Lightstrike Pro is the only TPEE foam in the market, while all other major brands are PEBA or some variations of it. That's why Lightstrike Pro has this unique feel to it.
They definitely have different feels for sure. Both get the job done in different ways. Really depends on your preference. I do enjoy both...but will always reach for the Vaporfly 3 first.
Awesome! That’s what I love to hear. This type of content being useful. I have plenty more of this type of content coming on this channel. Not all at once, but over time, Stay tuned.
Hey, thank you for this nice, well-structured and interesting video! Again :) For the most part I agree with your senstation-ranking of the different foams, except your placement of the asics foam. I was really surprised, because to me the adidas foam (Lightstrike pro, I have the adios pro 3 and takumi sen 9 as well as the prime x) is way softer than the asics foam ( I have the metaspeed sky +). Have you tried the metaspeed sky +? Could it be that you tried other asics supershoes that might be softer? Incidentally I find that I love really soft cushioning for easy runs (Invincibles) and on race/spped days i prefer firmer midsoles (asics metaspeed sky+, takumi sen 9). So I appreciate the diversity the different brands offer and I love when someone like you who is that knowlegdable in product design gives background information as to why the foams/shoes feel that different. In other words, I can't express my gratitude enough for this unique Insight and I am looking forward to the next videos!
With Asics… in my experience… their foam is firm but not overly firm… but they use really stiff carbon plates which over stiffen the shoe and make their extreme toe springs more useful. It’s partly why I’m not a fan of the Metaspeed sky/edge+ because of this and how I run. I’m still trying to find an Asics shoe I like besides the Hyperspeed series. There are a few more I’ll try this coming summer. Asics foam to me is fairly firm and has no life (FFBlast and FFTurbo, both plus). Adidas foam is much firmer to my foot but has endless life. Thanks for the support and kind words. Glad my content is finding the audience who appreciates it. 🙏🏻
I will talk about that a bit in the next video talking about "responsiveness". Again, Nike and Adidas are on opposite ends of a spectrum with how they use carbon. Video will be out mid next week. 🤙🏻
As a brand new runner, I've been using the peg39 while i build my base. I can't wait to be good enough to bust out the vf2 and see what these foams/plates are all about 🏃🏻♂️
You can’t go wrong building your base in some Pegs… for sure. If you want a step in between a Peg and the VF2… try some Invincible 3s… you’ll get the Superfoam feel without the aggressiveness of the race shoe. I started a playlist called “Running shoe basics” that I’ll keep adding content too… mostly for new runners or runners looking to learn about shoes. Keep an eye on that for more content like this. Also… I’ll have some more Invincible 3 content coming out in the coming weeks. I have a lot more to say about that shoe.
@Sagasu Running thanks for the tip. I was just looking into the differences between the 2 vs 3. It seems that the 3s have more stiffness, which makes it a good compliment to my future shoe rotation.
@@ayowser01 the VF3 is a better shoe. I wouldn’t call it stiffer… it’s softer actually, but more structured to run in due to the design of the midsole. I have multiple videos on this channel talking about the VF3, the changes and comparing it to multiple other shoes (including the VF2).
The Matrix with your explanation is an excellent resource. If you were able to slot Puma in (clearly moving within the market) that would be excellent. This may explain the "out the box" first impressions many you tube influencers have for bounce or yoga ball feel trainers such as Nike or Saucony, where as its been more of a connesieurs choice to see the value in the more direct feel of Asics/Adidas which sometimes get a better full review. That said, clearly even hardened' Zoom X' fans appreciate that Adidas know what they're doing! Interestingly in the UK run testers a) did not rate the Novablast (but do the Superblast) and b) have the Adios Pro 3 as an also ran as a Marathon racer. They have the New Balance RC elite, Endorphine Pro 3, Metaspeed Sky all ahead. This suggests a direct preference for the bounce feel yet some faster runners prefer Adidas direct feel as you outline. Interestingly the Takumi Sen and new Boston 12 seem universally well received. It appears thinking is coming around particularly when addidas pack more foam in. You appear amongst the best voices to explain all this to runners. For example, your matrix told me in five minutes what its taken 25 videos to work out elsewhere when trying to fathom market with brand/foam placement. Thank you!
Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad this video was useful. It's something I don't see anyone else talking about on RUclips (outside of DOR) and wanted to make something easy to digest and short. I have no experience in Puma shoes so no clue where to place them on this matrix. Which is why i didn't include them. I agree with you on the first impressions. ZoomX does feel great out of the box and the formula os ZoomX we have now on 2023 is very consistent well into the 200mi range. SHoes like the Asics Novablast 3 are another issue though where FFBlast+ goes through quite a drastic change in the first 100miles and what it feels like "out of the box" is nowhere near what it feels like at 100miles. Nike, Asics and Adidas are all currently producing outstanding running shoes. Though each has it's own unique traits for sure.
I wonder how an updated matrix would look now you've had some experience with the Puma line and the latest Endorphin series. Or maybe it's worth waiting to try Puma's Nitro Elite foam as well...
If 1 cm of midsole layer thickness buys Lightstrike Pro the same resiliency as ZoomX, but at less "suspension" travel, i.e. higher firmness, Adidas could just make Lightstrike Pro "as soft functionally" as a full slab of Zoom X by making their midsoles into fenestrated net structures, saving further weight against their competition (air weighs nothing after all) while becoming even more comfy, and gym-ball-like, without losing energy return (provided there is no non-linear plummeting of energy-return beyond a certain compression). Seen through that lens, the name of the game for the 2020s RnD would be to develop the firmest and most resilient superfoam with the longest "energy returning suspension travel" to make ever more fenestrated midsoles, saving ever more weight while retaining maximum energy return. No need to make a solid layer of soft foam if a net of firm foam can be just as soft and energy-returning / resilient at less weight and material volume.
The nomenclature surrounding this topic is so confusing. To my mind, it would be more intuitive to use elasticity to describe how the foam responds to impact force (firm vs soft) and responsiveness to refer to how the returns to form (fast/springy vs slow/bouncy). Basically, rate of compression vs rate of decompression. I think your description touches on this,but it wasn't entirely clear to me if that was what you were describing. Also, it seems kind of wild that you could engineer a foam to have different compression/decompression responses. Great informative video, as always.
It is a very complicated subject to cover simply. All engineering terms. I think you got the gist of what I was outlining. I didn’t want to use the words “slow” or “fast” as ZoomX isn’t slow and LSP isn’t fast. But there is a delay in ZoomX and and a twitch like response in LSP. As far as engineering a foam to do what you want it to do… that’s materials engineering 101. A totally fascinating area for sure!
You're right, specially because 'resilience' is a term with a well definied meaning and has nothing to do with time. Resilience is related to going back to the original shape after a material undergoes some kind of deformation. It doesn't really matter how fast it takes. At the end of the day we're talking about Resilience (is the foam capable of returning to it's original shape after being deformed? How much energy is returned?) Elasticity (how much does the foam deform after being subjected to load?) Rate of compression (how fast is compression? How long will it take for the foam to achieve maximum compression?) Rate of decompression/return (how fast will it take for the foam to return to it's original shape after being compressed?) Those 4 properties can be changed depending on what materials are used, how those materials are processed, what are the microstructures (how the molecules are strucutured) and macroesctructures (shape, angles)...
Lightstrike Pro is the only TPEE foam in the market, while all other major brands are PEBA or some variations of it. That's why Lightstrike Pro has this unique feel to it.
Very true.
I have the Vaporfly V2 and today tried the Takumi sen 9.. Lighstrike Pro is absolutely amazing.
They definitely have different feels for sure. Both get the job done in different ways. Really depends on your preference. I do enjoy both...but will always reach for the Vaporfly 3 first.
Fantastic explanation,especially for “newer “runners ,keep up these vids !
Awesome! That’s what I love to hear. This type of content being useful.
I have plenty more of this type of content coming on this channel. Not all at once, but over time, Stay tuned.
