Difference between revisions of "Shoes"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoes}}
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[[File:Runnering Shoes 1449592 m.jpg|right|thumb|500px]]{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoes}}
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These reviews cover what I consider to be the best running shoes. I believe that a running shoe should not interfere with the way you run, and therefore I favor shoes that have less of a raised heel and don't resist the way your foot moves as it lands. These shoes are either the thick soled 'minimal drop, maximum cushioning' (Minimax) or the thin soled minimalist style of shoe, with some transitional shoes that are closer to the traditional style. I have included a couple of traditional styled running shoes, mostly for comparison. <div style="float:right;">__TOC__</div>
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These reviews cover what I consider to be the best running shoes as well as some strong contenders and a few promising shoes that missed the mark. Based on [[The Science of Running Shoes]], I believe that [[What to Look for in Running Shoes]] is a shoe that does not interfere with the way you run, though I include some shoes that can be useful in transitioning from a more traditional shoe. '''These reviews are not being maintained'''.  
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=Where to Buy=
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=The Best Running Shoe=
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I generally recommend buying shoes from [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/ RoadRunnerSports.com] as they allow you to run in the shoes and still return them for an exchange. It's hard to know how a shoe works for you until you've run in it for some distance. Another good option is [http://www.zappos.com/ Zappos.com] which provides free shipping both ways, which allows you to spend time wearing the shoes around the house to see how they fit, though you can't run in them and return them.  
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{{:Shoes-best}}
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=The best of the best=
 
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My favorite shoes right now are the Altra Olympus and the Adidas Energy Boost. I use the Boost for faster paced running, and the Olympus for longer distances, though they are both good at either task. In many ways, the Olympus is a better Hoka, something I've been looking forward to for some time. My preferred minimalist shoes are the Merrell Glove series.
 
