“I’ve been struggling with Morton’s neuroma (underfoot nerve pain), a chrome steel hip replacement, and deteriorating knees for years,” he reported.  ”For me, they’ve been a new lease on running. I can even train on pavement with no resulting joint tenderness or foot pain, and minimal soreness in quads and calves.”

For those same reasons, Hokas (available in trail, road, and combo models) have gained quick acceptance among ultra-marathoners and heavier, injury-prone runners. Some minimalist-shoe fans incorporate them into their footwear spectrum for recovery days and high-mileage training. When we first put them on, they felt a bit tall and tippy. Lateral dodging and nubbin edging are not their forte, but a polyurethane rearfoot cradle, and a wide sole platform avoid most ankle rolling, even on sidehills. The underfoot rocker and lack of a heel block make gravelly uphill sprints and muddy descents a bit insecure, but the cushion also meant we could heel strike aggressively on secure downhills.

The actual stride feels like running on stiff marshmallows. Stones disappear underfoot, and the rockered geometry, which incorporates a 4 mm drop between heel and forefoot, creates a natural mid-foot strike and easy forward momentum with no fold point between heel strike and toe push. This works well for devotees of Zen running technique. The shoes look massive, but they come in at a lightweight 11 ounces per shoe.

Hokas don’t work for everybody, but if you have stress injury issues with feet, knees, hips, or lower back, the Mafates are worth checking out. They cost a bit more, but ours still have plenty of cushion after 500 miles of running and hiking, so the value seems there. Mafate 2s run true to size in men’s and women’s, but other Hoka road models we’ve tried can run a half-size small.
-Steve Howe

www.newbalance.com
For over two years I have been looking for a decently priced running hydration belt.  I tried out a friend’s belt and found that the little bottles were hard to unsnap and snap back in while I ran, and that the little pocket held barely anything.  Then I tried out a hand-held water bottle and discovered that I preferred to have my hands free.  Finally, a few months before running the Hood-to-Coast 200-mile relay, I spotted the Sport Hydration Waist Belt by New Balance. The belt adjusted to my waist and the pocket could hold my phones, keys, ID, and my trail grub—as well as the water bottle, which is positioned diagonally so that you feel nominal interference while running. I used this belt during training and the race, and felt that it performed better than the more expensive versions, and the nylon and polyester material the belt dried quickly from any sweat. I ended up using a different water bottle because the one that comes with it is tough to get open while running, but I would certainly recommend this belt to anyone who is running anything from one mile to 50.
-Jennifer Seabolt

This spring Merrell will take the ample lessons learned from their successful Barefoot Trail Glove shoe and apply them to a new line. Dubbed the M-Connect, this series will carry across four key collections (including the Barefoot) to provide minimalist, all-natural fit in fast, flexible designs that cater to the needs of outdoor exercise, from trail running to hiking to aquatic environs. We’re particularly interested in the new multi-hike Proterra line, whose designs originated from insights gleaned from the University of Virginia’s SPEED Performance Clinic and Motion Analysis Lab. Their studies indicate that greater surface contact with the ground improves overall performance. These fast, breathable hiking shoes and boots will have a modest 4mm drop, inverted lugs, a wider mid-foot, and will employ a new technology that infuses the foot cage and the mesh uppers to allow for lightweight, natural movement without sacrificing durability. Other shoes in the M-Connect line include Mix-Master 2, with 4mm drop and 12 to 8mm of cushion and the Bare Access (zero drop, 8mm of cushion).

Merrell will also introduce the Bazaar collection in spring 2013, a group of laid-back, go-anywhere shoes and sandals for men and women that incorporate vibrant fabrics akin to those found in the markets of the world. The evocative line should make for a solid pair of travel shoes, and will likely pair nicely with the continuation of their apparel line, which brings performance-oriented technology into urban, travel friendly designs.  We love the looks of the women’s Hawthorne, a poly, DWR-treated jacket with a pleated back for cycle-friendly application, and the Aquatia, a fully-seamed waterproof/breathable jacket with a femme-yet-functional cut and a heathered exterior.  The men’s line will mirror this form-function merge, including the commute-friendly Freewheel Short-Sleeved Shirt, the Lake Hood Short, and the streamlined, technical Charlton Shirt. These travel-friendly pieces will be part of the spring 2013 Urban Mobility line, which aim to marry athletic apparel with a touch of style and tech for trail running, hiking, and…pretty much any other active pursuit in which you wear clothes.

One of the smaller items found on the floors of the Salt Palace Convention Center earlier this month may make the difference between life and death in your next alpine adventure. Dubbed The RescYou, Mammut‘s new mountain rescue device is one of the simplest ones we’ve seen. Attach the D-ring to your climbing harness (or to an anchor point to rescue your partner), then clip on the two clamps to the main rope and pull the handle.  Each yank on the handle engaged a six-fold pulley, moving the device (and whatever it’s attached to) about two feet up the rope. It weighs in at a feathery 14 ounces and can easily be clipped onto your climbing harness or pack. It will retail for $125.

