REVIEW
Joma Joyride
With Joma offering special edition Two Oceans shoes with customised upper designs, we put the R-2000 model to the test, and found out why we’ ve heard so many good things about this shoe! – REVIEW BY SEAN FALCONER
When Joma South Africa signed on last year as the official Shoe Partner of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, the world’ s most beautiful marathon was added to an already impressive list of Joma-partnered races around the world, including the Run Rome Marathon, Ibiza Marathon, Madrid Half Marathon and the Paris 20K. All of these events are supplied with exclusive, special edition Joma shoes that have custom-designed uppers featuring the race name and colour scheme. For Two Oceans, the Joma collection features two models – the super lightweight R-2000 neutral cushioned trainer, and the faster R-1000 carbon-plated racer.
I had not yet had the opportunity of running in any of the shoes produced by the Spanish brand, so when I was asked to review the Joma R-2000 for this digimag, I was chomping at the proverbial bit for my test pair to arrive. I had briefly worn a pair while doing commentary at one of the Two Oceans Training Runs earlier this year, and I was immediately struck by the awesome cushioning, comfortable upper and lightweight feel of the shoes. However, you need to run in shoe to really see what it can do, and here was my chance.
Unpacking the Tech
The first thing I look at in a shoe is the midsole. The R-2000 has a reactive dual-density midsole, meaning that it is constructed from two different densities of midsole rubber, combining Joma’ s lighter, squishier FLY REACTIVE blown rubber in the heel for extra-soft cushioning as the foot lands, and a slightly denser phylon blown rubber in the forefoot, to provide more structure and stability as the foot pushes off the ground. There is also an extra insert of phylon under the sockliner, for that extra bit of cushioning and shock absorption.
If you’ re a heel-striker, you will love this shoe’ s cushioning, but I am a midfoot striker – I land on a flat foot instead of the heel – so I look for more forefoot stability and springiness versus squishy heel cushioning. However,
when I do longer runs and my legs get tired, I do tend to heel-strike a bit more … and that’ s why I love the R-2000. The forefoot is really responsive and stable, catering well for my running style, but that extra cushioning in the heel kicks in just when I need it most.
The outsole is made from Joma’ s DURABILITY rubber, to withstand the wear and tear of high-mileage training, and there is a 10mm drop from heel to toe, which provides an enhanced heel-to-toe transition. Again, I found that the shoe worked well for me, both in the early kays when I was light and bouncy, and later in my runs, when I began to tire and needed that extra‘ push’ from heel to toe.
The R-2000’ s upper is made of light, flexible and highly breathable mesh. It has Joma’ s VTS( ventilation system) perforations that allow more airflow than plain mesh, to keep the feet dry and at an optimal temperature, and the SPORTECH 3D system of light overlays that give the upper a snug supportive fit. Besides the great ventilation, my feet really liked the super comfy, seamless feel and fit of the upper. They also liked the roomy forefoot, as I have slightly wider feet, hence always wearing a half-size shoe.
Put to the Test
I did a few shorter runs in the shoe to get an initial feel for them, and found them both responsive and comfortable, and when I upped the distance, they performed just as well. As mentioned, that squishy cushioning in the heel kicked in just when I needed it most. I also tried some faster tempo sessions in the shoes, and they performed well there, too – being so lightweight, they actually feel like racing shoes.
In terms of looks, my humble opinion is that the Two Oceans colourscheme is seriously good-looking, with racing lines that make the shoes look even faster. Even though I am a purist when it comes to running shoes – performance is more important than looks – I will admit that these shoes‘ speak’ to me in terms of looks … And that just compliments the awesome ride!
Images: Courtesy Joma South Africa
Get Your Pair Before the Race!
Want to run the Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra or Half in your own pair of exclusive, special edition Two Oceans Joma running shoes? Then pre-order your pair today, at a special discounted price.
40 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2026
R-2000 Running Shoe
Regular price R2299 Sale price R1699
Limited Quantities available – pre-order here to secure yours for distribution in March 2026.
R-1000 Carbon Plated Running Shoe
Regular price R3799 Sale price R2699.00