Name: Lalo Tactical Zodiac Recon
Brand: Lalo
Price: 150 $
Availability: InStock

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Lalo is a company who is making shoes for Special Forces Operation Members that also work for the general population. The Zodiac Recon Shoes are a highly cushioned running shoe that are great for just about any environment.

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Product Highlights

The Zodiac Recon is an over-sized, running shoe reinvented through lightweight component construction and responsive geometry. It provides the ultimate smooth, yet responsive ride for multi-grade terrain.

Lalo Tactical is a company who was founded to serve the needs of Special Forces Operators.

In my mind, if a shoe is designed to assist Special Forces Operators in their training, it can probably more than handle what I throw at it.

The Zodiac Recon is a shoe that is very different from what I traditionally use. Rather than embracing the minimalist approach that many companies are taking, Lalo Tactical decided to beef up the support and cussion with the Zodiac Recon and although it’s not necessarily my style, it’s a tremendous shoe for those that need the extra cushion.

Lalo Tactical Zodiac Recon Review

The shoes looks like you could run over anything in them; and that’s probably because you can.

The have a forward lean that is reminiscent of a hot rod and combine a lot of different materials and textures that add to the unique look and nature of the Zodiac Recon.

It certainly doesn’t look like most shoes on the market.

I like how the shoe is subdued, yet has flashes of color in various areas. Pairing the dark and light colors allow the brightness of the yellow to stand out that much more.

The cushion of the sole is absolutely ginormous. However, from the outside, you really can’t tell too much, but when you look on the inside of the shoe you can tell its quite massive.

Overall, I think Lalo Tactical did a good job of taking an ultra cushion(y) shoe and not making it look like something a space cadet would wear.

Similar to the Lalo Tactical Bloodbird the Zodiac Recon utilizes lots of different materials that you don’t ordinarily see used in the footwear industry.

The toe cap of the shoe uses what’s known as “Super Fabric” which from what I’ve seen is puncture resistant and just overall very durable. This will keep the toe from becoming damaged should you stub it while running the long distances this shoe is designed for.

Often times when companies use lots of materials you will find spots of the shoe with sloppy construction and excess glue. I didn’t see this with the Zodiac Recon which shows they have a good attention to detail and should equate to a longer lasting shoe.

The outsole is what Lalo Tactical calls a Tri-Density Zodiac foam. I believe this means the foam is similar to a McDonalds Triple-Thick Shake. It’s dense, but not so dense that you can’t enjoy it.

I like the sound of that.

On the bottom of the shoe, Lalo Tactical included drainage ports allowing this shoe to be ran in all sorts of conditions and be able to quickly dry. This is a wonderful idea, especially for those in military training who face many adverse scenarios where the weather does not always cooperate.

Once again, I must make a caveat that I typically run in very minimalist shoes.

In fact, I will sometimes even use Huarache Sandals such as the Luna Mono, Earth Runners, or Shamma Sandals all reviewed previously.

However, I do see a place for a shoe with this much cushion to be used.

One such scenario is for those who do a lot of races back to back. So a triathalon athlete that has three weekends in a row of races. The beating that athletes feet will take is beyond measure and being able to use something with this much cusion can be very helpful in recovery.

These would also be great when going over very rocky terrain such as trail running. It will feel as if you’re floating on a cloud going over rocks in these things, think of a Jeep with monster tires. That’s what this shoe is akin to.

In my own experience, the shoes fit great. They stayed snug to my feet and although I did experience some rolling of the ankle now and again when going over a large rock or tree limb, it wasn’t terribly noticeable.

It’s important to say that these shoes are made for running. I would not suggest someone use them for heavy lifting or CrossFit Metcons UNLESS the workout was very running intensive.

Due to the foam being just that, foam, it doesn’t provide a stable enough base for lifting the heavy iron that cellar dwellers like to hoist.

But, that’s not what this shoe was designed for anyway.

Final Thoughts

I think Lalo Tactical has done a great job with their line up of shoes.

There’s literally something for everyone.

The Zodiac Recon is a great example of a shoe made for a specific person. For those reading this that enjoy using shoes such as Hoka One One (where do they come up with these names?) then I would suggest you give these a try. The fit is remarkable and they are also very light which is sometimes hard to find in a shoe with lots of cushion.

The features built into the shoe and the comfort that is provided is outstanding for the type of runner that wants support.

Also, I’ve found them to be pretty durable. The wear rate has been similar to the Lalo Tactical Bloodbird which is pretty outstanding considering the outsole is made of foam.

Full Rating

Lalo Tactical Zodiac Recon

Product Brand: Lalo

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 150

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.3

Lalo Zodiac Recon Training Shoes

Construction – 4.25

Value – 4.25

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Lalo

Lalo Zodiac Recon Training Shoes

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Product Highlights

Coop Mitchell

Cooper Mitchell ("Coop') is the creator of Garage Gym Reviews. He's produced more content on home gyms and training equipment than likely anyone else in the world and is recognized as the foremost expert in the space. When not writing about barbells, squat racks, and other pieces of equipment, he can be found eating tacos and reading biographies on dead people. Coop has been featured in prestigious publications such as The Art of Manliness, Starting Strength, Men's Health, Business Insider and many others.