I’ve been a traditional shoe wearer for years and have never
been able to wear any of the minimalist shoes that have become so popular since
the book “Born to Run” was published. Low and no drop running shoes cause my
plantar fascia to flare up. The Spark, with its 6mm heel drop, is a good
compromise between a minimalist and traditional shoe. It hasn’t caused any plantar
fasciitis problems for me. I also like that the shoe is so much lighter than my
Cascadias.
The Spark fits securely though the heel and mid-foot but has a high volume toe box so your toes don’t feel squished. The uppers drain quickly and breathe well but may not be very durable. I jammed my foot between two sharp rocks on a recent hike and damaged the shoe almost to the point of tearing a hole in the mesh. The sticky rubber sole grips extremely well on wet roots and rocky surfaces but is lacking when it comes to muddy trails. The 2.5mm lugs just aren’t big enough to dig in deep for a secure grip.
Photo credits: Trail Runner Nation
If I have one complaint with the shoe it’s with the hi-tensile
fabric strike plate. Sure it saves weight, but it doesn’t offer same the foot protection
as a high density EVA plate would. It may not be problem for runners/hikers without
any foot issues but after a long day on a rocky trail or mountain, the neuromas
in my feet become painful due to the lack of protection. To their credit, I don’t have any foot issues
on smoother trails.
Likes:
- Lightweight
- Roomy toe box\
- Sticky rubber sole
- Drains well
Dislikes:
- Inadequate strike plate
- 2.5mm lugs lacking in deep mud
Disclosure: The
author owns this product and purchased it with his own funds.