 
=Shoe Categories=
 
=Shoe Categories=
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I've classified my shoe recommendations into several categories.
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I've classified my shoe recommendations into several categories, each with their own pros and cons.  
−
* '''Minimax''' (Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning). The minimal drop has been the hallmark of minimalist shoes, but these shoes also include lots of cushioning. At their best, these shoes can be like running barefoot on a cushioned track.  
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* '''[[Maximalist]]''' (Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning). The minimal drop has been the hallmark of minimalist shoes, but these shoes also include lots of cushioning. At their best, these shoes can be like running barefoot on a cushioned track. Maximalist shoes offer lots of protection and comfort. They are great for longer ultramarathons where sore feet become a problem and for trail running where the cushioning makes it easier to ignore smaller rocks and stones. However, the extra cushioning may [[The Science of Running Shoes| increase the risk of injury]] compared with minimalist shoes and the extra sole thickness increases the stress on your ankle.  
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* '''Minimax Transitional'''. These are part way between what I consider a true Minimax shoe and a traditional shoe.
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* '''Optimal'''. These shoes ideally have just enough cushioning to improve [[Running Economy]] without the weight penalty of the Maximalist shoes. These shoes are often called "racing shoes", or "racing flats", but I don't believe this term is appropriate any more. Many years go, a "racing flat" had little cushioning, but with the advances in materials science, these shoes are now surprisingly comfortable.  
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* '''Traditional'''. The classic running shoe has a high heel, normally about 10mm higher than the forefoot.  
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* '''Fast'''. These are the fastest shoes, often compromised in other ways to achieve their performance.  
−
* '''Minimalist Transitional'''. These shoes are close to a traditional running shoe, but have reduced heel height and a thinner sole.  
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* '''Minimalist'''. These shoes vary between the almost barefoot and those with a little more protection. I consider a shoe to be minimalist if it has insufficient cushioning to improve [[Running Economy]].
−
* '''Minimalist'''. If you want a little more protection and cushioning than the virtually barefoot options, but want to stay as close as you can, this is the next step up.  
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* '''Balanced'''. These are shoes that are part way between minimalist and Maximalist, but are too heavy to be considered Optimal.  
−
* '''Virtually Barefoot'''. These shoes are close to barefoot, but have some protection.
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* '''Traditional'''. The classic running shoe has a high heel, normally about 10mm higher than the forefoot . The biggest advantage of traditional shoes is the wide variety to choose from, making it far easier to find the right fit.
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=Shoe Characteristics =
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=Unfamiliar Brands=
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There are a number of characteristics
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You're probably familiar with brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, etc., but you may be less familiar with Hoka and Altra.
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* '''Cushioning'''. Shoes vary in the mount of cushioning they provide. There is reasonable scientific evidence that higher levels of cushioning increase stresses on joints and have higher rates of injury. However, cushioning is also one way shoes provide protection from stones (the other is inflexibility). Cushioning can also reduce foot soreness on longer ultramarathons.  
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* '''[[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka One One]].''' The Hoka shoes started the 'Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning' style of shoe. The Hokas generally use extremely soft foam, with a wide base to improve stability. Their soles are thicker than most shoes so they are quite heavy, though not as heavy as they look. Most of the Hokas do well on both asphalt and rocky trails. The Hokas provide remarkable protection from rough trail surfaces, and the thick, soft soles mold themselves around stones to provide more grip on rocky trails than you'd expect. Other than the sole, the Hoka is a poor design, with a remarkably tight toe box and they are typically rather inflexible.  
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* '''Protection'''. Shoes provide protection from stones, uneven surfaces and abrasions. This protection can be in the form of a minimalist shoe's thin outsole, or the thick foam of a Minimax shoe.  
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* '''Altra'''. The two distinctive features of the Altra shoes are their zero drop and their shape which mirrors the shape of the human foot. Originally their shoes were quite minimalist with a thinner sole that was typically made of quite firm foam. More recently they have moved towards softer cushioning and the [[Maximalist]] style.
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* '''Fit'''. The importance of getting a shoe that fits correctly is often underestimated.  
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* '''Topo'''. Like Altra, Topo make shoes that are designed for the human foot. I find that the shape of Topo shoes is even better than Altra, with more room for my toes to move naturally.
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* '''Weight'''. The weight of a shoe makes a big difference in the [[Running Economy| energy cost of running]]. Even small changes in weight can make a big difference in how fast we run.  
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=How Long Will They Last?=
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* '''Drop'''. The drop is difference in sole thickness between the forefoot and heel. Larger drops can interfere with natural running form, and may increase the probability of [[Foot Strike| heel strike]].  
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There are a lot of variables in how long a running shoe will last, involving both the runner and the shoe. You'll need to understand your running style to understand how long a shoe is likely to last for you.
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=Shoe Dissection =
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* A runner that lands harder will wear out their shoes more quickly.  
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I've cut many of my shoes in half to reveal their construction.
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* If the landing forces are concentrated, this will dramatically increase shoe wear. So a runner than lands with a midfoot strike will tend to spread the landing forces, where a runner that lands on the edge of the heel will focus the forces in a small area.
 +
* Good [[Running Form]] ensures that the shoe doesn't scrape as it lands. Without this 'paw back', the scraping will wear away the rubber or foam quickly. If the scraping is combined with a concentrated landing area, the effect is a rapid removal of material under the initial contact patch.
 +
* For most shoes, the limiting factor in shoe life is the foam cushioning rather than the harder rubber outsole. The means the foam becomes compressed and offers less cushioning. The reduced cushioning is generally not the problem, but rather it's the uneven reduction across the shoe that starts to cause biomechanical problems. A common situation is that the foam under the ball of the foot wears and so the foot is tilted inward. The foam insole often fails faster than the midsole, so consider [[Replacement Insoles]] to extend the shoe life.
 +
* Thinner shoes tend to last longer than thicker shoes, which is perhaps counterintuitive. This is because a shoe with a 40mm midsole that loses 20% of its thickness due to wear would be 8mm thinner, where a shoe with only 10mm would only lose 2mm.
 +
* The life of the hard rubber outsole is rarely an issue, and by the time the outsole is worn through the foam is dead. However, there are shoes that use relatively soft outsole that can wear more quickly. If you're wearing through the outsole before the foam is dead, there's a good chance you're not pawing back correctly and your shoes are scraping as they land. This tends to waste energy and is a sign of poor [[Running Form]].
 +
* Shoes that don't have a hard rubber outsole can suffer from abrasion wearing away the foam. With these shoes the scraping due to lack of paw back has a much bigger impact on shoe life as the foam is much less resistant to being scraped.
 +
* Temperature can play a factor in shoe life. Hot temperatures can soften shoes and cause them to wear quickly. At Badwater I've had shoes wear away more in 30 miles than I would normally see in 300. On the other hand, foam gives far less cushioning in cold weather, so a shoe that might be okay in the summer might feel worn out in winter.
 +
* The running surface changes the rate of abrasion if that's the limiting factor. Rough concrete or asphalt will erode the shoe more quickly than a smooth surface or dirt.
 +
* How much wear is too much also depends on the individual runner. Some runners may tolerate very little wear, but I know runners that can continue to run injury free in shoes that most people would consider destroyed.  
 
