SPOT Gen3 – Review
SPOT was kind enough to allow us to test and review the new SPOT Gen3 (retail $150) GPS tracking device. This tracking system is not a GPS training watch, nor is it a navigation tool. Its purpose is to allow family and friends to track you along your route over a long period of time, along with sending customer messages and potential distress signals. With their new motion activated tracking system, your SPOT can now run significantly...
Altra Olympus – Hoka Comparison Review
By Missy Berkel Introduction: Why I chose to switch to a high-cushion shoe: I was originally introduced to the Hoka Mafate (the original Hoka shoe) in January of 2011, when I was going through an IT band tendonitis injury. The increased cushion of the shoe absolutely helped me to recover from my injury more quickly and allowed me to participate in active recovery without furthering my injury. As 2011 went on, I continued to train...
UltrAspire Quantum Review – Updated
At the Summer 2012 Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, UltrAspire gave us a sneak peak at an up and coming product – the Quantum – a race inspired waist belt you slip on like shorts, that gives you enough storage for the essentials without the usual hassles of a running belt. I remember liking it enough at the time to want to try and talk them into parting with one of their few demos, but left empty handed yet excited...
Altra Olympus Review
2014 is the year of max comfort shoes. Nearly every brand in specialty trail running is making a shoe with a significant stack height, but it can be said with confidence right here at the beginning of this article that no one is doing it quite like Altra. The long awaited and now highly coveted Olympus is on the market and literally off the shelves. We at TAUR pressed for the opportunity to perform a mass review and have had multiple...
Newton BOCO AT
Newton is well known in the triathlon world. Craig Alexander has been running down the competition in his light, fast and of course – COLORFUL Newtons for years. Most of us in the ultra world are not that familiar with the Newton line. That will change now that Newton has the BOCO AT in their line. The BOCO AT is a big jump for Newton. A true trail shoe aimed at taking on Leadville is a big goal for any company. I was excited to pick...
Skora Minimalist Shoe Review
The specialty running shoe industry has seen a shift across the full spectrum of footbed support; from absolute minimalism to max cushion that begs to be calculated in inches. Most companies, in fact, now offer multiple options across that spectrum, attempting to meet the ever-changing needs and desires of the running community. Skora has chosen to remain in their niche, offering shoes that will always continue to support and drive...
Magellan Echo & Switch Review
by Pete Stoughton Tracking the labors of an ultra runner can be as difficult as the run itself. Purchasing a GPS watch is perhaps the most costly expenditure for runners, excluding the mighty prices of race entries. As such, runners are demanding more and more from GPS watches. What began simply as required accuracy in measuring distances, consumers are now examining battery life, elevation accuracy, alert notifications,...
Liberty Bottle Works Reusable Water Bottles
One of the most important things in an ultrarunner s life is hydration. When we’re not out running with our 10oz flasks or our 2L packs, we still need quality hydration gear….enter Liberty Bottle Works. Made from 100% recycled metals and manufactured in the US, Liberty Bottleworks has several collections to choose from in 16oz, 24oz or 32oz sizes (12oz or 16oz if you’re shopping the kids’s collection). Caps are either standard (no...