Developed by UK Gear over eight years' time in collaboration with the British Royal Army Physical Training Corps, the PT-1000 is billed as the first road and trail shoe "built to survive 1,000 miles."
When you need a highly specialized shoe built for rugged mountainous terrain, there are shoes more suited than this one. When you need a pair of lightweight road racing flats that weigh little more than your fuzzy bunny slippers, you'll want to look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a shoe that will ably serve in any clime and place, the PT-1000 is a good bet.
I've logged about 100 miles so far in the "structured cushioning" variant of the PT-1000, split about equally across road, trail and treadmill. So far, they seem tough enough to handle 1,000 miles -- on the outside at least. With a rugged toe bumper and beefy overlays along the bottom of the shoe's upper, they take a beating and protect your feet on even the toughest trails. And the sole's tread pattern seems suited for training runs on a variety of terrain.
Between the tough exterior and a healthy amount of cushioning, runners can expect a supportive and comfortable ride on even the longest training runs. I logged a 20-mile road run and found that the PT-1000 effectively absorbed the punishment a long run on asphalt can dish out.
But with that durability come a couple of tradeoffs. At 12.3 ounces, they're not the lightest training shoes on the market. And among stability shoes, the PT-1000 doesn't feel especially responsive.
With only 100 miles on them so far, it's hard to say whether the PT-1000 has the stuff to last 1,000 miles – roughly double that of a typical running shoe – but even if the midsole doesn't survive that long, these shoes are definitely built to take a beating otherwise.
Available in neutral and structured cushioning variants, the PT-1000 retails for $130. While it's not the cheapest running shoe out there, the "cost per mile" may make these shoes worth the price – assuming they do make it 1,000 miles. You can find more information on UK Gear's website.
Rob Colenso is a former Marine and an ultramarathoner. His preferred destination for punishing gear is Virginia's Massanutten Mountains.