New shoes!! Brooks Pureflow 4

The Pureflow 4 has additional cushioning

in the tongue and an extra eyelet/hook to 

ensure the tongue stays in place.

Another block of training done, and another pair of shoes goosed.  So a quick trip to see Adrian at Run and Become where I was greeted with Brooks' latest model - the Pureflow 4.  The next generation of the Brooks Pureflow range has quite a few noticeable changes from its predecessor.  The first obvious thing I noticed was the tongue - Brooks has replaced the burrito tongue of its previous model and returned to the more conventional tongue of the earlier models.  In addition, the tongue now comes with a lot more padding (albeit with a very thin edging), very similar to that of its trail cousin, the PureGrit 1.  For those concerned that the removal of the burrito tongue will make it less secure, Brooks seems to have addressed this by adding a loop on the front of the tongue for the lace to pass through and therefore keep it in place.  The laces themselves are also thicker and feel slightly elasticated which I guess must be to ensure some flexibility around the front of the ankle on lacing.

The uppers in general feel much more cushioned, the heel has retained its rounded feature which continues to hug the foot perfectly, and the toe box remains roomy, allowing for a more natural spread - it really does feel like wearing a comfy pair of slippers!

So, initial thoughts seemed positive, but how would they feel to run in?  Straight out the box and I thought I'd take them for a 25 mile test run on the canal after work.  Despite the apparent extra cushioning (which felt amazing, especially as I'd literally run my last pair into the ground), the shoes felt as light and responsive as previous versions. And just to make sure, I did another 25 miles the next morning.  Despite the removal of the burrito tongue  (which I do miss, but more for aesthetic reasons I think) and the thicker laces, the tongue stayed in place and the laces stayed knotted.  I was content enough with the previous model, but the changes made to this latest version do all seem to be improvements that you don't realise were needed until you see them!

With just under 7 weeks to go until the World 24 hour champs in Turin, I'm looking forward to getting a few more hundred miles in these before the big day!

The geeky bit:

• Weight (size 8.5 UK mens): 300g
• Heel-to-to drop: 4mm
• Independent tongue (vs burrito design of Pureflow 3)
• Nav band for added support
• Rounded heel with wraparound collar