Article by Markus Zinkl  Sambob Octa Hoodie ($140) Introduction The Sambob.biz Octa Hoodie is a product of a journey that began in 2021 in Logan, Utah. What started as a Covid hobby for Sam Roberts, a wildlife biologist and passionate backpacker, quickly turned into a thriving business.  Sam, who spent a significant amount of his work and leisure time outdoors, was always on the hunt for the ideal mid-layer. This led him to learn sewing in late 2020, and he immediately began crafting fleece tops. As his creations started to gain traction, first among friends and family, and t ..read more

Article by Markus Zinkl Durston Gear X-Mid Pro 1 Tent ($654.00) Introduction Durston Gear updated their vastly popular X-Mid 1 Pro tent for 2024. The Pro version was already an ultralight version of the normal X-Mid 1. Especially the now available DCF Floor version is now eveon more ultralight. So happy days for the ultralight hiking and fastpacking crowd. The 2024 X-Mid Pro 1 is now available in two versions. One with a 15D Sil/PEU nylon floor and one with a custom DCF floor. In this review I will compare the 2023 version with the 15D Sil/PEU nylon floor with the new 2024 DCF floor version ..read more

Article by Jana Herzgova and Jeff Beck New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 ($150) Introduction Jana: I have done only a few runs in New Balance Hierro v6 (two models back), so this review will not be a comparison to either model v6, or v7. I no longer have the v6 model for more precise comparison, but if my memory serves well, it was a great, very comfortable, and cushioned trail shoe. I also wore the Hierro v6 for casual strolls around the town.  I liked the Hierro v6 model, so I wanted to try the new v8 model. So let's see how the new New Balance Hierro v8 did during testing. Jeff: In ..read more

Article by Markus Zinkl & Nils Scharff Vimazi Z20 (175 $ / 240 CHF) Vimazi Z30 (175 $ / 240 CHF) Einleitung Nils: Wie der geneigte Leser weiß, ist es nicht leicht, den richtigen Laufschuh zu finden. Der Schuh muss zu Athlet:in, Laufstil und Einsatzzweck passen. Letzten Endes ist diese Suche nach dem “perfekten Match” die Grundlage für RoadTrailRun und alle anderen Medien(schaffenden) rund um das Thema Laufschuhe.  Die Marke Vimazi hat sich dazu etwas neues ausgedacht, um es ihren Kund:innen vermeintlich zu erleichtern, den richtigen Schuh aus ihrer Produktpalette auszuwählen: Zu j ..read more

Articolo di Ingrid Zasa Diadora Frequenza (175€) Introduzione Quando ho detto ai miei amici qui in Germania che avrei scritto una recensione su una scarpa da corsa Diadora, sono rimasti sorpresi: Alcuni di loro non conoscevano nemmeno il marchio o non avrebbero mai pensato che producessero anche scarpe da corsa. Anche io sono rimasta sorpreso, perché per me Diadora fa parte del mondo dello sport tanto quanto per loro Puma o Adidas. Ma poi mi sono resa conto che si tratta di un marchio italiano, forse no troppo conosciuto all’estero, o perlomeno qui in germania dove mi trovo al momento. Ques ..read more

Article by Ben David and Renee Krusemark Nike Pegasus Trail 5  Introduction Renee: The Pegasus Trail 4 was a surprise, offering a light, nimble ride on trails while being a favorite road shoe for many runners. Does the Pegasus Trail 5 live up to the previous version? Is the outsole safe for wet rock? While on paper, the changes seem minor, I found the Pegasus Trail 5 to be a different shoe for different purposes as compared to v4. Updates include a new ReactX foam stated to have a 43% less carbon footprint with a 13% increase in energy return. The outsole marks the debut of Nike’s ATC ..read more

Article by Sam Winebaum Saucony Triumph 22 ($160) Introduction The Triumph is Saucony’s high cushion, higher drop and plush neutral daily trainer. For its 22nd edition it sees big changes:  New PWRRUN Pb PEBA blend supercritical midsole foam replaces TPU based PWRRUN+ Same 37 mm heel / 27 mm forefoot stack height on a wider at the ground platform New more plush and comfort focused upper So, a lot of changes to a popular shoe. On the surface all are well considered and seek to modernize the shoe without completely changing its character with, clearly, the change to a supercritical ..read more

Article by Mike Postaski Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 ($160) Introduction Nike Trail takes a big leap forward with the addition of Vibram Megagrip to one of their signature trail shoes. Yes, the Ultrafly was the first Nike trail shoe to feature Vibram rubber. The Utrafty being more or less a carbon plated super shoe for the trails (with an associated super shoe price), I don’t think many trail runners got to test out this major long awaited feature from Nike.   Enter the ZoomX Zegama Trail 2. Moderately priced at $160, this is a true workhorse trail shoe. It has the goods to bring tr ..read more

  Long time RoadTrailRun contributor Ryan Eiler had a breakthrough performance at the 2024 Boston Marathon finishing 3d American and 15th overall in a time of 2:14:23.  Interview with Ryan Eiler (20:39) In the video  Ryan shares his run background, training philosophy to finally get to a marathon injury free and faster than ever at 38, balancing being a new dad and start up entrepreneur, training on an ancient Sears Roebuck treadmill in an unheated shed with shaky power and what it was like to line up with the elites, take off and follow his race plan which he did brilliantly ..read more

Article by Sam Winebaum Hoka Skyward X ($225) Introduction Let’s get it out of the way right away. The Skyward X may be the most significant and innovative road shoe from Hoka since the Clifton 1. Hoka has been hugely successful in recent years with.. basically the same stuff year after year:  compression molded EVA midsoles, big cushion, friendly fits and especially market momentum as runners and walkers have gravitated to the OG max cushion brand.  In performance running, they have lagged the competition being late to supercritical foams and then a firm flavor as found in the Ca ..read more