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These shoes are very light weight. My previous pair of Brooks shoes lasted for years. These seem to be very well made and probably will, too.Best Deals on Brooks Mens PureConnect Running Shoes Color:
Like the other reviewer, I too was training for the Chicago Marathon, and even though I run in Vibram FiveFingers 95% of the time, I figured I'd need something a bit more cushioned to last all 26 miles. I tried the Saucony Kinvara 2 but the stack height was too high (it felt just like a regular shoe!) and the toe box was too tight going a half size up would make the rest of the shoe too loose. I tried the Merrell Bare Access but it seemed more like a solid walking shoe than a running shoe. Same with the Altra Provision/Instinct. Enter the Brooks Pure Connect the most "minimal" of the Pure Project line.PROS: First of all, it looks great. These are some of the few running shoes I can actually wear with jeans or casually and not look like a fool. The stack height is fairly low, the fit is perfectly glove-like (with one caveat, see below). The shoelaces have special nubs in them so they don't come untied (and they really don't!) If you run in Five Fingers or barefoot with a mid-foot strike, this shoe is, to me at least, the closest you can come to maintaining your barefoot gait and posture but with actual cushioning the sole gives you the right amount of cushioning and firmness not too stiff, not too squishy, it's perfect. Right out of the box I ran as if I was in my KSO's, but i was able to run faster without beating up my feet, and took 30 seconds off my mile time immediately. It was pretty amazing. These were my favorite shoes ever. Then....
CONS: These things fell apart QUICK. As in, there was significant visual wear after about 30 miles. By the time the marathon came around, I had about 80 miles on them and they weren't looking too good. I got through the marathon fine but a month later they were done I couldn't finish even a 3 mile run without aches and pains. Opening a second pair confirmed that it was definitely the shot cushioning in the first pair that was giving me problems, not my style or gait; and I ended up retiring my first pair after only 150 miles. Not very good for a shoe with an MSRP of $90. (If this was advertised as a racing flat, that might take some of the sting off.)
Also, the sizing is off this shoe runs about a half size small (I normally wear 10.5 across all brands but needed an 11 here). Some people have complained about the toe box being narrow it's definitely not as wide as I'd like (like Altras or Merrell's) but it's not restrictive like the Kinvaras. There's also a stability factor even though they're low to the ground, the sole has these weird pod-like structures on it (almost like the Reebok Tone Shoes) that cause instability when walking or even standing around. I've almost rolled an ankle while stepping on uneven ground in these things, and making a sharp turn while running (or lateral movement) is awkward at best, dangerous at worst. These things are built for one thing going forward, and it does that very well.
I know there's a Pure Connect 2 out there, but I noticed only the upper is changed, not the sole. I went ahead and stocked up on a few Connect 1's for cheap and am saving them for race days; I definitely don't want to wear them down to the point of uselessness before a race. That being said, if Brooks can somehow maintain the light weight and great fit but increase the durability of the sole for the Connect 3, count me in. This shoe for now is a great first attempt.
Honest reviews on Brooks Mens PureConnect Running Shoes Color:
Used for Marathon Training (recently completed the Chicago Marathon in Oct 2012).1st pair had 250 miles on them, prior to purchasing my 2nd pair. Very comfortable used for my speed work/training and for daily runs up to 8miles in length (never did run longer than 8 miles in the shoes).
No injury, no dis-comfort. Very light shoe and enjoy training in them.
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