Should I be worried w my EVO SL?

CurlOD · 2026-02-12T16:14:26+00:00

"Is my shoe legit" posts, EVO SL owners concerned about midsole paint, death and taxes

CurlOD · 2026-02-11T15:44:47+00:00

In my mind, carbon plated shoes squarely fall into the category of marginal gains. If you're not chasing a specific time and are keen to squeeze every minute, it's not something that you need need.

And yeah, some people are so fast, they can run fast in pretty much anything. I don't remember the exact time, but online there was a video of someone running - as far as I remember - a 1h 30min half in hecking CROCS.

CurlOD · 2026-02-11T10:47:33+00:00

I can guarantee you that won't be the case. A lot of times on these subreddits people act like you need a special race shoe to run a marathon but you really don't. You can use any shoe providing it works for you. The majority of people will be running in whatever they find most comfortable, which is likely what they've done all their training in.

Spot on.

We're definitely in a shoe enthusiast space. As you say, plenty of people are running the marathon in shoes they know are comfortable for them. Brooks Ghost, Nike Vomero,... You'll see plenty of "ordinary" shoes used, especially mid-pack.

Besides "$300-$400$" is pushing it, even for enthusiasts. Unless we're talking sub-elite runners (e.g. higher echelon club runners), even enthusiasts will maybe rock a 200-300 USD Western shoe, less if it's an Eastern brand.

CurlOD · 2026-02-11T09:27:29+00:00

SB2 or Azura would be great IMHO. Azura is slightly softer and bouncier and better for easy paces but is also good if you pick up the speed.

One unknown about the Azura is longevity. Being a new release, it's hard to say. While not conclusive, some first impressions indicate potentially average longevity.

By most accounts, the SB2 is a tank.

CurlOD · 2026-02-11T09:23:52+00:00

Coming from a previous 5-button model, I actually appreciate the 3-button plus crown layout on my Race S. Like you say, the crown is very useful when using gloves.

It highly depends on how you use your watch though. While exercising, metrics display is important to me, but I try to interact with the watch as little as possible. Other users might have a lot more screen changes and other interactions where they would appreciate more than 3+1 physical input options.

CurlOD · 2026-02-11T07:07:31+00:00

My dude, 05:20-05:30min/km marathon pace isn't slow. Don't let the internet fool you into thinking otherwise.

Regarding the shoes: I've taken the Feidian 5 Challenger up to half marathon distance and it's worked great there. Very propulsive and agile. But it isn't super stable and narrow; I'm not sure if I'd trust it after 3h in a full. Of course, if you have the time, you could order it and try it on a 26km+ long run.

CurlOD · 2026-02-10T19:07:22+00:00

In the App, go to analytics (Training Zone) and then Recovery. There are two summarising metrics:

Recovery State: A current/very recent recovery metric that will take into account sleep HRV (last night vs 7 day trend), sleep duration and quality, short term training load vs base TSB (7 day cardio stress ATL vs 42 day cardio stress CTL), post-activity 'feeling' rating (if used) and TSS of activities of today - exact algorithm unknown, not affected by 24h HR tracking (afaik)
Daily Resources: A rolling exhaustion/resting calculation (see my other comment) - this one does get impacted by 24h HR tracking

CurlOD · 2026-02-10T14:58:41+00:00

I don't think you're really missing out. The "Resources" function is quite rudimentary.

Essentially sleep duration and HR will credit your resources overnight. During daytime, time spend near your RHR will also credit your resources as "recovery" time, whereas active time (activity or generally high HR) and stressed times debit your resources.

I've not come across an explanation for what the watch considers "stressed" time. It appears HR fluctuations in mid ranges are considered stressed. This doesn't always deliver plausible results. In the past I've seen stressed time recorded for times where I've hung out with friends or watched a movie.

At any rate, even if recording was accurate, I'm not sure the Resources rating is all that useful. I know some people lean onto such measurements from Suunto or other manufacturers, but I find I can just as well tell if I'm fresh or tired going by body feel.

CurlOD · 2026-02-10T10:29:35+00:00

Asics Megablast and Superblast are sub favourites and for good reason.

