haven’t had to worry about running down my shoes. BUT- before I got pregnant, I had wanted to try a more minimalist shoe- I think once I’m back in the running swing I’ll have to try out the Connects!!!
I have been a Kinvara lover for over a year now, but the Kinvara 3′s just don’t work for me, so I keep scrounging for 2′s where ever I can find them. Every once in a while a discount store in the area and I buy them out of my size.
Because the sole on the Kinvara wear out fast I tried the Brooks Pure Flow’s (never worn brooks before , but the salesman suggested and I went with it) and so far I love them. We have some sketchy wintry roads around here, so I’ve only worn them on the treadmill, but so far the feel great
I didn’t have a chance to try the flow or cadence cause the store was out if them in my size, but if they are anything like the connects they’ll be a good fit.
Yay for the Brooks PureProject line. And I LOVE your color coordination with your nail polish. So run chic!
I’ve been running in the Pure Cadence for a year and love them. Happy running!
Thanks! The nail color coordination was totally unplanned, but I guess it proves it was meant to be!! Haha! And congrats on your Brooks news! So cool!
The PureConnect is my FAVORITE racer for races under an hour. Love them!!! Can’t wait to try out a pair of Connect2′s in competition. They are the best fit for my foot I have found.
Great review!
Thanks! I’m looking forward to testing them in my first post-baby race this Sunday!
Okay, you helped me to make my sneaker decision. I’ve been holding off on buying new ones, because I haven’t been happy with all the ones I’ve tried on, and I haven’t made it to Runners Alley… But after your post, I looked up the Brooks Pure line, and found some on Amazon, for $55… So I’m going to be trying out the PureFlow (they didn’t have the PureConnect in my size…) Both sneakers have GREAT reviews on every website I looked on. Do you find that they run small? Almost everyone wrote that the Connect ran about half a size small… but most of the reviews on the Flow said it was true to size. So we’ll see when I get them in
Thank you for your awesome review! Good luck in your race on Sunday, I can’t wait to hear about it!
I got my Connects (and really all running shoes) in a size 10, which is a half size bigger than what I wear in any other shoe. Most places will allow you to return if even if you take them for a test run on a treadmill (but not outside).
I found my shoes when I was in a shoe-limbo too and went with a brand I hadn’t tried before. I tried on about 20 pair before deciding though. I like the prices of online shopping, but like to go to a store to try them on first
Love the color matching!
I agree about prices online, get are hard to beat. If I’m ordering the same or similar shoe I’ll go with an online retailer, but for trying new ones I like I do it in the store.
Have you tried the Saucony Mirage? They are a step up from the Kinvara in terms of less minimal but I love them. They’ve been my sneaks for three years now.
Sarah-
You have expressed my sentiments exactly regarding the pure connect 1—it feels like it was made for me. Unfortunately, the pure connect 2 was redesigned and doesn’t work for me at all!!! What did u but after the pure connect 1? I just got some saucony fast twich and am undecided. Would live your suggestions!
Thanks,
Jamie
I got the saucony fastwitch and the kinvara. Like them both a lot! They work better for me than the connects.
I love my Connects! …but like you, I’m a little afraid to work too many miles in them. Sounds like you were considering it. How’d that work out for you? Newton “Gravity” has been recommended for me. Don’t suppose you have an opinion there?
Thanks!
I tried the connects and put about 35 miles on the shoes before I decided they weren’t for me. Too cushioned/wobbly. Ie since switched to the saucony fastwitch and like it very much!