REASONS TO BUY
Good landing comfort
Stable
Durable
Solid traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Lacks technical prowess
Rabbit Dream Chaser - Women's Review
A strong first offering from Rabbit, this shoe provides solid all-around comfort, though it’s a more basic option better suited for everyday use rather than high-performance runs
The Dream Chaser isn't the best running shoe out there, but it offers a few qualities to enjoy.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
For a company's first shoe, Rabbit knocked it out of the park with the creation of the Dream Chaser. If veteran shoe manufacturers were the ones to release this shoe, we'd be scratching our heads in confusion. The Dream Chaser is a maiden-voyage shoe from a female-owned Southern California company. This shoe provides 360-degree comfort, a 33 mm stack, and a traditional 9 mm drop while also offering an incredibly basic ride. Runners who want an everyday shoe that they can reliably take through runs will love what this shoe offers. Runners who want performance-based footwear will be better off waiting until the next iteration of this comfortable trainer drops.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Rabbit Dream Chaser - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Running Shoe |  Best Bang for your Buck |  Best Balance of Comfort and Responsiveness | Most Versatile | |
| Price | $160 List | $140 List | $120.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $180 List $179.95 at Amazon | $140.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This shoe impresses with its comfort and reliability as a first release, but runners seeking advanced performance should hold off for the next version | Even with a few minor updates, this shoe shines as one for runners seeking a do-it-all road running companion | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | Though it lacks the lightweight tech of super shoes, the balance between its responsive midsole and lateral stability makes this a powerful everyday trainer | For epic versatility in a single shoe, we recommend this lightweight superstar |
| Rating Categories | Rabbit Dream Chaser... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Rabbit Dream Chaser... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's |
| Sizes Available | 6 - 11 US | 5 - 12 US regular, wide |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 11 US, regular & wide |
| Style | Daily trainer | Daily trainer | Daily Trainer | Max-Cushion | Daily Trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 33 mm | 40 mm | 27 mm | 35 mm | 33 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 9 mm | 9 mm | 3 mm | 8 mm | 7 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | Full length plastic | None |
| Rocker Angle | 25.0 deg | 26.5 deg | 25.0 deg | 24.5 deg | 24.5 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 63.8% | 61.9% | 64.7% | 65.0% | 65.4% |
| Measured Weight | 8.89 oz | 7.30 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.17 oz | 6.27 oz |
| Upper | 100% recycled polyester knit upper | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Creel jaqquard |
| Midsole | Flowstate Foam | FF BLAST MAX | PWRRUN | DNA Flash v2 | Supercritical EVA |
| Outsole | recycled rubber outsole | AHAR LO | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Extended heel pull | Finger loop | None | Extended pull tab | Extended heel pull |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Each women's size 6.5 shoe weighs 8.89 ounces, which is weighty for a road running shoe. Its stability, traction, and well-rounded comfort make it an easy choice for moderately paced distance efforts.
Performance Comparison
The hefty Dream Chaser works well for plodding recovery runs.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Landing Comfort
The Rabbit Dream Chaser strikes a balance between comfort and structure, making it a versatile choice for moderate-paced runs. Designed with a Blumaka insole (which Rabbit guarantees for up to 1,000 miles, per their website), this shoe prioritizes comfort without compromising durability. Its 33 mm heel stack height caters to heel strikers, while the traditional 9 mm drop and Flowstate Foam midsole create a reliable crash pad for forefoot landings. Although it doesn't deliver the plush, cloud-like feel of maximally cushioned shoes, the Dream Chaser is built for consistent joint protection and a dependable underfoot experience. Ideal for steady runs, it's a shoe that focuses on comfort through thoughtful design rather than excessive padding.
The undercarriage of the Rabbit Dream Chaser is reliable and protective without being pillowy soft.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Responsiveness
The Dream Chaser isn't built for responsiveness, and while you can push uptempo paces in it, the experience feels suboptimal. Its midsole compound, Flowstate Foam, provides a resilient and steady platform but falls short of delivering a powerful energy return. The Carbon Trax system is enacted to help “guide and energize” strides, and while I wholeheartedly agree about the guidance, I found the energizing portion of the design to be lacking. The ride feels more grounded and reliable than springy or explosive, making it better suited for maintaining consistent, moderate paces rather than surging ahead. Runners seeking a snappy or energetic feel may want to explore other options, though the Dream Chaser has other good qualities to enjoy.
