Giordana Specoo

The Gold 12 is for the fast and fit, or those who want to be. This year's race shoe is lighter and perhaps, faster than ever with a new durable decking material and a 3 claw aluminum traction system, including the "intuitive" toe claw that makes running, climbing, and even walking much easier and more natural than any other brand. If you're a runner, the Gold 12 was picked as the 'Winter Gear of the Year' winner by Trail Runner Magazine at the beginning of the 2008 year. The Gold 12 is an athletic, responsive design with a simple and easy to use race binding which accommodates your favorite running shoe and compliments you natural stride. Its a winning combination, you and the Gold 12.

For those making the transition from road to trail, the highly acclaimed Vasque Men's Blur Trail Running Shoe does an excellent job of combining sturdy off-road design with standard running shoe construction techniques. Although it's not as heavy duty as some in the trail running category, this makes it ideal for those who do some running on pavement, prefer a lighter shoe for fast-paced workouts, or do not plan on putting the shoe through a high mileage training regimen. With a Breathable microfiber and airmesh nylon upper and low-profile outsole, the Vasque Blur Trail Running Shoe for men is ideal for dry conditions, especially on routes where running over rock slabs and hard packed dirt are the norm. Winner of a 2006 Gear of the Year award from Outside magazine, the Blur offers the protection you need underneath the foot. A nylon textile plate provides a stable platform on uneven surfaces and dulls the otherwise sharp sensation when stepping on loose rocks. A molded EVA midsole with soft crashpad cushions the blow of repeated heel and toe strikes. And for those who share the road with pre-dawn commuters, the Vasque Men's Blur Trail Running Shoe includes reflective trim that shines brightly under the gaze of beaming headlights.

Part sturdy trail runner, part road shoe, the Vasque Women's Blur Trail Running Shoe is an adept set of wheels for both your neighborhood road routes and trail running adventures. In fact, the testers at Outside magazine were so impressed with how this shoe behaved on both road and trail that they singled it out as the 2006 Gear of the Year award winner in the trail runner category. Qualities that stood out for the Outside staff included a deep heel pocket that holds the heel in place, a roomy toe box that allows each digit to freely wriggle, and underfoot protection that doesn't feel clunky or tippy when road running. To give the women's Vasque Blur Trail Running Shoe the stability for trail use without an awkward feel on the road, Vasque uses a lightweight nylon textile plate above the outsole to provide rigidity on rough trails. They also use a sticky rubber outsole minus the deep lugs found on most other trail runners. The tread is still plenty aggressive and places the foot closer to the ground for a more stable feeling. That said, the Blur is best used for short to medium distance runs. For those training for an endurance run, however, the Vasque Velocity Trail Running Shoe for women is a worthy choice. The Vasque Blur uses a molded EVA midsole with soft crashpad underneath the heel for cushioning and greater stability. It works in combination with a dual density EVA footbed to support the foot. The footbed is removable in case the user prefers to insert their own insole. The Vasque Blur Trail Running Shoe for women also features a microfiber and airmesh upper for breathable comfort during fast-paced runs and warm weather workouts.