I once spent a week of my life trudging up a wintery Pennine Way on the Spine Race, and part of the layering system I used was a hoodie made from PRIMALOFT® ACTIVE. For those of you not familiar with this fabric it is, in its most basic form, like a modern day string vest. Rather than being a full closely formed fleece it is knitted in rows. Gaps in the rows allow more air to be trapped which body heat warms meaning it has excellent thermal properties. 

However, unlike traditional fleeces which struggle to vent excess heat, this fabric will allow heat to escape easily. The hoodie I wore undoubtedly helped saved me from perishing in the elements, but to get its full benefit in those conditions the hoodie required another layer over the top to keep warmth in and this shell needed unzipping or removal to exhaust excess heat. 

As I was dragging myself northward on that event, I mused that it would be really useful if the PRIMALOFT® ACTIVE fabric could be bonded to its own shell so that you didn’t need to fiddle with zips to regulate temperature.  Low and behold, my visit to inov8 revealed that they had attempted to do just that, a PRIMALOFT® ACTIVE lining in a Pertex® Quantum Air shell. So, the question then remained whether my theory born in the depths of sleep deprivation and the inov8 design team were right.

My main area of interest was whether having an integrated outer shell would either positively or negatively affect the ability of the PRIMALOFT® ACTIVE to retain and vent heat. Any outer shell would need to be breathable enough to allow heat out, but not so breathable that it didn’t retain much needed warmth. 

It’s worth looking at the advertising brief on the inov8 website to gauge where they are pitching this garment. It’s claimed to be for “walking, hiking, running and outdoor activities on cooler days” and “worn on its own as an outer garment or layered under a waterproof jacket”. So how does it fair? 

I should imagine trying to design a jacket for multiple sports is quite a challenge, the amount of heat you generate when running is obviously greater than that you would when you are hiking and therefore to work out a garment that meets these basic requirements takes some thinking about. 

The Performance Hybrid Jacket manages to address these by having the fleece panels strategically “mapped” to areas of need across the body and hood. The torso, back and upper arms all receive PRIMALOFT® ACTIVE coverage and the rest of the areas have just the Pertex ® covering. The hood can be neatly rolled down and secured by a popper and strap which adds additional warmth to the neck area.  

Pertex® Quantum Air is a stretchy fabric that adds an added element of comfort, and the back of the jacket extends down over your bum which eliminates any gaps around your waist where the top of your legwear (waterproof or otherwise) meets your base layer, meaning no cold midriff. Cuffs are comfortable and tightly secure over the wrists and, if you’re wearing gloves there’s a snug seal here. If you’re not, then don’t worry there are thumb holes to shield your hands from the elements. This is just one of a couple of nice touches which indicate the inov8 Performance Hybrid jacket has been designed by people who know what it’s like to be in the great outdoors. 

I have already mentioned the hood storage, but there is also a separate compartment inside the front pockets which mean you can store your small items separately without losing them when you remove your favourite woolly hat. Top tip though, lay your phone sideways in this compartment to avoid bounce. As you would expect from inov8 it retains the same quality as all of their jackets and compresses into its own pocket for easy storage, very handy indeed when packing for long expeds when bag space is at a premium; oh and it’s light too 337g (men’s medium).

Warmth wise the jacket performs even better than my hoodie and separate shell combo I experimented with on the Spine. I tend to “run hot” so when running at zero degrees Celsius I only needed a long-sleeved tee shirt under the jacket. Hiking above the snow line at -2 degrees a thermal base layer and just the jacket were all that I required. In short, it’s a toasty bit of kit, but as discussed that’s only one part of the equation, does it allow heat to escape with the same effectiveness as the fleece on its own? 

Surprisingly it does, although unsurprisingly it does take a little while longer. Heat escapes through the Pertex ® fabric really rather nicely. However, PRIMALOFT® ACTIVE® on its own, when exposed to the elements, loses warmth quite quickly. Sometimes this is required, sometimes it’s not and you then have to add your layers back on. With the Performance Hybrid it’s a more gradual process, which once you’re accustomed to is very easy to manage by opening or closing a zip.

One look at the Pertex ® website shows how the combination of the Quantum Air fabric with the PRIMALOFT® ACTIVE lining is a match made in heaven. It’s designed to be more air permeable, exactly what the lining needs to regulate temperature and is wind resistant to ensure the cold air doesn’t get in. The shell is shower proof so venturing out in a light rain or snow will cause no issues. However, if you’re out in a monsoon, then pull on your full wets over the top and you’ve got a very, very effective layering solution indeed.

Looks wise, I think this jacket is actually quite understated, it only comes in black and doesn’t have any of inov8’s bright coloured detailing on the zips, but you know what? I like that about it. In fact, I like this jacket a lot, priced at £175 (November 2023) it’s going to be valuable addition to your outdoor wardrobe. 

Robin Bush is the co-owner of RunUltra. He’s an experienced mountain runner, who has run many of the classics including the Dragon’s Back and The Spine.

Have you tried the inov8 Performance Hybrid Jacket? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment to this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

Not a member yet? Sign up here to be part of the RunUltra community and share tips and stories with thousands of fellow runners around the world.

We are a professional review site and our reviewers receive free products for testing from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are by the reviewer’s name shown.

The post inov8 Performance Hybrid Jacket Review appeared first on Run Ultra.

When most people think of La Sportiva Trail Shoes, their thoughts naturally spring to the Mutants or the Bushidos. Not surprising as these are tried and tested in our sport and have a great pedigree with some elite fans such as Sabs Verjee wearing the former on her adventures. Being somewhat of a non-conformist, my previous encounter with La Sportiva Footwear was with the Ultra Raptor, in which I completed many happy (maybe not so happy) miles training for and completing the Dragons Back.

These were a sturdy companion and faired well, until a lace loop failed after a cumulative training and racing tenure of approximately 850 miles. Not bad considering the beasting they were given. I was therefore intrigued when La Sportiva offered me the chance to review their latest Jackal offering, the Jackal II BOA. This shoe uses the BOA fastening system instead of traditional laces, something that I have only used previously snowboarding. 

The BOA System

There are two incarnations of the Jackal IIs; one with the BOA System and one without. In addition to two dials, the Jackal II BOA also has a tongue and gusset combination that reaches up over the lower ankle. This works well; the shoe feels like a pair of slippers when you put them on. The attachment points for the “lace” system stretches across the top of the upper meaning that when you rotate the dials to secure your forefoot and midfoot, there is a snug feel as the system wraps around the upper part of your foot. 

Precision is not really something that I’m used to experiencing when it comes down to my laces. They normally start out ok, but then they either loosen as socks compress or, as my foot swells over longer distances, they become too tight. With the BOA, you can instantly and easily adjust the fit and crikey does it make a difference. 

When ascending the shoe has a good feel but it’s the descents where the Jackal becomes a thing of wonder. “Precision fit” is BOA’s strapline and the slightest tweak of the dial will have the laces contouring perfectly around your feet for a super secure and comfortable downhill run. 

