RUNssel

Kategorie: review (Seite 3 von 3)

Februar 26, 2014 / Keine Kommentare

#shoeporn: Ecco Biom Ultra GTX

Since 1963 Karl Toosbuy’s company creates shoes. Somewhere in Denmark he began to craft unique footwear. Still they are the only major shoe company to own and operate their own production and retail facilities. Only in the last couple of years Karl’s business went into the creation of running shoes. However the collection is still fairly little, Toosbuy’s people entered the trail running market just a while ago. Now they further increased their line with a fresh model – The Biom Ultra.

Ecco’s Biom Running shoes have a pretty distinctive look. All their current models do stick out of the competition. The simple and clean style is something that Ecco is easily recognized for. And with the Biom Ultra they keep this pretty straightforward. I receive a test model and I’m instantly stunned by the quality of the shoe. The typical Ecco craftsmanship is obvious. The sewing, the material, the sleeves… all well finished and manufactured. This feels special and finishes the high-class look.

Ecco’s Lead Designer, “Bartie” Bikowski, authoritatively declares: “By pushing the core elements of our BIOM NATURAL MOTION system — flexibility, low-to-the-ground design, anatomical fit and biomechanical support — we have created a one-of-a-kind trail running experience. This is how it should feel to run in nature.” Ecco also states that they designed this shoes “…as our dream trail shoe”. This is unquestionably somewhat to look forward to. So how do Danish people think their fundamental off-road jogging shoe would be like? I’m ready to find out.

I lace them up and head out. As I look at the watch to find out that I’m out the door for 5 minutes it starts to drizzle and eventually it is raining. German winters do pay off but perfect weather for the Biom Ultra I tell to myself. The Gore-Tex-Membrane is one of the key characters of this piece. There is also a cheaper version available that comes without the waterproof material. The first muddy trail is just about to start. Rain has previously slogged the earth the last couple of days and weeks. A clean shoe does not longer exist as I cross around the trees and through the mud and puddles.

The first experience is not really tremendous. This one has enough cushions but a bit too much for my likes. For my style of running it does not really feel dynamic to run with this shoe. Grip is certainly there with the well-constructed sole and brilliant outsole but I cannot get the movement out of these kicks. On one of my favorite downhill parts I do not feel comfortable and lack the feel for the ground.

While the midsole is pretty adaptable it does not help me to support my usual stride. Ecco states that an anatomical fit but my feet do not really fit in. I feel to high up and not comfortable with the ambiance. Not connected enough and therefore not relaxed. It could be the support that the midsole provides that I’m not used to or the weight (330 grams) that would be a bit too much for my likes.

The Biom Ultra is undeniably a well-made shoe for longer distance racing and training. For my likes it misses the energetic feel and the effortlessness that a typical running shoe should offer. The more I run in this shoe the better I feel. As stated above the quality of the shoe is great. The inner sole and the tongue are in a good shape. I continue testing the shoe and get more pleased. Maybe I’m not used to that kind of shoe or maybe it is simply “too much shoe” for my likes.

I never ran in the Racer or Trainer Biom models that Ecco offers, but I guess the more minimal attitude with these shoes can be joined in a more dynamic and minimal trail shoe. While the Gore-Tex outer functioned incredibly well and also the heel part of the Ultra is pretty impressive, the overall feel is something that can be further enhanced. I can see potential in the Ultra. Currently I think it is something between a hiking and a running shoe. Toosbuy and crew know how to make shoes so I guess they will come back with a real dream trail shoe.

Tunes of the day: Chefket – Keine Angst (DEXTER RMX) / Afrob – Immer weiter

Februar 15, 2014 / 6 Kommentare

#shoeporn: Haglöfs Gram XC

Swedish outdoor enterprise Haglöfs is not really a trademark you would associate with foot gear. Since a couple of years they build some pretty nice alpine and hiking shoes besides their key range of clothing. Recently they paired up with Japanese footwear powerhouse Asics to please the booming trail running market. The distinguishing presence of their main model Gram XC is nothing to oversee. This shoe is red. Just red. Funky.

