 Gaviota 5 is kinda a big deal because not only is it a great update, but it’s a totally different type of shoe. In one key way that is. Let me explain. The Gaviota falls into a category called “Motion Control” which is a subdivision of a main category I refer to as a “Medial Stability” shoe. This is when a running/walking shoe has more stability on the medial side of the shoe to control excessive pronation, aka rolling inward. A “Motion Control” version of a “Medial Stability” shoe does this to the max and this is what is so crazy about the new Gaviota 5. It is still a “Motion Control”, but it’s no longer in the “Medial Stability” category. That’s right it’s in what I refer to as a “Neutral Control” category. So, does it still control excessive pronation? You betcha! Not only does it control pronation it controls all kinds of motion. Imagine a “H” shaped plastic frame inside this shoe that reduces excessive twisting caused by an unstable foot and ankle. The new Gaviota 5 has this “H” shaped frame in it and it’s awesome. In fact compared to the older design which used two different densities of foam to control motion this does it better because the older design only works for excessive pronation, aka rolling inward. It doesn't do well for rolling outward, aka supination. This is important as many, including myself, do both. One of my feet rolls inward and the other rolls outward. Also, the older design almost always over-corrects the pronation as the shoes age, functionally making the person who is wearing them supinate which can lead to injury.  Wide platform + H-Frame = enhanced stability  Anyway, the very new Hoka Gaviota 5 is an awesome new “Motion Control” with better than average cushioning. It’s not as cushy as Hoka’s neutral shoe models like the Bondi or Clifton, but they also don’t offer the same level of stability. I also really like the fit of the Gaviota 5. The toe box is a bit rounder in shape allowing the toes to spread out. I am so happy to report zero arch issues. Thank goodness! So far no uncomfortable arch to report here. Thank you Hoka!!! The Gaviota 5 retains its 5mm drop thickness difference from heel to toe and its extra wide platform which most Hoka’s have and contribute to their stability.  To sum it up, if you need a really stable shoe with great cushioning in a fairly lightweight package you should for sure have the new Gaviota 5 on your list to check out. Again this is if you really need, not want a ton of stability otherwise there are many less bulky options out there in the world of shoes. If you're not sure, head to your local running/walking shoe store to find out what kind of stability your feet might need.
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 If you haven’t noticed cushioning is big in today’s running shoes, really big. This is thanks to the rise of the brand Hoka. Many may have thought this rebound reaction from the minimal and barefoot shoes of years ago which are still around by the way was just another shoe fad. Well, this doesn’t seem to be the case with more and more brands including Asics jumping onto the cushion band wagon. The all new Asics Nimbus 25 is another example of big brands adding highly cushioned models to their line up. To make such a legacy model like the Nimbus is quite the risk with such a long history of users. Yes, the Nimbus has always been a cushioned focus model, but this latest model has a lot more cushioning by its much higher stack height. And that’s kinda the story here with this update.
