We spent three days checking out new gear at The Running Event trade show from Dec. 2-4 in Austin, Texas (and several days checking out shoes at last summer’s Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City). Here is a sneak peek at just some of the key shoes that will be hitting stores between January and August. (All weights listed are for men’s size 9.0.)
VIDEO: First Look—Altra IQ High-Tech Shoe
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Hoka Speed Instinct
Hoka's latest trail shoe is a lightweight, nimble race-ready model called the Speed Instinct. It's the first trail shoe to utilize Hoka's new dual-density midsole that has a softer feel in the heel and firmer, more responsive sensation in the forefoot. Although well-cushioned (23 mm under the heel, 20 mm under the forefoot), it's not a max cushioned shoe like the Challenger ATR or the Speed Goat. ($130, 3mm heel-toe offset, 8.4 oz.)
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Brooks Neuro
Brooks is reconfiguring how it categorizes shoes, based on what an individual runner wants most from a shoe: energy return, propulsion, cushioning or ground connection. The Neuro is one of the first shoes in the Propel category, which focuses on a neutral ride with a balanced feel for the ground. Designed to be a fast performance-oriented everyday trainer for agile runners, the shoe completely decouples at the midfoot, offering maximum flexibility in all directions. The outsole and midsole are built on a series of unique cushioning pods that have softer foam interiors surrounded by columns of firmer materials. The upper has a hammock system that supports and wraps the foot under a thin, flexible micromesh. ($130, 6mm heel-toe offset, 9.4 oz)
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Under Armour XC
Under Armour is serious about making shoes for competitive runners and this new cross country racer that will come in both spiked and spikeless versions. The brand's design team took cues from both track spikes and high-top football cleats to develop this shoe, which has a inner booty and a high ankle collar that wraps around the Achilles. ($110 w/ spikes, $100 spikeless, 0mm heel-toe offset, 5.0 oz.)
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Karhu Flow 5
Karhu is celebrating its Finnish heritage and its historic roots as a brand with the re-emergence of its bear logo on this revamped responsive trainer. The logo (which will appear more prominently on several shoes as Karhu's "M" logo becomes a more subtle branding element) coincides with a new midsole geometry and seamless upper that combine to make this shoe lighter and more energetic. ($129, 6mm heel-toe offset, 9.1 oz.)
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New Balance Fresh Foam 1080
Continuing on the heels of its successful Fresh Foam line, the new Fresh Foam 1080 is a premium neutral cushioned shoe with near-maximal cushioning, a plush interior, securely-fitting interior booty and a soft engineered mesh upper. ($150, 8mm heel-toe offset, 10.4 oz.)
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The North Face Ultra MT Winter
The North Face created this all-weather runner to conquer all types of terrain in the worst winter conditions. While the forefoot is covered with a waterproof fabric, the ankle is shrouded in a more breathable water-resistant material and is secured with a zippered booty. The North Face doesn't claim this shoe to be entirely waterproof, but it is boldly calling it out as "splashproof" for winter conditions encountered on the trails or roads. A one-pull quick-lace system and an aggressively lugged outsole made from Vibram Ice Trek rubber outsole are the finishing touches to the Ultra MT Winter. ($170, 8mm heel-toe offset, 12.0 oz.)
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Hoka Clifton 3
Hoka made a few small but significant tweaks to the award-winning Clifton for 2016, most notably making it a few millimeters wider in the forefoot and replacing the overlays on the upper with a sleeker, seamless TPU-reinforced mesh. ($130, 5mm heel-toe offset, 8.6 oz.)
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Altra IQ
In what will be one of the first of a few tech shoes that hit stores in early 2016, the Altra IQ has a microsensor that will be able to help a runner correct his or her gait on the fly with real-time audible and visible coaching (through headphones or a smartphone). Built into a lightweight cushioned neutral trainer, the sensors monitor cadence, ground contact time, foot-specific pressure, pace, time, distance and more and offer constructive feedback to improve efficiency. ($199, 0mm heel-toe offset, 8.6 oz.)
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ASICS Dynaflyte
This shoe is built around ASICS' new Flyte Foam midsole, which the brand says is 55 percent lighter than traditional EVA foam and 33 percent lighter than its Solyte foam. It's designed to be a speedy shoe with a colorful design motif aimed at a younger consumer. ($140, 6mm heel-toe offset, 9.3 oz.)
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Adidas Energy Boost 3
The revolutionary Boost midsole foam is still making waves for Adidas now that it is across its entire line of shoe. The third edition of the Energy Boost has been revamped with a new seamless engineered mesh over the forefoot, a reinforced heel cup and a new outsole that not only provides more durability, but also adds to the shoes' cushioning properties. ($160, 10mm heel-toe offset, 10.7 oz.)
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Pearl Izumi N3 Trail
Pearl Izumi launches this ultrarunning trail shoe in the spring with a seamless upper, a forefoot rock plate and an aggressively lugged carbon rubber outsole. Although it has similar stack heights to its road running N3 counterpart, it has a slightly wider footprint to offer maximal stability out on the trails.
($135, 8mm, 10.8 oz.)
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Scott Kinabalu Enduro, $150
A new durable and versatile trail shoe from Scott, the Enduro is a well-cushioned model built around a unique one-piece molded exo-skeleton shell that wraps the foot over a flexible interior mesh to create an adaptive fit. It features Scott's eRide tuned midsole for adaptive interaction with the ground and a Vibram Megagrip outsole for traction and protection. ($150, 10mm, 10.9 oz.)
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Montrail Rogue F.K.T.
This new shoe takes cues from Montrail's Rogue racer and the FKT (fastest known time) trend out on the trails. It's a fairly lightweight race-ready model with an aggressive outsole aimed at fast-paced running on rugged trails. A 3D-printed cage wraps over and reinforces an entirely seamless mesh upper to crate a snugged-down feel without any overlays, stitches or awkward flex issues. ($110, 10mm heel-toe offset, 10.1 oz.)
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Topo Ultrafly
Topo has created its most cushioned shoe yet with this new lightweight stability model that has 28mm of cushioning under the heel and 21mm under the forefoot. In addition to more foam, it also offers more structure and support, thanks to a dual-density midsole that's slightly firmer on the medial side. ($120, 5mm heel-toe offset, 9.2 oz.)
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Altra Lone Peak NeoShell Mid
Altra made waves when it unveiled it first Polartec Neoshell shoe this year—the Lone Peak Neoshell, which was the first running shoe to put a waterproofing membrane on the exterior of the shoe instead of built into an interior booty—and its second one is similarity innovative. The new Lone Peak 3.0 Mid will be made using Neoshell fabric, for lightweight, breathable waterproof capabilities. It's also available with Neoshell gaiters that utilize Altra's clever Gaiter Trap. ($160, 0mm heel-toe offset, 12.3 oz.)
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Hoka Tor Speed 2 Mid WP
With the Tor Speed 2 Mid WP shoe, Hoka created a hybrid shoe intended for fastpacking or burly mountain running. It has a foam undercarriage and Vibram Mega-Grip outsole similar to the Speed Goat trail running shoe melded with a high-top collar, gusseted tongue and waterproof construction to keep the elements at bay. ($150, 5mm heel-toe offset, 12.9 oz.)
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Salming Elements
This Swedish brand continues its push into the U.S. market that it started last year with this new aggressively toothed trail shoe. It's built around a lightweight, exo-skelton reinforced frame and slightly wider toe box designed to provide a locked-down fit without impeding the natural motion of the foot. ($140, 4mm heel-toe offset, 10.1 oz.)
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Zoot Ali'i
The latest version of the Ali'i triathlon racing flat sports a "Flyin' Hawaiian" graphics package derived from the work of Hawaiian artist Keith Tallett. This light stability shoe has a new BOA lacing closure system, a heel counter and a quick-pull heel tab aimed at getting out of T2 as quickly as possible.
($150, 8mm heel-toe offset, 9.9 oz.)
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Mizuno Wave Catalyst
The Wave Catalyst is Mizuno's brand new performance-oriented light stability trainer, designed to be an everyday trainer with a bit of guidance support but plenty of giddy-up for faster running. It has a mostly seamless upper that's lightly reinforced by welded-on TPU overlays, an innovative molded "wave" insert that pairs with midsole foams intended to create structural guidance with a soft, yet very responsive ride. ($110, 10mm heel-toe offset, 9.4 oz.)
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Under Armour Slingride
Made from a 3D-knitted upper that shares similarities to the Slingshot shoe that debuts in January, the Slingride has a external heel cup and a natural-flexing chassis that combines to create a lightweight, minimalist fit, feel and ride. ($110, 7mm, 6.5 oz.)
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Altra Golden Spike
Although its heritage has been tied to long-distance running and ultrarunning, Altra is making spikes this year. While most brands don't sell many pairs, it's a trend that several brands are jumping on (Under Armour and Hoka) to attract faster and younger runners to its product line. Altra has incorporated two of its key design elements into this pair of spikes, a slightly wider foot-shaped toe box and a zero-drop heel-toe offset. The shoe's name, Golden Spike, nods to the goal of "first place gold medals" and the first name of Altra founder Golden Harper, who started competitive running at a young age and still holds the world's best for the fastest marathon by a 12-year-old (2:45:08 at St. George Marathon). In addition, the Golden Spike of 19th century U.S. history —commemorating the May 10, 1869, completion of the Transcontinental Railroad—is very near Altra's northern Utah headquarters. ($89, 0mm heel-toe offset, 5.3 oz.)
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Under Armour Sprint Pro
Under Armour is going big into running shoes and this pair of sprint spikes is one of the many innovative products it will release in 2016. The Sprint Pro spikes have a SpeedForm upper and a double BOA closure system that create a wrapping second-skin fit. The retail price hasn't been reveled yet, but a similar pair with laces will cost $110.
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Skechers Go Run Forza
Skechers Performance is launching its most stable and supportive shoe yet with the debut of the Go Run Forza in February. It's a softly cushioned shoe with a uniquely designed medial post and a slightly wider footprint than other Skechers Performance models. ($110, 8mm heel-toe offset, 10.8 oz.)
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Salming Miles
Salming is also introduction a high-mileage softly cushioned trainer with a new responsive recoil midsole foam compound. It also has an exo-skeleton- reinforced mesh upper, a flex pattern designed to maximize torsional efficiency and a slightly wider toe box that allows toes to splay between impact and the push-off phase of the gait. ($160, 4mm heel-toe offset, 11.0 oz.)
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Nike Pegasus 33
Now in its 33rd incarnation, the Pegasus remains one of Nike's flagship versatile training shoes. It has been tweaked slightly to improve on the considerable improvements of the past two years, most notably a new Zoom cushioning sections in the forefoot and on top of the heel and a new upper that features a more closely paced Flywire cords, the last of which now wraps around the heel for a more locked-down fit. ($120, 10mm heel-toe offset, 9.8 oz.)
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Brooks Manzama
Brooks is adding a new trail shoe to its lineup with the advent of the Manzama. It's a shoe geared for running and racing long distances over a variety of types of terrain and has a built-in TPU propulsion plate imbedded in the midsole. ($140, 6mm heel-toe offset, 9.3 oz.)
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Topo ST-2
Topo also went back its its roots by offering a revamped version of one of its original low-to-the-ground minimalist shoes. It's a zero-drop shoe with 16mm of cushioning and rubber underfoot, a seamless upper and a collapsible heel with rubber achilles grips to keep it locked in place during speed work and indoor training. ($90, 0mm heel-toe offset, 6.2 oz.)
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Saucony Kinvara 7
Saucony isn't doing too much to this popular lightweight neutral trainer, but it is giving it a nice wedge of its new Everun foam in the heel and adding some additional bits of durable rubber on the outsole. ($110, 4mm heel-toe offset, 7.8 oz.)
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Zoot Solana 2
Zoot continues to improve its revamped running shoe line in 2016 with the Solana 2. (This is one of the fall 2016 color patterns.) While the responsive injection-molded midsole foam remains, a new seamless breathable mesh upper and seamless lining have improved the fit and feel of this shoe. An updated heel construction is aimed at securing the heel while a softly padded collar adds comfort and protection to the heel and Achilles. ($100, 8mm heel-toe offset, 9.5 oz.)
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Skechers Go Trail Ultra 3
Although it has offered trail shoes since its inception into performance running five years ago, Skechers is unveiling its first semi-technical off-road running model with the Go Trail Ultra 3. It has a high-off-the-ground maximally cushioned midsole, a reinforced upper and a moderately aggressive durable rubber outsole that is segmented to enahnced flexibility. ($115, 4mm heel-toe offset, 11.4 oz.)
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Merrell All-Out Crush
Merrell is hoping to expand its reach into obstacle racing in 2016, starting with the All-Out Crush. It features a lightweight TPU-film-reinforced upper with drainage holes for water displacement, plus an aggressive multi-direction lugged outsole made from a super-grippy rubber compound. ($100, 7mm heel-toe offset, 8.0 oz.)
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Mizuno Wave Sayonara 4
The latest version of the light and fast Sayonara has a revamped upper with the support strapping now on the outside of the shoe for improved structure and flex consistency. ($110, 10mm heel-toe offset, 8.5 oz.)
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New Balance Fresh Foam Zante 2
The award-winning Zante will get minor enhancements for 2016, including a slighly modified new-sew upper, an updated outsole pattern and a tad more material under the medial part of the forefoot. ($100, 6mm heel-toe offset, 8.6 oz.)
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ASICS Fuze X
Built with a midsole made of Fuze GEL, a combination of foam and GEL cushioning materials, the midsole in this shoe is 70 percent lighter than it would be if it were made solely from standard EVA foam. It has a slightly softer density in the heel for cushioning and a slightly firmer density in the forefoot for responsiveness. ($110, 6mm heel-toe offset, 10.4 oz.)
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Hoka Clayton
Although Hoka still intends to be a leader in maximalist shoes, it is also venturing into the speed category. The Clayton, a new lightweight performance trainer, is designed to be more cushioned and more energetic than the Clifton 2 with a dual density midsole that is slightly firmer in the front to increase forward propulsion. The outsole is made entirely from RMAT, a lightweight and very energetic compound used (without any durable rubber) to enhance both the cushioning and responsiveness of the shoe. ($150, 4mm heel-toe offset, 7.3 oz.)
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Salomon Pro Pulse
The ProPulse is a maximally cushioned trainer with a mix of absorbent and energetic foams designed for runners who are hard heel-strikers. Although it's made for the trails, it has a smooth enough outsole that it would be an ideal crossover shoe that works well on roads too. ($150, 6mm heel-toe offset, 11.8 oz.)
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Scarpa Neutron
Scarpa, a company with a heritage in hiking, climbing and ski boots, has overhauled its trail running shoe line and the marquee model is the jack-of-all-trails Neutron. It's a midweight model designed to tackle smooth to semi-technical trails with aggressive lugs on the Vibram Megagrip outsole, a TPU overlay system on the upper that wraps the foot from top to bottom and a slab of higher density foam under the forefoot for protection and proprioceptive feel. ($129, 6mm heel-toe offset, 9.7 oz.)
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New Balance Vazee Summit
The Vazee Summit is the first aggressive shorter-distance trail racing shoe from New Balance. It's built off the same last used in the 1400 road trainer/racer and has a sticky rubber outsole with aggressive lugs and a forefoot rockplate. ($100, 10mm heel-toe offset, 9.3 oz.)
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Saucony Peregrine 6
The versatile Peregrine has been updated with a new directional lug pattern and a much stickier outsole rubber compound. It features a nylon rock plate in the forefoot and a slightly updated upper reinforced with TPU film overlaps. ($120, 4mm heel-toe offset, 9.4 oz.)
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Montrail Caldorado
This new cushioned trail cruiser (enhanced by a foam la