Home/Reviews
Fresh experiences from real runners, collected from Reddit, YouTube and blogs and linked to their sources.
Blog · WeeViews – Hollie S · 2 days ago
Proof Salomon can make a legit road racer: responsive, bouncy foam, an efficient plate, a smooth ride, a light, breathable upper, and traction she'd trust in the wet. Minimal wear at 50 miles, and she expects ~200. One of her favourite carbon shoes this year. Not for short intervals.
Blog · Runpanel – Or Dalah · 2 days ago
A rare combination of softness, bounce and stability: soft landings, very high responsiveness, and heel and upper stabilisers that, unlike other soft shoes, didn't irritate his ankle tendons. No visible outsole wear after ~200 km, and Contagrip improves grip on asphalt. The extra ankle support takes getting used to.
Blog · RunMag – David · 2 days ago
9/10. A very pleasant fit that adapts even to wide feet, with slipper-like comfort and lightness. Soft Energy Foam+ and a carbon plate combine for dynamic, efficient fast running, and the grip bites on the forefoot. He wouldn't use it for easy endurance runs. Ideal for prepared racers, 5K to marathon.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
A winner: a true race-day fit and a bouncy-yet-stable Pebax midsole, though a touch firmer than rivals. Salomon has arrived on the marathon scene, with forefoot stability that keeps runners comfortable late on, but he wouldn't spend Alphafly money on a first-generation racer.
Blog · Running Lab – Julien Guyod · 2 days ago
A 2:38 marathoner calls it a formidable weapon from 5K to the marathon: excellent shock absorption at any distance, best when you accelerate, and a tough Atomknit upper. Less explosive for sharp track work. The foam shows visible wear fast and an Air unit burst on his v3, so save it for race day.
Blog · Doctors of Running – Nathan Brown · 2 days ago
His current racing shoe of choice from 5 miles to the marathon: bouncy, fun and versatile, with a secure, roomy-for-a-racer fit, and comparatively stable, so it works at 5:30/mile or 9+ min/mile. It's comparatively heavy (still light) and squeaky; 5K specialists have lighter, more aggressive options.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
It remains one of the best race-day shoes, especially for the marathon: a comfortable, accommodating upper, light, bouncy foam and Air pods that carry tired legs late on, now cheaper. Lighter, faster options exist, and it squeaked for the first 5–6 miles. Another tester: 'you can buy confidence.'
Blog · Run & Smile – Roman Brcar · 2 days ago
Not a do-it-all shoe. Bought with his own money, reviewed in agreement with NB. Over 120 km it felt light, snappy and propulsive; it kept him in control through a half marathon and showed no outsole wear. Comfortable with no blisters, sticky on wet roads and stable in corners. Best for 5K to half and workouts, not easy runs. Size up half.
Blog · Road Trail Run · 2 days ago
One tester (8.9/10): delightfully fast turnover, a plate at a sweet spot of stiffness, and a fine choice from 5K to half, though the heel design is problematic. An ideal racer up to the half and an all-round trainer, smooth even at 10:30/mile thanks to a snappy flex, and the outsole looks great after 50 miles.
Blog · Doctors of Running · 2 days ago
A firmer, lower-stack super shoe true to its 5K–10K purpose (one tester says up to a half), and good value at $200. But one tester found it a bit soft for fast efforts, with a short fit, heel rubbing and early outsole tearing. Another tester gave the fit an F: heel blisters and bleeding kept it out of her 7-mile race.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
One of her favourite updates, a more traditional race-day feel for distance runners, kept in her rotation through summer speed work. Probably the most fun shoe he's run in: not the softest, bounciest or most propulsive, but it blends all three into a fantastic racer across paces from tempo to top speed.
Blog · Running Shoes Guru – Brandon Law · 2 days ago
A decent racer, but he hoped to improve on the Elite 4 PB, which feels faster to him. It's too firm and lacks bounce, so he wouldn't race a marathon in it. Positives: a stiff, snappy plate, outstanding outsole durability, more stability than most racers. The heel counter is loose, and it's not worth $275.
