Brooks Pure Cadence 2 Shoe Review

I bought the second version of the Brooks Pure Cadence line because I was really happy with the first version. You can read that shoe review Here. 

I wanted a shoe that I would use specifically for tempo runs or faster. I really like the shoe, it's light and comfortable. I haven't gone over 7 miles in them because I do feel as I became more and more tired and my form suffered it was causing come stress on my achilles tendons became tight and were sore for a few days after. A new design on the Pure Cadence 2 is a ‘burrito’ style attached tongue that is essentially a part of the lateral upper that wraps over the medial side of the foot is what I didn't like. I feel like I have to tie my shoes really tight in order to feel comfortable in them, even that sometimes I feel like I'm sliding in them. 

As far as the new design, I really like how Brooks moved their logo from the side of the shoe to the front/top of the toe box. It really looks pretty awesome. 

Overall I really still like the shoe. I'm a little under 100 miles, but they still feel good.

The shoes are on average for the price $100-$120.

Submitted by Miles

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 13 Shoe Review

I can now say that I've become a Brooks shoe fanboy. Every shoe that I currently run in are Brooks. I've owned the GTS series since the 11's. You can read my review about Brooks GTS 12. I use to run in the most trendy shoes out, not really caring about how many miles I would put in them. Since I started getting serious over the past 12 month about my running I know now that I need a shoe that can carry me well. 

Contrary to most running literature. I knew that it wouldn't be smart to take a new pair of shoes out for a race, but that's exactly what I did. I bought them and took them out for a short run, then the next day I ran the Rock'n Roll Las Vegas Half-Marathon. These shoes worked perfectly. 

Now before you think that I'm speaking so highly of Brooks, go back and read Brooks Trance 11. The Trance where one of the worst pair of shoes that I've tried. 

I've put in about 100 miles in these shoes and I can say that I love them. If you go back and read a few of my other shoe review, you'll know that I'm a heavier runner and that I need shoes to hold up to the pounding I put them through.

Submitted by Miles

Brooks Trance 11 Shoe Review

This shoe was recommended to me by a local shoe store.

Let me start this off by saying that I love Brooks running shoes, that being said in my opinion the Brooks Trance 11 are the worst pair of shoes that I've purchased in my almost 3 years of running. The reason that I got the shoes was that when I tried them on at the store that seemed to feel good and I needed a pair of shoes that would hold up for the race training that I'm currently doing. The Trance 11 also was said to have more cushion throughout the entire shoe then my now all time favorite shoe the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12. I like the GTS 12 so much that I got a second pair because they were on sale. You can read the review for the GTS 12 Here.   

The Brooks Trance 11 have nice cushioning throughout the entire shoe. The Trance 11's are suppose to be the cadillac shoe of Brooks. I couldn't have been more disappointed with this shoe. They were no where near the price they can charge for them which can be as high as $140. The shoes feel heavy and feel stiff in the middle of your foot. I developed a big blister down the center of my foot where I've never had one before. The pain in my right foot was so intense that I had to actually stop for a bit. I know that this could only be exclusive to me due to my body structure and my gait. The problem with that is that a #CheFit teammate who is at average weight for his body type had the exact same problem I did. He is tall and has a slender body type. I'm a heavy runner and I read that this could be the shoe for me. I put in 30 miles in these and I do have to say that those were some of the toughest miles. I could say that it could have been do to leg fatigue, but as soon as I put on another pair of shoes the miles have been a breeze.


Submitted by Miles

New Balance Minimus Ionix Shoe Review

This shoe was given to me by a #CheFit Team Member for my birthday.

I use this shoe more for the Team Circuits that we do on Sunday’s(#CheFit Circuit). The shoes are extremely light and the upper is made of mesh, so the shoes breath well. These shoes come with a caution tag that says to be careful using the shoe. This had me a little worried about what I was going to get myself into. If I run with these shoes I only do speed work and keep the distance short. The longest that I’ve gone with these shoes is a 5k, since I’m a heavier runner I wouldn’t dare to take them out any longer than that. As for using them for the circuits I couldn’t be happier. They are ultra light and stable enough that I’m able to do each exercises comfortably. I would recommend these shoes for someone who has used minimal shoes before and if you haven’t, only use them for short runs. If you do decide to get these I would take it slow at first to let yourself get comfortable to being in these shoes.

The shoes are on average for the price $100

I log on average 25+ miles a week and I've put about 45 miles in these shoes.


Submitted By Miles

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12 Shoe Review

This shoe was recommended to me by a CheFit Team Member.

I did have the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11, but I liked a shoe with more cushioning so I more to the Saucony Hurricane 14(Saucony Hurricane). I ended up going through 2 pairs of the Saucony. My teammate purchased the Brooks GTS 11 and liked them so much he got the GTS 12. He told me to look into getting them so I did. I like the shoes better than the GTS 11’s. What I like about the shoe is that they are light enough to do some tempo work and have enough cushion for the long run, I'm a heavy runner so I need a shoe with stability and cushioning. I used them to run a 27 miler this past weekend and they felt good, no blisters and no foot pain. Once these shoes are broken in they feel great, they can feel a little stiff at first. I chose this color shoe because they were on sale. I usually like to get simple colors if possible. These shoes would be best for the everyday run.

The shoes are on average for the price $110.

I log on average 25+ miles a week and I've put about 125 miles in these shoes, they have held up nicely.


Submitted By Miles

Brooks Pure Cadence Shoe Review

This shoe was recommended to me by my local shoe store.