So, who is the Nimbus 25 for? I think the better question is “who is it not for?”. I would say this may not be the best option for someone who heavily heel strikes with an unstable foot and ankle. Although adding an insole like a Cur-Ex or Superfeet can greatly improve the arch support. Previous owners of the Nimbus line need to know that his version has been fitting a half size bigger and noticeably wider. This is one of those updates I have to highly recommend going to a specialty running shop to get fitted at to ensure it fits well and that it offers enough stability for your needs. Most who *over-pronote from heel to toe might require or be better off with a more stable shoe. What’s great about the Nimbus 25? I think this shoe is all about cushioning. I think Asics wanted to show the running industry that they too can make an amazingly cushioned shoe as well. And I think they did just that. The cushioning reminds me of the Hoka Clifton 5’s & 6’s and honestly the new current version 9’s. It’s really plush! The Nimbus 25 also has a widened platform/ footprint which is fantastic, again similar to the Hoka Clifton. This helps add some much needed stability and also offers a nice place for an insole to sit atop. Let’s talk about the upper and the fit. It is noticeably wider than previous models. It still has that funny, but comfy stretchy tongue which never moves around on my pair. My only found issue is that the upper at the base of the laces can get a bit blousy and wrinkly. Not a big deal if you don’t feel it, but I have had some customers feel it as it can crease in due to the extra volume in the toe box area. Just something to be aware of. As with the odd tongue it has an equally odd collar around the ankle, both might be different compared to other shoes, but I have found both of the tongue and the ankle collar very comfortable. Same with 98% of my customers. Other notable things with the Asics Nimbus 25 is just how lightweight it is and responsive it is. Did I mention how amazing the cushioning is? Well, it is really noticeable for walking and this is by far one of my favorite shoes for long distance walking. Aside from preferring an extra insole the Nimbus 25 offers a fun combo of lightweight, responsiveness and just enough stability for walking and running being that you don't heavily heel strike and *over-pronate. *Over-pronation = A foot strike from outside of the heel followed by excessive inward movement towards the inside or arch/big toe side of the foot resulting in excessive torquing of the foot/ankle. This is best observed by a shoe fitting expert like those found at a running specialty shop or medically trained professional.  Okay, so if you’re wondering what the heck Craft running shoes are, you are probably not alone. Although I have known of the brand for many years I was recently surprised to see Craft release actual running shoes and even more surprised that they were of promising design and function. There are basically two models of the CTM Ultra. You have the carbon plated version and the other version without the carbon plate. Pretty simple, right? Otherwise they both share basically the same design, fit and feel. Although the “feel” isn’t exactly the same for both. Let me explain. Craft has released the road shoe models called CTM Ultra which come in two flavors. A version with a custom designed carbon plate and a CTM Ultra “2” that is a less pricey option without it. Both are built on the same fit geometry which fit surprisingly well. Both are very energetic to run in, yet the carbon version has a noticeably more aggressive feeling of rolling forward. This is great for walkers as well or if you simply want your feet to turn over more quickly. I would say the carbon version is the fastest “feeling” shoe I have tried to date. Both versions of the CTM Ultra have great cushioning. For me the carbon felt more responsive, but the non carbon CTM Ultra 2 felt more cushioned. Not sure why perhaps not having the carbon plate or possibly it just has softer foam. Speaking of the foam, these Craft shoes use in house Craft custom designed UD Foam Pro foam that provides a midsole with fantastic cushioning feel, energetic ride and durability that is…well, I have no idea as I haven’t had a pair long enough to give an honest opinion on it. Honestly, these models are both too new for probably anyone to tell you how the durability is, but my impression is that the foam is not low grade foam. Not at all, on the contrary the foam feels extremely high end. In fact the whole shoe has a very premium feel in hand and on the foot. One thing I can tell you is that the midsole is providing a very lightweight shoe. All the CTM Ultra’s that I see are well below 9 oz’s at what I believe is a men’s size 9. That’s very lightweight for a well cushioned training shoe.  