As a track and cross-country runner I have a definite propensity towards feather-light, zero stability, low cushioning shoes for workouts and races. This has led me to try a myriad of things (mostly with a swoosh on them, but still) and to get a good gauge for what works and feels good when the goal is to go fast, whether on the track, grass, trail or roads. As a huge fan of the Nike LunarTrainer (R.I.P.) I was excited when the Lunar Racer appeared on the scene because it seemed to have an ideal blend of lightness and a springy feel that felt less hard on the body.
All in all, I loved it for some longer workouts and day-to-day easy runs, but the responsiveness I crave in a workout shoe just isn’t quite there. Another issue that I noticed, as well as heard numerous complaints about, is the narrow toe-box. I have a narrow foot, so I figure that if I have a problem with it, then I am definitely not alone. It became clear to me as I worked at Rogue fitting people for shoes that more than 75% of the people who tried them on simply couldn’t take the extreme cut of the toe-box, but otherwise like the feel. When I heard about the new model, Lunar Racer +2, and how it was to have an updated upper complete with a more roomy toe-box, I was chomping at the bit to try it out. And so my friends, when it arrived at Rogue Equipment this week I was over there in a flash to get my pair and give ‘em the Asia test…I mean, run in them. So here is what I think:
First of all, they are orange. Enough said right? Well, besides looking good, they have exceeded my expectations in several other ways. One thing that is clear right out of the box is that the upper material is quite different from the first model. The original model was nearly all flywire with only a bit of extra material under certain portions of the toe area, but this newer version makes use of a bit of overlay as well. At first I assumed that the shoe would be stiffer, heavier, and a dud because of this, but once I put it on I realized that this was not the case. The material around the toe and forefoot is very soft and thin, which allows it to move much better with the foot than in the original model. It sort of reminds me of a paper-thin neoprene layer on my foot that keeps moisture from pooling, and feels like a second layer of skin. This softer, less plastic-like material makes the whole thing feel more plush without being cushy or too soft for a responsive ride.
Upper Grade: A
As far as the sole of this shoe goes, it has not changed much at all. Like the name suggests it is still constructed of Nike’s LunarLite foam (straight from heaven I believe) that makes you feel like gravity forgot to show up for your run. The bottom of the shoe is essentially the same aside from some slight alteration to how the raised portions of the foam are oriented (if you can feel the difference then you should probably be studied). As someone with a normal arch and no need for stability, I didn’t notice this while wearing the shoe but the lunarlite material does extend up into the arch a bit more than in the previous model. My guess is that a real flat-footed person may feel a slight protrusion, but since it is a very soft material (unlike the dense foam often used to address over-pronation) it shouldn’t be a deal breaker for this shoe. In my opinion, the bottom is amazing because it is so forgiving when your foot hits the ground. It feels soft and takes so much impact away from your joints and feet. LOVE IT!
Shoe Sole Grade: A+
As I alluded to earlier, I viewed this shoe as a type of workout flat or racing shoe but after two runs in them (really only took about 2 minutes) I have found a new niche for them in my running shoe collection. They feel more like a lightweight trainer to me than a racing shoe because they just don’t have the responsiveness and barefoot feel that I prefer when trying to really run. So as far as I am concerned, they are my new everyday training shoe. However, I barely weight 105 and have light, neutral foot strike, so this will vary from person to person. I would guess that the majority of people I help fit for this shoe will adopt it as their workout/racing shoe, which I think is good for anyone who is used to a more substantial shoe. The nice thing about it being light and bouncy is that it will be a good transition shoe for someone looking to make the leap to a racing flat. I wouldn’t recommend a die-hard Structure Triax person to jump into the Nike Streak (though I love it with a passion) in one day, but I do think that the Lunar Racer +2 would be a good start for someone who has never worn a racing flat.
Overall Grade: A
I have yet to see how many miles these puppies can withstand, but I think 250 seems doable given my wear pattern and typical running surfaces.
If you like how they sound or just that they look fly, then run over to Rogue Equipment and check ‘em out!
Posted by Trying another shoe, the Nike LunarRacer+2 « Austin Metronome on April 25, 2010 at 11:02 PM
[...] Yes, I try on many running shoes so enough with the jokes and snickering. Asia had a review of these shoes on her blog. We were talking about them and she convinced me that I should give the Nike LunarRace+ 2 a try, so [...]