The Fit

With the Jackal II you get a raised inner mini-gaiter that comes up over the lower ankle and forms a loose seal, this does a fabulous job of keeping grit and other debris at bay, the first time I had to remove anything from inside the shoe was after 70 miles of running across some gnarly Mallorcan trails. 

When you look at the profile of the shoe you’d be forgiven for thinking that it is a little shy on cushioning at the forefoot. There appears to be generous wedge of foam under the heel that extends to the midfoot but then it seems to taper, this is mainly due to the 7mm drop. However, when wearing the shoe it’s obvious that looks can be deceiving as the cushioning is evenly spread. A good energy return is felt when pushing off and there is little impact felt when striking the ground. 

Don’t get me wrong these don’t have the same “bounce per ounce” as the inov-8 G280’s that Dan Stinton reviewed earlier this year but they are still very good and offer a high level of overall cushioning on a variety of terrains. It weighs in at 270g per shoe which is in the lighter quartile of shoes in its class and helps to add to the overall comfort feel. 

It has a subtle yet effective toe bumper that offers a good level of protection and the toe box allows for a wide toe spread. Normally with a wider fit across the toes there is a bit of movement which can cause some blistering, however, due to the lacing systems wrapping the forefoot across the knuckle of the big toe there is no sliding inside the shoe which makes for a more comfortable foot fall. 

Impact Brake System

If you turn the shoe over and read the embossed messages on the sole you’ll see that these shoes have an “impact brake system”. This refers to the lug configuration and similar to other shoes in its class is designed to provide increased friction. The downside to this in other shoes is that when the shoe grips your foot keeps moving slightly inside it, causing those pesky blisters or the trophy black toe nails. The fit of the Jackal II BOA means that this movement is eliminated and therefore the “braking” system leads to a very confidence-inspiring downhill experience, especially on technical descents. 

To those of us that aren’t used to seeing “dials” on our trail shoes, at first glance the aesthetics of the Jackal II BOA might seem a bit futuristic. Think Michael J Fox’s Back to the Future sneakers (if you’re under the age of 40, Google is your friend), but in my opinion they do look very good indeed, minimalist looks give an elegant appearance that belies the robustness of the design. If you’re not a fan of yellow, they come in a blue and there is also a white variety although why a white trail shoe I’ll never know. As you’ll know, to me looks aren’t everything, but if they are to you then these will tick that box and then some.

You may have guessed to where this is heading. This shoe is quite simply brilliant; it is by far the best trail shoe I have run in and is my go to for any outing over any terrain. Price wise you can get a pair for around £150 (May 2023) which these days seems about the norm for a high end shoe and actually, considering the quality of the design, and it’s functionality, is actually good value. 

Robin Bush is the co-owner of RunUltra. He’s an experienced mountain runner, who has run many of the classics including the Dragon’s Back and The Spine.

Read Anna Buckingham’s Jackal II Review

Read Kate Allen’s inov-8 TRAILFLY G270 V2 Review

Buy La Sportiva Jackal II BOA mens

Buy La Sportiva Jackal II BOA women’s

The post La Sportiva Jackal II BOA Shoe Review appeared first on Run Ultra.

The talk on the streets about Graphene for the last couple of years had me curious, particularly after publishing our review on the inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 280 last November. Now, their latest offering, the inov-8 TRAILFLY G 270 V2, sounded too good to be true. When Sportsshoes asked me to review them, I was ready to try them again.

Introduction

First impressions out of the box are that it’s a good looking shoe. The modest pine green version was sent to me and in terms of shape and style, I really liked them. The upper mesh is protected by an overlay that hugs your foot but keeps your forefoot open. inov-8 say this overlay has been repositioned to allowing a “greater stretch and breathability across the forefoot”. I have wide feet and putting these on out of the box, these fit perfectly and felt very comfy. The inov-8 TRAILFLY G 270 V2 come in inov-8’s widest shoe fitting; 5 on their scale of 1-5. 

I hadn’t received the tech sheet at the time of receiving the shoes, although I don’t tend to read it anyway until I come to write my review. I prefer to get a feel for a shoe or other gear without the official line in my head. So I didn’t realise they were zero drop for quite a while. In hindsight this could have been an issue, given the mileage I’ve done in them already and the fact I’ve not run in zero drop shoes since 2017, when my first pair of Altras also fell to pieces. 

However, when you live in the hills, it’s less noticeable and has less of an impact on your calves, when they’re already stretching and compressing to their limit as you go up and down. It does explain why I found them so comfortable, easy to run in and feel how trail running shoes should fit. The zero drop nicely offsets the stack height of 22mm to give you a stable and responsive landing when you run and the rocky paths of the dales where I train were no issue for my feet at all.

Technical stuff

Given that this is my first pair of inov-8’s for many years, I was also curious to see what all the fuss was about with the Graphene. inov-8’s own website is short on the nitty-gritty so I delved into Google to find out exactly what it is and how it positively affects footwear. Let’s get technical for a minute.

“The addition of both 0.1 and 0.2 wt% graphene significantly improves the energy absorption characteristics of the foam when used in real footwear. 0.2 wt% soles were also 30 % stiffer than the reference soles – a very useful property that aids in propulsion during running. And samples with 0.1 wt% graphene performed well in abrasion tests – resistance to damage was 40% higher than the reference foam.”  ¹

So, if my understanding of reading the above is correct, the graphene added to the foam used for cushioning is not only softer, but the energy return is greater and the resistance to damage is 40% greater. Great! But how does it improve the grip?

“When added to the rubber used in inov-8’s G-Series shoes, graphene imparts all its properties, including its strength,” Dr. Aravind Vijayaraghavan, a nanomaterials researcher at the University of Manchester said in a 2017 press release². “The graphene-enhanced rubber can flex and grip to all surfaces more effectively, without wearing down quickly, providing reliably strong, long-lasting grip. This is a revolutionary consumer product that will have a huge impact on the sports footwear market.”  ²

OK now I understand the hype! Not only should they keep my feet protected for 100kms of rocky paths, but they should also last longer too. What’s not to love?

Sustainability

Which brings me neatly to inov-8’s sustainability. They have three “pillars” for their sustainability;

• making their products more durable
• reducing their impact on the planet
• supporting their local community.

Great for us, the consumer, to be able to base an environmental decision on whether to buy or not. The biggest impact on us, however, is the cost and balancing that with durability. 

Comparing like for like, inov-8 are comparable with other major brands on price. We all wince now at the cost of quality trail shoes, but if they last then it’s worth it. Instead of looking at the immediate cost of an item of clothing, consider instead what the price is “per wear”. That piece of wisdom I was taught as a child is even more important and relevant today.

I cannot yet comment on the longevity of these shoes, but inov-8’s use of graphene must have a beneficial effect on the durability. The weak point will be the uppers but the new overlay will hopefully offset that weakness. inov-8 say the redesigned upper is proven to be 25% more durable and uppers are also the easiest to repair.

