Kudos to all of you for running anywhere frequented by large populations of cattle--I've spent a lot of time working on properties where they range and they way they tear up the ground is no joke. Just walking on some of those landscapes without injuring myself was a serious challenge. Just goes to show--ya'll been puttin' in work!
Let's go! I've got the speed and love them. I've done a 50 mile race in them and they were perfect. Another one this weekend. I do have regrets about not picking up the ultra but plated shoes on the trails can be a bit hit and miss.. Good to see your trail reviews 👊🏽
I’m a complete beginner and didn’t know what to expect when I got the Speed. They’ve are the best shoe I have thus far. Not sure know how I ended up with the NB 1080v12, Adidas Ultraboost 22, NB X More Trail V3. Out of all these, the Speed is the one I grab. I find it super stable, hugs my feet really well and very breathable. It works for me and I’m enjoying them quite a bit.
First the Altra Fwd and now these TJ Maxx specials? Man, you made the most of 'em and big kudos for your attitude, but honestly I could not care less about those shoes.
3 specific things I look for in a trail shoe: lug depth, upper drainage/absorbability, and toebox volume. 3.5mm lugs are sufficient for dry fire road / gravel and dry rocky terrain, but for UK muddy trails you'd need at least 4mm lugs, ideally 5mm in wet weather (which is year-round). An influencing factor is the rubber compound which varies the grip and outsole durability (e.g., Vibram is good). Outsole durability is quite important because if the lugs wear down too quickly, then the trail shoe is pretty much useless in slippery terrain. For the upper, you want material that lets water drain in & out easily (after you step in a creek / rainy weather), but not too drainable such that it lets mud/silt enter the shoe (e.g., Vectiv Pro has an upper with too-large holes). The upper material should not be super plush as that will absorb water and weigh you down (e.g., Zegama 2 upper is too thick & water-absorbing). Trail runners typically run for longer durations resulting in feet & toes that swell, so a toebox with sufficient volume to accommodate swelling this is a must to prevent feet issues in training (long runs) and ultra races. Also, downhill running means that a secure upper and toebox volume are required to prevent your toes from jamming in the front of the shoe. Of course, a decent rocker and superfoam are desirable as with road shoes. This is especially important in races as the top-tier trail ultras are now all won by athletes wearing super shoes (Google "BITR Western States shoes").
How do you have a "toebox with sufficient volume to accommodate swelling" and a "secure upper and toebox volume are required to prevent your toes from jamming in the front of the shoe" at the same time?
@@finproductions the fit and therefore security of the upper encompasses not only the toebox, but the area above the midfoot, sides, and behind the foot. If a shoe fits well (securely with room in the toebox), there won’t be gaps or tightness in certain areas (some of this is individual but there are generalities between people and manufacturers). It’s the same as how a good road shoe should fit; but nature of ultra/trail favours a slighter higher volume toebox. Hope that clears things up.
I'm glad you got picked for the Speed. IMO, Adidas made a mistake in naming the Speed and Speed Ultra., at least in the SEO sense. I tried to find reviews for Speed but most reviews I can find is for the Speed Ultra, very few for the Speed! And the name Adidas Agravix Terrex Speed is a mouthful😂 I took it for the 10k trail run last Sunday. Overall , I like it (never ran in Boston 12 so can't compare). I felt like a lot of ground feel, not that much cushion and I can easily pick up speed (pun intended) on the downhill. For a road guy who runs trail occasionally, it's a great fit.
Magic speed 3 on sale for 119 on ASICS website rn. Feel like you would like it we have similar builds and pace. More like a NB pacer (new one) vs the magic speed 4 which seems more like a SC Trainer
It’s the midsole of the Agravic Speed the same as the Adizero SL 2? I have the Speed already so I won’t need to get the SL 2s if the midsole is the same: combo Lightstrike & Lightstrike Pro
I love the speed, but it does run half size big. Technical trail the speed eat up so quickly. Adidas loves the plastic upper feel, which I don't like, though. The midsole is the 👌 👍 on the trail. You can really run fast on the trail. But i still like my salomon pulsar 1, much simpler.
9 inchers are wack. I still run in some of my Nike 7 inch tennis shorts but fold over the waist band once which works better for running. Also the front pockets are deep enough it can hold a phone. Don’t hit the courts much anymore but glad I can get use out of the shorts for running still.
Yeah the Agravic speed would be solid for that if you like a lower stack more connected ride. My favorite for that is still the craft Xplor - foam is awesome and outsole is super robust (was a collab with a bike tire company Vittoria). Nice and bouncy ride that works well for faster miles. Only downside is upper is very lightweight so won't be waterproof / weather resistant