Let’s talk about a very important POINT. The point of contact, that is. Let’s talk about the outsole that provides the grip you need for running and walking. And, these shoes do not disappoint unless you're on certain trails. The CTM Ultra’s have an outsole which provides great grip for most runs or walks from road surfaces, treadmill and even some trails. I say some trails because they don’t have the deepest lugs. So, if you are in my area of SoCal or somewhere which has desert dry dirt trails and not muddy, sloppy and slippery trails you should be just fine. I would be on the fence for the ladder though. Good thing Craft has other more trail focused running shoes available. I’ll be reviewing those in the future. Okay, so we got carbon plates, we got an awesome responsive cushioned midsole and grip hungry outsole. How is the upper? How does the CTM Ultra 2 & Carbon fit? Well, it fits well. At first glance I’ll admit I did not think they were gonna fit well at all. The upper is super thin to the point you can see through it. Yet, it doesn’t feel cheap, as mentioned nothing about this shoe does. The upper has a high instep cut to it, but somehow and meaning seriously somehow it manages to fit well across the top of the foot. In fact the upper in most cases fit surprisingly well holding the foot in place as if there was some kind of voodoo magic going on. I can't tell you how many people I had tried on the Craft CTM Ultra’s that truly did not think they would fit well (including myself) only to be completely in shock by how well they fit. Now some didn’t like the fit and yes there were some that the upper was flat out too wide or deep for their feet, but that has been the lesser of my experience.  “For the walkers” I think by now you can tell I really like the Craft CTM Ultra’s for running. But, how are they for walking? As someone who walks and runs I think walkers will notice the above average cushioning and the lightweight experience that these models offer. Some walkers will also really appreciate the rocker that the carbon plate offers. What I am not so sure of and is my least favorite design choice of the CTM’s which is the typical high heel height difference from the forefoot. This is probably my only real disappointment with them. They have a 10mm offset heel to toe. Now I will say Craft spent an insane amount of R & D (research & development) on the design of these shoes so I am sure they have their reasons for this, but it still pains me that it is so high. 6-8mm’s would have been okay with me, but 10mm’s is out of the ballpark for myself. Keep in mind 10mm’s is the industry standard so you are most likely wearing shoes that already have this design and it totally doesn’t mean you should avoid them if you're walking, but just good information to know. And to be honest I actually did not even notice the heel height at first. I was taken by surprise when I was told they are 10mm’s. Again, Craft has done some kind of voodoo magic with the design of these CTM’s. It’s actually kinda creepy. So, for walking I would say give them a solid try, especially the carbon version as the roll over at the ball of foot is exceptional for walking. If you need more cushioning than the rocker design of the carbon version then the non-carbon may be more your jam. Either way I think the CTM’s are a solid go for walkers who don’t need above average support and stability. This goes for you runners out there too. Make sure they provide adequate support and stability for yah. These are for the most part neutral support shoes and not in my opinion for someone with more than moderately unstable feet and ankles. “Conclusion” Let’s wrap this review up. The Craft CTM Ultra’s are without a doubt a nice surprise from this fairly unknown brand in the running shoe market. From the fun, super cushioned CTM Ultra 2 to the more stiff competitive CTM Ultra “CARBON” verison Craft has engineered a refreshing new take on premium running shoe design. Like I said, voodoo magic. I would say if you get the chance to try them on, do it! They fit well and run fast. Runner’s I think will enjoy their responsive feel and walkers will appreciate the cushioned midsole and everyone will love the lightweight feel. As always. Run well, live well…..and walk well too! Published by Jeff Robins, aka JR. This review is solely written for www.runnergy.com and unauthorized use is prohibited. The thoughts and opinions are of Jeff Robins and do not reflect or guarantee your experience will be the same. Jeff Robins was not paid or provided any compensation in exchange for this review nor has anyone approved this review prior to its release.
Jeff Robins is an employee of Fleet Feet in Agoura and is happy to provide any assistance or answers to questions on this or any other running/walking shoe. If you are in or near the Agoura, Ca area and need shoe fitting I am happy to assist you. For further information regarding training, gear and shoes please check out the www.runnergy.com website. Thanks for reading.  Today’s footwear pick is the Karhu Ikoni HIVO 2021, a surprisingly lightweight trainer. With it’s shortened Fulcrum + Propulsion unit is designed to encourage a quicker turn over and a weight of just 9.6 oz in men’s size 9 & 8 oz in women’s size 8 the Karhu Ikoni HIVO 2021
