HIGHEST FIVE VOL.88
What's hot in running right now!?
Back from Paris, back to normal - and on to another adventure next week. I was invited to come to Milano with Nike ACG next week for a trail running activation and it was wild. Will have a blogpost and maybe even another newsletter on the topic soon, but as you might’ve seen: it was massive. Nike branded the in- and outside of a whole train and drove us from Milan to the Alps. Massive investment, massive idea. Short take on the relaunch: i think it’s more sustainable than we all thought when we first heard about it. ACG being the foolish and sometimes weird playground for trailrunning and outdoor seems a good match to me. And the fundament is still layed by good product (based on my first impression on the Ultrafly). They’ll still have to proof it with the Pegasus ACG that’s definitely more of the “people’s trail shoe”. One thing i missed out on earlier is the complete lack of NIKE in almost all communications. It’s ACG now, not even Nike ACG. Kinda smart, i think. Also: i’m a sucker for branded stuff and they literally branded everything. Big Kudos not only to the teams at Nike and ACG but to SUNST and Amsterdam Berlin, the two agencies behind the whole ACG launch.
1 personal highlight on the trip btw: they brought famous trainspotter and future moderator of Grand Tour Francis Burgeois to the trip.
‘nuff for now, i guess your whole feed has been burning in ACG orange over the last week, so i’m gonna let it cool off for a moment, haha. Also, ACG wasn’t the only talk-worthy stuff hapenning over the last (2?) weeks. Btw i’ve dropped the PFW newsletter for this time as somehow Substack has eaten my whole ready text and i wasn’t able to recover it. Will save it better in the future. Promise.
1 New Balance 1080 v15
A banger! New Balance have released the 15th edition of the 1080! This one’s kinda personal to me: The New Balance 1080 was one of the first running shoes that i intentionally bought for running and since then, it’s become a staple for my running training. Comfortable, cushioned but stable for every run, no matter how long. With the v15, New Balance reworked the breathable mesh upper, resulting in a distinctive sleek and dynamic look. They also introduce Infinion, a midsole system for longer-lasting performance through enhanced cushioning and energy return. I got the shoes a little earlier, so i already had the chance to log in the first 60 kilometers. Not gonna lie, these will definitely be my companion for London Marathon training this year!
2 Hoka Cielo X1 3.0
The new Cielo is out. I'‘ve only tested them on the treadmill so far but will do more next week, i guess. Looks and feels incredible and is very, very light. The lightest Hoka racer so far. (leave some love and comments underneath my reel if you want to support, coo coo)
3 Scanned Souvenirs
Cheers to a new format. I am a collector, have always been. And i have a heart for printed stuff - magazines, flyers, stickers, goodies, you name it. From now, i’ll scan a bunch of “the latest” stuff i got for “Scanned Souvenirs” and showcase it via IG. A second issue is in the making as well and i promise, i got loads of stuff to scan, especially older stuff!
4 Product Index: Salomon Phantasm
Salomon takes back on the streets and back on fast street running with the S/Lab Phantasm 3. The curious-looking and carbon-plated runner has been released over the last weeks and is made for fast & long races. Haven’t had the chance to try on yet but they’re sure looking promising!
6 SOAR at PFW FW26
A leather jacket? YES, why not - if people wear athleisure appare
I honestly think you should see more of SOAR‘s FW26 collection. Not only their ultralight performance fabrics are outstanding and their allover prints have gotten to a new level, they‘re now leaning into fashion more and more by the day, creating new and unique pieces for on and off track. Not sure if i‘d rock the leather combo to run but sure it‘s aesthetic af. Swipe through.
7 The North Face Advanced Mountain Kit Black Edition
The North Face Advanced Mountain Kit (AMK) is a modular alpine system engineered for the harshest conditions — designed to adapt as objectives shift. Each layer performs independently or integrates seamlessly into a complete kit, balancing weight, packability, and durability. All black and that bag pack, you got me!
8 Vibram Fivefingers “Chinese New Year”
You can hate me for it but i kinda want to finally try out Vibram Five Fingers. Maybe not for running but for the gym, for recovery and whatever else. They just released a “Chinese New Year” pack and it’s definitely intriguing.
