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Nice Lists and Wish Lists by Seven Hills

By on December 23, 2014 in Uncategorized

If we were to pack Santa’s bag chalk full of shoes, these would be the ones we’d include for all the nice boys and girls out on the trails!

Paige’s Top 3 shoes of the year:

  1. Brooks Pure Grit 3
  2. Altra Superior 2.0
  3. Salomon Sense Pro

The Pure Grit was the shoe I could leave in my car and feel good about pulling out no matter where I ended up starting my run. It handled varied terrain from the Chuckanuts to Smith Rock like a champ. It did fail me a few times when weather started turning this fall and things got slick. The Superior seems to offer the same form-fit, soft-feel I like about the Grit but with better traction. Only a few runs with this shoe, but I have no reservations about putting it on my top 3 list. The Sense Pro is like my alter ego – I just feel so dang speedy when I wear them.

Glenn’s Top 3 shoes of the year:

  1. Pearl Izumi Trail M2
  2. Scott Kinabalu
  3. Hoka Rapa Nui – A distant 3rd

The M2 and Kinabalu are pretty close. Love the fit, cushion and ride of the M2, but the Kinabalu edges out the M2 in traction, especially in wet conditions. The M2 is a more protective shoe which makes it more comfortable over longer runs, but the Kinabalu has just enough ground feel to give it an edge in nimbleness. Although the transition from landing to toe off is smooth in the M2, the Kinabalu is super smooth for the way I run. It’s a toss up between 1 & 2 and a mash-up would be interesting. The Rapa Nui is a distant third and I wonder if it’s a coincidence that all three have rockered soles?

Chris’s Top 3 shoes of the year:
  1. Altra Lone Peak 2.0
  2. Hoka Huaka
  3. Montrail Fluid Flex 2
Altra Lone Peak 2.0 is number 1 for its versatility and overall comfort! The traction is great for the wet Pacific Northwest mud as well as Magnolia’s slippery streets! The Huaka made my list for its support and long road run comfort. We would all love to be Paul Bunyan living in the woods with Babe, but I live in Seattle–and that means road running.  The Huaka delivers!  Third would be the Fluid Flex 2 —a sexy shoe!  I like it for its lightness and fast turnover.  It is my racing flat.
Phil’s Top 3 shoes of the year:
  1. Hoka Huaka
  2. New Balance 980 trail
  3. Pearl Izumi Trail N2

I cathartically got the Rapa Nui out of my system writing the RIP Rapa Nui post, so I felt it best not to list it here.  I’ve loved the Huaka for everything but muddy trails. The 980 trail and Trail N2 just feel good, too, no matter what you are running! On the road side: the Pearl Izumi Road N3 will be stellar!

2015 Wish List:

Paige: 
Phil has me interested in the Merrell All-out Peak, as it seems to have become a fast-favorite for him.
Glenn:
For 2015, I’m hoping the minor tweaks to the Pearl Izumi Trail M2 (July) improve its traction. There are so many cool shoes coming out…Scott Kinabalu Supertrac (February) I want to try for sure! I’m also curious about the Merrell Peak (February). I  slipped on Phil’s demo pair of Peaks and they felt great, and it has all of the characteristics that I like in a shoe–mainly cushion and traction.  The Hoka Speedgoat (July) looks promising, too!

Chris:

I am looking forward to The new Altra Lone Peak 2.5 (July) with a firmer cushion! Also, the new Montrail Fluid Flex ST (February) with a rock plate and added structure!

Phil:

I can’t wait to see if the Merrell All-out Peak sells as well as I think it can–with it’s fit, grip, and cushion, there’s no other shoe like it.  I am also excited to get a  steady best seller out of the Salomon Sense Mantra 3 (January).  It’s a shoe similar to the N2 trail and 980 trail.

Top 7 brands of 2014

Top 7 shoes of 2014 – coming soon

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Photos by Glenn Tachiyama