Fresh kicks for spring

The birds are chirping, the ice is melting and the temperatures are rising – spring is here! Each day we get closer and closer to summer, and after a long winter of running on ice, salt and snow, it’s time to treat yourself with some new shoes. Here are four running shoes for spring:

Hoka One One Clifton 5 

• Shoe Category: Neutral
• Weight: 265 grams (men’s nine)
• Drop: 5mm
• Price: $170.00

Known in the running community for its cushioning and lightweight features, the Clifton is ideal for those looking for a durable shoe that offers comfort for their long runs but is light enough to race in. The latest edition of the Clifton keeps its famed midsole geometry and delivers cushioning you can feel. I would describe it as running on a cloud. What makes the Clifton 5 midsole so soft and responsive is the EVA foam and meta-rocker geometry. Continue Reading: The Hoka One One Clifton 5 Review

Saucony Kinvara 10

• Shoe Category: Neutral
• Weight: 190 grams
• Drop: 4 mm
• Cushion: Responsive
• Price: $110.00

The original Saucony Kinvara wasn’t the first shoe to be billed as a lightweight trainer, but to me, it was the shoe that truly revolutionized the category. It’s the perfect triathlon shoe – light enough and easy enough to turn over so you could run fast if needed, but also with enough support and cushioning to get you through a half- or full-distance run with ease. The latest version, the Kinvara 10, more than lives up to that reputation. Continue Reading: The Saucony Kinvara 10 Review

361 Degrees Meraki 2 

• Shoe Category: neutral cushioning
• Drop: 9 mm
• Weight: 250 grams (men’s), 225 grams (women’s)
• Price: $169.99

Meraki is Greek for the soul or creativity you put into a task – kind of like the soul you put into running and triathlon. In its second edition, the Meraki shoe retains its combination of cushioning and responsiveness provided by 361’s QU!KFOAM midsole material. For heel-strikers who like a lot of cushioning under the heel, the shoe has a 9 mm drop. The Meraki 2 keeps most of its defining features, including its thin tongue, molded heel counter and the outsole’s carbon fibre plate. Flex grooves in the forefoot outsole mimic the foot’s natural motion at toe-off, providing both traction and acceleration. Continue Reading: The 361 Meraki 2 Review

Nike Zoom Fly FK

• Shoe Category: Racing Flat
• Drop: 10 mm
• Weight: 235 grams
• Price: $215

The shoe combines the Flyknit upper that Nike wearers have come to love, with the durable React foam. On top of that, they slid in the full-length carbon-fibre plate found in the Zoom Vaporfly 4%.

On the track, the shoes still felt responsive despite the softer surface, and on the road, there was a noticeable amount of pop. This shoe wants to push you forward. I wouldn’t recommend this shoe on an easy day or recovery day, as this is not an all-around trainer. The Zoom Fly is designed to help you through your faster workouts. Continue Reading: The Nike Zoom Fly FK Review