Wanted: Moon On A Stick Shoe

[barrierfreeman]

Unlike most here, I live/run in the flatlands of Cambridgeshire. Which, while not being too hilly, does have a tendency to be wet/flood, and once this recedes, most of my river side runs are in sloppy mud. So looking for something to allow me to move forward rather than appear to run on the spot like Wile E. Coytote trying to get back to the cliff edge, as well as being able to change direction without my legs slipping away like a giraffe on rollerskates.

Does anything out there fit the below remit:

• Similar sort of weight to a Roclite 295 (tried Kanadias, but felt a bit heavy/clumpy)
• Ability to not break my feet on the 15-25% of harder surfaces used to link sections (not tarmac, but farm tracks/access gravel roads etc)
• 40-60 quid
• Decent tread that does not fill up too much, like my 295s do...
• ...or not be totally useless in the wet mud, like my Merrell Mix Master 2s are.

I have ordered a pair of Cheviot 2s, but think they may be too focused for what I require, as they look like they would be murder on anything other than soft boggy ground.

[shaunaneto]

This is only 75%.moon on a stick territory. Unless I've missed a requirement to grip on slick wet rock.

[shaunaneto]

Salmonman Speedcross?

[that_fjell_guy]

I'd go for the Speedcross. Mainly because I use them and like them. Studs won't last very long on roads but I used mine for both Bullock Smithy and L50 and they did fine! Used them over fells and they were adequate. Don't know how much they'd clog with sticky mud though, but the occasionally stamp or kick would clear them at a guess. Not really tried much else that would be of use to be honest.

[Yaks]

Agree that Speedcross3 would fit most of your criteria, .........except the price. You'll be very lucky to find a pair for £60. But saying that I picked up a pair of "once used but too small" off eBay for £51 recently, so if you know your size in Salomons then worth keeping an eye out there ( and indeed for any shoe you know the size in ! )

[barrierfreeman]

Agree that Speedcross3 would fit most of your criteria, .........except the price. You'll be very lucky to find a pair for £60. But saying that I picked up a pair of "once used but too small" off eBay for £51 recently, so if you know your size in Salomons then worth keeping an eye out there ( and indeed for any shoe you know the size in ! )

I did look at the Speedcross 3s. Cheapest I have seen them for is £70ish. Also, I remember the Speedcross 2s, when I tried them on last year, being a bit narrow and having to almost go up a full size to get the width right. In the irunfar review, it is mentioned the toebox is wider in the 3s, anyone know if this is the case?

....also, is it just me, or does anyone else find it hard to justify spending £60-70+ on a shoe, when something like the Cheviot 2 exists for £25?

[Yaks]

I haven't used the Speedcross2 so can't compare them.

If the Cheviot2 was as comfortable and long wearing and grippy, etc, etc as the more expensive shoes then yes it would seem foolish to pay 2 or 3 times as much - I've not tried it, so don't know if it is.

All in all though, ours is a pretty cheap sport compared to most - a lot can be spent on clothing ( as a recent thread showed ) but likewise you don't have to spend much and it lasts ages, and apart from races there's no costs to "take part", ie go for a run ( compare to golf or tennis or gym etc ).

Shoes are the main item that wear out and affect enjoyment ( ie are they comfortable, grip properly, etc ) so I don't mind paying a reasonable amount to get something that does the job really well. If I get 500 miles from a pair of shoes, then at say 9 min/mile that's 4500 minutes, or 75 hours, so basically about £1 per hour in running shoe costs, which is pretty good I think :-)

[barrierfreeman]

You make, several, good points, Yaks. I am still a firm believer in decent shoes can be had for sub-£60. Usually these will be the same shoes which would be £80-90, but are about to have a colour change or updated. So it looks like I will be watching the sales with interest, and might give the Cheviots a go for £25/30....probably a false economy if I don't get on with them, but can always sell them for a tenner

[richsund]

I think the cheviots may well turn out ok for you. They'll probably do the business on the muddy bits, you'll enjoy that. It'll just depend on how they feel for you on the harder bits, and how long they last. I stuck a better / thicker insole in mine from an old pair of shoes, that improved the cushioning a bit
I think they're definitely worth a shot for the money, despite me having doubts about how long mine are going to last.

[shaunaneto]

Just out of curiosity, what's the soil type.

I used to live in Northants, lots of clay involved. Thick gloopy stuff that stuck to your shoes until they where just mud wellies. I ended up using Walshs as a compromise between function, comfort, and the mud clearing characteristics of the shoe. Simple sides of the shoe made a big difference as well as the tread.

When the ground was hard underfoot, I just used to run on he grass verge.