Neutral lightweight/race shoe

Triathlon Forum
1

I wear Brooks Glycerin shoes now and they are pretty bulky cushion shoes. Any recommendations for a lighter more race shoe? I don’t want to go to extreme.

2

I use the ASICS Gel Tarther and Nike Lunaracer.

Both light with pretty good cushioning.

3

Brooks T7 or Saucony A5 … the latter being slightly less shoe.

4

I went from the brooks glycerin 10s to the mizuno wave syonara. I also picked up a set of wave rider 17s for more distance training and pearl izumi streak 2 for racing. The streak 2 is my favorite.

5

If you want to stick with Brooks you can give the Launch a shot. Or, if you are looking real lightweight give the Green Silence a look-see.

4 Likes
6

How about cheaper too? I see the Brooks Glycerin is $150! I ran in that shoe years ago but I dont recall it being so expensive.

I recently got a pair of Asics Gel Lyte 33 3s and am really liking them as a light training shoe. The first rev of this model was unwearable, the second was much improved but had some upper durability issues that might be improved with the threes. Time will tell.

I have Hyper Speed 6s for racing this year. I’m not in love with them so far. They are very light. They cut my foot running in the rain one time.

7

Brooks St racer 5 any good?

2 Likes
8

Racer ST isn’t neutral.

I’d try the Pureflow. It’s a bit of a lower drop (4 mm vs 12) but should work well as a race shoe.

9

If you want to stick with Brooks you can give the Launch a shot. Or, if you are looking real lightweight give the Green Silence a look-see.

Green Silence has been discontinued for some time unfortunately. Launch is a good shoe though

You can look at the Adidas Adios Boost if you want - a bit less shoe than you’re used to, but the boost midsole gives it a little more cushion. Great shoe IMO

Good options for a true “race” shoe (something you could wear in longer races still) might be Asics Hyperspeed (the 6 is phenomenal) or Nike Streak

10

I’d give the Brooks PureFlow or Brooks PureConnect a good look. I’ve been using the PureConnect as my race shoe for the last couple years and they are awesome. If you don’t want to go that light then the PureFlow or the Launch are two other options to consider.

5 Likes
11

Have the Pure Connects got any wider in the toe box? I have a pair of the original connects, and they were pretty cramped.

I put another vote for the Pure Flow’s. They are my go-to shoe. I have some Drift’s for fast days and races, but I wear the Flow’s for most runs…and after retirement, I wear them as day to day sneakers.

2 Likes
12

Not sure if the Connect 2s or 3s are any wider in the toe box than the originals. I found I had sufficient space in the originals. I also have a pair of the drifts and they are definately wider in the toe box than the connects. The drifts are nice as well but I’ve found they don’t work as well sockless as the connects.

1 Like
13

Yeah. The Flow 1’s definitely had more toe space than the connect 1’s. The Flow 2’s and Drift’s have even more. The drifts are wider than I need, but if I even put back on my connects, they feel uncomfortably snug (even though I have over 300 miles and a couple marathons in them).

14

I’d give the Brooks PureFlow or Brooks PureConnect a good look. I’ve been using the PureConnect as my race shoe for the last couple years and they are awesome. If you don’t want to go that light then the PureFlow or the Launch are two other options to consider.

Same here. PureFlow is my training mileage shoe while the PureConnect is used primarily for races.

15

I do most of my training and IM distance racing in the Asics Nimbus (very cushiony and bulky) and do speed work and halfs (or shorter) in the Saucony Kinvara’s. Takes a bit of training in the Kinvara to get used too (1 or 2x a week for a couple weeks) but the difference in weight is amazing. I also hear good things about the Brooks T Racer, but haven’t tried them myself.

16

I just ran Ironman Melbourne in the new Kswiss Kwicky Blade lite Ns and they were great. Nice and light but still decent forefoot cushioning.
Pulled up good as gold 3 days later (3.42 marathon)

17

Asics Hyperspeed 6. Very light, but not hard at all. New Balance RC 1400v2 is a nice racing shoe that’s not extreme at all.

18

I started training in the Glycerin. Put a ton of miles on 'em, but ended up being too much shoe when I started a midfoot strike. I have since switched to the pureflow and pureconnect. The pureconnect is a little more cushioned than the pureflow… With that said, the pureflow is my go-to… Go to a running store and try them both out. The pureconnect seems like the middle step between the bulk of the glycerin and the lightness of the pureflow.

19

Brooks ST5
.

1 Like
20

I just bought the new Topo since they did NOT have that split in the toe.

http://www.rei.com/product/866930/?cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-product-_-8669300002&topo-athletic-m-st-road-running-shoes-mens,-grey/cobalt&preferredSku=8669300002&mr:trackingCode=C6EAACC2-927F-E311-90E9-BC305BF82162&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=44272141360&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=61471762720&msid=z79uvvQO_dc|pcrid|44272141360|&{copy:s_kwcid}

Stuck a nice thick cushioned insole and wow they are some great shoes that are SUPER light like a feather yet still have a firm structure that supports your foot. Helps keep my run form just right with its minimal form but I can tell that its not the best shoe for day-day running. Seems like its just right for race day or occasional training runs.