Opinion – On the Run: Pampering for the feet? See what’s new in the world of running shoes

This time of year is prolific in the launch of new models of running shoes. We are talking about dozens of novelties for professional or amateur athletes.

Which sneakers are right for you? In my experience, the best way to find out is to try on a few pairs and see how they feel on your feet. Even better if the store has a dedicated space for a quick jog through the aisles or treadmills.

Below, I made a list of the releases that caught my attention in the last few weeks.

For fast (and deep-pocket) athletes

Adidas brought to Brazil the Adizero Adios Pro 3, the third generation of its top-of-the-line model. It was with a pair of these sneakers that Kenyan Benson Kipruto won the Chicago marathon two weeks ago.

The Adizero Adios Pro 3 uses a carbon structure for energy return – only, instead of independent rods, the new model features a single plate.

Compared to the previous version, the Pro 3 is lighter (219 grams in the number 40) and has an upper that is more adjusted to the athlete’s foot. The price is salty – the model costs R$ 1899.99. Due to the launch, Adidas started to sell the Pro 2 at a discount, at R$ 1399.99 on its official website.

The product follows the industry trend of reducing the carbon footprint and is the first made in part with a series of recycled materials. According to Adidas, the focus is to do away with virgin polyester and minimize plastic waste.

new old acquaintance

Mizuno’s flagship has changed its name. The Brazilian operation of the brand abandoned the Wave Prorunner name and adopted the international nomenclature Wave Rider, which reaches its 26th edition.

The Wave Rider 26 is a versatile sneaker, suitable for training, competitions and that fits well on your feet on a weekend trip to the mall. In fact, the bet on the casual side of the model is reflected in the wide range of colors available: there are more than ten, including special editions for the international marathons in Amsterdam and Honolulu.

With an eye on the more casual runner, the Wave Rider 26 reinforced the midsole’s cushioning structure and made the shoe more comfortable. The drop (difference between the heel and toe) is 12 millimeters, and the weight is 285 grams. The Wave plate, which popularized this line of shoes from Mizuno, has been redone and promises greater energy return.

The new Wave Rider 26 has a suggested price of R$ 999.99.

for long distances

Fila firmly entered the performance and speed shoe market with the Racer Carbon. Developed in Brazil and with a more affordable price than foreign competitors, it disputed step by step with the Olympikus Corre Grapheno the preference of runners in search of their first board shoe.

To complete the line of shoes for runners who seek performance, but who don’t give up cushioning, Fila has just launched the Float Elite.

As the focus is on performance, don’t expect a very padded shoe. Like Racer Carbon, Float Elite is economical on foams and interior finishes. The reason is to reduce the weight of the shoe as much as possible – which has only 230 grams, despite the robust structure.

On the feet, the Float Elite is very responsive and the energy return is noticeable from the very first steps.

The suggested price of the Float Elite is R$ 699.

In Search of the Holy Grail

Pairs increasingly lighter and with greater energy return. That’s the holy grail of running shoe manufacturers, and Japan’s Asics is no different. Focusing on these two goals, the company has just released Novablast 3.

The new model has a 1mm larger midsole, is 22 grams lighter and has updated cushioning technology compared to the Novablast 2.

In practice, the Novablast 3 is a “jack of all trades” shoe, suitable for training and running at different distances. An improved version of the successful 2021 model.

The MSRP of Novablast 3 is R＄899.99.