I’m looking for a good everyday trainer shoe that I can also use for races. I’ve narrowed it down to the two models above. Anyone have any good/bad experiences with either one? Or have another suggestion I might not have thought of?
What distances? I had the kwicky’s and did all my runs over 10 miles in them and a 140.6 in them. Never had any blisters and loved them. Price was just too steep for me.
I got a couple 70.3s and a marathon this coming season. I’m leaning towards the brooks because it seems to have more rubber and will last a little longer (also costs less). I’m just looking to see if people have any strong feelings either way.
I destroy shoes quickly (bad form or something) even though I’m 145 lbs. I’m at the mileage limit I’m usually at for shoes with the kwicky’s and they are still doing great. I even sent them through the dryer (after a race…wasn’t thinking) and they are great.
I would recommend them as race shoes in a heartbeat, especially for triathlons.
I just got a pair of the Brooks Racer ST’s. they’re light, cushy and swift feeling. I wouldn’t consider them a high mileage trainer. If you’re looking for a littler sturdier shoe, that you can race and train with which provides support- also look at the Mizuno Wave Elixer. Or- lighter than that- the Wave Mirage (but they just don’t fit me right).
I haven’t run in the qwicky blades tho’. they look cool.
I don’t think there is any replacement for actually trying on the shoes in a shop. I’ve never had any luck with reading reviews and other people’s opinions on shoes. I know this might be blasphemy on this forum- but I’d venture to say that running shoe fit is more critical than tri bike fit. 
Admittedly- I bought the racer ST’s due to their garish ‘box of tide’ color scheme. Race shoes should be as ugly as possible in my book.
That’s good to know. I was nervous that they seem like “not enough shoe” and I’d just blast through the foam. Thanks.
Yeah I’ve tried them both on at my local running store and both felt great on my little run. It’s hard to get a feel for how a shoe will do over the long run when you’re doing a small lap in the parking lot out front though.
I concur that shoes should be loud, another reason why I’m considering the two options I mentioned. I’ll look into those Mizunos as well. Thanks.
Haven’t tried the KSwiss myself, but I love the ST5’s. I generally just use them for racing (all distances) and track workouts and have found them to be very durable, light but still appropriate for long course runs (IM, mary) and provide a nice ride with a subtle amount of guidance. A certain CW uses these as her trainers as well!
In the ST tradition of not sticking to the particulars of your question, I’ll throw out another option to look at in the lightweight stability category: Saucony Guide 5. I recently got a pair of these and really like them a lot. They feel really light, seem to have decent stability without feeling rigid (a good combo of cush and stability, I guess), and have an 8mm drop, if that matters to you. I’ve really been liking these a lot. I’m coming from the Mizuno Elixirs, which I generally liked, but the Guide 5 are even better for me. If you’re looking at shoes in this category, they might be worth a look.
-Bill
In the ST tradition of not sticking to the particulars of your question, I’ll throw out another option to look at in the lightweight stability category: Saucony Guide 5. I recently got a pair of these and really like them a lot. They feel really light, seem to have decent stability without feeling rigid (a good combo of cush and stability, I guess), and have an 8mm drop, if that matters to you. I’ve really been liking these a lot. I’m coming from the Mizuno Elixirs, which I generally liked, but the Guide 5 are even better for me. If you’re looking at shoes in this category, they might be worth a look.
-Bill
oh, wow. I just checked out the specs on the guide. I’ve always liked sauconys, but the old guides were too heavy and supportive like. the new ones are down to 10oz and with 20mm up front, looks like they’ve got a lot of cushion. Perhaps too bulky for race day, but it does look like a great pair of training shoes. thanks for the tip. On the downside- they’re not nearly ugly enough. Have you seen the Wave Elixers in caterpillar guts GREEN with the blue trim? wonderfully ugly!
I like the ST Racers. They are my “go to” marathon shoe. I like light weight trainers, but the ST Racers don’t hold up for every day running. (I do wear them for tempo runs.) My current favorite light weight trainer is the Brooks Launch. A little more shoe that the ST Racer but still pretty light.
Agree…the new Elixirs are awful looking, in a sort of cool way somehow. But the new Guide 5’s aren’t bad in the all-blue, which is what I have.
I like the ST Racers. They are my “go to” marathon shoe. I like light weight trainers, but the ST Racers don’t hold up for every day running. (I do wear them for tempo runs.) My current favorite light weight trainer is the Brooks Launch. A little more shoe that the ST Racer but still pretty light.
Agreed on the Brooks Launch. Light, well cushioned. My favorite training shoe to date. Also light enough to be a good race day shoe. They are a neutral shoe though.
I love my KSwiss. Very comfy, light, and would totally recommend.
Love the Brooks ST5, train and race any distance.
I’ve done a bunch of races in the ST’s (marathons, HIM’s, IM, 5k, 10k). They’ve been a great all around racing flat. I don’t train in them (though, I suppose I could).
For light stability trainers, I use the Brooks Ravena 2’s. They aren’t much heavier than the ST’s, so they could be used in races without adding too much of an extra burden. They come in some suitably ugly color schemes if you have those kinds of aesthetic requirements. The only potential drawback to these shoes is that the tread seems to wear out pretty quickly. This is no big deal if you’re mostly running on the road, but it could be a consideration.
Thanks for the advice, everyone.