should be a nice responsive shoe for daily runs. I want to mention there is the non HIVO version which offers a more standard fit compared to the HIVO version which is wider. Let’s talk fit. The forefoot has been specifically designed to fit on the wider side and with the absence of any annoying stitching the Karhu Ikoni HIVO 2021 should accommodate wider feet with ease, especially those feet with higher insteps aka, “the bridge across the top of the foot”. From my experience Karhi’s heels have fit very well and are snug and I don't see any reason why these would be any different. What do I like? I’ll start with that 8mm drop from ball of foot to heel which is the most I think any shoes should really have. Many running shoes have a rather high 10 to 12 mm’s. Really nice to see a slightly lower heel to toe drop here. Although I would like to see it go 6mm in the future as I think that would compliment the “Fulcrum + Propulsion” unit better. The toebox with zero stitching and wider foot is great to see from this brand. For the amount of cushioning and rubber here 9.6 oz (8oz women’s) is not bad and that Karhu “Fulcrum + Propulsion” unit is very helpful at providing a platform designed to encourage a quicker turnover is all good stuff. Quick point, In the Wide fit option titled “HIVO” there is the black/white color and one other unlike the standard width that comes in a few more colorways. Also, the naming is a bit confusing with the wide being called HIVO, yet on the Fleet Feet website it is called “D” width and no mention of HIVO. What could be better? To be honest not much. I personally would like to see the heel drop go to a lower 6mm drop and possibly sizing down to a men’s size 7, but that’s not limited to just this model. Other than that the Karhu Ikoni HIVO 2021 is a really nice lightweight trainer with good cushioning and stability with a relatively fast responsiveness ride. Lastly, a more straightforward naming system, just leave it as a “D” width. Lastly, my final score. At a msrp $140 I think with all its features it is priced well and competes with similar shoes in its respective category. Based on my findings the cushioning is moderate lending itself to a more responsive and stable ride. The leading feature is clearly the “Fulcrum + Propulsion” unit which I find is usually a love it or hate it. I like anything that helps improve turnover speed. And so I give the Karhu Ikoni HIVO 2021 a score of 7 out of 10. Available at your local Fleet Feet running shoe shop. Available online here Men’s https://us.karhu.com/.../mens-ikoni-ortix-hivo-jet-black..., Women’s https://us.karhu.com/.../womens-ikoni-ortix-hivo-jet... Click below to watch the debut of the all new Coros watch and biggest software update to date! We’re introducing you to new best in class hardware and training features Tuesday, August 25th at 1pm EDT, 10am PDT, 7pm CET  Join COROS employees and athletes live on our YouTube channel on August 25th, at 10am PDT for the unveiling of a HUGE new software update and hardware launch. Members of the team, COROS Pro Athletes and an industry partner will train you on the exciting new features and answer your COROS tech questions. It's an event you're not going to want to miss!
Howdy y'all. This is Jeff from Runnergy.com and I have been fitting people from doctor referrals to ultra marathons and triathletes for over 25 years. And normally I would suggest for you to run to your local running store to get professionally fitted, but as you know at this time that is most likely not doable. So I am going to try as quickly as possible some tips to purchasing walk/run shoes online as that may be your only option. Grab some water or sports drinks and let's get running here. Buy from a known online source that you can trust. Make sure you know the name or ask a fellow runner for a store referral near you. You can also contact me at runnergyemail@gmail.com if you need assistance.
Hope that helps. You can reach me at runnergyemail@gmail.com or write me in the comments.Be safe and stay healthy. Thank you!
Check out my youtube and website. Runnergy.com for more running tips! Well, I hope you all have enjoyed my online shoe shopping tips during this unusual time of COVID-19 Coronavirus making it impossible(for some runners) to shop at your local run/walk shoe shop. Now for online shoe shopping that should be fulfilled by your local Fleet Feet store you can clock here www.fleetfeet.com Now if your heel slips in the back of the shoe here is a lacing trick that may help lacing lock/loop to help heel slipping is here runners-loop-lacing.html Thanks for watching and be safe and healthy. Well, I gotta get running! Jeff R Runnergy.COM  As you know there is an abundance of insoles on the market making it impossible to decide on which one to get. Most have either great support and others have great cushioning, but pretty none of them have both. Or at least I haven’t seen one that does. Except for Cadence that is. Cadence insoles have a very solid yet flexible arch support and an excellent well cushioned PU layer on top for cushioning as well as a heel pocket to help take pressure off the heel area. Cadence insoles are only available at independent retailers and select medical doctors mainly podiatrist. And...apparently Amazon.
