
The sport of running has been on an upward trajectory for some time and has jettisoned further with the pandemic. People have become more conscious of their health and have taken up running as one means of keeping themselves fit. People are spoilt for choices when it comes to choosing a running shoe, for running shoes are a universe unto themselves. It often leaves people confused when they see shoes in price ranges varying from low 2000 rupees to prices upwards of 20,000. A good-quality running shoe is still out of reach for many who want to take up running.

As a self-proclaimed shoe dog, I have been hoping that innovation from home-grown brands will change this situation. The last few years have seen shoes like ArcRacer from Elevar Sports, and shoes under the Power brand (owned by Bata) show some promise.  ArcRacer has a midsole foam that looks styrofoam which is similar to Boost foam used in the Adidas Ultrboost line, and a knit upper, while Power Running shoes use a relatively modern variation of EVA foam. Priced at around 5,000 INR, these have shown that it is possible to indigenously design quality budget running shoes in India. 

In this crowded space of running shoes, when Cultsport (famous for its chain of fitness centers) released its line of running shoes, I was quite intrigued to check them out. The shoe geek in me couldn’t resist and I bought the model Windblazer, which is touted to be the best of the line-up. Windblazer is sold at an MRP of 4,299 and often can be picked up at 2,000 on sale, a steal for a running shoe.

The question is - Does it realize the promise of affordable quality running shoes? Read the review to see how it fares as a running shoe.

<ShoeCard shoeCode="013001001M"></ShoeCard>

##### What makes up Windblazer?

The first thing that you notice about Windblazer is its weight. Holding it in your hands, you can’t help but notice how heavy and rugged it feels. It weighs around 325 grams for men's UK size 10. Quite heavy for a running shoe. The weight largely comes from the solid construction the shoe has and hence the ruggedness.

**Midsole**  

The midsole uses compression-molded EVA (CMEVA) foam, which makes it more precise in its size and shape. The stack height of 28mm (at the heel) gives a decent amount of cushioning. An 8 mm heel-to-toe drop is in line with the design of contemporary running shoes. The durometer of CMEVA foam used in the midsole is about 38, which means it feels hard under the weight when compared to a typical daily neutral trainer. In fact, it is one of the hardest midsoles we have ever seen in a running shoe. Imagine a block of “Natraj” erases under your feet, that’s how hard it feels.  The hardness offsets the generous amount of foam used, otherwise what could have been a well-cushioned neutral trainer.

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        <LightBox src="/images/cwb-midsole.jpg" caption="Plenty of foam for a budget shoe, though it is on the harder side" alt="" ></LightBox>
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Here is a comparative view of how soft is Nitro Elite's midsole is, when measured the softness with a Durometer. At 25 HA, it is the softest. 

**Upper**  

Things get interesting in this department. It has a multi-layered mesh, with plenty of added padding, and overlays. It looks quite premium and seems to have been designed with durability in mind. In fact, the upper is so well padded, that it resembles shoes designed for cross-training. The upper design doesn’t help much with breathability, and the feet get hot after a while. The tongue is heavily padded, but not a gusseted one. Another peculiar choice is with the eyelets.  There are only 4-eyelets which is very uncommon in running shoes. Typical running shoes have 6-8 eyelets. This severely limits the ability to adjust the shoe fit. The eyelets have a  metal which clearly shows that the designers are not well-versed with the needs of runners.  Laces are slippery as well.

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        <LightBox src="/images/cwb-upper.jpg" caption="Decisions that went into upper design is a big disappoint" alt="" ></LightBox>
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**Insole**  

Cultsport claims the insole is German engineered.  I am not sure what that really means, but it is one of the best insoles that I have set my feet on in any running shoe. It is plush and soft, which is probably the only reason the shoe is runnable, despite the harder midsole.

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        <LightBox src="/images/cwb-insole.jpg" caption="Insole is a pleasant surprise" alt="" ></LightBox>
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**Heel**

Heel is extremely well padded. There is a hard plastic heel counter, which offers plenty of support to the heel.  The plushness of the heel offers plenty of comfort during the run. The pull-out tab on the back of the heel is nice touch.

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        <LightBox src="/images/cwb-heel.jpg" caption="Heel support is excellent, and locks well" alt="" ></LightBox>
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**Outsole**

Outsole sole has plenty of rubber throughout and should make it highly durable.  What seems like an inspiration from Nike Pegasus line of shoes, the outsole is remarkably similar, and has pentagon-shaped lugs which provide the necessary grip. I really liked the small detail such as the Cult logo engraved on each of those pentagonal lugs.