{| class="wikitable"  
 
{| class="wikitable"  
 
|- valign="top"
 
|- valign="top"
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|[[File:HokaSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|The Hoka Bondi. ]]
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|[[File:WornHS6Shoes.jpg|none|thumb|300px|This is a picture of a friend's [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6]] showing dramatic outsole wear. These shoes had only completed 230 miles but you can see the outsole is completely gone in places. I suspect that the runner in question is scraping slightly on landing rather than pawing back fully.]]
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|[[File:OlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Altra Olympus.]]
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|[[File: ComparisonHS6Shoes.jpg|none|thumb|300px|By comparison this is my Hyper Speed 6 shoes that have far more miles on them. You can see that most of the outsole still has its texture, and the only real outsole wear is on the extreme heel.]]
 +
|}
 +
==My Experiences with Shoe Life==
 +
Since I started tracking my shoe life more accurately with [[MilestonePod]]s, I've found that there is far more wear on my shoes than I realized. With my [[Foot Strike]] the cushioning degrades so that the sole under the ball of my foot is quite a bit lower than the rest of the forefoot. I calculate that about 2mm of compression under the ball of the foot is like running on the camber of a standard road (~3°), which creates additional stresses and might be a cause of injury. In as little as 100 miles (160Km) I've had shoes compress by 4mm under the ball of my foot! Since I injured my meniscus I've found I can't tolerate shoes with that much wear, as this artificial camber irritates my knee. Prior to my knee injury I could get away with quite massively worn shoes, sometimes putting on as much as 3,000 miles (5,000 Km) before retiring them.
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 
|- valign="top"
 
|- valign="top"
−
|[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas.]]
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|[[File:ShoeWear1.JPG|none|thumb|300px|This picture shoes the compression of the midsole that occurs under the ball of the foot.]]
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|[[File:ConquestSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Hoka Conquest]]
 
 
|- valign="top"
 
|- valign="top"
−
|[[File:FreeSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Nike Free]]
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|[[File:ShoeWear2.JPG|none|thumb|300px|Here's a cross section through the same shoe, showing how much thinner the foam has become due to wear. (This is from a left shoe, so the ball of the foot is on the right of the slice.)]]
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|[[File:PureSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Brooks Pure]]
 
 
|- valign="top"
 
|- valign="top"
−
|[[File:HattoriSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Saucony Hattori]]
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|[[File:Insole Wear and Foot Strike.jpg|none|thumb|300px|An insole where I've marked the area of compression, which is under the ball of my foot.]]
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|[[File:GoRunSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Skechers GO Run Ultra]]
 
−
|- valign="top"
 
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|[[File:TorinSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Altra Torin]]
 
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|[[File:CursorisSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Mizuno Cursoris]]
 
−
|- valign="top"
 
−
|[[File:GTSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Asics GT]]
 
 
|}
 
|}
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=What Style?=
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=How Far Can I Run In That Shoe?=
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There are pros and cons of each style of shoe, from Minimalist to Minimax.
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Many shoe reviews talk about "this shoe is good up to half marathon", or some other distance. Such advice is based on the idea that many people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. However, because different runners want radically different levels of cushioning, generalized advice is unhelpful at best. Some runners may want a [[Maximalist]] shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100-mile race barefoot. There is no maximum distance that can be run in any given shoe; it depends on what you want. I compare cushioning levels provided by the shoes I review, but remember a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different.  
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* '''Minimalist/Virtually Barefoot'''. The benefit of these shoes is their light weight and lack of cushioning. Minimalist shoes are associated with a [[Are your running shoes injuring you| lower risk of injury than traditional shoes]].
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=Comparison Table=
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* '''Traditional'''. The biggest advantage of traditional shoes is the wide variety to choose from, making it far easier to find the right fit. However, there are concerns that traditional levels of cushioning may increase injury risk.
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{{:Shoes-table}}
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* '''Minimax'''. Minimax shoes offer lots of protection and comfort. They are great for longer ultramarathons where sore feet become a problem and for trail running where the cushioning makes it easier to ignore smaller rocks and stones. However, the extra cushioning may [[Are your running shoes injuring you| increase the risk of injury]] compared with minimalist shoes and the extra sole thickness increases the stress on your ankle.  
 
−
* '''Transitional'''. These shoes are part way between categories, and so they tend to have a mix of characteristics.  
 
