SCHOOL MATE 2 RUNNING VERY SLOWLY FULL

Strictly Enerzy foam throughout makes the ride smoother and more consistent-especially when paired with the 25вЂ™s new castor bean-based wave plate. Though comfortable underfoot, the combination of multiple foams could make the shoeвЂ™s ride feel a bit disjointed with messy transitions.

In previous Rider midsoles, Mizuno mixed-and-matched a handful of foams-ranging from its firmer U4ic to U4icX-both above and below the wave plate. Part of that is because the brand delivered on the promise that it teased us with in the Rider 24: a full-length midsole layer of luxuriously soft Enerzy foam. One longtime tester pegged this one as his favorite yet, and another said itвЂ™s definitely the softest and most cushioned. Twenty-five marks a huge milestone for the Rider, and thatвЂ™s not just because Mizuno has now filled a quarter century with models of this shoe. Some testers found the tall 12-mm drop a bit obtrusive.RESPONSIVE AND DURABLE- Mizuno Wave Rider 25 This makes for a shoe thatвЂ™s generously cushioned, but wonвЂ™t turn your run into a slog. It owes this newfound giddy-up to its responsive Profly midsole (a dual-density foam thatвЂ™s softer in the heel and firmer in the forefoot) and early-stage Meta-Rocker (a slightly curved sole that speeds transitions from heel to toe). But Hoka went next-level, tinkering with the midsole construction and applying what the brand learned when developing its competition shoes, the Carbon X and Rocket X. We already loved Machs 1 through 3 for their lightness and explosive rebound. Little traction in wet and wintry conditionsДЄfter testing out his pair, runner-in-chief Jeff Dengate jotted in his notes that the 4 is вЂњthe best Mach yet, and perhaps the best current Hoka.вЂќ Take his word for it, and if that doesnвЂ™t persuade you, consider what our other testers had to say: One proclaimed the Mach 4 was second-to-none, another declared it was her new favorite road shoe, and still another-a Hoka virgin, no less-said she was impressed after just her first run.The soft upper padding and thick cushioning were my absolute favorite features, so much that I actually found myself looking forward to waking up for my 6- to 7-milers at 5 a.m.вЂќ вЂњI have worn Asics road and trail shoes in the past with only lukewarm reactions at best, but the Nimbus Lite was truly a game changer for my opinion of Asics. вЂњI was pleasantly surprised to fall in love with this shoe,вЂќ one tester said. Plus, the midsole and majority of the upper use more sustainable materials in their construction. The Lite 2 is a touch smooth and bouncier underfoot, sheds another half ounce, and offers a wider platform for more stability. And while that first Lite version was a strong start at improving the series, our testers noticed that its Flytefoam cushioning felt sluggish and less responsive by the end of long runs.

SCHOOL MATE 2 RUNNING VERY SLOWLY FULL

Some testers found the heel fit a little looseДЄ perennial go-to for its soft cushioning and long-distance durability, the Nimbus lost some weight (more than a full ounce) when Asics introduced the Nimbus Lite.

School mate 2 running very slowly