First impressions…Brooks Pure Grit
I had TriSports.com special order me a pair of the new Brooks Pure Grits (they carry the rest of the Pure line). I had been running in the Brookd Cascadia’s (very happy with the 5’s, not so happy with the 6’s) prior. I have been wanting to try a more minimalist shoe so decided to give these a try.
Out of the box.
I immediately noticed the light weight. The Grits weigh in at a hair under 10 oz., where as the Cascadia’s are just over 12 oz. The outsole is wide for a stable platform. The upper is a mesh type material. The Brooks stripe on the side is reflective for low light safety. The insole is soft and spongey to the feel. The Grits have a great fit. The toe box is wide and the heel fits snuggly.
On the trail.
Once on the feet the “spongeyness” of the midsole disapears and has a firm feel. My first run was a 9 mile run on desert trails…dry, hardpack, rocky, sand, and gravel with 1500 feet of accending and descending. During the run my feet stayed firmly in place in the shoe. I had no blisters or hot spots. The lug pattern of the soles had great grip on the varying ground surfaces. The soles offer much more flex than typical trail shoes. The uppers left my feet cool in the late morning heat (85-90 degrees). The minimal heel drop is great for mid/fore foot runners. The split toe is actually functional as I could feel the movement it allowed of the big toe. The wide sole is very stable. Rocks were not an issue…the soles offer plenty of protection. Overall, these are one of the best trail shoes I have worn. If they wear well this looks like my new favorite trail shoe!
triguywithavx 