02 Aug Brooks Unveils Its Most Cushioned Shoe Yet
Brooks unveiled a new heavily cushioned running shoe—the company likens it to an oversize golf driver or shaped skis—on Thursday at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, a trade show held in Salt Lake City.
Utilizing a new foam compound that’s said to offer 25 percent more cushioning than BioMoGo DNA—the high-quality midsole material found in Brooks’ Pure Project shoes—the Transcend is said to provide the softest ride of any shoe the company offers. Brooks calls this “float.” At the other end of a spectrum of runner’s experiences is “feel,” meant to describe lightweight footwear that positions a runner’s foot closer to the running surface.
The Transcend is not, however, a reproduction of the increasingly popular and highly cushioned Hoka One One line of shoes. At first glance, the stack heights at heel and forefoot don’t appear to be anywhere near as tall as those of the Hoka line, and the foam doesn’t feel as soft. Thanks to a blend of foam and Brooks DNA cushioning material, however, the new foam is said to adapt to the amount of force applied to it—bigger runners will experience a firmer platform so that the cushioning doesn’t “bottom out.” (Note: The Runner’s World Shoe Lab has not yet received samples of this model for measurement and testing, so at this time we can’t provide concrete comparisons nor confirm reported measurements.)…
Brooks believes the Transcend will deliver plenty of stability without using a traditional post—the firm gray foam found under the arch of many running shoes— and still allow your lower body’s joints to follow their natural movements….The Brooks Transcend will be available beginning on February 1, 2014 and is expected to retail for $160.
