Before I get started, I need to disclaim a few things -
I am not obligated in any way to do this - I receive shoes from Karhu and all the shoes I've received are good. Luckily that removes me from any ethical dilemma in telling you how good they are. I am merely doing this because few people (that I know) have run in Karhus, and fewer have tried out their newest shoes.
So, here we go.
This is what the shoe looks like:
I can explain, I promise!
That is the newest version of Karhu's "fulcrum" technology. The fulcrum is a stiffer portion in the midsole that helps guide the foot from heel (or midfoot) to toe-off more quickly, which in theory reduces vertical oscillation, which I've always heard is a good thing. Like I've said before, I'm not going to get to sciencey with stuff like this because I'm not a scientist. If you want science, go to the Karhu website and do your research. Karhu has used the fulcrum for a long time, but the new one is made of a composite material and cut out in the middle, so these puppies are super light too, at just over 10 ounces for a full cushioned neutral trainer.
So, now that you've gotten over the fact that there's a hole in the midsole, I can tell you how they fit and ride.
One of my favorite things about Karhu shoes are their uppers. They are always lightweight but always comfortable. From a style point of view, I particularly like the simple design too.
Underfoot, the Forward is much softer than it looks. Compared to other shoes I've worn, I'd put it somewhere between the Brooks Launch (a little softer than I like) and some of the Mizuno lightweight trainers I've worn that are stiffer.
I've done a 27 mile run and short fartlek surges at 4:20 pace in these and they feel nice for these and other conditions.
There's your short review. I recommend trying them out.