Also, the cushioning material being PU or polyurethane they are more durable than most if not all other support insoles, in fact the material reminds me of Sorbothane insoles which have fantastic cushioning, but not the support. So if you're looking for an insole with the best in my opinion cushioning and support you gotta try Cadence insoles.
Available at local running retailers, select podiatrist, Amazon and Cadence Insoles  Back in the early 80’s opened a landmark running store in Encino, Ca named Phidippides. This was when running was just starting to get recognition as a growing hobby for health and competitive people alike. Not knowing that by the mid 90’s running shoes would become a very big and competitive business. Phidippides which was owned by Ava, Charlie and Craig were known for their running and product expertise as well as for their amazing running abilities running up to 100+ miles consecutively also known as a century run. I had the pleasure of working at Phidippides for 8 years before opening my own store named Runnergy. If not 30 years it was pretty darn close Ava and Charlie made the move to sell the store to Fleet Feet, a very successful chain of well regarded running stores. Craig had sadly passed away in 2007. I mostly know Fleet Feet as a chain of franchises, but this was to a corporate store. At least until recently that is as it has now been taken over by Colin who has a franchise location in Burbank, Ca. and has been fitting customers for several years now. I recently visited the new Fleet Feet Encino and I must say Colin has done some fantastic remodeling to it and it looks great. I was also extremely happy to see that most of the employees were there, especially John who I had the pleasure to work with back when it was Phidipiddes. Jake, Darcy, Julie and manager Andrew were all at hand there as well. Very cool. Now with Encino tide in with Burbank inventories will link together.  I am thrilled that there will remain a running store in this location as it has had for 40 years now. I appreciate and thank Colin for saving this very important (in my opinion) running community in the Encino area. As of now the store is open and ready to fit incoming customers, but if you're not up to in person fitting you can still support this and other Fleet Feet locations by purchasing online at www.fleetfeet.com. Purchases online come from the closest location that currently has the product your buying. So, let's keep the local running stores running.
As a long time Garmin user going back to the non rechargeable 101 brick that came out in 2003 and then the 305 a few years later it is heard to stray away from something that has always worked and worked well for the most part. 2012 the 920XT which was a big improvement over previous models. For the last few years I have been using my Applewatch, but I’ll admit I do miss the always on and functionality of a true sports/athletic watch. Honestly the touchscreen is a bit annoying while running, although I do like having music sometimes as I use a good amount of the Apple ecosystem including Apple Music. With so many great sport smartwatches nowadays which one to invest your dollars towards is a tough decision. Which watch? Another Garmin or something new. About 4 months ago I tested several watches from Garmin including a Fenix and several Forerunners. The Fenix was awesome, yet on the heavy side and the Forerunners stopped working after a few days. In the meantime another brand quietly has been picking popularity. Mmmm, who? What? I’ll get to that soon. Has Garmin been surpassed by the competition? There are so many options nowadays like Sunnto, Polar and even Casio. I am sure there is more than just those well known options. In fact, I know there is and it is Coros. Who? Coros!!! Haven't heard of them? You will. I mean you are, right now.  So what is all the big buzz? I believe it is battery life and value. Coros is very strong in this department, but that not to say the other guys won’t catch up. With battery life up to 150 hours and even 60 hours in full GPS mode. Those are seriously good specs. So they must be expensive and they are, but not compared to Garmin. While Coros goes up to $700 at the time of this article, Garmin current Fenix line starts at $600. Unless you find an older Fenix like the 5, 5 Plus or even the 3 HR Sapphire Edition, which are still awesome Garmin watches on sale and even then they are usually still more than most Coros watches. See Coros is still on their first run of watches so they really can’t have anything on sale nor do they need to at this point. Most Coros are very well priced. Have they changed the game with price and simply amazing battery life? Let’s find out. Coros start at $200 for the 25 hour GPS Pace or $350 for the very popular Apex with 35 hours of GPS. These don’t compete with Garmin’s Forerunner 35 or newer 45 with their 13 hour GPS battery life at $200. Coros’s $200 Pace is really competing with the Garmin 245 series which is at $300 with it’s 24 hours in GPS. That’s make the Coros $100 less for the category. And the Coros Apex which closer in price of $350 has way more battery life at 35 hours GPS than any of the Garmins anywhere that price. The closest Garmin in battery life is the 945 Forerunner which is $599 and sometimes on sale for $499. That is a lot more than the Coros at Apex $350.  