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        <LightBox src="/images/cwb-bottomsole-compared.jpg" caption="Outsole design is intricate, and seems inspired by Nike Pegasus line" alt="" ></LightBox>
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##### Ride In Windblazer

I have run about 60kms in the shoe.  Primarily easy runs and a few moderate efforts runs with strides. The shoe is not made for speed. It feels clunky and took me a couple of runs to really break-in. Any distance above 5k, no matter the pace, feels like a chore.  

The hard midsole doesn’t offer much protection in the mid and forefoot areas. Running longer in the shoe means, the runners will have to learn to land on the heel. That completely negates the 8mm heel drop and promotes heel strike. If you are a mid-foot striker, you will take a lot of time to break in into the shoe.

The heaviness of the shoe is very evident when running at easy paces.  When running strides or faster paces, the hardness of the midsole, and lack of responsiveness really makes me wonder, what is this shoe really meant for?

##### Fit & Comfort

I am using UK 10, which is the usual size for me in the other brands. For UK 10, the size guide shows 28.7 cm, which is almost half a size smaller than the running shoes from brands like Nike, Saucony, and Puma. The shoe fit is snug, thanks to the plush padding.  However, the plushness is what makes it extremely warm and uncomfortable for any run longer than a 5K.

Beyond 5KM, the shoe doesn’t have much to offer, and it is best avoided.  Cultsport is honest in marketing this as a short-run shoe. While it is not mentioned anywhere, it is evident that the shoe is primarily designed for treadmill running and is made for cross-training in the gym.

##### Stability

The hard midsole foam definitely makes the shoe stable. Given the lower stack height, and a stiff upper, it is a pretty good shoe if you want that a bit of added stability in a neutral running shoe.

##### Road Grip

Traction on tarred roads is pretty good. Despite plenty of rubber and some interesting lug design, traction on wet or sandy surfaces is sloppy. 

##### Aesthetics

I have bought the black colorway with a yellow accent, with a cult logo, looks quite contemporary and eye-catching. It can easily pass off as a causal sneaker, in addition to being a shoe for cross-training with a bit of running thrown in. Post this review, that is how probably I intend to use this shoe as, a sneaker, and a do-it-all shoe to use at my CrossFit box.

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        <LightBox src="/images/cwb-logo.jpg" caption="Excellent aesthetic that screams style" alt="" ></LightBox>
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All in all, the shoe is decent but nowhere close to my expectations of quality running shoes on the budget.  That said, this is a good start for the first edition from Cultsport, and I hope they will continue to evolve the shoe to meet the runners’ needs and build on this. 

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="013001001M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Affordable budget shoe",  
    "Plush cushioning", 
    "Highly durable",
    "Highly padded upper and heel"
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
        "Midsole cushioning is quite hard",
        "Bad eyelet design",
        "Road traction could have been better",
        "Heavy and hard to put in miles"
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
        If you are looking for a low-cost do-it-all shoe for short-runs on the treadmill (or road), and some strength training, Windblazer is a good choice.  While there are plenty of areas to improve on, Windblazer doesn’t feel cheap knock-off. On the contrary, it is quite well constructed and is very durable. At under 2000 rupees(after discounts), this is a good buy for short runs before your strength workouts.  I wouldn’t recommend it as a daily trainer unless you are just starting, and the running distance is not more than 5k, and are on a budget.  Serious runners will do well to stay away from this one.
</InfoCard>


A do it all beginner shoe in the budget, good for treadmill running, and cross-training.

Cultsport Windblazer Review


I first heard about Skechers as a running shoe brand from a physio, who recommended me to use either Asics or Skechers trainers for my runs, as I wasn’t actually using a running shoe. I was quick to pick up the GoRun 400, considering how light the shoe was, and most importantly the price tag. I thought I'd be loyal to Skechers then, but I couldn't be when I moved to a more versatile Pegasus series. Felt they went off track for a few years and then never earned at least. I was wrong!

I've got a chance to run in Skechers GORun Ride 9, sent to us by Skechers India. As much as my intention was to put a disclaimer here, I'm glad they sent us one for a review. That said, rest assured about a neutral review since this is neither a sponsored post nor Skechers India got any say over the review. Unboxing the Ride 9 felt like a throwback to my first Skechers trainer, pretty nostalgic, so light, yet again from Skechers. So read on to understand my experience with the shoe in-depth. Spoiler alert, both the shoe and the review are worth your 10 minutes. 

