tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post7010108658691118272..comments2024-01-30T00:04:20.510-05:00Comments on Lakewood's Wanderings and Scribbles.: The Never-ending Search for the Perfect ShoesLakewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938008753635063175noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post-11106842664686970152020-06-06T18:23:21.597-04:002020-06-06T18:23:21.597-04:00Hi John...came across this post and am wondering i...Hi John...came across this post and am wondering if you still love these.<br />I have the same issues with tailor bunion and pain underneath. Part of this is aggravated by sliding around in the Altras, plus the sizing with Altras makes have to buy size 14 for my size 13 feet...so I'm considering giving the Ultraventures a go at Grindstone.<br />Thanks for your review!Steve Perohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233567281691642089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post-24668519643526035842020-02-01T10:24:09.664-05:002020-02-01T10:24:09.664-05:00John - aware of some of your adventures and accomp...John - aware of some of your adventures and accomplishments (congratulations!), so imagine my surprise as a firm back-of-the-packer-fighting-cutoffs when I saw that we've had a very similar shoe-arc: I, too, started my serious trail efforts at the time of the Montrail Hardrocks, and I, too, am an Ultraventure (and Phantom) devotee now.<br /><br />More interestingly, our near-never-ending search in-between the two, though, has been quite different. After the Hardrocks, I wore the Montrail Sabinos for years. So much so that, when I heard about their impending extinction, I asked my local running shop to locate as many in my size they could, and still have a few of those 11 pairs.<br /><br />Other shoes I've tried along the way include Altras (Olympus & Lone Peak), Hokas (original Mafete, Challenger, Speedgoat), Pearl Izumis (N3), Inov8s (265), Montrails (Caldorado, TransAlps), LaSportivas (Wildcat), New Balances (Leadville), Vasques (Trailbender)..<br /><br />At this juncture, though, I am very happy to have found the Ultraventures, and am very comfortable wearing them through 100s on a variety of terrain and in myriad weather conditions (though they were slipperier than ice skates on a very wet and muddy race last May - a day when no other shoe was performing any better...). I hope Topo will stick to what works and not get too caught up in changing things for the sake of "continuous improvement" :)Mark Nassihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13061770212188728900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post-32817753699237181092020-01-23T14:10:48.341-05:002020-01-23T14:10:48.341-05:00Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
Fro...Sent from my iPhone<br /><br />Begin forwarded message:<br /><br />From: Jeff Johanson <br />Date: January 22, 2020 at 1:15:37 PM EST<br />To: Jeff Email <br />Subject: Shoes<br /><br /><br />Great article and probably what so many go through looking for that nirvana shoe. It absolutely shocks me that manufacturers continue with this narrow pointy toe shoe crap. How ridiculous is it that it took Hoka 4 generations of Speedgoats each supposedly a micro fraction wider than the previous generation before offering a wide version......which customers had been asking for since generation 1. And the dam things are still overly pointy IMO. Who has these pointy feet anyway? There are a few Hokas with wider more rounded toe boxes like the Stinson or maybe Challenger but both lack the Vibram Megagrip sole which for me kills that deal unless for general use or tame trails.<br />Speaking of Megagrip IMO this is what the Topo Ultraventure should have vs XS Trek which is not as grippy especially on wet rocks. It also needs a rock plate and THEN you would have a great shoe. Yes I know they have the Mountain Racer but I would like the best of both shoes and that means an Ultraventure with Megagrip and a rockplate. Come on Topo! Since I run and hike in New England pretty much exclusively and allot in the White Mountains of NH which have some of, if not the most ugly technical terrain in the country grip and rock protection for me are crucial. I'm currently training for a 50 mile Hut To Hut Traverse with 17,000+ feet of elevation gain sub 24 hour and shoes are a really huge deal for this (you lived in NH for a bit so maybe you are aware of what a Hut To Hut Traverse is?). I know you stated your distaste for Altra and 0 drop but I've had really no issues adapting to that and have had positive experience with their Olympus 3.0 for hiking (even technical hiking) and running less technical trails. In fact probably the most comfortable trail shoe I've run in. The 3.5 which I have not tried is supposed to be better yet. Both have Megagrip on the sole, though not enough IMO. The upcoming 4.0 Olympus this summer looks pretty darn amazing. Total revamp that looks far more capable and aggressive and much more Megagrip on the bottom. I'll try this for sure as well as the new Saucony Xodus 10 which received glowing reviews on Road Trail Run.