Changes

* {{H:flexibility}}. The RC1600‏‎‏‎ has good flexibility to allow the foot to bend naturally.

* {{H:outsole}}. Sometimes it seems like every shoe has to have at least one mistake in the design. For the RC1600 is the placement of the outsole, which thankfully is not a major problem. The RC1600 has some nice, high grip outsole that NB call DynaRide, but they don't place it under the pressure areas of the foot. Instead, it's behind the ball of the foot and under the toes. The area you'd expect to have the high traction material has normal outsole rubber; under the heel and the forefoot. There is some exposed foam under parts of the heel, but I haven't seen any undue wear. The gap under the heel is a stone trap, and I've had the occasional problem with this.

* {{H:upper}}. The upper is inflexible and a little thicker than I'd like for non-winter use. The upper is largely seamless, with no padding except a little around the ankle opening. It's not perfect, but it works fine.

* {{H:tongue}}. The RC1600‏‎‏‎ has a traditional tongue design that is has a tab to attach it to the laces. However, the tongue material is rather unusual. Instead of being softly padded to protect the top of the foot from the pressure of the laces, the thin tongue is quite stiff. I found this worked nicely, and is probably a better solution than the normal padding.

* {{H:lacing}}. The RC1600‏‎‏‎ has thin flat laces that never come undone on me.

* {{H:heelcounter}}. The RC1600‏‎‏‎ has almost no heel counter, which is nice.

=How Far Can I Run in the RC1600? =

Different runners want different levels of cushioning, so this shoe may not suit everyone. Some runners want a [[Minimax]] shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100 mile race barefoot. Most people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. You can see from the charts below how the cushioning compares with other shoes I've tested for some comparisons. Remember that a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different. I'm quite happy in the RC1600 for at least the marathon distance, and I know other runners who've done well in it at that distance.

|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]

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==New Balance RC1600‏‎‏‎ and Nike Zoom Streak LT==

The [[Nike Zoom Streak LT]] is another similar shoe. The Streak is more flexible, and I find the upper is a little more comfortable, though you're unlikely to notice unless you run in them back to back. Both shoes are excellent, and I'd recommend choosing between them based more on price and fit than anything else.

|[[File:Nike-Zoom-Streak-LT-2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Nike Zoom Streak LT 2 outside]]

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==New Balance RC1600‏‎‏‎ and New Balance RC5000==

While the RC1600‏‎‏‎ is lightweight the [[New Balance RC5000]] is 40% lighter. If you're happy with the limited cushioning the RC5000 provides, then it's a better shoe, but most runners will welcome the additional cushioning of the RC1600.

|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]

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==New Balance RC1600‏‎‏‎ and Asics GT 2000==

I tend to compare shoes against my benchmark "normal running shoe", the [[Asics GT 2000]]. The GT 2000 is over engineered and these features go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]], causing more problems than they solve. Moving from a GT 2000 type shoe to the RC1600 is a big change, and would take a little time to adapt. The RC1600 is not as well padded, but that's quick to get used to. After running in high heels, the RC1600 will be more natural, but it will also stretch the calf a little more. The level of padding is nearly the same, but the RC1600 is less than half the weight of the GT 2000. I believe the RC1600 is a far better shoe, but you may need a transitional shoe like the [[Saucony Kinvara]] as a half-way house.

|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]

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=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=

{{:Shoes-include}}