<ShoeCard shoeCode="003004009M"></ShoeCard>

##### What makes up Skechers GOrun Ride 9?

The Skechers GOrun Ride 9 is a lightweight neutral daily trainer. The shoe features the brand’s proprietary Hyperburst midsole, a rocker for quicker transitions and Goodyear’s rubber on the outsole for durability. Ride 9 is the lightest trainer sitting on my rack, weighing barely 237g for US9.

The trainer is available for ₹10,999 MRP in India, in par with other daily trainers. 

**Midsole**

Skechers GOrun Ride 9 features Skechers’ proprietary HyperBurst foam on the midsole. This is the second time Skechers has featured HyperBurst in the Ride series, moving on from the Flight Gen cushioning. The midsole is created using Skechers trademarked "supercritical" foaming process, where a smaller form of EVA is expanded to a defined shape. Unlike the traditional injection moulding process, their proprietary process is believed to make the foam both lighter and responsive.

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    <LightBox src="/images/weight-ride9.jpg" caption="Lightest daily trainer" alt="" ></LightBox>
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We have measured the softness of the midsoles of a few popular daily neutral trainers with a Shore Durometer. In terms of midsole softness, Ride 9 is softer when compared to the competition and yet doesn't feel cushion heavy. The softness also varied throughout, the midfoot area being softer than the heel. 

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    <LightBox src="/images/midsolesoftness-ride9.jpg" caption="One of the softest midsoles" alt="" ></LightBox>
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The shoe has a stack height of 34 mm on the heel and 28mm on the forefoot with a 6 mm heel-to-toe drop. The midsole additionally features M-strike technology, commonly known as a rocker, to promote a midfoot strike and for a quicker transition from heel to toe.

**Upper**

The upper is another softer aspect of the shoe and yet another thing I love about the shoe. The upper here features a multilayered engineered mesh, which feels soft and light and yet manages to lock in the foot pretty well. The upper feels more clothish, as against a rigid mesh is more flexible. The tox box is a little wide and it is a blessing for those with wider feet.  However, not so great for those with narrow feet like me. The tongue is mildly padded non-gusseted and is attached in between the laces and the midsole. You’ll see a diamond pattern on the upper meant to provide ventilation, overall making the Ride 9 a good contender for a highly breathable daily trainer.

The standard laces are long enough for a triple knot. Some reflective elements are present in the pull tab and in the lateral front part of the shoe to help you safely run through the dark. 

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      <LightBox src="/images/sride9-upper.jpg" caption="Soft upper offers good ventilation" alt="" ></LightBox>
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**Heel**

I’m indeed falling short of the checklist to keep praising the Ride 9. The heel counter is moderately padded. Unlike the Hoka Clifton 8 which irritated my Achilles, I had no such problem with the Ride 9. The scope for heel slip is largely reduced courtesy of high lacing on the upper. The pull tab is also attached to the heel counter. At the bottom, the long heel bevel is there to help progress you forward, something which is more common in new-age daily trainers. 
 
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      <LightBox src="/images/sgride9-heel.jpg" caption="Design of the heel offers excellent support" alt="" ></LightBox>
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**Outsole**

The outsole of the Gorun Ride 9 makes use of the Goodyear Tyre’s rubber. The rubber almost covers the major of the forefoot and only the edges of the heel. It is probably an intentional decision to manage the overall weight and it makes sense. The rubber is thick enough and is well placed in high-impact areas. Like the tyres, they are tough and grippier. 

##### Why did I consider this shoe?

Straight out of the box, the Gorun Ride 9 is a neutral daily trainer. The shoe is meant for clocking miles after miles, regardless of the distance one is training for. I was surprised to see how soft and yet extremely lightweight a trainer can be. There are generally a lot of sacrifices to keep a shoe lightweight and Skechers has found a magical balance to not sacrificing any important features required in a daily trainer. Since a lot of daily trainers are also placed in the same price range, Ride 9 would be a good choice for someone who’s planning to clock in a variety of miles using a variety of trainers. 

##### Ride In Ride 9

I have run a variety of test runs on Ride 9. Kicked off it with a recovery run, followed by an easy run the next day. The recovery run didn’t actually feel like a recovery one since the midsole was offering me some bounce, as much as soft it is. The pace almost became like an easy run and the next day’s easy run was no different. The ride was pretty comfortable. You got to compliment the midsole for offering such a ride. 

