NEW RELEASE SHOES

I really liked the fit of these trail shoes. The lacing and sock-fit internal construction system wraps around the foot, providing plenty of security and stability on uneven terrain and technical trails

BEST IN TEST NEW RELEASE SHOES

Scarpa Golden Gate Kima RT

£190|scarpa.co.uk |Tester Laura M

The fit

I really liked the fit of these trail shoes. The lacing and sock-fit internal construction system wraps around the foot, providing plenty of security and stability on uneven terrain and technical trails. The tongue is nicely padded without being too bulky and I liked the high heel tab that is designed to protect and support the Achilles area. I felt I had plenty of room in the toe box for my narrow feet, however the shoes do have a tapered design which might not suit those with wider feet. I noticed that they have a carbon plate enclosed in the midsole; Scarpa says that this is designed to heighten the elastic response of the arch of the foot, reducing the physical effort of running without compromising precision on uneven terrain. Scarpa describes the Golden Gate Kima RT as a technical fell running shoe which is designed to reduce fatigue.

The comfort

I was impressed with the comfort of these shoes. The midsole has a good amount of cushioning, but they aren’t too soft or squidgy, so you still get a good feel for the ground, especially on more technical terrain. The uppers are breathable, while offering a good amount of protection, and I was surprised at how light they felt.

What they’re for

The Golden Gate Kima RTs would be a great choice for offroad runners hitting the more rugged or technical trails in the fells or mountains.

On the run

I really enjoyed running in the Kima RTs. The 4mm lugs provided excellent grip and protection on rugged and rocky terrain, but they also performed well on lighter off-road trails and grassy tracks. I wasn’t sure if the carbon plate helped me to run faster, but I did feel that it provided a bit of an extra boost in terms of energy return, especially when I was running and hiking uphill. They also felt nice and stable on downhills and on the flat. Overall, the ride is firm and supportive, while feeling agile enough to cope with technical trails.

Should you buy them?

Yes, if you have narrow-tomiddling feet, and you enjoy bouncing from rock to rock on your trail runs. They lightness and carbon plate means they’re a great choice for racing, but equally that lightness suits longer stints and multi-day events. A fun, fast, technical shoe for trails!

BEST VALUE NEW RELEASE SHOES

HOKAONEONE Mach 5

£130|hoka.com|Tester Laura F

The fit The HOKA ONE ONE Mach 5 has a lot of expectations to live up to; its predecessor the Mach 4 has always been a popular shoe with runners and picked up a few ‘best shoe’ accolades too. Runners loved the Mach 4’s cushioning and comfort and when these arrived for testing, it didn’t take me long to realise that the Mach 5 is much the same. Just popping them on my feet and getting ready to go for a run, I could already feel the slight squidge of the sole absorbing my movements. This was down to HOKA’s PROFLY+ foam, which is a new addition since the Mach 4, but that we can also see in the Mach Supersonic. I was excited.

The comfort The other thing that was immediately obvious was the upper. The toe box and tongue are both super light and the tongue is a lie-flat one rather than being plush and padded. The shoe is supportive and padded around the heel and ankle, and this is a great combination for me.

What they’re for It’s pitched as a shoe that is ‘ready to race’ and, while it’s not an out-and-out race shoe and doesn’t feature carbon plates, it certainly won’t hold you back. It’s a comfortable shoe that would serve you well as an everyday trainer and is priced well for that. I’d recommend it for beginner to intermediate runners looking for a comfortable shoe with a bit of bounce.

On the run My first impressions held true: the Mach 5 is comfortable and smooth to run in. I ran a combination of tarmac bike paths, pavements and dirt track with the shoe holding its own on all. Towards the end of my run, I picked up the pace and threw in a few strides.

Should you buy them? Yes, if you’re a beginner runner, or a more experienced runner looking for a comfortable mid-week shoe for easy miles.

BROOKS Glycerin 20

£140|brooksrunning.eu|Tester Holly

The fit I have quite wide feet, and I found the mediumwidth fit to be roomy: the toe box has a lot of space for movement and you can feel the benefit a few miles in. I’d opt for half a size up from your usual walking shoes, but stick to your usual width as there’s no shortage of space.

The comfort As promised, the Glycerin 20 delivers on comfort and cushioning – that’s the real selling point here. The nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT sole is slightly springy and delightfully soft underfoot. I didn’t experience any rubbing or blistering either, even after several test runs.

What they’re for The Glycerin 20 is designed as a road shoe. It’s a great option for training long distances, and provides comfort for considerable mileage.

On the run I took these for their first spin on a three-mile road run. I’ve been used to really lightweight shoes recently, so I must admit they felt slightly heavy when I first put them on, but as soon as I started running, I was grateful for the added weight in exchange for the sublime comfort of that sole. There’s also more responsiveness than I’d anticipated: despite the wonderfully soft sole, there’s a definite spring to my take off. My second run was a wet one and I was impressed with how well the Glycerin 20 held up. They’re not designed to be trail shoes, but there was a sense of security on tricky terrain that I wasn’t expecting, and they weren’t remotely slippy.

Should you buy them? I’m looking forward to testing these on some longer distances, as I can already feel the benefits of the comfortable design after a few miles. They’d make an excellent beginner shoe, and as I know from my own experience, they are perfect for longer half marathon training runs, and could easily be a great training partner shoe for longer events.

HOKAONEONE Mach Supersonic

£140|hoka.com|Tester Tina

The fit The Mach Supersonic fits perfectly true to size. I have narrow feet and the fit was spot on, so I wasn’t sure if these would suit a runner with wider feet. Both the tongue and the cuff of the collar are padded and soft against the ankle, and I found no hotspots during running.

The comfort Even though these aren’t marketed as ‘plush’, they felt luxurious to run in as the fit was so spot on for a petite foot. They are designed for speed, but they feel very organic in the way they increase your pace, and you feel low and connected to the ground. The mesh upper allows heat to escape and the extra-large heel tab will make taking off with frozen fingers easy.

What they’re for All your speed and tempo sessions, as well as race day up to half marathon, if you like a firm feel to your trainers; it lacks a little of the magic of more flexible carbon-plated shoes.

On the run This limited-edition, new-release shoe couldn’t feel more lightweight and yet still provides plenty of propulsion due to the PROFLY+ midsole that’s stacked on top of HOKA’s more traditional EVA foam. The shoe feels firm, you don’t feel you are being aggressively pushed forward as you might with a carbon plated shoe, and it grips well on most terrains although I was only able to test it on dry paths and easy trails. It doesn’t quite have a wow factor and feels more like a solid, reliable session shoe.

Should you buy them? These are perfect for road runners with petite feet looking for a shoe that will help performance over short, sharp sessions. It’s definitely one to consider if you’ve been looking at carbon plated shoes but find the price off-putting. As a first step towards that sort of responsiveness, the Supersonic is certainly worth a look.