Performance

I used the inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 270 V2 for a 27 mile recce of the Ultra Trail Snowdonia 100km race. After the recce I was so pleased with them I decided then and there to make them my shoe for the race. The stony trails around Snowdonia are exactly what they are designed for. After a long day, and the longest run I’d done for ages, my feet were genuinely unaffected by the miles. No aching, no soreness, no blisters. That’s a huge win for me and my delicate soles.

They’re light; the average weight across the size range is 270g. The ladies should weigh in around 220g but because I use inserts, it brings my size 6’s up to 257g (interestingly I had no idea my inserts weighed so much!). The tongue has been improved, form fitting with better padding. This is a detail often over looked as the need to tie laces tightly can often leave the bridge of my foot in pain. 

More tech

There’s much talk of the Powerflow Max midsole and Boomerang insole. Again, I’m keen to try and understand these technologies and how they specifically apply to these shoes, so let me get technical once more.

“Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a melt-processable thermoplastic elastomer with high durability and flexibility. It has the characteristics of both plastic and rubber and thus exhibit properties like durability, flexibility as well as excellent tensile strength.”  ³

Sportsshoes makes it clearer:

“The midsole foam is our durable POWERFLOW MAX foam which, in terms of energy return, propels back 52%-55% of the energy you put into every stride.

It comes with our interchangeable BOOMERANG footbed, which gives 40% more energy return versus standard footbeds.”  ⁴

So there’s loads of it in the midsole and in the Boomerang insole, which is why they feel so responsive and comfortable. And it should also add to the durability of the shoes – another plus.

Conclusion

For years I used a highly cushioned shoe for summer ultras but as I moved more to mountain racing, I realised they were not suited to rough terrain. These inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 270 V2 are the perfect replacement. They’re cushioned enough for rough terrain and foot protection whilst remaining solid and stable on uneven terrain. They hold and encompass my foot firmly and their grip is good enough for all but the worst winter terrain.

Well done inov-8 – you’ve won this customer back!

Want to buy some inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 270 V2? Shop on Sportsshoes.com

Join us!

Have you tried the inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 270 V2? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment below this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

Not a member yet? Sign up here to be part of the RunUltra community. Share tips and stories with thousands of fellow runners around the world.

We are a professional review site and our reviewers receive free products for testing from the companies whose products we review. RunUltra tests each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. The opinions expressed here are by the reviewer’s name shown

About the author: Kate Allen is co-owner and Editor of RunUltra and digital editor of ULTRA Magazine and in her spare time can be found running and racing with her dog Mac around the hills of the Peak and Lake District.

Links

Other reviews similar to the inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 270 V2 you might like: 

inov-8 Parkclaw G280

Scott Supertrac 3.0

Resources

• 1 https://www.materialstoday.com/carbon/news/graphene-could-make-sport-shoe-soles-more-robust/
• 2 https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=37879
• 3 https://omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/thermoplastic-polyurethanes-tpu
• 4 https://www.sportsshoes.com/trail/trail-running/kit-technology/explaining-the-inov-8-trailfly-running-shoe-range/

Header images courtesy of inov-8

The post inov-8 TRAILFLY G 270 V2 Review appeared first on Run Ultra.

Features:

• Upper – Textile / Synthetic
• Drop – 6 in mm
• Lug depth – 3,5 mm
• Heel stack height – 33 mm
• Forefoot stack height – 27 mm
• Weight – 230 g
• Lacing system – Quicklace®
• Waterproofness – None
• OUTSOLE: All Terrain Contagrip®
• MIDSOLE: Energy Foam
• RESPONSIVE TECHNOLOGY: Energy Blade Trail running
• UPPER CONSTRUCTION: Soft collar construction
• LACING SYSTEM: Quicklace

Out-of-the-box the shoes felt light, with Salomon’s signature lacing system in place. A first glance the sole made me think that these shoes would be for dry trails rather than deep mud or the peat bogs of the Peak District where I live. 

Initial impression on fit was that the shoe was nice and roomy at the toe box, which is unusual as I have previously found the Salomon’s tend to fit a little narrow towards the front. These had plenty of width, without feeling baggy. I was surprised when I wore them to run in for the first time as they felt as cushioned as a road shoe, but made for the trails, which suited me perfectly.  I was also a little sceptical of the quick lace system for a trail shoe, as I was unsure I would be able to tighten the laces enough to hold my foot in place over uneven terrain, but during wear there was very little lateral movement once the lace was pulled tightly. Another plus for this shoe. 

During my run I could really feel the cushioning and the energy blade system in the sole made you feel like you were being propelled forward, whilst not feeling heavy. On technical ground, I felt the Salomon Trail Pro was not as stable and lacked the confidence on uneven rough ground where a lower profile shoe would be better. The dual foam and blade combination, however, gave a responsive feel when navigating less arduous terrain and it is the combination of the TPU plate, the foam in the midsole and the sole design which gives the added forward propulsion. 

I used the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro for a variety of different distances, the longest run being 18 miles, and they were comfortable and cushioned enough to cope with that sort of distance. The sock-like upper around the ankle ensured that there were no hot spots and it felt snug throughout the whole run, without any restriction. The only downside to the shoe was that it came in white, and I have been unable to get it clean again since the first wear.

Overall, I would recommend these shoes could be used for a variety of distances and would be most suitable for the runner that requires that little bit more bounce as these are so lightweight and cushioned. It is most suited to dry, hardpacked trails and over rocky ground where the cushioning really comes into play. The Pulsar Trail Pro is a great shoe for those looking for speed and lightness and I think would make a great racing shoe over dry, uncomplicated trails. The Trail Pro will provide decent cushioning and stability in the long races.

What they say:

PULSAR TRAIL PRO is quick and nimble and packed with our most responsive tech to propel you forwards and keep your transitions smooth, however long the run. Energy Blade built into the springy midsole activates propulsion and drive, while Energy Foam gives your run extra pop and response. An anti-debris collar keeps out trail rubble.

Have you tried the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment to this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

Not a member yet? Sign up here to be part of the RunUltra community and share tips and stories with thousands of fellow runners around the world.

We are a professional review site and our reviewers receive free products for testing from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are by the reviewer’s name shown.

About the writer:  Mel Sykes is Yorkshire born and bred. She’s an ultra runner, triathlete and fell walker who has a thing for cereal. When she’s not wandering across the moors, she can be found bagging Wainwrights and exploring the UK’s long distance footpaths. Her favourite meals all involve gravy.

The post Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro Review appeared first on Run Ultra.

First impressions out of the box were very good. The colours appealed to me, a simple orange and teal (officially known as pine/nectar), looking stylish and well designed. The patterned knitted upper looks great with inov-8 branding at the heel and the trademark footprint on the tongue. There are other colour options for the men’s shoes: a grey/blue and a red. There is also a women’s version of the TRAILFLY but there is only one colour available, a red/burgundy.

The sole looks rugged enough and is infused with graphene to allegedly provide a tougher grip. There’s a groove around the middle of the sole (known as the Adapter Flex) and you can quite easily bend the shoe at this point with the theory being this provides more underfoot control. The toe cap seems ok but I would say slightly softer than some other shoes – maybe try not to kick too many rocks!

