Hate running with your phone in your pocket, in your hand, or in an arm band? I do. I usually run with just a watch and forgo music for comfort. The Freetrain V1 Vest is a potential solution. It puts your phone at the center of your chest in a secure position and features a clasp mechanism for easy access. Sounds intriguing right? Definitely. Now let’s test it in real world conditions.
To test the jordan debut Vest I used it across multiple sports and activities. I also used it in various weather conditions and with different clothing. My tests were designed to approximate what daily use would look like for most people. Throughout the testing process, I noted the positives and negatives of the vest. I’ve organized them here to help you determine if the V1 Vest will work for you.
Pros
Phone access. The ingenious chest-mounted flip-down phone case is the star. It’s easy to get a quick look at your phone whether you want to see your route, music, or a text message from Mom (Hi Mom!). I can’t express how much of an upgrade this is from traditional arm bands and waist bands. It’s the number one reason to buy a V1 Vest.
Weight. Because of how you wear the vest, your phone and the vest itself are easily carried by your shoulders. The vest, at 6 ounces, is very lightweight. For reference, that’s lighter than any iPhone 11 model. I’ve never carried my phone in a better location. I hardly even noticed it was there while running or playing sports. And that’s the best compliment I can give to any phone holder.
Great for sports. This is the only phone holder that I can basically forget about while shooting a basketball. Whether it’s basketball, soccer, rowing, disc golf, or any other sport that involves using your arms and legs at the same time, the V1 Vest just gets out of the way and lets you get to work.
3M. The V1 Vest’s 3M hits on the front and back are great for visibility during night running. Freetrain also offers the VR Vest with full Nike Kobe 6 Protro . It’s sold out now but I’m hoping to try it soon. It looks perfect for multiday relay races like Ragnar and Hood to Coast.
Zip pocket. The pocket on the left shoulder is a vertical zipper pocket that can fit keys or an energy gel. It looks small but once you get your stuff in there it’s not moving.
Quick dry. The neoprene-like material that makes up the entire vest dries quickly. This is absolutely necessary if you run or train daily.
Cable management. While I don’t recommend running with cabled headphones (bluetooth earbuds will make your life 100x better) the Freetrain V1 Vest does have some hidden slots added to keep your cables out of the way. I have no idea how well they work (I’m 100% bluetooth now) but it’s a nice touch.
Cons
Accidental button presses. After I removed my phone mid run to take some pictures and videos (my job requires it lol), I had to endure random pauses of my podcast and my phone getting locked due to too many login attempts. I’m 98% sure this was because I took out the phone and let water get inside the sleeve. I imagine there’s a lot of people who will do the same at some point during their training. If it’s cold, you probably won’t have a problem. But if you do it during sweaty summer runs, be prepared.
Phone pics and video. Removing the phone midrun has consequences. And based on some of the V1 reviews, it’s hard to remove your phone if you have a bulky case. End result, taking pictures and videos during a run or training session is difficult. If you don’t take a lot of pictures/videos while training, it won’t bug you. But for those who do, I hope Freetrain’s next vest allows the smartphone camera to take pics while still ensconced in the protective sleeve. It seems like something that will be necessary when selling to today’s photo-posting, social media savvy athletes.
Chest..ahem…accentuation. Depending on your body type and the shirts you use, the design of the vest can make your chest look weird. For some men, it results in manboobs. For some women, not wearing a super tight or supportive sports bra underneath causes some weird cleavage situations. A lot of this depends on your height and chest size. It’s difficult to predict if you’ll have an issue. Just be aware it’s a possibility.
Sizing. Taller people (like myself) end up wishing the vest was built just a little deeper. The bottom elastic straps align more with my chest than my rib cage. I wasn’t uncomfortable, but the V1 Vest didn’t fit the optimum way. Freetrain is still a fairly new company so I would expect them to eventually offer more fit options. As it is, I think the vest will work for anyone 5’0” to 6’6” with varying degrees of comfort. That’s hard to do with one piece of equipment so I have to commend Freetrain for the versatility of their vest.
Velcro pocket. The pocket on the right shoulder is not very functional. It’s opening is tiny due to being too far up the shoulder strap where it gets really thin. It’s hard to put anything in there. Keys, gels, and credit cards don’t fit. Freetrain needs to rethink this pocket.
Storage. Freetrain made the V1 minimal. You get your phone pocket and one usable zip pocket. This is perfect for training on a field or court but needs more to cater to road and trail runners. Most runners need room for the phone, 2 gels, keys, a card or two, and water. I would love to see Freetrain create a deluxe vest for long distance and trail runners.
