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Outside Magazine July 2003

Review: Road Runners
Great Strides
The latest road runners fit better, feel faster, and work almost as hard as you do

By Michael Frank


Intro | Mizuno Wave Maverick 2 & Nike's Air Zoom Spiridon | Saucony Grid Vision & Asics Gel-Creed Plus | Pearl Izumi Push & Brooks Glycerin 2 | New Balance 833 & Adidas Climacool II

(Nitin Vadukul)

RUNNING-SHOE MANUFACTURERS peek at each other's homework all the time. Need proof? Compare the eight kicks on the pages that follow—this year's best in show—and you'll see that they share some notable breakthroughs. More shoemakers are using mesh in the uppers, which helps your feet breathe better, even during sweltering summer workouts. You'll also find plenty of fusion welding, a process new to the athletic footwear market that involves bonding materials with heat and glue (rather than stitching) to increase durability without adding weight. And many designers are lightening up, going easier on the shock-absorbing air/gel/fluid cushions under the heels—good stuff that can weigh down shoes when overused. These and other innovations have been rolled out in a range of models, so whether you need a swift racer for your next 10K or beefed-up trainers for pre-marathon regimens, you'll have no trouble finding a pair to kick your style.



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Intro | Mizuno Wave Maverick 2 & Nike's Air Zoom Spiridon | Saucony Grid Vision & Asics Gel-Creed Plus | Pearl Izumi Push & Brooks Glycerin 2 | New Balance 833 & Adidas Climacool II