New Shoe Review: Reebok ZQuick

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Reebok.

Earlier this month, a pair of Reebok ZQuick arrived on my door. I'm always delighted to try out a new pair of running shoes... especially with the promise of "These shoes will make you UNNATURALLY QUICK!"  The television commercials for ZQuick had already grabbed my family's attention with great entertainment. Unlike ever before, the ZQuick's arrived in a cool reusable bag instead of a box. Genius!

The ZQuicks are sharp looking, with a genuine race feel to them. In fact, the running shoes were inspired by the high-performance Z-Rated tires they are named after. The Z-Rated outsole provides superior handling and control with every turns. The grooves in the rubber outsole give unbelievable flexibility and ground-gripping performance to power over any terrain. The CRTek High Abrasion Rubber adds a protective boost to high-wear areas for shoes that last. Combined quickness, agility and comfort, you'll cruise through your run like a winning sportscar.

The upper portion of the ZQuick running shoe features a no-sew NanoWeb for ultimate breathability. The mesh fabric wrapped around my foot with incredible comfortable.  The featherlike weight of the shoe is the first thing I noticed on my foot... my size 9 weighed just 8.3 ounces! The support platform under my forefront felt wide and my foot has plenty of space to spread as the upper was extremely flexible. g

Unlike any shoe I've ever had, the inside of the ZQuick features an inner bootie that snuggled my ankle and locked my foot in. There is no pesty tongue that moves around during your run.

After first walking around with them for a couple hours, I took the Reebok ZQuicks for a test run on the treadmill.  I loved how light they felt... this is where Reebok promises the UNNATURAL QUICKNESS. Who doesn't love extra speed that comes easy?

The EVA foam midsole is designed with a radical new geometry for smooth handling. Your foot changes in dimension at the bottom of your stride as you put weight on it.  Your foot spreads out on impact to distribute force over a broader base.  (It’s about 5mm wider than when it’s in the air.) To accommodate for your body's natural handling, the ZQuick has built-in slashes along the bottom so that the shoe spreads with you. These underfoot grooves allow midsoles to flex and expand, increasing ground contact for a smooth quiet ride.

I really liked how the ZQuick felt on my feet. After a few miles of my test run, however, it became evident that my feet needed more arch support and stability. As you know I've been battling plantar fasciitis (currently at-bay, but I'm fearful on a return). The ZQuick's are a comfy lightweight running shoe for quick short distance, but I think I will need to stick with my heavier stability shoes for long distance.

Check out the wide variety of ZQuick color choices here. These QUICK running shoes retail for under $85, so definitely worth checking out at your local Finish Line store.

New Shoe Review: Brooks Transcend

Over the past year, I've become more selective in my running shoes. Plantar Fasciitis (PF) entered my world early in the fall and completely ruined my mojo. It's been a long emotional road getting back to my miles. I blame the onset of PF on my playing around with minimalist shoes last summer. I logged miles and miles without proper support and have paid the price. Lesson learned.

So now when a new pair of shoes arrive on my doorstep, I wear them around the house for a good hour, sport them on a trip to the grocery store or the kids' school. By then, it's usually quite clear whether I can run pain-free in them... or not. This week, I was tickled PINK when the new Brooks Transcend passed that initial test.

I could say that they were so comfortable that I forgot they were on my feet... but let's be real. I had flashy new pink running shoes. The only thing on my mind was going for a run!

First and foremost (for any lady runner that I know), these are killer looking shoes. The "diva pink" and "festival fuchsia" combination are super bright - especially against the white snow. Add in the reflective accents and it's pretty difficult to miss me coming in the Transcends.  There is also a sky blue color option for women. For men, electric blue or coral orange are the choices.

The Transcend is classified as a stability shoe (replacing the Trance). Because of its revolutionary build, it may work for neutral runners as well. Unlike other stability shoes, there is no posting on the medial side. Instead, Brooks introduces guide rails for support and assistance in counteracting pronation. Rather than forcing control of the foot, it encourages the natural kinetics of the body, allowing your hips, knees and joints to move within their natural motion.

When I first slipped my foot into the Transcend, the most noticeable feature was the ultra-plush cushioning. In this new shoe build, Brooks introduces what they call Super DNA, offering 25% more cushioning than the normal BioMoGo DNA. This new cushioning adapts to your every stride. I like to think of it like the memory foam in my bed, cradling to the shape of my foot. As someone who suffers from PF, I'm always nervous on the fit of the arch. The Transcend offers a well-built arch support. As I tested out the shoe, my foot was extremely comfortable and I didn't experience any discomfort in the plantar area - during or after my run. The final test to that (if you suffer from PF) is how the arch feels the next morning. A-OK with these shoes!

When shoes boast extra-cushion, it typically means a heavier shoe. Not the case with the Transcend, which weighed in at 10.8oz on my ladies size 9's. By comparison, my normal shoes (Asics GT2000) are still lighter at 9.9oz, but I really didn't notice the difference until I weighed them on my scale. I did however, notice the difference in cushioning comfort. I'll be anxious to see how well (and long) the cushion holds up as I accrue miles in the Transcend. I like to get my money's worth out of running shoes, thus I try to push them over 300 miles. Some make it; others don't.


Typically when I test out a new pair of shoes, I go no more than 3 miles. My initial run in the Transcend was 6 miles... and I was not begging for a foot massage that evening either. That should speak margins on how I feel about the new Brooks release. Newly released this week, I highly suggest giving these babies a trial run... especially if you waiver on that line between stability and neutral like I do.

I won't copy/paste all the shoe specs, but if you're interested in all the details, check it out here.

Many happy runs...
and pain-free feet!


This pair of Brooks Transcend was provided to me by OnlineShoes.com. 
The opinions expressed however are all Jess. 

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