It's test time

If I was still in school I'd be nervous right about now. Actually I wouldn't be as I never really worried too much about how I did. Of course the testing I have coming up should be fun.

Last month I started testing a shoe from a new brand called End. Very nice shoe and I'll keep logging some miles on it. It is a little wide for my foot but man is it light. I wore it for a 10k race the other week and also for some snowshoeing and it feels really nice. Much better then when I wore it in Houston last month which tells me that it was me not the shoes.

I also got my hands on some new Nike and Pearl Izumi shoes to test out. The Nikes should perform well as I think they've really got it right this time on this model. The Pearls will rock. The Pace has been our best seller from them and this imnproved version fixes many issues that I had with them.

This week, adidas, Mizuno, Ecco and Puma sent me pairs to test. When it rains it pours I guess.

The Nike, Pearls and Mizunos are models that we have in stock or are arriving very shortly. The adidas is a model that they really want me to stock. These are all updates of proven shoes so I won't need to spend too much time in them but it will be good to log a few miles in some new models.

The Ecco is really interesting but as I've mentioned before these things are not cheap. The model I'll be testing will retail for around $180 and they have another model at $220. They have a very cool new concept on how to build a shoe but that price is scary. I'll see if they are really worth it. In the very least they look super cool, as long as you like funky Euro styling.

The model I am most eager to test is the new Puma Vectana that will be coming out this summer. Not many people think of Puma as a running brand but they make some really nice shoes that work very well. What excites me about this new one is that it will work for way more people then their old models.

Puma has worked well for very narrow feet that need a low to the ground feel. The new stuff will be much more traditional. Wider forefoot, more midsole height and what at first try on is a great fit and feel. I plan to get some miles on this one asap and if it works like I think it will this will be a shoe to watch in the near future.

The good thing is that I need to get running so I can get in shape for an upcoming trail race and knowing that I have all these models to test out will force me to get out the door.

If you see me out there feel free to ask me about the shoes on my feet as they will be in test mode. If by chance you wear a 10.5 mens stabilty I just might let you take them for a spin.