Features

• Nitrogen gas infused midsole (known as FLYSPEED)
• Weight 280g
• Graphene-enhanced rubber outsole with 4mm lugs
• Designed for long-distance performance
• Wide-fit
• Price: £165

I’ve given these a decent bashing over a wide-variety of terrain from easy going trails to completely off-path on the soggy hills in the Peak District, squelching through mud, scraping through heather and clambering up rocks. I’m not sure this could be classed as “Trailflying” but it has been great fun all the same.

Pros: What’s good about the inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G280

They are wide! For a slab-footed person such as myself who potentially has room for a 6^th toe, width is a really important factor. The extra width is a feature often included for shoes marketed at the ultrarunning audience to accommodate any enlargement/expansion of the feet over such long distance.

inov-8 rate them as a width of 5 (from 1-5) so the widest that they do. From my perspective they fitted perfectly, although I had chosen a half-size up from my normal running shoe size of 9.5. I often have shoes ripping at the “knuckle” of my toes, but with the wide toe-box the knitted upper, so far, shows no signs of wear and seems robust. The upper is breathable and seems to keep the feet at a decent temperature (a steady freezing in October in the north).

What about the nitrogen? Well, these shoes certainly are comfy to run in and the sole feels well cushioned along the whole of the foot. I would even go so far as to say slightly bouncy, helping to maintain pace on the trails. It’s also worth noting the sustainability credentials from inov-8 suggesting the use of nitrogen gas saves an estimated 50% of energy during creation of the midsole compared to the other chemicals that would have to be used. Furthermore, the factory where they are manufactured moving towards 100% sustainable-use energy.

The grip works well, I ran in the TRAILFLY ULTRAs well beyond hard packed trails and during one run ended up scrambling up a waterfall. The grip on rock is good and gave me confidence to keep up the pace. Wet rock always seems a tough one to conquer and generally these seemed to perform well as an all-rounder. They are very adaptive over uneven terrain which may be down to the groove along the middle of the sole.

Cons: What’s not so good about the Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G280

I feel like I might be clutching at straws here, but I did find myself having to stop multiple times to re-tie the laces, even trying a “double-knot”. This was particularly noticeable when running off-trail within the undergrowth which may snagged on the laces a little and pulled them loose. Slightly frustrating but not really a major concern. I also wouldn’t necessarily pick these for a shorter distance race, as I’d probably prefer something a bit more rigid, but obviously that’s not really what they’re designed for.

My only other comment would be the price, which seems to be at the upper end of the scale for trail running shoes.

Conclusion

inov-8 aren’t usually a brand I pick after trying a couple of shoes in the past that just didn’t suit me, but the TRAILFLY ULTRA G 280 has really grabbed my attention. I think they look great (particularly the colour for this review) and fit me perfectly. They’ve been great on all sorts of terrain but they perform best on hard packed trails. 

I’d have no hesitation to pick these out for longer runs knowing that they’d keep my feet comfortable for hours. How much of this relates to the nitrogen infused midsole I don’t know, but the foam mix works excellently and combined with the outsole and “adapter flex” groove they’re amongst some of the comfiest trail/ultra shoes I’ve tried. As I look through my shoe collection, I’d reach straight for these if I’m doing anything that’s off road and not overly technical.

Have you tried the inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 280? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment to this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

Not a member yet? Sign up here to be part of the RunUltra community and share tips and stories with thousands of fellow runners around the world.

We are a professional review site and our reviewers receive free products for testing from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are by the reviewer’s name shown.

About the writer: Dan Stinton is a former Editor of RunUltra. He’s a Peak District based runner collecting mud and scrapes in and around Glossop, and he likes nothing more than escaping into the Dark Peak and then writing about how difficult it was.

The post inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 280 Review appeared first on Run Ultra.

You may know them as an obstacle racing shoe, promoted by Jonathon Albon but there’s more to the brand. Their shoes have helped many athletes in various all-terrain sports including trail running, OCR, sky running, and orienteering achieve their dreams and win world championships.

As a company they give a nod towards social and environmental responsibility, I do believe they could do more, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction. 

I was sent the VJ Ultra, the Finnish brand’s cushioned trail running shoe designed to keep you comfortable after longer mileage on technical trails.

Features

• Fit Scale – 4
• Gender (details) – Unisex
• Midsole stack – 22mm/16mm
• Outsole – Superior Contact
• Upper – 22% DuPont Kevlar®, 78% Nylon
• Lug depth – 4mm
• Weight – 265g (UK 8)
• RRP – £149 from VJ Shoes

Some of the key features

FITLOCK ENSURES FIT

Innovative system designed to improve the fit of the shoe, making it feel like part of your body. Integrated with the lacing, the Fitlock system tightens the shoe on the inside and under the arch of your foot.

DURABLE MESH-UPPER WITH DUPONT KEVLAR®

Durable and breathable upper is a mix of Kevlar® fibres and nylon. It excels in the toughest of terrains and endures all conditions.

A bit about what I like/dislike in a running trainer.

I am not someone who likes too much cushioning, I train and race in “racing” style trainers, the Salomon S/LAB sense SG, or if it’s really muddy then a set of Inov-8 x-talon. Light, responsive, and fast. But not very durable, I probably get 300-400 miles out of them.  Stepping into 100k and 100-mile training and racing I wanted to find a pair of trainers which gave a touch more cushioning. BUT, all of them feel at best sluggish at worst like you’re on stilts. If, like me you’ve struggled to find the “in-between” shoe then wait no longer.

“In rides the VJ ultra”

You could save yourself some time and just go and buy a pair, or you could read on and go buy a pair, but you need to buy a pair.

Sizing

A bit short, I was advised to size up .5 or 1 size, the advice was correct.

Width

The toe box is wide enough for your toes to spread out, it’s comfortable but it’s still snug enough to hold your foot in place.  Some have commented it’s too tight for an ultra-shoe, I disagree.  The Ultra is the widest shoe VJ make.

Midsole

The VJ Ultra 2 uses a single slab of relatively lightweight EVA with a flexible rock plate.  The rock plate adds rigidity to the forefoot but doesn’t restrict flexibility and it certainly doesn’t make the trainer unstable, and doesn’t feel like a traditional “Max” style trainer

Best grip on the planet?

VJ have a patented Butyl rubber, is so tacky you may notice a “sticking” sound when waking around and during the first few runs. I live on the Mendips, 4 months of the year it’s ankle-deep mud, I know what grip is, 4mm lugs probably won’t cut it, but I’ll be sure to find out.  I have worn them on very steep inclines and declines, over wet rock, on loose stones and I can say they’re up there with the best.  It’s what you would expect from a brand centred around OCR racing.  

Tongue

The VJ Ultra has a soft suede-type material on the underside of the tongue.  That material also extends around the edge of the tongue.  It provides a bit of comfort and protection.

Durability

An idea of what they’ve put up with.

Numerous mountain runs lasting 2-6 hours, steep up and downs, rocky, rooty; everything a mountain offers.  Probably about 45 very steep hill reps (33% gradient), a boat load of rolling Mendip hills, hard pack trail, a bit of mud and some road.  Most of my trainers give up the ghost at the “fold” that occurs when you walk/run up steep terrain, not the VJ Ultra.  

