4/5
Overall
This shoe fit my aim to find a lightweight-neutral shoe with a flexible sole. The cost (~$65 at Finish Line) and feel of the shoe has been great for the running I do. My girlfriend is post-collegiate training sub-elite for the marathon. Most of my runs are with her or our dog. Because of that I may run 20 miles one week, and 50+ the next depending on our schedules. Mileage is evenly split between pavement & trails. I really like the firm sole that is still able to torqued in all directions with the Flex Run. The two-piece fabric upper is light around my foot and gives the feeling of a roomy toebox. This summer the shoe also proved durable enough to hold up over a weekend of racing ~40mi over a relay in Northern Michigan that consisted of a mix of single track trails and seasonal roads, despite being a 'cheap' shoe.
The Flex Run has been the shoe I have searched for the past five years since I took some down time after college. In college I trained in flats, primarily Asics Hyperspeed, for 70-80mi weeks. After some time off, when I started to run again I still wanted a shoe with the neutral feel and minimal heel-to-toe drop of a flat, but more cushion and durability since I am a heel striker.
It is becoming harder and harder to find a shoe between a flat & the big honkin' trainers with posts & memory foam cushions. Even most neutral shoe offerings are so overbuilt that they just feel clunky (Nike Pegasus, Brooks Ghost, some goofy $130 'cloud' sole Adidas shoe). Anymore I walk into a store (whether specialty running or retail chain) and just start torquing shoes around in my hand until I find the one with the least resistance. I was cautious of how the shoe would hold up, but is has been exceptional for sprints around the park with the dog (speed work) and quality 2-hour time with my girlfriend (long runs).
Disco Duck · Sep 17, 2014
40 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