Blog · Doctors of Running – Matt Klein · 2 days ago
Brooks finally has a legit super racer: bouncy foam, a responsive heel and good durability after 30 hard miles, best for longer efforts. But heel slippage, excessive toe spring and poor midfoot stability limit him to moderate distances. It lacks speed versatility, the upper needs work, and it's not a $275 shoe.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
Graded D for value at $275. One tester found it efficient (splits faster than it felt) but too squishy, with a loose heel on corners. It rides like an old racing flat without super-shoe spark. A third tester was surprised: light, fast and durable with excellent grip; he'd use it up to a half, not a marathon.
Blog · Tom's Guide – Nick Harris-Fry · 2 days ago
The fastest, lightest, most exciting racer on the market: his heart rate ran lower at speed and he recovered faster between reps. But it's wobbly and soft, may lack support late in a marathon, and might only be at its best for about 100 miles. At $500 he says most people who'd have to buy it probably shouldn't.
Blog · The Running Channel – Aubrey (via Mark Dredge) · 2 days ago
One tester, a sub-4 marathoner who bought his own pair, ran a two-minute half PB in it: serious pop, best-in-class foam and surprising comfort. Downsides: £450/$500, built for one marathon plus some training, a barely-there upper that needs careful lacing, short laces, and a squishy ride for strong runners only.
Blog · Tom's Guide – Nick Harris-Fry · 2 days ago
For some runners the super-soft, springy ride will be irresistible: very fun and undoubtedly quick, matched only by the even less stable Metaspeed Ray. For him it's a little too soft, and heavier than rivals: the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 are a couple of ounces lighter and remain his picks.
Blog · Doctors of Running – Andrea Myers & Matt Klein · 2 days ago
Incredibly soft and responsive, with a secure, comfortable upper, a great wide squared-off toe box, and more stability and speed versatility than v2. It's soft and unstable when slow, and one tester preferred it at 5K–10K pace. It's heavy for a modern super racer and unstable cornering at speed.
Blog · Believe in the Run – Meaghan Murray & Thomas Neuberger · 2 days ago
A solid update with extra foam adding welcome stability. It's light, comfortable and bouncy, and one tester will keep it for workouts and long runs, but it's a bit too squishy and lacks the aggressive snap she wants on the start line. One of the comfiest racers, not the lightest or fastest.
Blog · Road Trail Run · 2 days ago
One tester may have found her new race-day shoe: the incredibly bouncy, fun ride of the EE2 in a much better-fitting upper with a slotted carbon plate and tweaked geometry. Testers flag that it's heavy for a top super shoe and priced at the top end, and another tester feels the added drive costs some of the bouncy fun.
Blog · Jolie Foulée – Nicolas Brun · 2 days ago
'A hell of a shoe': more comfortable and less narrow than an Adios Pro 4, with immediate dynamism that lowered his heart rate at a given pace, and the LightSpray upper hadn't moved an inch after 100+ km. At 158 g it's built for marathons and long races on the road. Like most super shoes, it dislikes turns.
Blog · The Running Club – Andrea Soffientini & Roberto · 2 days ago
Very light (158–168 g) and comfortable once on, built for steady marathon pacing, not explosive pushes, with less reactivity than the first Strike or Echo 3. After testing, the right shoe showed partial sole separation and a midsole cut. At €310 it's hard to justify over the laced version.
Blog · Akirun – Akira · 2 days ago
Pace decides it: at 4:30/km it shone, stable and rolling over 35 km, ideal for sub-3.5 to sub-4. Jogging at 6:00/km it feels board-like and slaps, and at 4:00/km and interval pace it gives clearly less help than a Metaspeed, so it's not a sub-3 racer. The outsole tread is still good at 300 km.
Blog · Road Trail Run – Sam Winebaum · 2 days ago
Delivers exactly what S4 stands for: speed, stability, safety and sub-4. Stability is the highlight, almost to a fault: you won't wobble, sit back on your heels or struggle to transition whatever your race pace, at a reasonable 8.1 oz and $200. The dense lower Flytefoam gives a dull, firm heel with little bounce.