<br />I've ordered shoes from Europe in my search. Scott SuperTrac Ultra which you can't get here in the US got some stellar reviews so I ordered a pair. I REALLY liked this shoe but it's wet grip traction on rock was not good and nearly got me seriously hurt. Scott's own sole material just isn't sticky enough. I've now ordered another shoe you can't get here in the states and that's a Tecnica Supreme Max 3.0. Roomy toe Box, highly cushioned and Megagrip sole/lugs. Received a 9 out of 10 for wet rock traction from Trail Running Review dot com a Europe testing site. Like you I'll keep looking and maybe hound Topo to alter the Ultraventure to my specs LOL ��.<br />Interesting about the Bondi wear. I have a pair of Bondi 5's I use exclusively for work since I'm on my feet almost 10 hours a day and on concrete. Been a godsend for me and walking up to 20,000 steps I can't imagine how many miles I've put on them. Now I have a newer pair of Bondi 6's used only for running roads this winter. After the comments of premature sole wear I checked mine out which have less than 150 miles on them. A bit shocked and disappointed to say the least. Noticeable wear on both heels which should really show nothing with that low miles. LOVE the shoes but will watch this closely and will return them to REI for a refund and get a pair of the new Saucony Triumph 17's which are a max road shoe with good reviews so far.<br />I'll see how the Tecnica's work out and keep you posted but it will be a few months since we're mid winter at the moment.<br />Sent from my iPhoneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post-68021785129349541972020-01-22T18:44:33.164-05:002020-01-22T18:44:33.164-05:00Loved, loved, loved Topo until the current version...Loved, loved, loved Topo until the current version. They did something to the uppers that lowered the volume in the forefoot and now my feet go numb in half a mile. I contacted them and they have no imminent plans for a wide. So bummed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post-41437843636718244222020-01-22T17:33:09.468-05:002020-01-22T17:33:09.468-05:00the_Bird...I actually have a pair of the MTN Racer...the_Bird...I actually have a pair of the MTN Racers coming tomorrow for the very reasons you note. I want an Ultraventure equivalent for the more technical trails and races I run, but that still have ample cushioning. I had originally thought I'd get the Terraventures as they have a rock plate, but the MTN Races are listed as having more cushioning and 'grippier' outsole. I'm definitely eager to try them out.lakewoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15717603982940180384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post-88125640576990425142020-01-22T08:52:56.911-05:002020-01-22T08:52:56.911-05:00Love the Ultraventures! Had an issue with my firs...Love the Ultraventures! Had an issue with my first pair (the outsole fell apart after 50 miles), but they were replaced without issue and I'm now on my third pair. Just a great balance of having enough room (but not so much as to be sloppy), enough cushion, and not too heavy. My only complaint is that I wish they were a little grippier in wet terrain - I've been wanting to try the MTN Racer as I'm pretty sure they're using a grippier outsole. The Ultraventure has been a terrific shoe for me, though. the_Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07169861253256794992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post-41026643982229622132020-01-20T23:35:38.428-05:002020-01-20T23:35:38.428-05:00Yep...the soles on the newer Bondi's wore down...Yep...the soles on the newer Bondi's wore down extraordinarily fast for me as well. During Vol State, at around mile 300, the outsole literally started peeling off and flapping on the ground as I ran. They were brand new at the start.<br /><br />I wore a brand new pair during Spartathlon as well, and by the finish, both heels on each shoe had worn down completely (~150 miles). I don't have any sort of weird gate or stride. I perhaps pronate a small amount, but otherwise have a normal arch and wear "Neutral" shoes. I'm curious to see how the Topo road shoes hold up. I've put about 200 miles on the Zephyrs so far and the soles have maybe worn a small amount...so I'm pretty pleased.lakewoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15717603982940180384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245249781884723223.post-86075119335645366782020-01-20T22:09:56.406-05:002020-01-20T22:09:56.406-05:00Hi John, can you answer something about the Bondis...Hi John, can you answer something about the Bondis? I just tried a pair for the first time. Within 12 miles on pavement, the tread on the outside of the heel was worn flat. It looked like the outsole would be worn through within a few more miles. Did you have this problem? Does it matter?Ultra Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17114687648173828336noreply@blogger.com