Appearance is a lot for me when it comes to running shoes. If I don’t like the look of a shoe I would not really use it. Indubitably taste is something that is interpreted in a lot of special ways. For me this shoe looks good. I like the shape of the shoe and the little gimmicks that come with it. It is well build and pleases the eye with its individual monochrome design. Something new in a very special way.

It is raining and storming when I lace up the Gram XC to go out in the forest for a test ride. The first couple of kilometers lead me past the local farm roads and through grass tracks. The shoe feels solid on tarmac. Sometimes trail soles feels awkward running on normal, even ground. This one is a bit unalike. The lightness of the shoe is a main feature according to the product information. Yes, the shoe is light but not any different to comparable models. It feels good and for a shoe with this amount of cushion it certainly is not heavy.

Just when I take a sharp turn into a soaky grass trail I get to feel a nice feature this shoe has to offer. The grip is pretty awesome for a sole of that style. A very sweet foam mixture of the sole and the shape makes it nice to move aggressively in corners and on technical trails. A very responsive feeling is something you really appreciate with this shoe. I continued on some slippy trails through the local forest. Hurdled some trees and cruised along rock sections that generally make a road running shoe scream. Not so the Gram XC. Very straightforward performance by this guy.

I continue to wonder about the flexibility of the Gram XC and certainly feel that this shoe obviously does have a Rock Protection in the AHAR (Asics High Abrasion Resistance) sole, as I land on some sharp gravels. The Asics Gel system nevertheless works nice and for a forefoot runner like me the cushioning is well placed in that shoe. As always I could do with a bit less plastic on the back. After running the shoe for a couple of weeks now I have to say that the sole material looks pretty “run down” at some parts. Something that other shoes in my rack don’t.

As you will see the pictures the Gram XC has some mesh covering the lacking. They say it is a ‘lace pocket’. I could not really fit the laces in there, as it is cut way to short and rigid. I tried it twice but lost the interest in that feature pretty fast. Other then this feature it is a nice protection against rocks and sand. Not so against water and rain. I found the shoe to get soaked pretty fast. Even with light rain and misty trails. The lacing system does come across a bit thin but feels good and holds the feet in a secure position. Also the cut of the shoe in the back gives a nice and secure feeling and all kind of undergrounds.

So did I like this shoe? I certainly did. Despite being a shoe designed for trails and off-road running the Gram XC pleased me on all king of terrains and weather conditions. It is a nice and well build all-day training shoe. For me the highlight is the sole and the way it supports you and keeps you on track. I’m exited to see what Haglöfs has on offer for the next round of trail running models. The start was ok. Lets see what the future holds.

Tune of the day: Talib Kweli – State Of Grace

Februar 9, 2014 / Keine Kommentare

Assessment Centre

Shoes
Brooks – Ghost 6
Brooks – PureGrit 2
Brooks – PureDrift
Brooks – Adrenaline ASR 10
Brooks – PureConnect
Brooks – T7 Racer
Ecco – Biom Ultra GTX
Haglöfs – Gram XC
Haglöfs L.I.M Low
Haglöfs – Gram Comp II
Altra – Adam
Adidas – Adizero Adios Boost
Salomon S-LAB Sense Ultra
Skechers – Go Run 2
Skechers – GoRun 4
Dynafit – MS Feline Superlight  
Dynafit – Feline SL
La Sportiva – Anakonda
Nike – Streak XC 3
Scarpa – Minima
Mizuno – Wave Catalyst
Mizuno – Wave Rider 19
Mizuno – Wave Kazan 2
Hoka One One – Vanquish 2
Hoka One One – Speedgoat
Hoka One One – Clifton 2
Hoka One One – Huaka
Merrell – All Out Crush Light
Merrell – All Out Charge
Merrell – Bare Access 4
Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 3
2016 Running Shoe Highlights
New Balance – 1600V2 Spikeless

