thicker, softer midsoles (the 300 has a medial post for added stability. They’re also made with a flare on the medial side of the forefoot, for a more stable toe-off, though this does add to the bulk of the shoe. Weartesters were divided. Our lightest

smooth-riding forefoot. Like the 2000, the 1040 is also a showcase for New Balance’s N-ergy rearfoot cushioning cartridge, which has only been seen so far in one of its racing shoes.The hollow cartridge sits below the entire heel area and consists of a

of the rearfoot and lateral side of the forefoot.) Two other excellent features of the Boston: its overall lightness and glove-like fit. Our wear-testers raved about the comfort, ride and stability of this shoe, and many plan to race in it.In short The latest

– apart from a super fit and a good feel for the ground – is a new variation on the rippled plastic Wave plate that sits sandwiched into the midsole of Mizuno’s shoes for cushioning and stability. The Maverick’s Wave is rubberised on the lateral (outer

fit for a Saucony shoe.In short A good option for trail races or faster-paced off-road training, the Harrier scores well on grip and responsiveness. Unless you’re a heavy or unstable runner, it should be on your off-road shortlist.Try it if you liked

. It had a real running-shoe midsole, and a clever, highly adjustable strapping system that was particularly snug around the midfoot. You wouldn’t exactly race in it, but you could quite easily forget that you weren’t wearing a running shoe. Not so with its

Weight 298gEvaluation For a brand that has such good road-racing shoes, it’s a surprise that Adidas hasn’t been able to make one of the top performance trainers as well. The Rotterdam will elevate the company to that upper level. It’s a lighter

As winter recedes, now is the time to invest in your most important piece of gear: new running shoes. Our Spring/Summer Guide includes a bumper crop of 40 new shoes, as well as reviews and technical information on each.The RW Shoe Lab has once again

studs, a softer, better-gripping outsole rubber, and the option of narrow and standard widths.Like Walsh, Felldancer makes three models: a core training shoe (the Challenger); a racing shoe (Racing, 256g, £52); and a support version (Extreme, 352g, £61

Electronics | Accessories | Clothing | Shoes | Retailers | CreditsWelcome to Best Of Gear! Alongside over 120 highlights and frequently asked questions from our gear forums, you can now find essential archived RW test reports.The forum threads