Cloudsurfer 3 weighs 324g at $160, Merrell's $290 racer called overbuilt

The On Cloudsurfer 3 now has a number attached. On the Believe in the Run podcast the shoe is listed at 11.45 ounces (324 grams) in a size 10, with a new super critical EVA midsole, priced at $160 and hitting retail on October 1. Thomas found it too heavy and too wide for his narrow foot. Megan liked the step-in comfort and the plush upper once it broke in.

That fills in the gap from earlier this week. Whichever weight you go with, this is a heavy daily trainer at $160.

Merrell finally builds a carbon trail racer

Believe in the Run's Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak review puts the shoe at 10.7 oz with 30mm in the heel and 24mm in the forefoot, a 6mm drop. The midsole mixes PEBA, TPEE and EVA around a carbon fiber plate, with a Matryx upper and a Vibram Megagrip Elite outsole. Taylor writes that a race day option with modern super foam and propulsion tech was the one thing missing from Merrell's lineup.

The verdict is mixed. The reviewers call the plate bouncy and propulsive and the foam combination impressive, then note it feels a little overbuilt. Scores land at Design A, Performance B, Value C, and it is available now for $290. The value grade is the tell. The problem the reviewers flag is the price, not the ride.

Craft Atmosfar splits the same outlet

Believe in the Run's video calls the Craft Atmosfar the max cushion surprise of the year, stable for how thick it is, though the almost too easy feel of the early miles wears off over a 19 mile run. On the podcast, Robbie said it had too much bounce and compared it to the Hyperboost Edge, only softer.

Over at The Run Testers, Tom took the Kiprun Kipride Gravel around the Bacchus Wine Half Marathon on the North Downs, a mixed course of gravel, rock, grass and road. He says the outsole grips really well and rates the shoe really good for the price, a road-to-trail option rather than a dedicated trail shoe. His words, not a spec sheet.