Gear
Anton Krupicka Signature Collection Short and Vest + Headband
Philips SHQ3200
Jabra Sport Wireless+ Bluetooth Headset
Oakley Frogskins
yurbuds Ironman Inspire Pro
GoPro Hero3
Limar Ultralight+ Road
Ass Savers
SKINS – A200 Compression Long Tights
Haglöfs – Essens III Hooded Down Jacket
My Tour du Mont Blanc gear
Bellroy – Elements Sleeve
Thoni Mara
Norrøna – fjørå flex1 Shorts and aero100 Jacket
Norröna – Bitihorn dri1 jacket
New Balance – Ultra Hooded Jacket

Books
Steve Chilton – It’s a hill, get over it!
Sean Kelly – Hunger
Paul Kimmage – Rough Ride
Charlie Spedding – From last to first
It’s the limit (Fanzine)

SwimRun Wetsuits
Zone3 Evolution SwimRun wetsuit

Januar 31, 2014 / 2 Kommentare

Jabra Sport Wireless+ Bluetooth Headset Review

Earphones without a cable? Well, that is certainly interesting. Bluetooth apparently is the connector between your device and the pieces in your earhole. Jabra, equal with Bluetooth expertise, designs numerous earpieces for all instances. They came up with this behind-the-ear shape piece for sport a while ago and just released an update, which I was able to exam throughout training.

Several of my runs I do with headphones, as I like to listen to podcasts or radio. On easy runs it is the best entertainment and a good time to listen to noteworthy shows and interviews. Since I run I use headphones. Usually I find it hard to find the real pair. I tried heaps and never was 100% on the fit. Currently the fit is more essential for me then the sound. Nothing is more frustrating then correcting the earphones while jogging.

A massive problem with the earpieces is the cable. Nowadays when you need to wear some layer to cover yourself against rain and the cold the movement of the cords tend to pull out the plugs. When I received the Jabra headset this was my first concern that got off the table. When I saw the pack with seven different pairs of ear gels I was pretty stoked. Fixing these things in the ears should be possible. Yet I wanted to go out without any of those additional plugs. I craved for the run and I just took the pre-installed peace. I took my time to adjust the earpieces around the ear. Stopped after some minutes to slightly rearrange and that was it. Now that I know how to put them on, they never fall out. And after a test phase of a couple of weeks they never did. No matter if I run trails or if use them on the mountain bike – Rock solid without being annoying or unpleasant.

The play button as well as the volume control can be found on the right ear bud. Once used to the buttons and the menu that is very easy to understand you will enjoy the control of your synced device pretty easy. What sounds delicate and complicated (…pressing some buttons behind your ear) is a task that can be done with light gloves and also through light headwear. To control the sync process and to change FM stations is stress-free. The rubbery material provides a good, controlled feeling and makes is an exercise-friendly headset.

Apparently these bits offer “military grade resistance” against dust and rain and whatnot. I ran them heavily throughout rain and took them through pretty soaky mountainbike spins. No problem there. The military seems to be right. The whole piece feels pretty durable and long-lasting. The mini-USB (to charge the battery) entrance is placed nicely and the cover solution is pretty well thought out. The radio antenna sits in the earpiece and provides OK coverage. Do not expect too much. Once I entered the forest it got a bit doggy sometimes.

I synced the headset with an Iphone 5, an iPad, a Samsung Galaxy S4 as well as with my car. I do not need my phone while I run but I wanted to try the microphone that is in the left earpiece. The connection to all mediums was easy and fast. Talking on the phone was good but I never tried it while running. I don’t believe in this anyway.

Lets talk sound now. Not the very best to be exact. I expected a bit more power and better sound characteristic. As everything on those headphones is high quality you also want to have a decent bass and well as a composed sound nature. In my option the excellence of the sound is not really there. It’s a bit muffled and does not have the pressure I would like to get even from such a small headphone. As you probably got from the text so far, I really do like the Jabra Sport Wireless Plus for the extremely good fit and the superb usage. The sound is a minus. Not a major one but definitely something that can be amended for the next update. If that can be sorted out these pieces are hard to beat.

