Pearl Izumi Kissaki Review

Pearl Izumi Kissaki
If the color-scheme doesn't pique your interest the name certainly will: Kissaki. As I opened the shoe box all I could really think about is, 'what is a kissaki'? Images of kissing and saki-bombs danced merrily and effortlessly through my mind. Of course, I don't think any company would name their products after something biologically natural and tasteful poison, but you never know. Kissaki is the tip of a samuri sword. <Now, I'm picturing 'Kill Bill Vol.1 and Vol 2. or even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'> and according to Pearl Izumi the name was chosen in honor of their Japanese roots...continue reading

Weighing in around 9.5 oz, it's not a race flat, nor is it a land yacht.

Heel-to-Toe drop: 19mm - 10mm for a total drop of 9mm.

Continue reading the Pearl Izumi Kissaki review on www.uphillrunning.com
UphillRunning.com is the personal blog of Balanced Athlete employee: Trey Bailey

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Montrail Rogue Racer Shoe Review

Montrail Rogue Racer
It doesn't take much to turn a road shoe into a trail shoe, right? Replace the slick rubber tread with a dirt clawing aggressive mud-tire sole and you're set to hit the soft surface highways. Unfortunately, for the manufacturers and consumers there are way too many variables: mud, roots, rocks, packed dirt, gravel, and more, to just throw on some mud stomping, soccer cleat traction on the sole and title it "trail ready." So, picking a trail shoe needs to be based on the conditions. The Montrail Rogue Racer, I do admit, is one of the most versatile trail shoes on the market.

Montrail Rogue Racer

Continue reading the Montrail Rogue Racer review on www.uphillrunning.com
UphillRunning.com is the personal blog of Balanced Athlete employee: Trey Bailey

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inov-8 Evoskin Review

This isn't about our ancestor's or cavemen... 

I want to make something clear before you begin reading my shoe (well, maybe lack thereof is more apropos) review: This is not a review on the validity that 'traditional' running shoes cause, or do not cause, injuries. It's my belief that the repetition of running form inefficiencies (biological or habitually developed) are the major culprits of injured runners; under most circumstances. Other factors such as inappropriate shoe size (not type), over-training, the sedentary choices between runs (i.e., sitting in front of a computer perhaps reading this blog for too long, work related stress, long commutes in a vehicle, etc.), and repeatedly poor nutritional choices should also be at the forefront of cerebral inquiries. Also, 'minimal' shouldn't be solely (that's a pun) defined as less between your foot and the ground, but also by less heal-to-toe drop. The inov-8 Evoskin falls into both categories, of course.

Continue reading the inov-8 Evoskin Review on www.uphillrunning.com
UphillRunning.com is the personal blog of Balanced Athlete employee: Trey Bailey

Leave your questions or comments here, on The Balanced Athlete Facebook, or on Trey's blog