Handwash. I put this here because I know it annoys people. The V1 Vest should be hand washed with warm water and mild detergent. Ideally, you’d be able to use a washer and then air dry the vest but that won’t work with these materials. This isn’t a huge drawback for me but your opinion may vary.
Overall
I said it in the intro and I’ll say it again. If you don’t like carrying a phone, wearing it on your arm, in a waist band, or in your pocket, the Freetrain V1 Vest is going to be the best solution for you. The V1 Vest has some flaws but it’s lightweight, easy to forget you’re wearing it, and provides the best phone access of any solution. At $40, it’s priced about the same as most armbands and waistbands. If you’re still looking for the perfect phone holder for training and running, the Freetrain V1 Vest deserves strong consideration.
The adidas 4D Run 1.0 takes the elastomeric polyurethane 3D-printed midsole that adidas created with Carbon, a Silicon Valley based tech company, and applies it to an everyday running shoe. Since its initial introduction in 2017, adidas’ 4D midsole technology has decreased in price. The 4D Run 1.0 is priced at $200. It’s still pricey, but much better than the $300-400 price tag of earlier 4D models. Now that it’s affordable, let’s find out how it performs.
Cushion
The main draw of the adidas 4D Run 1.0 is the 3D-printed lattice pattern midsole. It looks amazing and feels soft to the touch. But it doesn’t compress enough on foot strikes. The adidas 4D midsole feels a lot like standard EVA. For impact protection, I prefer adidas’ Lightstrike, Boost, or Bounce.
So while the 4D concept is super cool, the base material isn’t soft enough or elastic enough to compete with today’s top of the line cushioning. I’d recommend using the 4D Run 1.0 for running shorter distances, working out, and cross training. Adidas needs to make the 4D midsole softer before I’m comfortable recommending it for running longer distances.
Traction
The traction is lattice-patterned to match the look of the midsole. I didn’t get any rainy days while training in the 4D Run 1.0 but the traction bit the pavement and asphalt well. The outsole rubber is on the softer side but I’m not seeing much wear on my pair. I’d expect average durability if you’re running in these regularly.
Support
The support starts at the heel where adidas gives us both an internal heel counter and external heel clip. The heel area feels secure with no side to side movement. It’s not necessary, but the heel also features a fuse overlay. The toes also have fuse overlays and a foam sidewall built-in to the upper. The fuse and the foam sidewall serve two purposes, helping the toe of the shoe retain its shape and preventing the foot from sliding off the footbed.
Honestly, it’s already more support than a running shoe needs. But kd 13 isn’t done yet. The midsole flares outward to act as an outrigger all the way around the foot. On top of a 360° outrigger, the midsole material doesn’t compress too much so you stay in place. It’s a really stable platform that won’t roll over. It all adds up to one of the most supportive running shoes on the market.
Materials
The upper is made of a dual layer mesh with average breathability. Comfort is added with tons of padding at the heel and a squishy tongue that’s not too thick or too thin. As I previously mentioned, there are fuse overlays for structure, the logo, and the lace loops. There’s also 3M touches (depending on your colorway). Adidas also threw in some high quality laces. At $200, I expected more high end materials. But the materials adidas did use are comfortable so I can’t complain too much.
Fit
The 4D Run 1.0 fits like a traditional running shoe. Lengthwise, it feels just a touch shorter than the adidas Ultraboost 19 or adidas Ultraboost 20. I went true to size. Go with your preferred adidas size. Preferred adidas sizing will also work for wide footers as there’s plenty of width. The upper’s fit provides all day comfort for casual wear while working or walking around. It’s very comfortable for a non-knit sneaker.
Overall
The adidas 4D Run 1.0 is a little too heavy and the cushion too stiff to use as your daily running shoe. But it’s a very comfortable and supportive shoe. You can use it for light running, lifting weights, and cross training. And the 4D Run 1.0 is an awesome, attention-getting casual shoe that gets people talking about the 3D-printed midsole. It’s value will depend on how you plan to use it. If your intended usage mirrors my recommendations, you’ll enjoy the 4D Run 1.0.
The adidas SL20 is one of the first running shoes to feature adidas’ new Lightstrike cushioning. We’ve been waiting for Lightstrike to come to running shoes since it’s debut last year in the adidas N3XT L3V3L basketball shoe. Lightstrike is lightweight while also providing a nice well-balanced ride. Does it work for running? Let’s find out…
Cushion
Drew: I really like Lightstrike for running. I like it enough that I wore the adidas Ultra in a recent 10k race. At around 8 ounces, it’s just light enough to use as a race day shoe (though probably not if you’re an elite runner).
