The web site specifications for these shoes contains the usual array of fancy marketing buzz word names for the various bits. Forgive me if I skip them. The rubber sole has fairly good lugs: you can see the pattern in the picture. While the lugs are not all that deep, I did find this rubber quite grippy - more than I expected. There is some cushioning in the sole to be sure, but not like the notorious 'air support' which usually means you lose all contact with the ground - and risk spraining an ankle. The inner sole and footbed are fairly flat, which is wonderful. No, these shoes do not feature that appalling concept of 'arch support', so they should be good for long distances with minimal foot fatigue.
The upper is advertised as seamless, and it does look seamless. This probably makes it easier for the XCR membrane inside to keep the water out - it worked for lots of wet grass during autumn field testing, anyhow. There is a bit of plastic embossing on the outer fabric ('Go-Fast' stripes?), but it seems to be very well stuck down - or molded in more likely. The fabric does not abrade very easily: it hasn't shown any signs so far.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Overview
- Specifications:
- What's Good
- What's Not So Good
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Companion forum thread to:
New Balance MT1110GT Joggers SpotLite Review
Hi Roger, the joggers looked OK so I thought I would try them out. Don't seem to be able to buy them in Oz???? Tried the New Balance Outlet. They called their head office who said that this model isn't imported into Australia. Where did you get your pair from?
Colin…
> Tried the New Balance Outlet. They called their head office who said that this model isn't imported into Australia.
Yeah, this happens. Sigh. I think it is about time we skipped local distributors and bought over the web. The Oz markup is often pretty outrageous too. Granted, it gets a little more tricky with shoes. Find another NB model with that last which is available here, check the size, and then import.
> Where did you get your pair from?
As Senior Editor for Technology at BPL … from New Balance PR department. Their advertising budget. Hey, there has to be SOME benefits from all this!
Hi Roger:
I'm concerned with how well they breathe. Any comments / experience with this?
Thanks,
Jim Augustine
Hi James
> I'm concerned with how well they breathe.
I can't answer that very well yet. They do have a Goretex membrane which is going to limit breathing of course. I don't normally wear membrane shoes unless I am in the snow, and that is a few weeks off.
Fwiiw, during the prelim testing with very thick wool socks I did not notice any problems. But everyone's feet are different.
I did notice the really comfortable fit due to the EEEE fitting though: a real pleasure to wear.
Cheers
Thanx Roger,
Clearly New Balance don't wont to sell me a pair of these Trail Runners! I tried all the on-line outlets in the US. Most won't ship to Oz. The only one that did doesn't have my size!
Normally I wouldn't consider a pair of runners with a waterproof membrane except for snow shoeing. My feet sweat so much that the best shoes I can get are SALOMON TECH AMPHIBIAN, basically a sandal with mesh in between. These are the only shoes I have found where my feet don't get wet from sweat. Unfortunately they are a bit narrow aross the ball of the foot and have an internal join right in front of the little toe. After 100km or so I end up with a black nail from the nail touching against the join.
I have managed to get hold of a pair of New Balance MT800 trail runners which seem to be excellent. They are light and are wide enough for my feet. Only done about 75km in them so far with no problems.
I'm going to try out a pair of Keen Wasatch Crest WP, which have an Event lining which makes them suitable for snow shoeing. Keen list them as being availble in Oz. So I'm off to find a pair tomorrow.
Somehow I missed the original posting of this. I still have one question: Why is arch support an appalling concept? My feet give me grief without it.
> Why is arch support an appalling concept?
Old discussion. It refers to the exaggerated forms of arch support which actually go UNDER the arch. I think Nike promoted them at one stage. Absolutely daft idea if the muscles/tendons under your feet rub on the arch support: you end up with RSI or torn muscle sheathe from the pressure. Most state-level and above athletics coaches won't permit their trainees to wear them, for very good reason.
What many joggers have these days is a bit of incurve at the side of the arch which they call 'arch support'. That is *relatively* harmless in comparison.
It is worth looking at expensive Italian-made leather boots. They have a dead flat inner sole. The Italians also have hundreds of years of boot-making experience.
Cheers
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