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      <LightBox src="/images/sgride9-grooves.jpg" caption="Deep grooves in midsole offers excellent flexibility" alt="" ></LightBox>
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Skechers uses its proprietary HyperBurst foam in the midsole of the Ride 9 and pairs it with M-strike technology to offer a smoother transition and a propelling ride. The HyperBurst is light and soft, a perfect ingredient for easy-paced runs. HyperBurst also offered some bounce on the midfoot, further making it a perfect easy-paced run trainer. The deep flex grooves on the midsole gives plenty of flexibility for the foot to move naturally. As much as M-strike’s role was to encourage midfoot landing, I felt the Ride 9 is more efficient and enjoyable landing on the heel. The high heel bevel helped the momentum to set-going. 

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      <LightBox src="/images/sgride9-flex.jpg" caption="Highly flexible midsole" alt="" ></LightBox>
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Since there’s a rocker as well, so why not test it out on well paced runs. So took it on a short tempo ride, the rocker midsole aggressively tries to propel me forward, but since the overall structure is flexible and soft, the feel of propulsion is mild. I wished the midsole was a bit firm but that would beat the purpose of the speed trainer from Skechers, the GOrun Razor Excess 2. 

Finally, the long-run. This was the ice in the cake. Took it on a 16KMs run, exactly where I understood how fun it is to run on these. Right from the 1st KM to the 16th KM, I was able to enjoy every stride of it. The ride felt fresh until the end, courtesy the softer and the midly responsive midsole. The mildly soft and responsive midsole is the strength of the Ride 9. 

**Fit & Comfort**

The Ride 9 is not easy to slide on since the tongue area is quite narrowish than the toe box. But once you lace them on, they fit quite snug on the midfoot in contrast to a roomy toe box. The trainer fits true to size and can be a go-to for wide feet runners, but doesn’t really bother narrow feet runners like me. As much as I appreciate the flywire mechanism like the one in the Pegasus series for lock-in, Ride 9’s narrowish midfoot worked aptly. The trainer also offers some arch support in the underfoot for more comfort.

During the runs, the lighter and softer engineered mesh with good ventilation offers breathability. Even in Mumbai’s hot-humid summer, the shoe barely got warm unlike a lot of my trainers. The mesh upper is flexible and would no doubt benefit broader feet runners. 

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      <LightBox src="/images/sgride9-comfort.jpg" caption="Offers a comfortable ride" alt="" ></LightBox>
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**Stability**

For the stack height and the softness the Ride 9 offers, it’s a no-brainer neutral trainer. The wide midsole and a rigid outsole aided with a rocker might offer some stabilisation, otherwise, the trainer is genuinely not meant to offer any stability. If you are someone who trains a day in and out on neutral trainers, this one deserves to be on your watchlist. Ride 9 will also work well if one only requires mild stability provided they are broad feet runners, unlike me. 

**Durability** 

The grip in the Ride 9 is the best out there, courtesy of the rubber from Goodyear tyres. I genuinely felt the Pegasus series had the best outsole, but the one here beats it. It’s tougher and equally grippier as Pegasus. I wouldn’t hesitate to take these out on a rainy day but will prefer the Pegasus series for the urban trails considering the structure of the outsole. That being said, Ride 9 is a prime example of how durable a daily trainer should be. 

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      <LightBox src="/images/sgride9-outsole.jpg" caption="Outsole offers excellent grip, and Goodyear rubber adds durability" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Aesthetics**

Genuinely not exaggerating here, but don’t be surprised if your fellow running mates come to you and compliment the shoes. In a week’s time, quite a few of them reached out to me with compliments for them. I have the sky-blue and optic orange colorway, which is the best in the range. I have not really appreciated any trainers from Skechers for aesthetics, but this one is just above the box. I can certainly give it a 10 on 10 for its aesthetic. 

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="003004009M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Extremely lightweight and sufficiently cushioned",
    "Breathable upper",
    "Smooth and responsive ride",
    "Durable outsole",
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Responsiveness could have been better",
    "Low Stability",
    "Too much of room for narrow feet",
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
I highly recommend the Skechers GOrun Ride 9 as a neutral trainer to clock some mileage. Ride 9 is a mash-up of a classic trainer and modern updates like rocker, super-critical foam and flex grooves. The cushion here is just right enough to comfortably clock your easy runs and mid-long runs on them.

Rotation - Ride 9 is best for daily training with easy to moderate paced runs. From Skechers line-up, one can consider GOrun MaxRoad 5 for runs longer than the half marathon mark, and GOrun Razor Excess 2 for more versatile training, especially for speed workouts. 
To consider other brands for rotation along with Ride 9, I use Hoka Clifton 8 for recovery runs, and Asics EvoRide 2 for up-tempo.
</InfoCard>

Reviews

Cultsport Windblazer Review

Skechers GOrun Ride 9 Review