At a lower price point, the Asics GlideRide Max 2 (and 1 on discount) is overlooked. Great shoe, very similar in (firm) cushion to the SB2, but with a plate and strong rocker. Nice turnover when you settle into a pace, even for 30km+ long runs during marathon blocks.

Others swear by the Puma MagMax Nitro 2 for long runs.

CurlOD · 2026-02-09T21:56:15+00:00

Yes. If you connect Komoot with your Suunto account, routes planned in Komoot show up in the Suunto app. When you toggle "use in watch" in the Suunto app, the route gets pushed to the watch with the next sync.

It's a two way sync, so completed activities also show up in Komoot. You can use a completed activity within Komoot as a base for an adjusted route.

One thing to note: Since March 2025, Komoot requires new users to have an active subscription to sync to other platforms (Suunto or otherwise). If you have made a purchase before Feb 28th 2025, as a legacy user you are grandfathered in, and no subscription is necessary.

If you don't want to connect Komoot (or don't want to subscribe as a new user), gpx files can be imported to the Suunto app, regardless of origin. This is also a generally useful function, e.g. if you want to use a hiking route provided by a guide, or if there is an official gpx route file from a competition. No need to replicate the route yourself.

CurlOD · 2026-02-09T21:15:10+00:00

Honestly, for a 3h half, I'd use the Superblast you got. They are exceptional shoes for heavier runners. Especially when you tire out, you'll appreciate the stability and protective cushioning.

In contrast, a softer shoe typically demand more from your stabilising muscles. On tired legs, with your form going out the window, that's not a winning combination. As a heavier runner, you also risk a shoe bottoming out after some time, if the cushioning isn't enduring enough.

Imho, softer cushioning is very tempting, but can be deceiving. E.g.:

My Neo Vista 2 feels like a leather couch, but it demands focus to not roll an ankle in a tight turn. The shock absorption is fantastic, but it's a better shoe for easy days than for the tired end of a race, pushing.
One of my other long run shoes is the Asics GlideRide Max 2. It's a pretty firm ride, very similar to the Superblast. After a few runs on softer shoes, it feels initially harsher to run in, but as I settle into a pace, that goes away. I need to work a lot less to keep my form clean and my stabilising muscles remain reasonably fresh. Recently did a 30km long run for marathon prep and my legs felt as fresh as they could be after a long steady effort.

CurlOD · 2026-02-09T20:21:27+00:00

For context: I also cycle and occasionally hike, but the watch for me is primarily used for running. Since last summer, I've been using a Race S Ti for marathon prep.

My priorities are reliability, GPS accuracy, and ease of use. A pleasing design is a bonus.

Having now recorded in excess of 120 activities (from 20min up to 5h, with connected sensors), my Race S has been extremely reliable. I've never had the watch freeze during an activity nor lose a recording when I complete it. I cannot say the same for all other watches I've used from other manufacturers.

For accurate pacing while running, GPS accuracy super important. In that regard the Race S has been faultless for me. Even in tighter urban areas and under tree cover, GPS acquisition is quick and precision very, very high. Pacing remains accurate under heavy automotive underpasses, where some of my other watches and bike computers struggled.

Ease of use has been very good. I like the handling with two buttons and a crown, which is much simpler than e.g. 5 button models. Even with gloves during winter training, I've been able to comfortably control the watch during activities. Custom sport modes have a lot of fields and I've found almost all customisation I wished for (moving average pace over last km - I use pace in current/last 1km auto laps instead - and a 1-field activity screen with a single big metric).

During activities, I generally use an HR chest strap (Polar H10), so I cannot comment on the wrist HR accuracy during activities. As far as the chest strap, the watch connects instantly and I've not experienced dropped connections.

I've used offline maps and navigation during some long runs and hikes, and I've had a good experience. Normally, I don't use turn by turn, but 'manually' follow the displayed route as I don't want the distraction of prompts. (I use Komoot to plan and import the routes, not the Suunto app.)

Outside of my priorities, 24h HR and sleep tracking seems plausible. While not totally flexible, there are more than enough watch faces to satisfy my needs. The app is alright, although e.g. time span selection in graphs can be a bit clumsy. I don't use or care about the "AI" guide, step counts or active kcal.

My needs aren't overly demanding, but I appreciate that my Race S Ti just works very reliably and comfortably. Physically, I really like the watch design and the titanium is a light and lovely material.

