Anyone like this shoe? Running warehouse has these for super cheap ($49, not including the usual complement of additional discounts they offer), and with my DS Trainer(15)s’ doom impending I’m in the market for a cheaper shoe that doesn’t have all the bullshit that Asics threw into the 16’s and 17’s that made them so detestable. Running warehouse has this to say about the “new” DS Trainers:
The DS Trainer 16 provides support for mild to moderate over-pronators in a lightweight, performance-oriented trainer. With its Heel Clutching System and asymmetrical lacing, the shoe delivers a snug and secure fit, which is ideal for fast running. A medial flared forefoot and great flexibility ensure a smooth and stable toe-off. The entire package is excellent for midfoot strikers and heel strikers alike.
Model Number: T110N.0190 Important Shipping Note: U.S. sales only. View all colors Weight: 10.5 oz (size 9) Stack Height: Heel (28mm), Forefoot (18mm) How It Fits (based on width D) Width D=Medium
Sizing: Standard running shoe lengthHeel: Medium to narrowMidfoot: Medium to low volumeForefoot: Medium to narrowToe-Box height: LowArch Structure: Medium height Product Lifecycle
Release date: November 2010Color update: June 2011Model discontinued: January 2012Model update: February 2012, Gel DS Trainer 17Heritage: Gel DS Trainer 15
And this about the Sky Speeds:
It’s time to get serious with your training and reach for new heights. The DS Sky Speed is a neutral, lightweight trainer that is ideal for tempo runs, intervals and daily training. The superb snug fit is ideal for fast running and the modified slip last minimizes weight, lowers the foot and increases road feel. The responsive ride is dialed in for midfoot strikers, yet heel strikers will also find a smooth ground transition. Add in great flexibility and you have now found your serious training partner in the DS Sky Speed.
Model Number: T0H1N.3001 Important Shipping Note: U.S. sales only. Weight: 10.1 oz (size 9) Stack Height: Heel (26mm), Forefoot (16mm) How It Fits (based on width D) Width D=Medium
Sizing: Standard running shoe lengthHeel: Medium to narrowMid-foot: Medium to low volumeForefoot: Medium to narrowToe-Box height: LowArch Structure: Medium height Product Lifecycle
Release date: November 2010Model discontinued: May 2011Model update: June 2011, Sky Speed 2Heritage: DS Trainer 15
Thoughts? For the records, I’m a midfoot striker that naturally pronates a bit (the more so the heavier the shoe I’m wearing), but I can run barefoot for miles on brick/concrete/asphalt with no problems. Similarly, racing flats give me no problems, at least as far as the usual symptoms of “beat-up” feeling legs the next day. At 5’7, 150 I’m not a lightweight, but I have a relatively efficient stride, and can crank out a fairly fast 5k/10k. Most of my runs top out at 6 miles, and I seldom run slower than 7:20-7:30/mi–most of my runs are ~6:50/mi or faster. I’m not into this minimalist/natural/outdoorsy bullshit so I’m not looking for recommendations on VFF’s or anything similar–I simply want to know if on paper this shoe looks like it would be a feasible alternative to the DS Trainer (in its former iterations). I race in DS Racers and Nike Mayflies and love them both for different reasons. I generally liked my DS Trainers as well, although over the years they got progressively more and more clunky. I pulled out my old pair of DS Trainer 10’s (I think), and loved the speedy feel. The new ones just aren’t the same…
I have the orange ones, so the “1s”. The blue ones are the “2s” and they will no longer make them. I did not think that they were for pronators, (the below link will explain better than I can. As a neutral runner, I prefer the speedstars.
Can’t sleep. The thought of paying full price for hyperspeeds when sky speeds are $40 is haunting me…make the nightmare go away by finding me a place that sells NEW Hyperspeeds that cheap.
We shall see sir, we shall see. I’ll have you know that I swam in a lake yesterday, and that automatically makes me better at triathlon than anyone who did not. My logic is irrefutable.
Completely different shoes. Built on the same platform, but one (DS-Trainer) is the stability model, whereas the Sky Speed is the neutral one. For your daily, meat and taters, I want to go running shoe, I’d opt for having the posting from the DS Trainer (assuming that you indeed overpronate).
HyperSpeed’s would be more equivalent to the Mayfly than anything else. Well, there’s the Pirahna which would really be most equivalent to the Mayfly…but that’s getting ahead of myself.
Side note: Similar platform to the DS Trainer would be the Noosa Tri. Should be able to find a pair of those a bit cheaper than a DS Trainer right now, simply due to the new model Noosa coming out, versus the DS Trainer which has already gone through it’s year cycle update.
I bought about 4 pairs of orange and 4 pairs of blue because of the same sale. I have maybe a 100 miles in the blue and about 10 in the orange, they are a little different from each other but not much. I went from Mizuno Wave Rider 13s to these. So far I like them and have no issues with them.
They should last me until the Wave Rider 15s are on cheap sale and I can maybe move back to that line.
By “RE” I actually meant “RW” for Running Warehouse. My phone didn’t like that abbreviation. If you like the old DS Trainers, I’m not sure Asics makes a shoe that can currently satisfy you. The skyspeeds are iffy, the new DS trainers are iffy, the speedstars are iffy…I could go on. To each his own, however.
My current new favorite shoe is the Mizuno Wave Elixir 7s. Mild support, light weight, good feel. Less stiff than older versions. Better heel cup. Again, totally subjective.
I think I pronate a little bit, but not much. I pronate less in shoes that are lighter/racier and more in shoes that are clunkier and more supportive. I’ve hopped on the treadmill in a running store before and had them tell me that I was essentially neutral. The part about the posting makes sense, but i think that perhaps that is one aspect of the DS Trainers that i didn’t necessarily need. I looked into the Noosas and those are the shoes I would be buying if they were $50 instead of $100…
I’ve heard good things about that shoe, especially on the “bitch about the new DS Trainers, offer alternatives” thread. I have a buddy that works at Trysports in Raleigh that basically has one of every pair of shoes they sell, and I tried a pair on at his house one time and liked them. I may just have to get one of each if they’re cheap.
Concerning the hyperspeeds though, I’m hesitant to get a shoe for daily training that is much lighter than 10oz…I feel like I would miss the extra protection (or maybe I would get stronger?) and I’m afraid of losing that race day feel of sliding on a pair of shoes that weigh a fraction of what my legs are accustomed to.