I needed a light shoe for my tempo runs, this shoe designed for more of a mid-foot strike runner. The shoes a light, breathable, and comfortable. They also have a band in the shoe that makes them feel snug and secure. That being said, I would recommend this shoe for a lighter runner or if you’re a heavier runner I would recommend using them on your short runs. I’ve used them on speed/tempo runs of 4 miles or less and they feel great. I’ve also taken them on longer runs 6+ miles and they start to make my legs hurt a little, since I’m a heavier runner. These would be a good shoe to have in addition to your everyday running shoe.

The shoes are on average for the price $100-$120.

I log on average 35+ miles a week and I've put about 70 miles in these shoes.

*bonus - The shoe laces have little ridges in them to help them stay secured without coming undone.

Submitted by Miles

Coconut Water Review

We wanted to do this by trying a bunch of different brands of coconut water, but after going to different local supermarkets, these were the ones that we could find.

Description of Testers:

Tester #1

Occasional coconut water drinker, sticks with the natural flavors.

Tester #2

Regular coconut water drink, has a bias against drinking flavored coconut water.

Tester #3

Drinks coconut water on a daily basis, drinks all kinds of coconut water

Tester #4

Relatively new to drinking coconut water

Zico Chocolate - 110cal per 14oz. Ingredients: 100% natural coconut water from concentrate, cane sugar, coconut cream, cocoa, vanilla, carrageenan

Tester #1
“It’s actually pretty good, I’m not a chocolate person. I like it, it has a chocolate milk taste”

Tester #2
“It’s surprisingly good, tastes just like chocolate milk.”

Tester #3
“Just like sweet cold coco”

Tester #4

“ Tastes like coco, I like it”

VPX Coco Fit Mangosteen Mania - 35cal per 16.2oz. Ingredients: Water, Proprietary Antioxidant Matrix (Coconut Juice Concentrate, Mangosteen Juice Concentrate, Ascorbic Acid), Natural Flavors, Natural Colors, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Malic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids, Cholecalciferol Vitamin D3, Stevia

Tester #1
“it’s red bull like, somewhat citrusy, I like it”

Tester #2
“Kool-aid flavor, not to bad”

Tester #3
“It has a good mango flavor, it taste like mango tang.”

Tester #4
"Tamarind flavor, it’s good”

Zico Pomberry - 60cal per 14oz. Ingredients:100% natural coconut water from concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid 

Tester #1
“Not good at all,  it tastes like cough medicine”

Tester #2
“Doesn’t really taste like anything, not that good”

Tester #3
“Watered down natural coconut water, not too bad”

Tester #4
“ I ‘don't like it at all, it taste flat.” 

Zico Mango - 60cal per 14oz. Ingredients: 100% natural coconut water from concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid

Tester #1
“ I don't like it, it tastes weird.”

Tester #2
“It tastes like mango syrup, I’ll drink this again.”

Tester #3
“It’s Great!! Slight mango favor, just enough”

Tester #4
“ This is good. I can get use to it, tastes more like coconut than mango.”

Zico Pineapple - 60cal per 11oz. Ingredients: 100% natural coconut water from concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid

Tester #1

“Disgusting”

Tester #2
“Crappy”

Tester #3
“The worst flavor”

Tester #4
“Nasty” 

Amy & Brian All Natural Coconut Juice - 76cal per 8oz. Ingredients: Young coconut juice and pulp

Tester #1
“Lightly sweet, me like”

Tester #2
“Too sweet for me.”

Tester #3
“Really sweet, but the flavor is okay.”

Tester #4
“Too sweet, has an after taste.” 

O.N.E. Natural - 60cal per 11.2oz. Ingredients: 100% natural coconut water

Tester #1
“Tastes natural, good flavor. It has a slight after taste.”

Tester #2
“It's okay. Sometimes I may switch to this one.”

Tester #3
“Okay for a coconut water,  I’ve had better”

Tester #4
“Don't like it, it’s sweeter than Zico”

Zico Natural - 60cal per 14oz. Ingredients: 100% natural coconut water from concentrate, natural flavors

Tester #1
”My favorite. That's the good shit!!”

Tester #2
“Love it”

Tester #3
“I really like it, it’s natural”

Tester #4
“It’s good, I like it”

The testers favorite brand

Tester #1
Zico Natural

Tester #2
Zico Natural

Tester #3
Mango Zico

Tester #4
Chocolate Zico

The testers second choice

Tester #1
O.N.E.

Tester #2
O.N.E.

Tester #3
Coco Fit Mangosteen Mania

Tester #4
Coco Fit Mangosteen Mania

*These are just our opinions
**All nutritional information was pulled for the coconut water brand's website. 

Saucony Men's Powergrid Hurricane 14 Running Shoe Review

This shoe was recommended to me by my local shoe store.

I needed a comfortable and durable shoe for the number of miles that I log and being a heavy runner and landing on my mid foot. I tend to wear out my shoes quickly and this shoe has some cushion, but not too much where it doesn't seem natural. Once I was able to break these in they've felt wonderful. These are one of my favorite pair of running shoes to date. The shoes look bulky, but they  don't feel that way, they're also light enough to be able to do a tempo run here and there. These shoes would be best for the everyday  run.

The shoes are on average for the price $140.

I log on average 35+ miles a week and I've put about 125 miles in these shoes, they have held up nicely.

*bonus - they have a slot on the shoe tongue to hold a single key. It's come in handy for me a couple of times

Submitted by Miles