I like and run in Nike shoes (Span and Streak) and also have shoes from other manufacturers. But
there is nothing special about the Spiridon, in fact the reviews I've read have slammed it pretty
hard. There are tons of shoes in the 10 oz range with good rearfoot cushioning and stability. Here
are a few: Asics DS-Trainer, Mizuno Maverick, Adidas Rotterdam. These are proven shoes that have
gotten good reviews. These shoes have been advertised heavily and I think people are getting sucked
up in the Nike marketing hype. For what it's worth I have cut and pasted some of the Runners World
UK review.
Runners World: "There's also no forefoot Air, so the toe-off area doesn't feel well cushioned. The
contrast between the cushioned rearfoot and the hard forefoot doesn't make for a smooth ride.
Wear-testers also found the midsole narrow in the forefoot, which further limits the appeal. In
short The caged Zoom Air concept shows promise, but the Spiridon doesn't really deliver. Only
efficient, narrow-footed runners, who aren't too bothered about forefoot cushioning will favour it.
There are plenty of better shoes around for £20 less."
"Only efficient, narrow-footed runners..." Doesn't sound like a shoe suited for heel strikers to me.
Tramps like us... baby we were born to run.
[email protected] (Globaldisc) wrote in message
news:<
[email protected]>...
> Nike announced Thursday that its fiscal 2004 first-quarter profits ran past analysts' forecasts as
> the athletic shoe giant scored big overseas and showed signs of reversing a skid in U.S. sneaker
> sales. <snip> The average price paid for Nike sneakers has begun to rise after about a year and a
> half of declines, <snip> Swift sales of Nike's Shox and Air Zoom Spiridon running shoes, both
> priced at $100 or more, helped fuel the increase, Blair said...
> _______
>
> OK, the Shox are inexcusable & have no place on this ng. Their flats were always legit, but I am
> sensing Nike has a winner for the real runner with this Spiridon. At my races I am starting to see
> this shoe popping up on the feet of serious runners and they seem to rave over it. I'm not strong
> enough or talented enough to ball/toe & midsole strike over 10K and I inevitably migrate to heel
> striking for a good portion of LD races and thus generally wear a 12 oz stability shoe (for over
> 10Ks). Unlike a lightweight trainer which really is for midsole striking.... this Spiridon is made
> for heel strikers yet offers the forefront flexibility like a flat. I think it's the only under 10
> .oz shoe (Sz 9-10) designed for heel strikers...it's really in a class of it's own w/it's weight,
> design, and materials.
>
> Anyone out there using the shoe? I've never bought a current model shoe as I generally refuse to
> pay retail....(I buy last year's at half price today)....however I am curious about this shoe. Can
> we get past the Nike bashing and consider the shoe free of ant-Nike sentiment? It's an intriguing
> shoe in my opinion and I am seeing spreading acceptance of it from serious runners. Anyone else
> seeing this at their races? I think Nike might have a winner here...
>
> C'mon...most be some running folks out there in this ng w/the shoe?