MJ Approved: Brooks PureConnect Running Shoes
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In our August shoe review, our runners loved the snug fit of the Green Silence, Brooks’ 6.9-ounce entrant into the white-hot minimalist category, but several testers didn’t dig its too-soft midsole. Brooks has remedied this with their latest minimal-but-not-barefoot shoe, called the PureConnect (in stores October 1). During 20-plus miles on trails and asphalt around Prospect Park in Brooklyn, I found they provided a good mix of barefoot qualities – promoting forefoot strikes with added groundfeel, along with enough support and comfort for imperfect striders. The upgrade includes a toe that’s almost split from the outsole, an inverted heel, sparse midsole cushioning (with extra material only where the foot makes contact), and a soft, breathable upper. The color — just green for now — is toned down compared to the Green Silence, but the overall design is plenty flashy. Heads will turn.
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LOVE IT: Thanks to the combination of a lopped-off heel, split and supported toes, and carefully distributed cushioning, the shoe feels like a light (7.2 ounce) racer with the benefits of a chunkier but more supportive shoe.
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LEAVE IT: The mesh upper hugs the foot a little too well — You may need to keep the laces loose to avoid restricting blood flow.
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[$90; brooksrunning.com]
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Posted by Dania
on 22:38. Filed under