The Lightstrike is actually light enough that the majority of the SL20’s weight comes from the upper. Most shoes are bottom heavy so having this one be reversed feels great. It makes your brain believe you don’t have much on your feet. Mentally, that’s great during speed workouts and on race days. I constantly found myself reaching for the SL20 before speed workouts.
The impact protection is also top notch. There’s only 14mm of Lightstrike in the forefoot but I never felt too much ground impact. Because there’s so little foam, I also expected the foam to bottom out on long runs or after I put a bunch of miles on the shoes. But here I am with 65+ miles in the shoes, having done a couple 10+ mile runs in them, and they still feel great.
Again, Lightstrike is great for running. I’m convinced adidas is just scratching the surface of what’s possible with a Lightstrike-based running shoe. The fact that the first iteration is so good is a great sign of things to come. Jodi: Being married to Chris, I’ve heard tons of great things about Lightstrike in the basketball world, so I was pretty excited to see what it was all about. I’m actually surprised it didn’t hit the running world first since in a lot of ways, us runners are guinea pigs. I have to say, the cushion system lives up to the hype. It’s flexible, bouncy, and light. And has great impact protection. Every time I ran in these I felt like a sprinter, super quick. And my mile splits for those days reflected the feeling. Placebo effect? Maybe. But I’m not complaining about it.
Traction
Drew: Continental rubber is adidas’ go-to rubber compound and they’ve used it to great effect on the SL20. It rained the night before my recent 10k and the entire course was still wet when we toed the line at 7am. After the race, I heard several people complain that the roads felt slippery and that they couldn’t get great traction. I had to think about why they would have problems because I didn’t even notice the moisture. The SL20’s outsole gripped just like a normal day despite the wet conditions.
It wasn’t a surprise because while training in the SL20 I ran in rainstorms and several other iffy conditions and never had a problem with the traction. It’s one of those shoes where you don’t even have to think about your footing because every footfall is secure. Jodi: Continental rubber is my jam, so I’m always happy when adidas uses it on its runners. I think the way they incorporate it with the stretch web pattern not only helps for great grip on the roads but also helps with whatever cushion system is being used. It’s just another great flexible layer to keep all your joints happy.
Support
Drew: The support is solid enough to compete with most everyday trainers. Adidas included their standard Y-shaped Torsional plate at the midfoot, went with a fairly beefy heel counter that extends beyond the heel on both the medial and lateral sides of the foot. The SL20 uses a fuse overlay along the bottom third of the shoe that starts at the heel and extends all the way to the forefoot on both sides of the upper. It does the job of really keeping you on the footbed. Then the ball of the foot also sits ever so slightly inside the Lightstrike midsole to help prevent rollovers. Finally, the midsole flares out a bit on both sides of the forefoot to provide a wider base for pushing off.
It’s a full package of support despite the lightweight nature of the shoe. I feel adidas went above and beyond what it’s expected from an everyday trainer in this weight class. Jodi: As Drew has already stated, adidas really went all out making sure it would be next to impossible to not feel supported by the SL20. The heel cup is super rigid and extended along both sides of your foot. Then up top they gave you plenty of padding that wraps all the way around to the where the collar meets your ankle. And you can see your midsole peeking way out when you’re standing in them. You would have to land pretty awkwardly for your ankle to roll in these guys.
Materials
Drew: The SL20 features a typical mesh upper with fuse overlays. The tongue is a thin, stretchier mesh that is sewn to the upper. The laces are fairly typical and the insole is extremely thin and doesn’t really help the step-in comfort at all. So while the materials are pretty blah, they do the job, and allow adidas to keep the SL20 at the $120 price point. I like the trade offs they made because the price is a huge selling point of this shoe. Jodi: There is absolutely no stretch in the materials, not even anywhere on the tongue, which is also attached to the upper. And because of those two things, I really gotta talk about the fit.
Fit
Drew: The adidas SL20 fits true to size. Some narrow footers may notice some puffiness in the toe box when they lace the shoe up tight. This is a result of the way adidas sewed the tongue to the upper. The tongue/upper combo could have been executed better but in practice the excess toe box material didn’t annoy me or get in the way. This is where using a flexible mesh helps hide the issue. The thin tongue could also fold up a little while putting the shoe on but the pull tab helps sort that out.
It’s not a perfect upper but it gets the job done and let’s the real star of the shoe, the Lightstrike cushioning, shine. Jodi: Just in case anyone is new to my running reviews, I’m a wide footer. So if you are also a wide footer you’re going to want to stay tuned. As fantastic as this shoe was in the cushion department I struggled greatly with how the shoe fit. I feel like the length was half a size too long, but I could not have gone down a half size because there was no stretch in the upper and the shoe fit me really snug. Also, the tongue that was attached to the upper would somehow fold on itself always on my left foot and it would run between the bones on top of my foot. So I’d have to work at getting that shoe on just right almost every time I’d be getting ready to get out the door. It’s still a great shoe despite those things, definitely not a deal breaker for me. But they are used now for runs that I know will be under 45 minutes. Anything over that and I know I’m going to be feeling uncomfortable pretty quickly.
