Speedland : TAM Review

Speedland is making some unique footwear and is undoubtably at the forefront of the rapidly advancing footwear industry.   The TAM is their 3rd commission (preceded by the PDX and HSV) and is their first "maximalist" model.  I've always been a more minimalist runner, but as I increase my mileage and race distances I've come to accept maximalist shoes as a valuable tool to mitigate the abuse my legs and feet take. 

Speedland nailed the TAM and it has become one of my favorite shoes of all time.  The foam they used is more dense/stiff than what you'd find in a Hoka or Nike, yet it feels like it absorbs impact equally good or better, maybe giving back a little more energy too. The denser foam feels more stable and agile than the squishier foams used by Hoka, and this denser foam combined with a high stack height (37mm/30mm = 7mm heel to toe drop) also seems to have allowed Speedland to carve in an aggressive rocker that holds it's shape and function which makes toe-off quicker and snappier than you might expect from a maximalist piece of footwear, or "equipment" as you'll hear the creators Dave and Kevin refer to their products as.   

This shoe thrives on gravel roads, buttery singletrack, and even moderately technical slopes and scree fields.  If you spend more time on wet, technical or boulder fields then consider the HSV or if your budget is tighter, one of the models from VJ shoes ; but If you're looking for a maximalist shoe like no other for your next ultra or just want to have a more comfortable ride, reach for a pair of TAM's because Speedland only makes X amount of a given commission so once they're gone, they're gone!