Mammut has also revamped their trail running collection with both new apparel and footwear.  The Micro Jacket is an ultralight shell for cool/wet weather conditions that packs down into its chest pocket. Pair that with the new running shorts, which has a pouch at the small of the back that’s perfectly sized for the Micro Jacket. Their new trail runners, meanwhile, will have Dyneema webbing uppers for breathablility, strength, and abrasion resistance.

And in addition to the RescYou, Mammut continues to strive forward in their alpine and climbing lines.  The Sensor rope adds a change in the rope’s color and texture at the midpoint and five meters from either end to offer both a visual and tactile indication that you’re reached a critical part in the line.  They’ve also got the Realization Shorts, which has a climbing harness that’s integrated into the shorts themselves.

We’ll be testing these out over the coming season.

While some brands aim for exponential expansion in spring 2013, others will hone in on what they do best—and then do it all over again. And we’re happy to report that Patagonia’s footwear line will follow that latter strategy.  Focusing in on trail running, they’ve culled input from a cadre of high-performance athletes to refine and revamp their trail runners. They’ll introduce the EVERmore ($110, pictured), which boasts a 4mm drop and will be the lightest shoe in their line at a modest 7.8 ounces (men’s model).  Durable, breathable mesh uppers join forces with drainage ports, a soft heel, flexible mid- and outsoles, and an integrated footbed to perform on a variety of terrain. Even though it’s a shoe catering to mid-strike running, it’ll still have ample padding, with 10mm in the heel and 6mm in the forefoot, along with a rock plate for long-distance protection.

We also like the look of their new multisport-inspired mountain shoe, the Fitz Sneak ($100). The punchy, low-key sneaker should provide all-day comfort, with a sticky rubber sole and a cushioned EVA midsole that could be a solid, go-to travel shoe. We also like the graphic, which integrates the Fitz Roy silhouette across the uppers.

On the casual side, they’ll introduce the C-Street collection—relaxed suede and textile sneaks that look to be eminently packable (prices start at $80). And they’re unveil two new women’s models in their Advocate line, vegan-friendly Mary Jane slip-on ($70) and a lace-up sneaker ($75). We’re looking forward to ‘em both, in part because the shoes will come in a blast of fun, funky colors, and also because the Advocate line showcases Patagonia’s partnership with 1% for the Planet—something that’ll never go out of style.

Deciding what to wear in (and what to buy for) the mountainous backcountry will get a lot easier in spring 2013 thanks to the new Verto Climbing Kit from The North Face. This four-piece apparel set up delivers pretty much all the clothes you need for an alpine adventure in a ridiculously lightweight package. Start with the Litho t-shirt ($80), an all-merino base layer with a mid-rib zipper pocket. From there, toss on the Verto Micro Hoodie ($249), a featherweight down jacket with 800-fill goose down, strategic use of stretch, and Flashdry water protection. Then don the Verto Pro Jacket ($199) for Gore Windstopper protection against the elements and a pair of the soft shell Satellite Pants ($130), and you’ve got a go-to kit that collectively weighs in at less than two pounds.TNF athletes have been putting this combo to the test and we anticipate this to be one of the best-dialed alpine solutions on the market.

The North Face will also continue to refine their line of trail running products, including the Better Than Naked line of high-performance apparel for men and women, and new shoes like the Hyper-Track Guide ($120), a highly responsive runner designed to perform equally well on both the trail and the pavement.

They will also introduce a new Optifit harnessing system in their backpack line, said to greatly enhance both ventilation and load control. The Matthes Crest and Conness pack series will both boast this new technology, with a variety of custom-fit options in various sizes.  We’ve got one of these new packs in the field right now, and we’ll report back on how well it performs shortly. Stay tuned for additional The North Face product reviews over the coming months.

We already told you about Salomon‘s new Sense Hydro S-Lab Set, a killer, hands-free running hydration solution.  Well, we checked it out, and it may well be a game-changer for distance runners. They’re also working on a model that’ll let you strap the water bottle to the back of your hand (rather than in your palm). We don’t think it’ll replace the convenience of a hydration pack while cycling, but it will offer runners another option on a product that many are excited to get into the field.

In addition to that product, spring 2013 will see other advances in hydration—specifically the Agile pack series. Offered in three sizes (five, 12, and 17 liters), these packs have grown from Salomon’s work with running-specific hydration vests. Rather than taking a pack and saying it’s good for running, these packs are designed specifically for runners; they move with your body and ride close to your body, with sliding shoulder and hip straps to dial in a custom fit.  The mid-sized pack will retail for $125.

On the footwear front, Salomon continues to push ahead. The Sense Mantra ($120) model will help athletes transition to forefoot running with light cushion and EndoFit construction for no-sock comfort. It’s also part of their new “door to trail” series, targeting runners who run on sidewalks or the street before reaching the trail.  Meanwhile, the S-Lab Sense Ultra (pictured) is the latest extension of their award-winning S-Lab racing shoes, with solid traction from mid-sole to the rear. It’ll retail for $180.  They’ll also unveil a new adventure travel-friendly shoe called the Kalau, named after a variable-condition hiking trail in Hawaii. The show boasts anti-debris mesh upper, grippy soles, and a fashion-forward aesthetic.

We’ll be getting the gear onto the feet, hands, and backs of our ultra-marathon testing crew this fall and report back.