The Dream Chaser is not a responsive runner, but it offers a stride consistency that I grew to enjoy.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
The Dream Chaser excels in stability, largely due to its innovative Carbon Trax system. Carbon strips are bilaterally embedded within this shoe's outsole; these strips help your feet make micro-adjustments to the terrain beneath you as you run. This stability is further enhanced by the shoe's rigid sidewalls, a secure midfoot lock, and a dual-layer mesh across the forefoot, which work together to guide movement. While the Dream Chaser isn't explicitly designed as an overpronation correction shoe, it offers nearly comparable movement guidance, making it a great option for runners seeking a bit of extra support. For those requiring more targeted overpronation correction, I recommend consulting the experts at your local running shop for a personalized fit analysis. However, runners with neutral gaits looking for added stability will appreciate the thoughtful design and support this shoe provides.
The sheer bulk of this shoe helps make it a contender for runners who want a supportive shoe.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Upper Comfort
Rabbit put a lot of thought into the upper design of the Dream Chaser, and it shows. The comfort is there, as is the function sans one small element — the double layer of mesh runs incredibly warm. I didn't mind the warmth during our winter testing, but I struggle to want to recommend this cooler-weather shoe to runners who will be tackling spring and summer outings in it. Heat aside, the upper and midfoot provide that comfort that most long-distance runners seek for their efforts. The upper mesh is forgiving without being too stretchy, and the tapered heel extends slightly up the Achilles for guidance and comfort. The interior cushion is precisely placed, ensuring a secure heel lock without rubbing or feeling bulbous. The tongue is made of soft, stretchier textile with ultra-stretchy bilateral gussets. The wide laces sit comfortably atop the thickest part of the tongue, making for easy wear-all-day comfort.
The shape and upper comfort of the Dream Chaser is almost there - minus the fact that they run a bit toasty and can turn into foot saunas if you typically run in warm weather.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
The Dream Chaser is definitely chunky, though the weight is rather well-distributed. At just under 9 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, this shoe is on par with some of the most maximally-designed shoes on the market. Since I have already established that the Dream Chaser isn't a speedwork-focused shoe, its heavier weight shouldn't really be a deterrent when it comes to purchasing. I hope that Rabbit's next iteration is comprised of lighter, springier compounds to make it a more well-rounded shoe.
The Dream Chaser is a serious clunker. While not uncomfortable or awkwardly distributed, it is notably heavier than most of the shoes in our lineup.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
The Dream Chaser is well-tractioned without going overboard. The outsole features two different rubber components. The outer lining is stiffer and texturized for gripping the road. The interior outsole component is a bit softer, though it isn't particularly susceptible to abrasions. The inner piece, too, offers some patterning to help you control your movements as you run across potentially slick terrain. The Dream Chaser sits comfortably in the upper echelon of road shoes when it comes to this metric. I couldn't make myself slide in it, but its traction pattern isn't as robust as some options. Due to its secure traction and warm upper, this shoe makes a great winter road running companion.
The traction of this shoe is solid. Combined with its propensity to stay warm, I think that this makes it a good cool weather shoe.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Rabbit Dream Chaser?
The Rabbit Dream Chaser marks Rabbit's first foray into footwear, and while it brings plenty to the table, I anticipate that future iterations will deliver even greater improvements. I do recommend the Dream Chaser for those seeking a comfortable and stable option, especially for cooler climates. In terms of overall value, it's not the most competitive choice on the market. While the Dream Chaser performs well for steady-paced runs, its versatility and technical functionality fall short of making it a standout contender. With some retooling, this shoe has the potential to elevate itself into a more favorable position in the running shoe landscape — which gives us something to look forward to.
This version of the Dream Chaser is fine. I expect the next iteration to arrive with some of the kinks worked out for a truly dreamy running experience.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The most similar to the Dream Chaser is the Lululemon Blissfeel 2. With a similar fit, weight, and overall score, it's almost like apparel brands have a playbook for creating shoes. The Blissfeel is slightly less expensive, making it a better value overall. Strictly from a running standpoint, the Asics Novablast 5 is prime because of its comfort and versatility. The Novablast is much lighter and more propulsive, making it a stronger contender for everyday running. The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 is a standout because of its balance between responsiveness and comfort. The Hyperion is worth considering because of its solid balance of technical features.
—Ally Arcuri
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