374 miles, (yes, I keep a spreadsheet) At this point I’m usually praying to the running gods that my trainers don’t fall apart, there is zero sign of any shredding, damage, folding.  There’s a little bit of degradation on the sole but it’s kind of what you would expect after so many miles.

Colour.

It’s green, sickly green/yellow, the only time I’ve ever wanted to get my trainers covered in mud, unfortunately we’ve gone through a dry spell, so they remain bright, and green and weird yellow.  Categorically the worst thing about this trainer is the colour.  Please can we have a black version?

Value.

£149.00, I’m not one to pay over £100.00 for trainers, I like to wait for a sale, but the VJ Ultra is such a good trainer that seems like it will last for a lot of miles.  It’s a similar price point to its rivals.

Conclusion.

If you’re looking for a bullet proof, off road (with a little on road) cushioned/ultra-trainer then you really can’t go wrong with the VJ Ultra.  It has decent grip on all terrain (yet to be tested in deep mud) it will give you the confidence to run fast downhill, the ground feel and responsiveness really is good and is miles away from a traditional “Max” ultra-trainer. The cushioning will protect your legs on the longer runs. Other reviews have suggested the VJ Ultra is more suited to the runners at the front of a race, it’s certainly a trainer I’ll be wearing when racing ultras, but I do think it’s a trainer for everyone. They may not be for the fashion conscious, and some may want some carbon at the £149.00 price point.

Having never really considered VJ before I’ll certainly be trying out other trainers in their range.

About the author: Stuart Leaney is the current course record holder at Centurion Wendover Woods 50 and 100 mile races and a regular winner at Centurion Running events.

Have you tried VJ Ultra shoes? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment to this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

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We are a professional review site and our reviewers receive free products for testing from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are by the reviewer’s name shown

The post VJ Ultra Review appeared first on Run Ultra.

Sometimes you pull on something new & know immediately it’s not for you. Thankfully that didn’t happen here. Despite the huge difference in stack height & heel to toe drop to the shoes I usually wear, the inov-8 Parkclaw G 280 felt like they were made for my feet & were immediately comfortable.

Features

• Graphene-enhanced rubber for the world’s toughest grip
• 4mm lugs designed to grip on trail and ride smooth on road
• Graphene-enhanced G-FLY foam for more bounce & cushioning
• 8mm drop boosts comfort over long distances
• Boomerang footbed gives 40% more bounce than standard ones
• Knitted mesh upper for comfort and breathability
• RRP £160

What Inov-8 Says

“Featuring Graphene – the world’s strongest material – in the rubber outsole and foam midsole, the PARKCLAW G 280 road-to-trail running shoe delivers outstanding performance and enhanced durability, with zero compromises.”

The G-GRIP rubber outsole boasts 98 cleats per shoe – all 4mm in length – that serves up both a claw-like trail grip and a smooth on-road ride. Above that, the G-FLY foam midsole – combined with a raised 8mm drop – propels 25% more energy return for a fast-feel stride enhanced with cushioning and comfort.

In both cases, the Graphene imparts its unbeatable strength to ensure the rubber and foam retain their incredible powers for longer.A light, breathable, yet durably engineered, mesh upper further enhances the all-round comfort, while the super-springy BOOMERANG footbed delivers yet more bounce and cushioning.”

For their first outing, I wore them on a Wednesday night club run around Croydon’s Lloyd Park & Addington Hills.

Starting with the grip. To match the door-to-trail focus, the graphene-enhanced outsole features 98 multi-directional lugs for trail grip (I didn’t count them, I am taking inov-8’s word for it…!) alongside larger contact surfaces for a smoother road ride.

The route I ran was a mixture of grassland, woodland trails, a small section of loose gravel & far too much tarmac for my liking (but a good test for the shoe). It’s such a versatile shoe that the graphene-enhanced rubber dealt superbly with almost every surface I threw at it. The 4mm lugs are deep enough to give excellent grip on the woodland paths & grassy trails & small enough to be barely noticeable on the tarmac. With plenty of forgiving cushioning, the shoe moved smoothly & seamlessly from trail to road.

Compared to how it performed on woodland trails & roads, I felt the shoe struggled slightly with traction on loose gravel paths. Just a minor grievance that was possibly accentuated by how well they did on every other surface.

My next run in them saw me take to my favoured North Downs Way. Similar terrain to the Croydon trails; dry, hard-packed mud, woodland paths with exposed roots to jump, long grassy hills to climb & descend & fields of crops to traverse. I pushed the shoe hard, throwing myself up & down hills with reckless abandonment – how would they cope at pace? 

The answer is superbly.

When I am pounding up & down hills with 25% gradients, I want to be 100% confident that my shoe will support me. With an 8mm drop, the flexible forefoot makes them a great climber whilst the push forward is fast. I already knew that the grip was solid the test here was cushioning & bounce.

I like cushioned shoes. The new Graphene-enhanced G-FLY cushioned foam is said by inov-8 to “give 25% more energy return.” And importantly it feels great underfoot. The landing as I was flying down hills was light & responsive. The flexible forefront gave the shoe great agility whilst the super-springy Boomerang footbed delivered incredible bounce & cushioning.

The shoes weigh in at 280g which is about half the weight of my usual trail shoe & incredibly light for the amount of cushioning squeezed into the Parkclaw. I loved how light, almost invisible, the inov-8 Parkclaw G 280 felt on my feet. Such was the responsiveness, at times it almost felt as if I wasn’t wearing shoes at all.

This is also a great marker of the fit & make of the shoe.

The knitted mesh upper makes the shoe incredibly comfortable. Almost like slippers. It moulds snuggly around the top of the foot providing a good combination of comfort & security whilst still allowing the feet to breathe. The knitted mesh is malleable & so moves & flexes with your foot. I’ve worn some running shoes that are so rigid it feels as if your foot is imprisoned. The inov-8 Parkclaw G 280 are not like that at all. When I first pulled them on, it almost felt as if they had been made especially for my feet. I wore an 8.5. I usually wear a size 8 in road shoes & so sized up by half a size.

A rubber-enhanced toe bumper gives the toes added protection from accidental kicking of rocks & roots (a frequent occurrence for me) whilst maintaining overall comfort. Although the bumper was rigid on the outside, I barely felt it on the inside of the shoe.

Due to slight hypermobility in my joints, I always use the extra lacing eyelet to give more stability to my ankles. This gave excellent support & hold around my heels. The laces themselves are made of that slightly thicker, textured material that grips as you tie them making them less likely to come undone mid-run. I also liked the panel running down the centre of the tongue that held the laces & tongue in place.

These features all helped my ankles feel secure which for someone who frequently roles them due to hypermobility is an important consideration. Aided by a fair amount of padding on the tongue & around the heel, once on my feet, these shoes were not going anywhere!

I’ve already mentioned the huge difference in stack height & heel to toe drop to the shoes & being closer to the ground did take some getting used to. Being sensible, I gradually increased the distance running with them. 