Battery & Power

Talk Time: Up to 4 hours
Talk Time is the maximum time you can talk before a device runs out of power
Standby Time: Up to 120 hour(s)
Standby Time is the maximum time a device can remain powered on

Connectivity

Wireless Technology: Bluetooth
Supports Bluetooth™ for wireless connectivity
Bluetooth version: 3.0
Supports Bluetooth® version 3.0
AVRCP: Yes
You can control your music from this device when it’s streaming from another device, such as your mobile phone
Music Streaming: Yes
Device can stream music from a source, such as a Smartphone, Bluetooth enabled laptop, tablet, or MP3 player

Tune of the day: Samy Deluxe feat. Die Fantastischen Vier – Halt dich gut fest

Januar 23, 2014 / Keine Kommentare

Hunger

The most successful Irish sportsmen ever was never a man of many words. Sean Kelly’s skill was to ride bicycles. Triumphs were his speech.

In a time were people transcribe autobiographies in their early twenties, Kelly took his time. He retired from professional cycling in 1994 and just now released his book.

The man from Carrick-on-Suir in South Tipperary, Ireland is know for his introversion and for him to open up in a book seems to be a slight spectacle. The 70s and 80s cycling area charms me and since I appreciate the classics and the era that surrounds those races, I have appreciated Kelly.

For me the most fascinating part was reading about his childhood and training in Ireland. I passed through Kelly’s hometown several times when I was living on the isle and I was always intrigued by his aura. Having met him once all my pre-made up clichés and expectations seemed to be true.

The man who took seven straight wins at the Paris-Nice, just to name my personal highlight, delivered a book that is entertaining and not self-promoting. Insight into cycling’s heartland, several team mangers and mates and agreements that were “made on the road”. Don’t expect a book that debates about “juice” and what happened in the hotel rooms. As Kelly states: “I’m not a great one for reflecting or reminiscing”. Give him that and enjoy a book that’s talking and delivering the beauty of road cycling.

Skip the A-slaves and get this book directly @ pelotonpublishing.co.uk

Dezember 16, 2013 / Keine Kommentare

Slipping. Stumbling. Skating!

In the hunt for some powder and plenty of leisure skating miles, I drove down south to the town of Oberstdorf. Remarkable weather matching the snow and a satisfactory amount of slopes are serving the starvation for some long anticipated cross exercise.

Stay tuned for more pics and Nordic Skating awesomeness.

Tune of the day: I’m totally into David Hasert’s stuff theses days. Go and check his soundcloud!

Strava / Instagram

Dezember 12, 2013 / Keine Kommentare

#shoeporn: Salomon S-LAB Sense Ultra

Dezember 9, 2013 / Keine Kommentare

#shoeporn: Brooks – Adrenaline ASR 10

It is not an easygoing mission to find the accurate shoe for this kind of damp and rainy climate. You never really know what to expect when you go out for a run these days in the middle of Europe. The day-to-day training bounces amongst dull roads, misty forest paths, muddy farm-tracks and your splashed home-grown single trail.

Most of the time I’m just so impatient to go out running that I simply do not want to think about the shoe I’m going to wear. Unquestionably in summer it does not really matter what you wear. The difficulties and undergrounds do not ask for to much during daily exercise. Suddenly in wintertime this changes. Not only to the best.

So when you jog along in the early morning or evenings you need some comrade out there. You need somebody who can do it all. Someone who is an “a jack of all trades”. Just call it an “a jack of all tracks” – the polymath of running. Let’s call it: Adrenaline ASR 10

It is not the first time I run this shoe and it surely wont be the last. In this kind of season he is man. The Adrenaline comes with a humble but efficient and well positioned „MoGo“- cushion that still give you enough sensation for the environment your leaping past. Together with the new outside that features the well-known Gore- Tex Membrane nothing really speaks against this shoe.

With the 10th version Brooks still opted the game for this role-model that set the standard. Merged with this new ADR sole. Well, they created a true polymath for daily running training.