Overall
Drew: The adidas SL20 proves that Lightstrike cushioning in running shoes is a great option. For $120, you get an amazing cushioning experience, top tier traction, solid support, basic materials, and a few ignorable fit issues. But even if it was just the Lightstrike experience alone, I’d recommend these shoes. It’s a cushion that’s really fun to run in and worth the money. Jodi: I’m pretty happy with what adidas did with its first Lightstrike runner. Dare I say that the cushion could take over the almighty Boost? I can definitely see it being used in a lot of future runners. In fact, I hope they do. If you’re looking for a runner that feels fast, has solid cushion, great support, excellent traction and you have an average sized foot, I’d definitely recommend these. If you have wide feet like me or even very narrow feet, I’d go in store and try them on first. Make sure you can handle the way they fit because like Drew and I both said, due to the way the upper is constructed there’s no way to hide any flaws.
The Saucony Endorphin Pro was on the medal stand at the US Olympic Marathon Trials (courtesy of Molly Seidel) and we’ll probably see it on more podiums when road races start again. As we discussed in our recent Nike Alphafly Next% vs Saucony Endorphin Pro comparison, the Endorphin Pro is legit and will challenge both the Alphafly Next% and Nike Vaporfly Next% for road racing supremacy.
Cushion
Saucony’s version of pebax cushion is PWRRUN PB. It looks like adidas’ Boost but is much lighter and similar in squishiness and feel to Nike’s ZoomX. When paired with the S-curved carbon fiber plate that’s sandwiched between the two layers of PWWRUN PB, you get a snappy bounce on every toe off. The feeling is similar but stiffer than the Vaporfly Next%.
The pebax and carbon fiber plate combo is paired with a rocker shape that Saucony calls Speedroll. I enjoyed how smooth the Speedroll midsole shape made the heel to toe transition. The cushion, carbon fiber plate, and Speedroll shape combine for a smooth and efficient ride.
Traction
The Endorphin Pro features a traditional chevron pattern over the entire forefoot with plenty of cutouts for the pebax to expand. The midfoot only has rubber on the sides while the heel has some extra rubber on the lateral landing zone. While the rubber doesn’t appear thick, it’s durability is incredible. I’ve put over 50 miles on my pair and the outsole barely looks used. The traction is built to last in a way that the Vaporfly and Alphafly can’t match.
On top of that crazy durability, the rubber sticks to everything. I travelled a lot of wet ground and rainstorms in the Endorphin Pro. I never felt slippage. They even handled mildewy wooden bridges without issue. If you’re faced with bad weather on race day, reaching for the Endorphin Pro will be a great choice.
Support
There’s no internal heel counter but I felt secure at all times. There’s no tippy feeling like you get with other road racing shoes and the offset is a traditional 8mm. The forefoot widens nicely and a flared midsole provides extra support. You sit inside the midsole at both the heel and midfoot to help prevent rollovers. Finally, the gusseted tongue locks you in place. If your previous race day shoes were too wobbly, the Endorphin Pro will be a better option.
Materials
The entire upper consists of an ultra-thin engineered mesh called Formfit. There are some vinyl overlays at the lace loops, the heel, and logo but they’re mostly ornamental. The tongue is a double-layered mesh that feels like super thin neoprene.The shoe’s materials are common on traditional daily runners so there’s nothing to get used to. I didn’t experience any hotspots. It’s a minimal upper that does its job and stays out of the way.
Fit
The Endorphin Pro fits true to size without any dead space above the toes. The gusseted tongue provides a comfortable, locked down feel without feeling too tight. The tongue has a small bungie sewn on so you can tuck your laces into it. It’s perfect for people who hate the laces banging around as they run.
Some people I talked with needed a runner’s loop to get perfect heel lockdown. However, my heels stayed put from the beginning using the standard lacing configuration. In totality, the fit feels like a (very light) traditional running shoe.
Overall
The lebron 17 is a near perfect shoe. Fit, traction, and cushion are just awesome. True, it doesn’t have the extreme stack height and cushion of the Alphafly or Vaporfly, but not everyone needs that level of squish while racing.
With the Endorphin Pro’s $200 price tag being $50-75 less expensive than its closest rivals, any trade offs are worth the price. Based on my testing, I’m confident we’ll see the Saucony Endorphin Pro on a lot of podiums in the near future.