As the distance increased, I noticed the feel of the ground under my feet more than I am used to & for me, the forefoot felt a bit thin on longer runs. I would have possibly liked an extra mm or two between my foot & the ground. It may be that I get used to this over time but it does, for now, make me think that these shoes are slightly more suited to shorter distances.

At £160 RRP, this is not a cheap running shoe. According to inov-8, the outsole rubber is 50% stronger, 50% more elastic & 50% harder wearing than regular rubber & if this is reflected in durability, then they may well prove to be excellent value for money. Sometimes it’s worth paying the price for what is an important piece of kit to get right.

Overall, I think this is a great all-around hybrid shoe that will happily take you from door to trail during the drier spring & summer months. I would be interested to see how they performed in winter or wet conditions & perhaps on a rockier trail (maybe even wet rock). For the dry, hard-packed trails of the southeast, they are an ideal shorter-distance summer door-to-trail shoe.

Pros

• Lightness – I loved how light, almost invisible, the inov-8 Parkclaw G 280 felt on my feet
• Responsiveness – The shoes responded really quickly to the changes in terrain.

Cons

• Thinness – the forefoot felt a bit thin on longer runs. I almost wanted an extra mm or two between my foot & the ground.
• Gravel – I felt the shoe struggled slightly with traction on loose gravel paths.

Ratings out of 10

Design 9/10 – I’m ignoring the yellow colour (a bit bright for me!). Aesthetically these shoes look good & they attracted a lot of positive attention & comment when I wore them on a club run.

Features 9/10 – Jam-packed with features; from graphene-enhanced rubber for the world’s toughest grip, to the G-Fly foam for more cushion & the Boomerrang footbed for more bounce. The stand-out feature for me was simply how comfortable these shoes are.

Value 7/10 – Whilst crammed with features, they are not cheap shoes & the £160 price tag will simply be too high for many. Having only worn them for a few months I don’t know yet if they have the durability that I would expect from this price point. If they do, the score may well increase over time.

Performance 8/10 – In the few months that I have been wearing these shoes they have performed superbly on almost every surface I threw at them, (except for gravel). providing plenty of cushioning on-road and adequate grip on the trail. Inov-8 says that the shoe delivers outstanding performance & I can’t argue with that!

About the writer: Ally is a photographer & entrepreneur based in Croydon, South London with a love of all things photography, coffee, gin, books, running & the great outdoors. Follow her here:

Have you tried the inov-8 Parkclaw G 280? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment to this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

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What they say 

“Running in the mountains demands self- sufficiency, and as distances increase we know that every gram counts. Our Skyline range is designed with ultralight materials without compromising on weather protection. Reliable and resilient, you can do more and take less. Discover the freedom to venture further, uninterrupted and immersed in your element.”

We were sent a pair of Talus Ultra shorts and a Sonic Ultra Tee from the Skyline Collection.

Women’s Talus Ultra Shorts

Features:

• Fit: Slim
• Weight: 87g/3.1oz (Size 10)
• Matrix Aero (84gsm) with fluorocarbon-free DWR
• Flexile 100 with fluorocarbon-free DWR
• Integrated secure back yolk pocket in lightweight mesh, perfect for phone or gels
• Separate small key pocket
• Split hem for better freedom of movement
• Main: 86% polyester, 14% elastane. Second: 85% polyamide, 15% elastane
• RRP £50

These shorts are super lightweight; you can barely feel them and the protection the technical fabrics offer is hard to believe. The Matrix fabric offers wind protection and breathability and the addition of the fluorocarbon-free DWR ensures you stay dry too.

There are some nice features; the tab across the split in the legs to give extra strength; the soft lining short; the reflective logo. The lining is Flexile 100 which is really soft; it has an almost fleecey feel to it. Rab mention a “compression style fit” but I certainly didn’t feel compressed in any way. The waist band is very comfortable; it fitted snugly without making me feel restricted. 

I’ve not come across an inner lining on women’s shorts before and I quickly realised they would help reduce that thigh chafe women so often get. The small sticky dots that stop the liner from riding up the leg are well thought out. So often I have found a single elasticated band can stick painfully to my skin after sweating so these dots are far kinder. When running, they’re really comfortable to run in – those little dots are actually enough to stop the lining ride up the thigh and that soft fleecy feeling is lovely.

There’s a good sized mesh pocket on the rear of the waist band large enough for a phone, some gels and other sundries, but the tiny internal key pocket is just that – it would fit a single yale key and nothing else. I like the pocket on the back and nothing bounces around when you’re moving.

Women’s Sonic Ultra Tee

Features:

• Fit: Slim
• Weight: 62g/2.2oz (Size 10)
• Motiv Aero single jersey fabric with subtle mesh structure (85gsm) with odour control treatment
• Lightweight fast wicking fabric with bulk yarn technology 
• Microactive seams are strong and soft inside for comfort
• Reflective branding
• Sweat mapped design
• 100% polyester
• Centre back length (Size 10): 64.5cm / 25.4inch
• RRP £40

The Tee is just as lightweight as the shorts and the Motiv fabric is great at moisture wicking. There are ventilation holes across the back and under the sleeves, which helps air flow. The technology behind the fabric is that it has a greater surface area than other fabrics, allowing sweat and moisture to be dispersed much quicker.

During exercise it feels gossamer light and the ventilation works to keep you feeling cool and comfortable. It’s also been treated with an antibacterial treatment which helps prevent the garment from whiffing too much after you’ve been working out. I’m not sure I’d want to put it on again after a workout, but certainly if you’re going to a public place after a run, you could hold your head up high as you walk into a café for a post run coffee and cake. 

Like the shorts, there are reinforced seams on the hems to increase durability. The fabric is very soft and comfortable against the skin, but I do wonder how durable the fabric would be on a rough UK trail with brambles or gorse snagging at you. However, it’s very comfortable and drops to a nice length on my hips; not too long and allows movement and air up from the bottom hem.

Conclusion

Both pieces are well made and much thought has gone into detailing to aid the mountain runner. Being such light pieces, I’d wear these in high summer for training and races where their lightness and moisture-wicking properties would be put to greatest use.

Both the shorts and tee are really comfortable to wear, the fabrics are soft to touch and they have flatlock seams and stitch free hems which are all designed for the long term comfort of an ultra runner in mind.

I was sent these items to test back in November, and although I couldn’t wear them initially for the conditions they were designed for, I was able to wear the tee as a base layer and it was very comfortable to wear under a long sleeved windproof top out running. Both tee and shorts were used on the indoor rowing machine, which even in winter gets you hot and sweaty very quickly and they were both really comfortable to wear and dried really fast when I stopped.

Price wise I think both these items are really good value; you’d be hard pressed to find such good quality running shorts or tee for a similar price elsewhere. 

Rab as a company doing their best to make real sustainable environmental changes and they have used a fluorocarbon-free DWR on the shorts. Across the company they are continually making improvements, whether it’s using 63% of recycled fabrics on their garments or simply offering customers the opportunity to wash, repair and renew old favourite bits of kit. You can find out more here. 

