Fresh off the boat from Finland and moving quickly, we’ve got the VJ Sport Lightspeed review. VJ is a Finish orienteering brand that has made performance footwear since 1981. Their running shoes are well known for being grippy, with a good level of ground feel that allows the runner to remain nimble over tricky terrain. This helps tremendously when running through undergrowth, which is common terrain in orienteering events, plus broken ground fells or a cross country course. The shoes flex in all directions to allow the foot to react to the ground and the outsole maintains contact with the gro ..read more

Today we have our La Sportiva Prodigio review, from a brand that makes everything for runners, walkers, climbers or anyone else that wants to get into the hills. The La Sportiva Prodigio is the latest trail running shoe in their range and is designed for all the way to ultramarathon distance on hard packed trails. It’s not a grippy muddy fells running shoe, they are comfortable and durable enough to be worn all day on harder trail surfaces, whilst versatile enough to be used as an everyday training shoe on mixed terrain. That La Sportiva ‘Solid’ Feel La Sportiva running shoes have a very secur ..read more

Back on the road this week, we have our Karhu Fusion 4 review. The Karhu Fusion 4 is a neutral running shoe designed for everyday training that is versatile enough for more than just your easiest running. Rather than a performance shoe that you can do the miles in, which is becoming popular with many brands, like the New Balance Rebel v4 or the Hoka Mach X, the Karhu Fusion 4 is more of a training shoe that is still responsive and light, so it feels good at quicker running speeds. That means the Karhu Fusion 4 is a great shoe for those who only keep one running shoe at a time. It doesn’t feel ..read more

This week we’ve got a running specialist exclusive 0mm drop road shoe, in our Altra Provision 8 review. The Altra Provision is a mid-cushioned everyday training shoe for runners who need some pronation support. When your foot touches the floor, your arch compresses to absorb the shock. It should re-shape and you then push off from the end of your big toe. If your arch doesn’t re-shape quick enough, you will push off from the inside of your foot and your knee will roll inwards. Known as overpronation. As running is a repetitive action, the same happens over and over, leading to aches and pains ..read more

This week we’re going to asses why the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel v4 seems to have hit a sweet spot (certainly based on popularity since launch!) in our Rebel v4 review. The New Balance Fuelcell Rebel v4 is a fast and responsive shoe designed to be versatile enough to be used as an everyday training shoe. There are a lot of differences between the New Balance Rebel v3 and Rebel v4. As with all changes, these will be good for some runners and not for others. FantomFit Upper & Heel The fit has gone from a snug fitting racing shoe to a more relaxed everyday trainer feel. There is slightly mor ..read more

Looking for a comfy, cushioned trail shoe suitable for running on the road or paths to your favourite trails? Well this week we’ve written up our New Balance Hierro v8 review. The New Balance Hierro v8 is a well cushioned trail running shoes designed for harder packed trails but, versatile enough for road to trail use and some muddy and greasy trails too. This is the type of trail running shoe that we sell the most of in Northern Runner. In the North East of England we are blessed with lots of quiet back roads that you can connect together with bridleways, footpath and disused railway lines. T ..read more

Struggling in the drizzle? This week we have our Topo Terraventure 4 WP review! The Topo Terraventure 4 WP is a grippy, cushioned but nimble waterproof trail running shoe. Waterproof uppers on running shoes are a bit like Marmite–you either love them or hate them. The downside is often that they are a touch too warm in milder weather and when the water gets into the shoes it can’t get out. It can slosh around, soften the skin and lead to rubbing and blisters. However, waterproof running shoes do have their place in your running shoe rotation. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees the sup ..read more

After putting in plenty of miles, we’re ready to review the Brooks Hyperion Elite v4. The Hyperion Elite v4 is part of Brook’s ‘speed’ range of shoes. The Hyperion Elite v4 is a neutral, carbon plated racing shoe designed to be used for racing distances of 5km to marathon. Not an Everyday Jogger You can tell by the design that the Hyperion Elite v4 is designed purely as a race shoe. I hesitate to say that the upper is built for speed and not for comfort as the Hyperion Elite is still a very comfortable shoe. What it lacks is the padding and structure that you get in an everyday training shoe ..read more

There’s a bunch of new shoes out of Finland via VJ Sport and this week we’ve written up our experiences in the VJ MAXx2 review. The VJ Maxx2 is a cushioned but responsive trail shoe. It has a light nimble feel but still offers enough underfoot cushioning and protection for road to trail use and regular training runs. The VJ Maxx2, although designed for the same use as the original Vj Maxx fits and feels very different. The original VJ Maxx had almost the snug fit of a fell shoe. There was a little more room in the toe box but, not a lot. The version 2 has a rounded toe box which is a bit broad ..read more

This week, one of the most versatile New Balance running shoes in the roster, our New Balance 880v14 review. The New Balance 880v14 is a neutral, cushioned road running shoe designed to be versatile enough for a variety of distances, at a variety of paces. Running shoes are so specialised these days that no one shoe can “do everything”. The New Balance 880v14 comes really close and is better than its previous ‘v13’. Fresh Foam X The level of cushioning and durability is high enough for the 880v14 to be used for your everyday training runs. The midsole is made from Fresh Foam X, a cushioned mid ..read more