I have always been loyal to one running shoe brand, both for my road and trail shoes, and have been reluctant to try anything different in case they weren't as good, so it was great to be able to try the New Balance Vazee Summit.
My first impression of these shoes is that they looked good; mainly navy blue but with vibrant pink and yellow accents. They are very lightweight and have a great grip on the soles.
My first run in them was a 4 mile club off road interval training session. The shoes were very comfortable right from the off; they have lots of toe room and good heel fit. They had less cushioning than my usual off road shoes, but this didn't have a negative effect on my running. They also have an integrated tongue which is very thin and comfortable, and doesn't move around during the run. The only negative was that although the weather was good during the run and the ground was dry, the shoes did lose some blue colour onto my white socks, but this is easily rectified by wearing dark socks with these shoes.
I have worn the shoes for runs in different conditions and of different distances. On very uneven ground, you can feel the stones and tree roots much more than with my previous shoes, but this isn't a negative at all. In fact, I think that I was able to better pick my feet up while running, and on a long run including steep uphill and downhill sections, where there were lots of trip hazards, I felt very confident running in these shoes.
I have really enjoyed trying these shoes, and I have received lots of positive comments from friends on the look of the shoes. I would definitely recommend the New Balance Vazee Summit off road shoes to anyone looking for a supportive, lightweight off road shoe with great grip.
Find out more about the Vazee Summit Trail
here.