Have you tried Raw Skyline clothing? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment below this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

Not a member yet? Sign up here to be part of the RunUltra community and share tips and stories with thousands of fellow runners around the world.

We are a professional review site and our reviewers receive free products for testing from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are by the reviewer’s name shown

About the author: Kate Allen is Editor of RunUltra and in her spare time can be found running and racing with her dog Mac around the hills of the Peak and Lake District.

The post Rab skyline Shorts and Tee appeared first on Run Ultra.

I tested this watch for 1 month using it for everyday use to monitor steps and HR, uploading run routes to follow which I’ve not used before, and for wearing during running, cycling and swimming activities. 

Features

• Measurements: 43 x 43 x 10.6 mm / 1.69 x 1.69 x 0.42 “
• Weight: 52g
• Battery:
• 14 days in time mode
• 7 days with tracking and mobile notifications
• Breadcrumb mapping in real time
• Wrist based media controls (when paired to a phone)
• Barometric Altimeter now standard – previously unavailable on lower end units
• Snap to Route function
• 80 sport modes
• Optical heart rate sensor with SP02 readings
• 22mm watch bands
• Quick charge in less than 60 minutes from 0–100%
• Over the air software updates

First impressions

First impressions of the Suunto were great. The watch is light at only 52g, the strap is comfortable to wear and the screen size at 43mm does not look too bulky on my wrist. It was easy to connect the charger to the watch as well as you just place it near the magnetic disc and it snaps into place. It took less than an hour to give it a full charge which, when you want to start using something straight away, was great. I downloaded the Suunto app to my phone and was ready to go. 

Useability 

Like most things these days the Suunto is touch screen to navigate your way through the menus. For me, the watch would be far better and offer a much more user-friendly experience if they hadn’t bothered. The touch screen system is slow to respond, and I found myself poking at the screen a few times some days until it would register that I was using it. 

There are 3 buttons on the right-hand side of the watch and I can’t help but think that being able to use those alone would have been a far better option. The touch screen function then locks whilst using the watch for activities. My other small bug bear with the screen is that even though it’s advertised at a 43mm watch face there is a thick black line around the edge of the screen which reduces the display to 30mm. Having the screen reach the outer edges of the watch, or just having the black surround narrower, would have made it far clearer to use and would allow some of the text to be in a larger font. 

The watch strap, although comfortable to wear has been changed (I presume to make to make it more aesthetically pleasing) to a little plug that neatly sits into the holes along the strap. It looks great; however it often pops out when catching on clothing or when I moved in the night which then left the strap flapping around. Great idea, but not very user friendly. 

The watch comes pre loaded with 80 sport modes and by connecting your watch to the app you can add new customised ones to the list. The app is easy to use and the customisation of the data screens that you want during activity is also very user friendly. I had my data fields set up in no time with the options that I want to see whilst running which are distance, duration of activity, time of day, heart rate and pace. I found the screen easy to read whilst using during an activity and the start, pause, stop functions, which are the basics, do what they should. 

Activity tracking

I’d not previously been able to upload activities to my watch so this was a function I was keen to start using. I use OS maps or Komoot to plan trail routes and was surprised how easy this was to then export to the device. I uploaded a route for an upcoming event and set off to follow the ‘breadcrumb’ route on the watch. 

During activity the watch shows a black screen with the blue navigation line in the centre and as there are no other features on the screen, I did still manage to take the wrong path at points when there was a split in the trail or 3 paths heading off in different directions and one of them wasn’t an obvious footpath. I think for a quick glance and to know you’re heading in the right direction, it’s fine. 

One thing I didn’t like was that once you go off course the screen changes to a “off route” message that takes up the whole screen, and you just have to go back the way you came until it picks up the route again, I’d have preferred that it still showed the route on the screen once the off route message had gone so you could potentially re-join your route further along or take the next turning. I did manage to get around my route with only a few extra steps off course that day though and it definitely saved me having to keep looking at my OS app. 

Suunto market this watch as using ‘snap to route’, this is where you can upload your own route and the watch will rely on your uploaded route to navigate rather than taking the GPS signal. The website pushes this towards people that are running in city centres where the GPS signal can sometimes be thrown off or weak but in my couple of weeks testing the watch, and the fact that I mainly run trails or in the countryside this was not a function I needed. 

I also used the Suunto for tracking swimming at the pool and for on the bike and the data from this and my Garmin device were very similar. 

Other main functions of the watch that I use were the HR and step counter. I found the HR to be pretty accurate in everyday wear and it did seem to log similar readings to my HR strap whilst running and cycling. 

My watch did tell me that I was stressed a lot which it bases around HR and sleep data and as I was not wearing it to sleep this could have been why this was reading as it was. As with most watches these days there is also the added benefit of an SP02 sensor (pulse oximeter), personally this is not a function that I find useful and seems to be marketed towards using the watch at altitude. I also can’t see how if you are at a certain altitude you would be able to stand still enough for the 3 mins it takes to read your pulse, or the fact you would more than likely be wearing so many clothes that you would be unable to get to your wrist to activate the reading anyway. Anyway, it’s on there for the stat fans. 

I do like to use the step counter to keep a track of my ‘non training’ activity. I believe the Suunto over eggs your step counter and I could see the steps going up whilst I was washing up and even typing up this article so I think it may be a little over sensitive. It’s useful as a movement guide though if nothing else.

I also did use the sleep tracker for the first week or so but then ended up taking the watch off overnight. For me, the sleep data is not something I am interested in keeping a track of and I found myself looking at the data in the morning then wondering why I’d had a ‘bad’ sleep when I actually felt pretty well rested. 

I did find the Suunto app much clearer and user friendly than Garmin connect. There is much more data available (if a little too much) and the layout is easy to navigate. A downside for the Suunto app is that it does not have menstrual cycle tracking which is really handy as a female athlete and also you cannot currently link the Suunto app with MyFitnessPal which is another of the apps I use regularly. 

Battery life

One thing the Suunto does have is an amazing battery life. I had the watch for 5 weeks and only charged it to full 4 times and that was wearing it every day and tracking an activity 6/7 days. When it did need charging it takes less than an hour to get to full charge. Brilliant. It will also give you a little notification reminding you to charge it if you are going to be logging an activity that day.

Conclusion

Great looking watch that fits well, is nice and lightweight so you don’t realise you have it on. The app is data heavy for those that like stats and the route planning feature and syncing with the device is easy to use. It has a great battery life and charges to full within the hour which also means if you need to charge pre run it only needs 5 minutes then it will last you around your next activity. 

However, navigating the menus is slow with the touchscreen being mostly unresponsive on the first touch. I also found the display quite dark, even on the highest setting. I struggled to follow the directions once I had uploaded my route as the small screen means the blue line on a black background can be difficult to see. 

For me I’d like a bit more personalisation to both the watch and the app and the option to remove some of the data fields, although I know some people want as may numbers as possible, as run PTE, TSS and EPOC values only confuse me even more and I feel some things have been added to try and justify the price tag (£609).

