The Flow Trainer has been the sturdiest of the performance shoes in Karhu’s Flow family. Round 4 maintains the proven chassis of the line, while bolstering the support of the shoe’s upper without adding unnecessary weight. The upper is closed mesh supported by woven hexagons, with fused no-sew overlays and a few traditionally stitched supports in the highest stress areas of the toe, saddle, and eyestay. The memory foam lobes beneath the ankle bones, warm to touch, conforming to and gripping the heel very effectively, and with less foam. The midsole is compression-molded EVA foam, firm enough to respond well to the road, the Fulcrum adding a bit of stability direction without really being noticeable. The added support in the upper, coupled with its dialed-in midsole/outersole setup continues to provide the ride and feel of a shoe with a clear performance purpose.
Testers: “Nice fit for performance and comfort. Low profile feel has great flexibility. Mostly for faster mid-length training, they doubled nicely as a long racer, certainly were light enough.”
Price: $115
Sizes: Men 8–13; Women 6–11
Weight: 9.3 oz. (men’s 11); 7.7 oz. (women’s 8)
Shape: semi-curved
Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board
Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation