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...for the Military
UK Gear’s training shoes were originally designed in association with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC). These elite fitness professionals were closely involved in the development and tested our products in some of the most inhospitable conditions on Earth. Only when approved by the Military do we consider our products... Built to survive.
Paul Bateson's 1,000 mile shoe review - no.2
>>23 September 2011UK Gear fan and ULTRA-Runner Paul Bateson has just completed his SECOND 1,000 miles in a pair of PT-1000! This time the neutral cushioning version.
Here follows his report:
“I run a lot, it is my hobby, I also do it for a living; footwear is important.
Over many years of running, both on and off road I have tried and tested numerous makes, types and models of shoe. Some shoes are good specifically for road racing, some for road high mileage training, some for technical trails, some for mixed trail ultras and some very specifically for mountain and fell racing. The latter generally suit the wet and boggy conditions most often endured in the UK. Horses for courses and usually the better the grip the faster the wear and unfortunately this usually includes the uppers.
It is no secret that I am a big fan of the UK Gear range of shoes and that I no longer live in the UK. I have lived for over 11 years in the hot, dry mountains of Andalucia in Spain, where shoes rarely get wet, but they do have to deal with high temperatures, dust, grit, thorns, sharp rocks and sweat.
As well as regularly racing, I also organise races and the Al Andalus Ultimate Trail 5 stage race held every July, is known for being hot, tough and hard on your shoes. I also organise Desert Runner Training Camps for people entered in events like the Marathon Des Sables - and the perfect shoe for races like this, period, is the UK Gear PT-03 Desert, the only shoe I know of that is specifically designed for use in high temperatures and deserts.
The PT-03 Desert is a good shoe for Al Andalus and would certainly handle it but an even better shoe for this climate and mountainous terrain, where there isn’t quite as much sand, is the PT-1000. The PT-1000 is produced in both SC (structured cushioning) and NC (neutral cushioning). I have used both and covered over 1000 miles in each model but as I don’t require the additional stability I prefer the NC.
These shoes are quoted as being ‘The world’s first running shoe built to survive 1000 miles’ and when you first read this and see that the shoe is developed by UK Gear in association with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps you could be forgiven for thinking that they would be heavy and very basic. Nothing could be further from the truth. They weigh a very respectable 11.9oz/340grams, and are ultra-durable road and trail shoes that make no compromise on biomechanical performance or comfort. I wouldn’t choose them to race on very technical courses where it is likely to be wet and muddy but they are perfect for the majority of trail ultras where there is a mix of road, jeep track, single track, mountain and forest trails.
The shoe is packed with very innovative features but for me it isn’t just the fact that the soles will do the distance, it is also amazing that the uppers also perform to match. In practically every other shoe I have used it is the uppers which breakdown first, usually across the bend point outer edges which become full of holes very quickly. The PT-1000’s uppers are still in very good condition after 1000miles and look good for a few hundred more and even the laces are in perfect condition.
The shoes are comfortable straight from the box, fit is accurate and there is plenty of toe box space with an anatomically shaped heel and ankle designed to prevent Achilles tendonitis. They also have an anti-microbial treatment designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungus and other odour-causing microbes and amazingly this works as stated, even after long, hot, multi days of running the shoes remain odour-free.
Over the past year I have raced from 10km (42min) through to 101km (14hours), run/walked 4 day mountain tours, planned and run race routes, trained in some very tough, dry, harsh and dusty conditions and even a couple of wet days (which included stream crossings). The shoes are worn almost every day, they are now grubby and worn but still good for many more miles.
There are hundreds of shoes on the market, competition is fierce, all offer good performance features but for me the overall choice for the majority of runners has to be the PT-1000. They are already well proven in events like Scotland to Sahara, Al Andalus, The High and UTMB and for anyone looking for a suitable high mileage shoe for events like these I don’t think you could find a better shoe.”
Paul Bateson
TrailRunSpain
Andalucia, Spain
[email protected]
www.axarsport.com
www.trailrunspain.com
www.alandalus-ut.com
www.ultimafrontera160.com
PT-03 Desert Review by Ken Inui [Japanese]
>>09 April 2015
Compliment Re Your Great Shoes from the USA - E. Huber
>>09 March 2015
Congrats to Jon for Winning the Severn Challenge, 220 Miles in the PT-1000 - June 2013
>>19 June 2013
Mario Penzen reviews the shoes he wore in the Marathon des Sables
>>01 May 2012
Customer Services review from Ash in York
>>06 February 2012
Special Olympian Erik N. Weber reviews the PT-1000
>>31 January 2012
PT-1000 - Built Spartan Tough! Selica Sevigny
>>18 November 2011
PT-1000 - Impressive Performance! Philip Spiers
>>11 November 2011
PT-03 DESERT - A great piece of Kit! Edward Chapman
>>24 October 2011
PT-1000 - An impeccable running shoe! Angela Tassoni
>>17 October 2011
GT-02 - The perfect shoe for Freerunning! Aaron Palmer
>>05 October 2011
PT-1000 Update - Sharon Gayter, International Ultra Distance Athlete
>>27 September 2011
Paul Bateson's 1,000 mile shoe review - no.2
>>23 September 2011
PT-1000 - Can cope with it all! Edward Chapman
>>04 August 2011
PT-1000 - Sharon Gayter, International Ultra Distance Champion and author
>>20 July 2011
XC-09 - Amazing Performance! Maria I. Quiles
>>27 June 2011
PT-1000 - Legendary shoes! Ken Carter
>>21 April 2011
PT-1000 - It delivers, and more! David Lowes
>>15 April 2011
Dr. Andrew Murray - PT-1000 Review
>>13 April 2011
Kate Philp: first female test runner to complete 1000 mile challenge!
>>25 March 2011
Paul Bateson: Completes the 1,000 mile challenge wearing UK Gear's PT-1000's!
>>21 March 2011
PT-1000 - Phil Brewer, Reserve Forces
>>16 March 2011
PT-1000 - Incredibly happy! Michelle Cutler
>>07 March 2011
An 80 year old review
>>08 February 2011
PT-1000 / GT-02 - Lynne Bromnick from shoereviewsite.com
>>11 January 2011
PT-1000 - They are the best shoes I have used, Mark Cooper
>>07 January 2011
PT-1000 - Paul Bateson Director of Team Axarsport
>>15 December 2010
PT-03 WINTER - Sooo comfortable!! Mike Buss
>>01 December 2010
PT-1000 - Make it to Everest Base Camp with mountaineer, Stephen Bock
>>15 October 2010
PT-03 - Still going strong after 1,610 miles!
>>28 September 2010
PT-1000 - Alex Howarth, Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc
>>03 August 2010
Stephen Bock Mounts Everest
>>14 June 2010
UK Gear PT-03 v Asics GT-2130
>>10 May 2010
PT-03 NC Customer Feedback
>>22 March 2010
PT-03 DESERT Alex Howarth, Namibia 2009
>>29 January 2010
PT-03 DESERT - Mark Cockbain, Ultra Runner
>>18 November 2009
PT-03 - UK Gear convert
>>05 October 2009
XC-09 - Road Runner Sports
>>17 July 2009
All Shoes - Amazon.com Feedback
>>11 February 2009
PT-03 DESERT - Sirmi Poligoni
>>11 February 2009
PT-03 - David Carrick
>>06 January 2009
PT-03 - Scott Robinson
>>06 January 2009
PT-03 WINTER - Steve Cushing : Equipment, Blisters and Nails...
>>25 November 2008
PT-03 DESERT - Steve Cushing
>>03 November 2008
PT-03 - A. Dodd
>>27 August 2008
XC-09 - Hannes Boeger
>>19 August 2008
PT-03 - Clay Williams : Faster than an Elephant !
>>05 August 2008
PT-03 - Deborah Izzard
>>18 July 2008
XC-09 - Eddie Grice
>>17 July 2008
XC-09 - John
>>31 March 2008
PT-03 - Tracy Carlton
>>03 March 2008
PT-03 - Seb Bates : The Marrakech Express
>>16 January 2008
PT-03 - Zappos.com customers
>>18 October 2007
PT-03 - Frank
>>06 August 2007
PT-03 - Steve Bambury
>>05 July 2007
PT-03 - Chris Bentley
>>29 June 2007
PT-03 - R. Lange
>>15 June 2007
PT-03 - F. French
>>13 June 2007
PT-03 - Arran Long
>>08 June 2007
PT-03 - Orrison Rice : The Comrades Marathon
>>17 May 2007
GT-02 - A.D.S.
>>14 November 2006
PT-03 - If my Feet could Kiss...... they'd Kiss me!
>>21 August 2006
PT-03 - Runner's World Forum
>>06 July 2006
PT-03 - L.C.
>>01 June 2006
PT-03 - J.P.
>>13 December 2005
XC-09 - Pat McCloskey
>>06 December 2005
PT-03 - P.M.
>>03 November 2005
PT-03 - John Madrid
>>12 June 2005
PT-03 - Bill Robb : UK Gear Pace Team, Detroit Marathon
>>02 May 2005
PT-03 - Bill Robb
>>16 April 2005
PT-03 - J. McC.
>>01 March 2005
PT-03 - G.E.
>>09 February 2005
PT-03 - M.H.
>>17 January 2005
PT-03 - T.W.
>>10 November 2004
PT-03 - L.P.
>>05 November 2004
PT-03 - R.C.
>>29 October 2004
PT-03 - N.P.
>>11 October 2004