New release shoes

Grab a new pair of spring runners

SAUCONY Endorphin Shift

£130 | saucony.co.uk |Tester Tina

The midsole in the Shift is going to transform your experience if you’re running longer; less exhausted legs, less injuries, with more spring and energy return. On the first run I noticed a depth and softness below my heel, which gives a noticeable bounce from Saucony’s PWRRUN foam. The SPEEDROLL technology will still encourage your foot to roll forwards, so they’re stable and fast. I loved the feeling of depth along the whole shoe; it has a high stack height of 35mm at the rear, and 31mm at the toe, but doesn’t feel bulky or heavy. And the brilliant lightweight TPU heel counter locks in your foot position as you hit the ground. The Shift offers a lot for its price and I loved the colour I tested - white with striking mutant neon flashes that look very very cool. The darker model, shown here, in black with orange and pink neon, is just as attractive.

Women’s Running

How we test

Our kit is tested by real runners: passionate women with diverse running experiences, from dedicated marathoners to happy plodders. We wear the clothes, run in the shoes and use the tech on our usual runs to see if they go the distance. We then give each piece of kit our star rating. Prices are RRP and correct at time of printing.

Our testers include:

Susan Bonnar Promotions and marketing manager, mum of three, discovered running in her mid 40s.

Laura McGoldrick From half marathon runner to keen trail runner, Laura’s taking on her first ultra this summer.

Caroline Trowbridge Actress, children’s author, reiki master and mum of two. Loves running for wellbeing.

Geraldine Perrier Wife and mum, travels the world for work, loves off-road running and discovering new trails.

Claire Kelson Photographer and mum of two, enjoys mixing gym with miles on and off road.

Louise Breckon-Richards Actress, writer and mum of two boys, runs three times a week in north London.

BROOKS Ricochet 3

£120 | brooksrunning.com

Tester Laura M

These shoes were very comfy. The lightweight knitted uppers have a one-piece sock-like design that fits true to size and is nice and breathable. It was my first time running in a sock-like shoe and, although I am a neutral runner, I wondered if they would provide enough support. As it was, my feet felt secure because the material of the internal bootie wraps securely around the foot, and the lacing system gives a locked-in feel while allowing flexibility. The midsole is made from DNA AMP cushioning foam that is designed to give a higher energy return and a bouncy underfoot feel. The Ricochets have an arrow-shaped design on the lugs that helps to make the heel-to-toe transition smoother and I could feel the benefits of this while running.

ALLBIRDS Tree Dashers

£120 | allbirds.co.uk

Tester Claire

The Allbirds Tree Dashers are lightweight, slightly quirky running shoes. They’re super comfortable and easy to slip on with a sock-like tubular design; this means there is no tongue and no awkward tough edges around your ankle. The design helps keep your foot ‘locked in’ so there is no movement. The insole is squishy and I like that the inner heel is lined with soft wool which is really comfy. Additionally, the toe box is quite generous so suits a wider foot. The Tree Dashers are made out of sustainable materials: eucalyptus tree fibres; a little bit of wool around the heel; a SweetFoam™ (sugarcane) sole; and natural rubber for the sole tread, and they’re available in lots of different colours to match your spring kit wardrobe.

ASICS Dynablast

£110 | asics.com/gb

Tester Caroline

What I’ve loved about running in the Asics Dynablast is the excellent balance of style, fit and energy return. The FLYTEFOAM Blast technology really powered me forward with comfort and ease. I noticed the spring in each step so I felt I was running faster, although my watch said otherwise. Ah well, the freedom and enjoyment was there all the same! I had a sense of support, even though this is a neutral shoe, and there was plenty of room in the toe box. I like to keep my laces loose, to easily slip my shoes on and off, but I did find the laces, while pretty, were very stiff and rigid. Laces aside, once on, these shoes just caress the foot and I didn’t want to take them off. I’d recommend them for daily miles and, at only 7.2oz, they’re so lightweight you get an almost barefoot feel.