FOAM DECODER
Shoe companies market their midsole tech with proprietary names, but there are only a handful of underlying materials, which companies tweak to their specifications. What’s the tech behind the jargon and what did RW testers think of it? Here’s a rundown of our favourites.
1. SAUCONY KINVARA 10
£115
FOAM: Everun / WHAT
IT IS: TPU, as a topsole in the Kinvara 10 with EVA midsole / OUR
TESTERS’ TAKE: One of the lightest everyday trainers; the flexibility and light weight help runners chip away at their PBs.
2. NIKE VAPORFLY NEXT% £240
FOAM: ZoomX / WHAT
IT IS: Pebax, with a carbon fibre midsole plate /
OUR TESTERS’ TAKE: With a more forgiving ride and more comfortable upper (than the Vaporfly 4%), the new shoe is better even if your bib doesn’t read ‘Eliud’.
3. REEBOK FLOATRIDE RUN FAST £111
FOAM: Floatride Energy /
WHAT IT IS: Pebax, with EVA rim / OUR
TESTERS’ TAKE: This is a true go-fast tempo shoe, but without the harsh ride that is usually associated with a conventional racing flat.
4. ADIDAS ADIZERO BOSTON 7 £120
FOAM: Boost / WHAT IT
IS: TPU / OUR TESTERS’
TAKE: Our testers were split on whether there was enough cushioning, but several raved about overall comfort, saying it wrapped the foot and was great from the first run.
5. BROOKS GHOST 12 £120
FOAM: DNA Loft /
WHAT IT IS: EVA /
OUR TESTERS’ TAKE
It’s a shoe that we recommend to new runners because of its versatility. It has the right amount of bounce during pushoff, so hips and knees aren’t jarred with pain. Super-soft cushioning willed us to run longer than originally planned.
6. HOKA ONE ONE CARBON X £160
FOAM: Profly X / WHAT IT IS: Dual-density EVA with a carbon midsole plate /
OUR TESTERS’ TAKE:
The cushioning is abundant and consistent throughout the length of the shoe. Midfoot strikers will like the rocker’s aggressive positioning.
7. ASICS GT-2000 7 £120
FOAM: FlyteFoam Lyte /
WHAT IT IS: EVA with gel in heel and forefoot /
OUR TESTERS’ TAKE:
Among the stiffest shoes you’ll find, the GT-2000 7 still appealed to a variety of testers; it’s heavy but doesn’t feel slow. Cushioning doesn’t feel that soft but is substantial, the kind you’d want for pounding out miles on the roads.
8. SKECHERS GORUN RAZOR 3 HYPER £124
FOAM: Hyper Burst /
WHAT IT IS: CO2-infused
EVA / OUR TESTERS’
TAKE: Light but responsive and surprisingly well cushioned.
9. NEW BALANCE FRESH FOAM BEACON V2 £90
FOAM: Fresh Foam /
WHAT IT IS: EVA /
OUR TESTERS’ TAKE:
Soft, light, fast; the Beacon delivers all three.
10. MIZUNO WAVE SKY WAVEKNIT 3 £160
FOAM: Foam Wave /
WHAT IT IS: A TPU sandwich (XPOP) inside two blends of EVA, with Pebax used as a plate, not foam / OUR TESTERS’ TAKE: A highly cushioned but firm neutral daily trainer with impressive durability.
11. ON RUNNING CLOUDSWIFT £135
FOAM: Helion / WHAT IT IS: EVA blended with block copolymers /
OUR TESTERS’ TAKE:
Unlike cushier trainers, the Cloudswift is designed for a firm, responsive ride.