Hey, thank you for this nice, well-structured and interesting video! Again :) For the most part I agree with your senstation-ranking of the different foams, except your placement of the asics foam. I was really surprised, because to me the adidas foam (Lightstrike pro, I have the adios pro 3 and takumi sen 9 as well as the prime x) is way softer than the asics foam ( I have the metaspeed sky +). Have you tried the metaspeed sky +? Could it be that you tried other asics supershoes that might be softer? Incidentally I find that I love really soft cushioning for easy runs (Invincibles) and on race/spped days i prefer firmer midsoles (asics metaspeed sky+, takumi sen 9). So I appreciate the diversity the different brands offer and I love when someone like you who is that knowlegdable in product design gives background information as to why the foams/shoes feel that different. In other words, I can't express my gratitude enough for this unique Insight and I am looking forward to the next videos!
With Asics… in my experience… their foam is firm but not overly firm… but they use really stiff carbon plates which over stiffen the shoe and make their extreme toe springs more useful. It’s partly why I’m not a fan of the Metaspeed sky/edge+ because of this and how I run.
I’m still trying to find an Asics shoe I like besides the Hyperspeed series. There are a few more I’ll try this coming summer.
Asics foam to me is fairly firm and has no life (FFBlast and FFTurbo, both plus). Adidas foam is much firmer to my foot but has endless life.
Thanks for the support and kind words. Glad my content is finding the audience who appreciates it. 🙏🏻
How about nikes carbon plate vs energy rods?
I will talk about that a bit in the next video talking about "responsiveness". Again, Nike and Adidas are on opposite ends of a spectrum with how they use carbon.
Video will be out mid next week. 🤙🏻
As a brand new runner, I've been using the peg39 while i build my base. I can't wait to be good enough to bust out the vf2 and see what these foams/plates are all about 🏃🏻♂️
You can’t go wrong building your base in some Pegs… for sure. If you want a step in between a Peg and the VF2… try some Invincible 3s… you’ll get the Superfoam feel without the aggressiveness of the race shoe.
I started a playlist called “Running shoe basics” that I’ll keep adding content too… mostly for new runners or runners looking to learn about shoes. Keep an eye on that for more content like this.
Also… I’ll have some more Invincible 3 content coming out in the coming weeks. I have a lot more to say about that shoe.
@Sagasu Running thanks for the tip. I was just looking into the differences between the 2 vs 3. It seems that the 3s have more stiffness, which makes it a good compliment to my future shoe rotation.
@@ayowser01 the VF3 is a better shoe. I wouldn’t call it stiffer… it’s softer actually, but more structured to run in due to the design of the midsole. I have multiple videos on this channel talking about the VF3, the changes and comparing it to multiple other shoes (including the VF2).
Great video and overview 😊👍
Thank you 🙏🏻. There is endless detail to go into on this subject.
Really useful...good knowledge considering selection of shoe...thanks for sharing
I hope this was helpful. 🤙🏻
The Matrix with your explanation is an excellent resource. If you were able to slot Puma in (clearly moving within the market) that would be excellent. This may explain the "out the box" first impressions many you tube influencers have for bounce or yoga ball feel trainers such as Nike or Saucony, where as its been more of a connesieurs choice to see the value in the more direct feel of Asics/Adidas which sometimes get a better full review. That said, clearly even hardened' Zoom X' fans appreciate that Adidas know what they're doing! Interestingly in the UK run testers a) did not rate the Novablast (but do the Superblast) and b) have the Adios Pro 3 as an also ran as a Marathon racer. They have the New Balance RC elite, Endorphine Pro 3, Metaspeed Sky all ahead. This suggests a direct preference for the bounce feel yet some faster runners prefer Adidas direct feel as you outline. Interestingly the Takumi Sen and new Boston 12 seem universally well received. It appears thinking is coming around particularly when addidas pack more foam in. You appear amongst the best voices to explain all this to runners. For example, your matrix told me in five minutes what its taken 25 videos to work out elsewhere when trying to fathom market with brand/foam placement. Thank you!
Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad this video was useful. It's something I don't see anyone else talking about on RUclips (outside of DOR) and wanted to make something easy to digest and short.