November 25, 2013 / Keine Kommentare

#shoeporn: Dynafit – MS Feline Superlight  

Dynafit is not a brand you unmistakably associate with running. Dynafit’s home-base are the alps. Since the 1950 the Austrian firm devoted all their drive into proper ski equipment. Today they are still going strong with constant development and a quality range of ski touring and mountaineering equipment. In 2012 they also learned that there is a summer season. Their mountain knowledge got bundled into a small but fine trail running range. The highlight of this range is clearly the Feline. I’m not sure if the shoe is named after the 1983 The Stranglers studio album but it certainly has the funk…

Lets get started with the optical appearance. Style is everything they say. I’m not the biggest fan of the look. The Feline glances a bit gawky and not really dynamic. The massive sole and the huge upper make the shoe look weighty and slowish. Maybe I’m too used to “normal” looking models and I need more time with this one but the look definitely calls for underestimation in my eyes.

There are numerous nice features, which makes this shoe distinct and attention-grabbing. Just when you lace her up funky “Pull before flight” backstrap demands a reckless off-piste jog. Seeing the snow leopard at the front is like the figurehead of a combat ship.

Once you pick up the shoe the compact look changes into incredible lightness. The mere of 270 gramm of this piece positively surprised me. Also the very stiff and solid image changed all of a sudden and puts a smile in my face. I get changed and head out for a run. I want to feel the lightness first hand. Or lets say, first feet I guess. Whatsoever.

I love running in new shoes. And I dislike being saddened by one. In this case the Feline made me pretty content. As the rain got lighter I hit the local vineyards in the pursue for a precipitous and slippery uphill section. Running on the road the shoe feels good. Not remarkable but that is clearly not the setting this piece of equipment needs to be run in. For a shoe of this grace the sole technology seems to me pretty extraordinary. A proper cushion, which I usually experienced in way heavier shoes, combined with a pretty stable structure seems to be the real deal here. Clearly the massive Vibram sole is the attention grabber from a visual point of view. Where I lack the understatement from the visual side, I truly enjoy the performance from the running side of things.

As I travel past some drainy and soaky paths I hit the first rocky part of my little test loop. Occasionally when I take a new shoe for a rendezvous I’m anxious what this first part will be like. Especially a light shoe like this could potentially cause some difficulties. Nonetheless I look forward as I’m wondering that now water is entering this shoe. I just underestimated a puddle. My socks are still dry. This upper mesh protection thingy works, happy with that so.

The first gaits on the rocky part are amazing. What can I say? The traction on wet and spikey rocks is insane. Insane in a way that you feel the ground but in a positive way. The traction is there and the feeling for the underground stays real all the time. I jog on and the shoe makes me care less and less about the underground. I have to jump over a tree and head on to a less rocky trail that’s winding beside the small river. The sandy and muddy terrain is like running on the road compared to the rocks I was facing earlier on. The shoe and I get the chill and I’m already looking forward to a leafy downhill I haven’t run for a long time.

The forest footpath continues and the shoe keeps me on track. Sometimes I feel that the sole is a bit too high for me. Clearly this piece is not a minimal runner but the high sole makes me feel to far away from the ground. This should change after running more often.

Just a couple of meters ahead the downhill starts. Recently I tackled it with the mountain bike and I know that this is undoubtedly the most challenging time of the year to go down there. Perfect for a test so. I try to increase the speed and give it everything on the decent. The Feline seems to be pretty happy with what he faces. All sorts of twits and underground he faces during this downhill seem to be a task he can accomplish. The profile combined with the good and solid rubber does have an answer. Boxed ticked.

It starts back drizzling when I leave the forest. The puddles along the road fill up with more water and I try to wash off the dirt from the shoe as I drag him through every pond that’s available. Usually this ends pretty early as the socks get to wet. Today I’m amazed that even the last puddle gets a proper check from the Feline. When I stop in front of the house the shoe is clean. So are my socks. The rest of the equipment isn’t. Great run. Great shoe.

Tune of the day: Misanthrop – Deadlock

Kategorie: review (Seite 3 von 3)

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