The trainers here were reviewed by Carl Austin, MF's resident running shoe buff and the founder of ransacker.co.uk (opens in new tab), the shoe comparison website.
RATING : 4
A hyper lightweight racing flat weighing just 138g! The Piranha is super comfortable with or without socks (go for the latter if you want to shave time off the bike-run transition) and offers a fast, responsive road feel. But while the solyte material the midsole is made from provides excellent bounce back, these shoes are not that protective and have a pretty short shelf life so keep them for speed work and races.
PRICE : £80.00
Available at Ransacker (opens in new tab)
RATING : 4
Given the Pro 4's feather-like weight (170g), it's not surprising that this shoe is a bit too protection light for the long-distance foot bashers that are Ironmen. It's not, however, as flimsy as it looks - the thin midsole does offer some cushioning and the low profile means that the shoe is relatively stable. What's more, it's extremely responsive and the grip is excellent, even in the wet. All this means that it's ideal for shorter sprint traithlons in the rainy UK.
PRICE : £79.99
Available at Ransacker (opens in new tab)
RATING : 5
BEST IN TEST
One of the truest tests of a running shoe's success is whether amateur runners (who have to run in it all the time rather than the endorsed athletes who can switch to another model after they've done the press shots) end up buying them. Go to any local triathlon club and you'll see that the K-Ona passes with flying colours. The reasons? It's got a stabilising midfoot shank, bags of foam cushioning and masses of vents to drain water and keep your foot cool. It's super easy to jam on too – a big help during the bike-run transition. These are good for any distance.
PRICE : £85.00
Available at Ransacker (opens in new tab)
RATING : 3
The Saucony Fastwitch 4 is nice and light and has an air-mesh upper that will help drain away sweat and water, cutting down the chance of you getting blisters. It also features a supportive ovelays wrap in the upper, which reduces the risk of chaffing and ankle rolls by stopping your foot moving around too much. The Fastwitch 4's medial support is durable enough to last the Ironman run distance (42km), yet the shoe is responsive enough for speedy 5K sprint runs. A good all-rounder.
PRICE : £64.99
Available at Ransacker (opens in new tab)