After writing up my review of this watch I then read some other reviews online as I felt like I was missing something. It is an expensive device but just did not seem to live up to what my expectations of it were. A lot of other reviews I read seemed to also mention the lag in the touchscreen so I wonder if Suunto may look at this on future devices. The aesthetics of the watch are great though, and you’d struggle to find another GPS device that looks as neat, it’s just a shame the software lets it down. 

Have you tried the Suunto 9 Peak? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment to this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

Not a member yet? Sign up here to be part of the RunUltra community and share tips and stories with thousands of fellow runners around the world.

We are a professional review site and our reviewers receive free products for testing from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are by the reviewer’s name shown.

About the writer: Mel Sykes is Yorkshire born and bred. She’s an ultra runner, triathlete and fell walker who has a thing for cereal. When she’s not wandering across the moors, she can be found bagging Wainwrights and exploring the UK’s long distance footpaths. Her favourite meals all involve gravy.

The post Suunto 9 Peak appeared first on Run Ultra.

Being a natural fabric, its ability to keep you warm even when wet has always been an important factor for me. It is also excellent at regulating your temperature, is less smelly, and can be worn for a few days in a row with its natural antibacterial properties. Useful for those multi day events or wild camping.

So when we were asked to test a new merino brand Artilect, with their Nuyarn fabric, I was excited to see how they lived up to their claims.

Features

• Superior bluesign® approved 125GSM Nuyarn merino fabric technology offers extra loft for an unmatched warmth-to-weight ratio, 5x faster drying, and remarkable longterm durability 
•  Superfine 18 micron non-mulsed Australian merino Wool for maximum softness and wearability   
• Incredible stretch and recovery 
• Slim Tech Fit for maximum movement 
• Engineered seam and eyelet placements for increased  
• mobility and  breathability 
• No-chafe flatlock seams 
• Gusseted Underarms 
• Machine Washable 
• Hang-Dry Loop 
• £85 from Artilect

When you receive your package you can see that you have a quality item that has an ecological conscience. The packaging is all recyclable and merino wool is itself 100% renewable and Biodegradable. They even suggest ways to reuse the box. An excellent start.

The pedigree of Artilect reads like the outdoors equivalent of a champion racehorse, with many generations of outdoors experience and products being channelled into this brand. The whole brand feels professional and they have ambitions to provide a six layer, whole body, outdoor clothing system for athletes. The foundations of this ambition are the baselayer and “nextlayer” which are now for sale. 

Which brings us to the item I tested. I was sent the Women’s Goldhill 125 Zoned Crew in Sea Spray/Ash. This is the first layer, or A/Sys-1 in the Apparel System.

The first area it excels at is the length of the sleeves and body. There is nothing more irritating than a top that rides up your waist and lets drafts in. Normally I’d tuck it in to my tights or shorts to prevent this but being a longer length, you get far more benefit from being able to layer it properly and pull it down over your bottom. I found this immediately more warming, as active outer layers are always hip length. 

Equally, those long sleeves really give you plenty of room to pull them down over your hands and use the thumb loop, without feeling like you are garroting your thumb and having the sleeves over your wrists, under you gloves, really keeps you toasty.

But is it warmer? Yes I think it is. The New Zealand designed Nuyarn fabric does sound interesting and the explanation of how it works makes sense to me. 

“Our journey led us to Nuyarn®, an innovative merino engineering company who are pushing the limits of what fabrics can do. More than merino? We all know merino wool’s natural properties. Its multi-climate abilities, breathability, moisture absorption and odour reduction are well known, but traditional processes of spinning and tightly twisting the fibers inhibits the full power of its natural benefits. Traditional merino fabrics are prone to forming holes. Losing shape. Becoming heavy when wet and being significantly slower to dry than synthetic performance fabrics. Nuyarn technology is different. Unlike traditional core spun or ring spun methods, the patented twist free process of Nuyarn drafts merino fibers along a high-performance filament which amplifies the fiber’s natural properties. With the benefit of merino wool next to skin and synthetic on the inside, the performance of Nuyarn fabrics is unparalleled by any other fabric, natural or synthetic.”

Technological lesson aside, my concern is whether it works and I think it definitely does. In December I was supposed to run The Cheviot Goat, a 55 mile winter ultra race. Sadly it was cancelled due to Storm Arwen causing huge devastation the week before, but the decision wasn’t made until I was already on the road. Having arrived and paid for my accommodation, I went out the next day anyway for a 20 mile romp around the Cheviot Hills. 

I’d never been before and by all accounts the weather is even more unpredictable there than is in the rest of the country and true to form I started out in sunshine in the morning and by lunchtime was wading through a nasty combination of deep snow drifts and bog while it snowed heavily. 

I wore the Artilect base-layer, a light wind proof mid-layer, and my own leggings underneath waterproof trousers and coat, along with hat, buffs and gloves. Apart from taking the coat off as I climbed the first hill, and putting it back on just before I reached the top, I didn’t have to make any further adjustments to what I was wearing for the rest of the run.

This is quite remarkable, for me in any case. 6.5 hours of running, climbing, wading, hopping up hill and down. My speed was constantly fluctuating between spider crawling along a fence to avoid the worst of the bog, to running downhill freely. This would normally cause fluctuations in my temperature as my effort levels rose and fell. But it didn’t. I was comfortable throughout and for me to not need to put another midlayer or down jacket on when the going was slow was really surprising. 

On sustainability they say:

“ARTILECT is built to last, because making fewer things that last longer is the ultimate sustainability platform. At ARTILECT, our driving purpose is to deliver an unmatched performance experience, as well as create the least amount of impact on the world we love to play in. We believe that performance and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, and through innovation and technology, both can not only coexist, but actually complement each other.” 

“Merino wool is 100% renewable and biodegradable, and also uses significantly less energy and water in its production. Compared to synthetic options, natural merino wool also includes the added benefit of being free of the microplastics that have become an increasing threat to the health of our planet and its oceans.”

There’s no doubt that having the best quality clothing (or anything for that matter) that will last long term is better for the environment. That merino wool is renewable and biodegrable is great too. Their products are made in Vietnam however. I made enquiries through the website about this; both in their live chat service and via their contact form. I have yet to hear back from them.

I’ve had the top now for several weeks and it’s gone through the wash loads of times already. There has been no sagging or stretching so far. The colour selections for women are nice; muted tones or colourful brights, without being overly girly. 

Price wise the Artilect tops are competitive with similar merino brands full retail price. The equivalent in another brand is £75 and my merino top of choice is a slightly heavier 200gsm half zip hoodie which retails at £105.00. The Artilect top is lighter at 125gsm and more breathable, yet I would say just as warm as the 200gsm.

Cons? I would like to see a hoody version (it’s so handy to be able to throw a hood up if it’s chilly) and it’s a shame no one got back to me about their production.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this base layer and I will be really interested to see what other lines are produced in the Apparel System.

Have you tried the Artilect Women’s Goldhill 125 Zoned Merino Crew ? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment below this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.

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About the author: Kate Allen is Editor of RunUltra and in her spare time can be found running and racing with her dog Mac around the hills of the Peak and Lake District.

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