heel drop, normally reliable blade cushioning system and light weight all point to another success. But by some strange science, the shoe’s performance was less than the sum of its parts, with no noticeable encouragement from the shoe to pick up your

: www.avia.com Full Review: No prizes for guessing which Olympic sprint champion this racing shoe is named after. An update on Avia's top-of-the-range performance shoe, it has Cantilever concave heel technology to soften impact and provide a stable heel

In short:Brand new shoe from Nike, showcasing its Lunarlite foam technology in a midsole that provides extra cushioning through spreading out the force of foot-strike more evenly. Weight (M): 258g Contact: www.nike.com Full Review: Nike has adapted

during transition to create a smooth ride.We say This scored highly in almost every category. The shoe felt like a slipper on the foot and it remained cushioned and comfy despite the stripped-down midsole. Tread was average in wet conditions and the long

In short:Basic, lightweight stripped-down performance shoe Brian Sexton 2: Good neutral shoe for minimalist fans or under-pronators. Supple, light weight & breathable. Strengths: Neutral, minimal, breathable. Lack of cushioning is a pro for proper

In short:Cushioned performance shoe with supportive breathable upper B (Ewok`s Mate): IF YOU'RE A MID-FOOT STRIKER, AVOID Strengths: Light weight Weaknesses: Light weight Overall: As a mid-foot striker, I didn't like this at all.It felt OK

with your foot, you get more grip than a more "rigid" shoe. Ideal for long distance too... The foot does not move in the shoe, so no chaffing and so far not one blister have appeared on my foot... Whereas I've always had them with other shoes... Tongue

and the positive feedback will be a relief to New Balance. The lack of heel cushioning and the 4mm differential  between heel and toe height (as opposed to typically 12mm on a cushioned running shoe) mean the foot is lower to the ground, which encourages a mid

and also serves to pull the overlays tighter around the middle of the foot, and there’s a raised instep for mild arch support, but this is a shoe for racing purists. It’s unforgiving to all but the hardiest, speediest racers, so don’t try this one if you

, but the heel fit was universally popular. Weight (M): 285g Weight (W): 241g Full Review: Nike has added a sockliner that moulds to the foot; thin leather overlays on the upper to better wrap the shoe around the foot; and more cushioning in the midfoot