As a little bit of a working nerd and sneakerhead, after I heard Tracksmith was releasing their first shoe the “Eliot Runner” again in September, I used to be instantly excited to offer this shoe a couple of whirls round Toronto’s concrete jungle.
In case you are unfamiliar with Tracksmith, they’ve all the time prided themselves on being the higher echelon of working gear, creating well-designed, high-quality merchandise with a prep-school vibe. However whereas lots of the world’s working manufacturers dip into the shoe sport first earlier than increasing to clothes, Tracksmith has completed the alternative.
The model’s inspiration behind the creation of the Eliot Runner was to offer runners with a tender, resilient and responsive journey throughout quite a lot of terrain. The Eliot Runner suits Tracksmith’s conventional esthetic to a T, with a suave and easy design, in which you’d really feel equally at house in at your personal tennis membership, as in your on a regular basis runs.
Specs
Class: Impartial
Males’s: 260 g (9.2 oz.)
Ladies’s: 226 g (8 oz.)
Drop: 9 mm
Stack peak: 33.5 mm (heel), 24.5 mm (forefoot)
Match: True to measurement
MSRP: CAD $291
Out there: Now
Higher
One of many first issues I seen when making an attempt it on was its easy throwback sneaker match. Signature particulars, from the navy sash on the facet, to the pink racing stripe on the rear, to the woven label on the tongue strongly symbolize the model’s aesthetic. The higher and lacing kinds are one thing you’ll see from working manufacturers within the 90s. However in right this moment’s era, the classic look has develop into cool and classy.
Though the higher is a bit slim from the midfoot to the forefoot, I discovered its design fairly easy and comfy for straightforward runs. The tongue is a tad on the cumbersome facet throughout fartleks or fast pickups, however all in all, the higher is essentially the most upscale characteristic.
Midsole
The midsole is arguably essentially the most important facet in creating an amazing on a regular basis working shoe, and Tracksmith took a novel method when designing the midsole on the Eliot Runner. The sock liner is triple the thickness of a typical sock liner and is manufactured from Pebax, an ultra-lightweight, high-performance foam curated to fulfill excessive requirements of cushioning and efficiency. This tender foam sits on high of a firmer midsole.
On simple runs, I seen the shoe’s firmness on every stride. It’s marketed as having excessive cushion and propulsion throughout all terrain, however, working on pavement, I didn’t really feel quite a lot of cushioning. I didn’t discover the propulsion till I began utilizing it for sooner efforts. The light-weight Pebax foam together with the shoe’s stiff midsole helps it carry out properly throughout tempo runs and interval coaching.
At solely 260 grams for a males’s measurement 9, the Eliot Runner positions itself as a light-weight and versatile coaching shoe.
Outsole
The outsole is perhaps the Eliot Runner’s most underrated characteristic. The shoe handles all situations properly with its non-marking, grippy and rubberized outsole designed to deal with something the New England local weather throws at it.
Rain or shine, the shoe grips the roads, tracks and trails with authority. I by no means as soon as needed to fear about footing.
Verdict
After years of labor on the design and creation of the Eliot Runner, the shoe was not a house run, however I’d say Tracksmith reached base safely. One factor I assumed they nailed was the bodily esthetic of the shoe—it’s easy, it’s gorgeous and sheds gentle on the model’s Boston beginnings. Each time I pulled these out for a run, I had somebody asking the place I acquired them. I really feel the higher of the Eliot Runner additionally makes it look sensible and versatile for extra than simply working. One other facet they effortlessly nailed was the grippy, sneaker-inspired rubberized outsole.
For my part, the agency midsole detracts from the shoe’s consolation for the lengthy haul, however it might be nice for an off-the-cuff runner in search of a classy pair to run a quick 5K or 10K in. Two fashions I’d say are corresponding to the Eliot Runner are the Nike Zoom Fly and the Brooks Levitate; each kinds have comfy uppers with light-weight midsoles to sort out brief runs and speedwork.
Tracksmith is prepared to guess that most individuals who strive the Eliot Runner will find it irresistible, so they’re providing a 30-day or 100-mile assure. Take a look at extra about it right here.