I have no experience in Puma shoes so no clue where to place them on this matrix. Which is why i didn't include them.
I agree with you on the first impressions. ZoomX does feel great out of the box and the formula os ZoomX we have now on 2023 is very consistent well into the 200mi range. SHoes like the Asics Novablast 3 are another issue though where FFBlast+ goes through quite a drastic change in the first 100miles and what it feels like "out of the box" is nowhere near what it feels like at 100miles.
Nike, Asics and Adidas are all currently producing outstanding running shoes. Though each has it's own unique traits for sure.
Terrific video as usual.
Thank you 🙏🏻
What a great film!
Thank you! 🙏🏻
I wonder how an updated matrix would look now you've had some experience with the Puma line and the latest Endorphin series. Or maybe it's worth waiting to try Puma's Nitro Elite foam as well...
I just updated the files yesterday. I’ll include it in some of the upcoming Saucony content and am planning some super shoe content in May/June.
@@SagasuRunning Brilliant.
If 1 cm of midsole layer thickness buys Lightstrike Pro the same resiliency as ZoomX, but at less "suspension" travel, i.e. higher firmness, Adidas could just make Lightstrike Pro "as soft functionally" as a full slab of Zoom X by making their midsoles into fenestrated net structures, saving further weight against their competition (air weighs nothing after all) while becoming even more comfy, and gym-ball-like, without losing energy return (provided there is no non-linear plummeting of energy-return beyond a certain compression).
Seen through that lens, the name of the game for the 2020s RnD would be to develop the firmest and most resilient superfoam with the longest "energy returning suspension travel" to make ever more fenestrated midsoles, saving ever more weight while retaining maximum energy return.
No need to make a solid layer of soft foam if a net of firm foam can be just as soft and energy-returning / resilient at less weight and material volume.
This is essentially what Adidas has done with the new Lightstrike Pro formulation found in the Evo 1.
Commenting for the algorithm
🙏🏻
Where do Puma foams fit in to this?
I’ve never run in a Puma shoe… but from what I gather form reviews I’ve watched… I’d put it above NB and to the right of Saucony..
The nomenclature surrounding this topic is so confusing.
To my mind, it would be more intuitive to use elasticity to describe how the foam responds to impact force (firm vs soft) and responsiveness to refer to how the returns to form (fast/springy vs slow/bouncy). Basically, rate of compression vs rate of decompression.
I think your description touches on this,but it wasn't entirely clear to me if that was what you were describing.
Also, it seems kind of wild that you could engineer a foam to have different compression/decompression responses.
Great informative video, as always.
It is a very complicated subject to cover simply. All engineering terms.
I think you got the gist of what I was outlining. I didn’t want to use the words “slow” or “fast” as ZoomX isn’t slow and LSP isn’t fast. But there is a delay in ZoomX and and a twitch like response in LSP.
As far as engineering a foam to do what you want it to do… that’s materials engineering 101. A totally fascinating area for sure!
You're right, specially because 'resilience' is a term with a well definied meaning and has nothing to do with time. Resilience is related to going back to the original shape after a material undergoes some kind of deformation. It doesn't really matter how fast it takes.
At the end of the day we're talking about
Resilience (is the foam capable of returning to it's original shape after being deformed? How much energy is returned?)
Elasticity (how much does the foam deform after being subjected to load?)
Rate of compression (how fast is compression? How long will it take for the foam to achieve maximum compression?)
Rate of decompression/return (how fast will it take for the foam to return to it's original shape after being compressed?)
Those 4 properties can be changed depending on what materials are used, how those materials are processed, what are the microstructures (how the molecules are strucutured) and macroesctructures (shape, angles)...
Where would you put Puma's Nitro foam
I’ve never run in a Puma shoe… but from what I gather form reviews I’ve watched… I’d put it above NB and to the right of Saucony…
Asics FF Turbo is a bit like Adidas Light Strike Pro..
FFTurbo+ feels softer to me...but in general Asics foams feel very firm to me... but not to the extreme of LSP.