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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Brooks Transcend 2 Review}}
The Brooks Transcend 2 is another attempt to capture the [[MinimaxMaximalist]] market that is dominated by [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka]]. It's thickly and softly cushioned, with a relatively low drop. In fact the overall sense of the shoe is one of softness and comfort, including the upper. However, the problem with the Transcend 2 is its weight; it's far too heavy for the cushioning it provides. It's one of the heaviest shoes I've tried recently, and nearly as heavy as the early [[Hoka Mafate]] (the latest versions are lighter.) The Transcend 2 looks a lot more like a traditional running shoe, which may make it more acceptable than shoes like the Hoka that can appear a little comical. Other than the weight, the Transcend is a nice shoe to run in, and for runs where you're happy to have a little extra training stress, it's a good option. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
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* {{H:cushioning}}. The foam midsole in the Transcend 2 is thick and soft, but it can't compete with the [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hokas]]. In fact, it's closer to the cushioning of a [[Brooks PureCadence]] or [[Altra Instinct]].
* {{H:drop}}. The Transcend 2 has 6mm of drop when unloaded or unloaded, which is more than I'd like, and on the upper end of what I find acceptable.
* {{H:structure}}. The Transcend 2 midsole is mostly a single density of foam, but it has firmer foam build up around the top edges. This is intended to act as "guide rails" that keep your foot more upright. If you think of the way an egg sits in an egg box you'll get the idea. This seems similar to the way many [[MinimaxMaximalist]] shoes cradle the heel of the foot, and it does produce some stability. (Stability in this context meaning "don't roll your ankle" rather than "modify your [[Pronation]].) The rear edge of the heel does not have as much of a rocker as you typically see in a shoe this thick, even though Brooks emphasizes this feature. The [[Hoka Clifton]] for instance has far more of a heel rocker, so maybe Brooks should try out their competitors shoes to see how it's done. The forefoot tapers gently and nicely from the ball of the foot to the front of the shoe, without the abrupt taper that sometimes feels on in the [[Hoka Bondi]].
* {{H:flexibility}}. The Transcend 2 has the stiffness you'd expect from a shoe this thick. The cutouts in the outsole help a little bit so it could be a lot worse.
* {{H:outsole}}. The Transcend 2 has patches of hard rubber that cover most of the lower part of the shoe, and all the contact surfaces. There is harder rubber on the forefoot and heel (black in my pictures), and slightly less hard rubber under the midfoot (read in my pictures). The outsole rubber is relatively thick, and has a pattern that reminds me of the mild tread found in some of the Hoka trail shoes (other than the [[Hoka Mafate]].) This thick outsole is probably a big contributor to the shoes excessive weight. None of runners who will buy this shoe for general use will wear it until the outsole is gone, and expect that to take quite some time. For runners, a shoe is generally worn out when the foam midsole wears out, which is long before the outsole.
