What You Want To Know
- Weighs 5.4 oz. (153 g.) for a US M9/US W10.5 (Unisex sizing)
- Velocity and elegance for as much as a mile
- BioMoGo and a Pebax plate for the go-go
- Perhaps we want it was a little bit louder?
- Out there now for $130
RUBY: Out the field, Brooks hits you with a cultured black and Nightlife colorway, with fluorescent yellow accents spicing up the stealthy higher and spike plate. Curiously, Brooks got here out with a white cross nation spike, the Draft XC, but caught with black for the monitor. I’m no designer, however that feels a little bit again to entrance.
The general familiarity was a little bit underwhelming — nothing in regards to the spikes’ look screamed new, recent, or thrilling. That mentioned, the smooth and breathable engineered mesh higher is constructed to final and retains the ft ventilated effectively for these smoking sizzling summer season monitor days.
At 5.4oz for a US unisex measurement 9, this spike is significantly heavier than the 4.7oz Nike ZoomX Dragonfly and 4.5oz HOKA Cielo X MD spikes, however matches Adidas’ closest competitor, the Adizero Ambition.
The Good
RUBY: I didn’t need to decide this spike solely on its underwhelming look, so I laced up for a monitor exercise and was pleasantly stunned. The agency full-length Pebax Rnew plate, inlaid with carbon fiber, acts as a springboard into your subsequent stride and has you rolling easily from foot strike to toe-off.
This spike is undoubtedly suited to increased speeds: the quicker you run, the extra the spikes give again to you. Consider 200m to 400m repeats, a quick 800m or mile race — the Brooks ELMN8 v6 is made with the center distances in thoughts.
So far as the match and lockdown are involved, the Brooks ELMN8 v6 is a correct goldilocks shoe, and Brooks has nailed it. I beforehand reviewed the Brooks Draft XC spikes and famous that they got here up a little bit quick in size and match too snuggly for my liking. In distinction, the ELMN8 matches true to measurement in each size and width in my commonplace measurement (for reference, I put on skinny socks with my spikes, so the match could also be totally different relying in your alternative of sock or no sock).
The laces are additionally good: not too lengthy and flappy, but lengthy sufficient to double or triple knot for these of us, like myself, paranoid about footwear turning into free or untied midrace. As with all spikes, the toe field is streamlined for velocity, however the accommodating engineered mesh higher matches like a sock with out feeling such as you’re making an attempt to jam a sq. peg right into a spherical gap.
Store Brooks ELMN8 v6 – Unisex
The Unhealthy
RUBY: The Brooks ELMN8 6 feels a little bit outdated and left behind on this age of tremendous spikes and magic foams. Brooks has performed it protected with minimal updates on earlier fashions, avoiding experimenting with responsive foams like different spike manufacturers are actually doing. Stripped again to an aggressive 6-pin spike plate and skinny midsole, you’d anticipate this spike to weigh in significantly lighter than the extra cushioned Nike ZoomX Dragonfly and Adidas Adizero Ambition. However, as I’m positive you’ve guessed, it doesn’t. I’m left puzzled about what’s including to the burden: perhaps the agency full-length Pebax Rnew plate?
With such a inflexible and aggressive spike plate, this spike won’t work for inexperienced monitor athletes or these with a pronounced heel strike. The Brooks ELMN8 v6 has you up in your toes and closely loading the calves and Achilles, so be ready for the decrease legs to take a beating.
Store Brooks ELMN8 v6 – Unisex
Brooks ELMN8 v6 Conclusion
RUBY: If you happen to’re searching for a basic, conventional monitor spike designed for mid-distance efficiency, the Brooks ELMN8 v6 is price contemplating. The complete-length Pebax Rnew plate inlaid with carbon fiber actually promotes most operating effectivity and vitality return at these distances.
Nonetheless, for longer monitor races and exercises, something from 5km upwards, the full-length plate is just too aggressive, and the midsole lacks cushioning, leaving your legs feeling battered and beat up. Luckily, Brooks isn’t advertising this spike on the longer distances, however I feel it’s price noting that the ELMN8 lacks the flexibility of tremendous spikes just like the Nike ZoomX Dragonfly.
I used to be underwhelmed by its design, weight, and traditionality, however not everybody desires a brilliant spike. At quicker speeds, the Brooks ELMN8 actually held its personal. Brooks has nailed the match and lockdown, so this may match the invoice for athletes seeking to stand up on their toes and carry out on the mid-distance occasions.
You may decide up the Brooks ELMN8 v6 for $130 at Brooks through the use of the store hyperlink under.
Store Brooks ELMN8 v6 – Unisex
Ruby is a student-athlete at Tennessee Tech College, the place she’s captain of the ladies’s cross nation and monitor groups, operating at a near-elite degree in distances from the 3000m to the half-marathon. She is a double main in Train Physiology and in Psychology.