So you can see why Coros is getting a lot of attention. The mobile app that works with the watches is also getting very good feedback. Being able to customize the watch faces and functionality on the phone app instead of on the watch is really nice. What about the other guys like Sunnto and Polar? Will while they are really good they are behind. I would say the Polar Vantage M and Suunto 9 are both really worth looking into. Both have great battery life and are lightweight. I would say the weakest point for them is their mobile app’s. Although I think Polar’s is the better of the two.  Back to Garmin. What about the Garmin Fenix line of watches? They have good battery life, don’t they? The new Fenix 6X’s Solar Edition does with their new Sony chips which drain battery much slower. We’re looking at 60 hours GPS and 120 hours in battery max mode which a substantial improvement from the Fenix 5X Plus’s 32 hours GPS and max battery of 70 hours. That’s almost double. And with a $1000 price tag it oughta be. Problems is the Coro’s are a lot less expensive and much lighter weight when compared and the phone app has some advantages as well like customizing the watch face from the app instead of menus on the watch. For me it came down these options. Sunnto 9 with its amazing battery life, but the mobile app integration was sub par. Polar Vantage M with it’s amazing heart rate monitor and lightweight feel. Coro’s Apex with its amazing battery life, mobile app integration and price. Recently Polar and Suunto both had a great sale making them very attraction. Coros on the other hand had a two watch deal in which you get 20% off the second and lower priced watch. Personally I thought that was a bit lukewarm for me when compared to other holiday offerings. They possibly would have sold me if they had done 15% off a single watch. I believe they should have done that and by what I read from other customers they seem to agree with me on that. Unfortunately when a watch is $300+ I and most people really don’t need two watches. I get it as their watches are very well priced to begin with, but heck it’s the holiday time. Get it, TIME.  So what did I end up going with? By now I assume you can guess it. Yep another Garmin. I just could not pass on the Garmin holiday deal on the older Garmin 5X for 50% off from $599 down to $299. Still not cheap, but I kept my last Garmin 5 years. Despite being a tad bigger than I would have liked and the battery life being only 20 hours in GPS and 35 hours in Ultratrac mode I wanted a watch mostly for my combo hiking and a little running mix. I can’t imagine doing anything longer than 24 hours. I think 12 hours is more my vibe. I also like the addition of full color maps and the more rugged design. The Fenix 5X is certainly sharp enough looking to wear around and even a dinner party. Not to mention the fact that the mobile app is solid and I only need one app for both by watches. I have my Forerunner 35 for short runs and my Fenix 5X for my long hikes. Lastly, I like that I was able to purchase the Garmin Fenix 5X at Best Buy. I know, I know it is a big retailer. But, hear me out. They offer a very important “add on” to the watch. They offer Geek Squad protection and Total Tech Support which basically covers anything and everything that could go wrong with any of my devices including both my Garmin watches. This means if the watch stops working, the screen blanks out, the battery dies and even if I slip while hiking and crack the screen. It’s all covered and I get a new watch and yes this has happened to me. I hit my Applewatch while hiking once and cracked the screen. I had passed my Applecare warranty. Not a good day.
Okay, one more thing. I feel like Columbo “for those who know”. Which watch do I recommend for you? I can’t say exactly, but I can say for sure check out the Coros watches as they seem to have really nailed the whole package as a lightweight watch with incredible battery life, great mobile app and very competitive prices. Not to mention their customer service has been top notch. Everyone I know has loved their Coros watch. With watches that start at $200 you can’t go wrong. Now if I can just get Best Buy to carry them with those warranties. Thanks for reading and as always “Run Well, Live Well” For real this time, cheers!
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