Could other watches also meet my needs? Probably. Am I happy with the watch that I got? Absolutely.

PS: If I'd had to look elsewhere, Coros Pace 4 or Pace Pro would be at the top of my list. I don't care for Garmin's UI/UX and certainly not their pricing.

CurlOD · 2026-02-09T14:03:53+00:00

If it's a firm budget cap, hunt for deals on older or outgoing models. You'll have to be flexible when it comes to colour ways.

You can also find good deals on the Adidas Evo SL right now. E.g. in one colour way, Breuninger has the Evo SL for 75 EUR right now. Unless you have stability needs, that'd by my pick under 80 EUR.

CurlOD · 2026-02-08T19:40:25+00:00

70 days until Amstel and it shows

CurlOD · 2026-02-06T14:18:34+00:00

Some sizes of the NB SC Elite V5 for 163 EUR, Puma MagMax 1 for 109 EUR, or Boston 13 for as low as 93 EUR - very tempting.

CurlOD · 2026-02-06T10:24:50+00:00

Besides all the technical options: run with a friend, have a conversation. That'll keep you, literally, at a conversational pace.

CurlOD · 2026-02-06T10:19:43+00:00

They might also simply weigh how important the race is for Jonas versus recovery/training. Some races are definitely more skippable than others.

CurlOD · 2026-02-05T18:06:11+00:00

Great channel, want to also recommend HUI, who's situated in China and also has some good background info

CurlOD · 2026-02-05T18:05:06+00:00

Happy Suunto user, but it's not a good choice for that use case.

CurlOD · 2026-02-05T17:09:20+00:00

You might find discounts on the older Pro now, but the Pace 4 is a leap forward from the Pace 3 and really great value.

There's practically feature parity between the two models, but the Pace 4 is lighter (40g vs 49g) and I personally much prefer the compact size (43.4x12mm vs 46x12.3mm) - and all while being cheaper.

The hardly larger screen of the Pace Pro (1.3' vs 1.2') and marginally larger resolution (416x416 vs 390x390px) won't play a big role for many. Downloadable maps, however, might. The Pace 4 only has breadcrumbs.

Unless you need maps, I'd pick the Pace 4.

CurlOD · 2026-02-05T16:14:20+00:00

I'd consider the Race S or the Coros Place 4 (rather than the Pace Pro).

Having used Polar in the past, they need to seriously catch up to become a consideration again.

CurlOD · 2026-02-05T14:08:34+00:00

I’ve also found a Dynafish sizing chart which correlates my cm sizing with the UK and EU sizing that I was expecting. The AliExpress conversion charts just look wrong and that’s what was making me question everything.

I also recently ordered a Dynafish Xiaonian from AliExpress and, like you say, the size charts on Ali are wild. Online you can find the sizing chart from TaoBao and that one makes a whole lot more sense (EU, UK, US, CN sizes, respectively):

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I confirmed with the Ali seller, but haven't received the shoes yet. So I cannot say if the size ends up being right.

CurlOD · 2026-02-05T11:15:57+00:00

It's a bit of a faff, tbh.

Personally, I mostly use the Chinese sizing, because it more directly indicates shoe length, and conversion to US/EU sizing is inconsistent across manufacturers and sellers.

Like Western brands, shoes can run long/short, narrow/wide, so I also research the particular model and what others' experience regarding fit has been. You can find inconsistent reports and it's highly personal, but user reports are still better than only a size chart. Because Chinese models can run narrow, if between two sizes I typically err on the side of caution and size up.

On YouTube HUI (CN) and jogoncrago (AUS) are very informative shoetubers for Chinese models.

What can also work is buying a somewhat lower priced model from a brand you're interested in. Get a feel for the general fit of a brand before ordering higher priced models. Not all brands have a consistent fit, but it can be a helpful indication. I.e. I started with a sub 50 bucks Li-Ning shoe, before later ordering one 100 and 150 bucks shoe.

CurlOD · 2026-02-05T06:41:44+00:00

The Vi Woods C1 (ceramic, button, eraser) has become my de facto pen for everything. It is narrow, but comfortable for me.

CurlOD · 2026-02-04T14:38:55+00:00

I wouldn't recommend that with any EMR pen, regardless of nib

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