Home > Media Centre > Product Reviews > Media Reviews >

...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.

PT-03 - The Runner's World Shoe Buyers Guide Winter 2004

>>01 December 2004

Welcome to the final Runner's World Shoe Buyer's Guide of 2004. This is the fourth guide of the year and it contains the running shoes that will be hitting the store between now and February.

As well as new models from major manufacturers, this guide sees the launch of an all-new shoe from a British firm making its first foray into the running market. UK Gear's PT-03 was designed with the assistance of the British Army's Physical Training Corps, and is the first product allowed to carry the Army's official seal of approval.

Also in the guide is Nike's latest addition to its Shox range, a shoe designed to accommodate marathon-battered feet; significant updates to favourites from Brooks and Saucony; and, this being the winter guide, a number of models that have been "winterised" to offer off-road traction and protection from the elements.

Of course, this guide doesn't contain every shoe on the market. Head to www.runnersworld.co.uk and you can read every shoe review we've printed since 2001 and check out the comments of Runner's World readers who've weartested those shoes.

UK Gear PT-03 - £80

Weight 384g

Evaluation
When UK Gear, a British sportswear firm better known for rugby and cricket apparel decided to enter the mega-competitive running-shoe market, it struck upon an interesting design concept. As well as using experienced shoe designers, it asked the British Army's Physical Training Corps to help develop a brief for the shoe and test the early prototypes. The result is the PT-03, and judging by the column inches its launch has gained national (and international) press, the Army tie-in was certainly a marketing masterstroke.

Was it an inspired creative decision too? Well, the PT-03 isn't exactly a ground-breaking running shoe: there's certainly no use of top-secret military technology. Instead, it's a simple, traditional stability shoe with a dual-density EVA midsole. Extra support comes from polyurethane embedded in the medial post, and plastic overlays on the upper. That said, the midfoot is too flexible for it too suit runners with big stability issues.

The PT-03 may not dazzle with technology, but it's actually a surprisingly pleasant shoe to run in. Comfortably cushioned, smooth and supportive enough for mild to moderate overpronators, it's the sort of shoe you can put on and forget you're wearing.

In short
The Army connection probably won't in itself persuade many to buy the PT-03, perhaps even the opposite, so it's a good job that it is a decent shoe. It's responsive, cushioned and pretty stable. UK Gear needs to drop the price a little for it to represent real value, though.

Website: www.runnersworld.co.uk