 
=Shoe Modifications=
 
=Shoe Modifications=
 
''Main article: [[Shoe Modifications]]''
 
''Main article: [[Shoe Modifications]]''
  
−
[[File:ModifiedShoes.JPG|none|thumb|250px|Clockwise from the top: [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NIK1444/ Nike Free 3.0] (early version) cut open more than most to form a 'running sandal', [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN984/ Saucony Hattori], [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1542/ NB Trail Minimus], [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NIK1444/ Nike Free 3.0] and the non-minimalist [[Hoka Shoe Review|Hoka]].]]
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[[File:ModifiedShoes.JPG|none|thumb|250px|Clockwise from the top: Nike Free 3.0 (early version) cut open more than most to form a 'running sandal', Saucony Hattori, NB Trail Minimus, Nike Free 3.0 and the [[Hoka Shoe Review|Hoka]].]]
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With the exception of the FiveFingers, and the Mizuno Curoris, I find that all shoes benefit from [[Shoe Modifications| cutting open the toe box]]. This allows the toes to spread out as you toe off, creating more natural biomechanics and preventing toe blisters.
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With a few exceptions such as the Mizuno Curoris, I find that most shoes benefit from [[Shoe Modifications| cutting open the toe box]]. This allows the toes to spread out as you toe off, creating more natural biomechanics and preventing toe blisters.
−
=Summary Table=
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=Shoes for Heavier Runners=
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{| class="wikitable"
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As a broad generalization, foot length is generally proportional to height, body weight is proportional to the square of your height, and foot area is proportional to the square of your foot length. This means that for a given BMI, the perceived cushioning should be about the same regardless of absolute weight, and you'll need more cushioning if your BMI is higher, and less cushioning if your BMI is lower. You may also need more cushioning if your feet are disproportionately small and less if your feet are disproportionately large. Of course, different runners prefer radically different levels of cushioning, with some liking an un-cushioned minimalist shoe and others a massively cushioned Maximalist shoe. But if you'd like to scale my reviews, I'm 5' 10"/180cm, I weigh about 140 pounds/64 Kg, which is a BMI of about 20, and take about a men's US 10.5/UK 10/EU 45 shoe size.
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! Category
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=Shoe Gallery=
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! Shoe
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Images of the shoes reviewed on this site can be found in the [[Shoe Gallery]].
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! Weight
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=Shoe Dissection =
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! Drop
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''Main article: [[Shoe Dissection]]''
−
! Sole thickness
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−
! Subjective cushioning  
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[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas.]]
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! Use
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Ever wonder what the inside of your shoe looks like? Take a look inside; I've cut many of my shoes in half to reveal their construction, as you can see above. You can see a gallery at [[Shoe Dissection]], as well as in the detailed shoe reviews.
−
! Notes
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=Frankenshoes=
−
|-
+
''Main article: [[Frankenshoes]]''
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| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" rowspan="4" |Minimax
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Altra Olympus
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |10.0oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |36mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |10
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Road/Rocky Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Top pick
 
−
|-
 
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| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |[http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-bondi-2-anthracite-grey-yellow Hoka Bondi]
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |11.1oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |5mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |30/35mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |9
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Road/Rocky Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |[http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-mafate-3-lime-anthracite-white Hoka Mafate]
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |15.1oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |6mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |35/41mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |5
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Muddy Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/HKA108/mens-hoka-one-one-stinson-trail/ Hoka Stinson]
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |11.8oz
 
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| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |6mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |32/38mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |7
 
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| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Road/Rocky Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" rowspan="8" |Minimax Transitional
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.zappos.com/skechers-performance-go-run-ultra~1 Skechers GOrun Ultra]
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |9.5oz
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |14 mm (10mm without insole)
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |26/40mm (24/34mm without insole)
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |9.5 (heel)
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.runningwarehouse.com/adidas_Energy_Boost/descpageMRS-AENBM1.htmlhttp:/www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ADI1674/mens-adidas-energy-boost/ Adidas Energy Boost]
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |9.3
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |9mm
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |17/26mm
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |8
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |A remarkable shoe with new midsole technology
 
−
|-
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/HKA116/mens-hoka-one-one-conquest/ Hoka Conquest]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |11.9oz
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |4mm
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |28/34mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |4
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road/Rocky Trail
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Thick, but too firm
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-rapa-nui-2-tarmac-black-cyan-white Hoka Rapa Nui 2 Tarmac]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |10.7oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |4mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |26/30mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |3
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Lighter for a Hoka but overly firm
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ752/ Mizuno Cursoris]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |6.8oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |18mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |3
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Soft, light and comfortable
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.zappos.com/altra-zero-drop-footwear-the-torin-black-scuba-blue Altra Torin]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |9.0oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |20mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |3.5
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN1038/ Saucony Virrata]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |6.7oz
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |17mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |3
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |
 
−
|-
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1584/mens-new-balance-fresh-foam-980/ New Balance Fresh Foam 980]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |9.1oz
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |4mm
 
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| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |21/25mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |4
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |
 
−
|-
 
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| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" rowspan="2" |Traditional
 
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| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/BRK1126/mens-brooks-transcend/ Brooks Transcend]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |11.8oz
 
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| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |8mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |22/30mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ASC1638/mens-asics-gt2000-2/ Asics GT 2000]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |10.9oz
 
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| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |9mm
 
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| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |20/29mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCECFF;" |A shoe that almost defines 'traditional'
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" rowspan="6" |Minimalist Transitional
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NIK1654/mens-nike-free-flyknit-30/ Nike Free 3.0 Flyknit]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |7.1oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |4mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Highly flexible
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ724/ Mizuno Wave Universe]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |3.8oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |4mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Lightweight
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/INN130/mens-inov8-flite-195/ Inov-8 F-Lite 195]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |6.8oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |3mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Road/Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/INN114/ Inov-8 X-Talon 190]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |6.7oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |3mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Muddy Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Aggressive tread
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=Minimus+&x=0&y=0 NB Minimus]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |6-8oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |4mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Road/Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=Kinvara+&x=0&y=0 Saucony Kinvara]
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |7.7oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |4mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #CCCCFF;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" rowspan="5" |Minimalist
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |[[Modified Nike Free]]
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Varies – 5 to 6oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |[http://www.zappos.com/saucony-hattori Saucony Hattori]
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |4.4oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |15mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |No laces
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1522/ NB Road Minimus]
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |6.4oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MRL1000/ Merrell Trail Glove]
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |6.2oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |10mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Road/Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MRL1002/ Merrell Road Glove]
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |6.5oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |11mm
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCCCC;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" rowspan="2" |Virtually barefoot
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=FiveFingers+&x=0&y=0 Vibram FiveFingers]
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |5-10oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |Road/Trail
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |
 
−
|-
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |[http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-one-m-navy-sulpher Vivobarefoot One M]
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |7oz
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |Zero
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |Road
 
−
| style="background-color: #FFCC99;" |
 
−
|}
 
−
=Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning=
 
−
This category of shoes was started by Hoka and followed by several others. Only the Olympus matches the Hokas for their oversized soles made of extra soft foam. There are a number of other shoes that come close, and I've put them under the 'Minimax Transitional' category. Here's a summary list of all the Minimax shoes:
 
−
* The best shoe in this category is the Olympus, capturing the best of the Hoka approach and improving on it.
 
−
* The Hoka has greater cushioning and protection, but is heaver and pricy.
 
−
* Skechers has made a valiant attempt with their GOrun Ultra, producing a Hoka like shoe for less than half the price. Its major problem is the drop, as the heel is much higher than the forefoot.
 
−
* Adidas Energy Boost. This is built like a traditional shoe, but the new midsole material makes it seem much better cushioned that you'd expect.
 
−
* The Cursoris is soft, light and seems faster than most other shoes in this category, but has less protection and longevity.
 
−
* The Torin is zero drop, and has more cushioning than a minimalist shoe, but the foam is quite firm.
 
−
* The Virrata is nearly as good as the Torin, but cheaper.
 
−
* New Balance Fresh Foam 980 has less of a drop than a traditional shoe, but it's too firm to be a true Minimax trainer.
 
−
==Altra Olympus==
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
|[[File:OlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Altra Olympus.]]
 
−
|[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas. Notice the difference in the way the sole tapers towards the front of the shoe.]]
 
−
|}
 
−
This has rapidly become one of my favorite running shoes. It has the soft cushioning that is like the best of the Hoka range, combined with zero drop and a nice wide toe box. It's remarkably flexible given its cushioning, with an outsole that works well on the road. Like the Hokas, the cushioning means the shoe works well on rocky trails as well. Like other Altra shoes, the tongue area is wider than most shoes, reducing the pressure on the top of your foot. The weight is similar to a Hoka, but somehow feels lighter than a Hoka when I'm running. Like the Hokas, the midsole thins at the front and back to create a rocker effect, and this is a little more noticeable than the Hokas. I felt this worked well, though I've talked to runners who have found the rocker a little disconcerting. You can see the difference in the slice through the two shoes above, with the Hoka tapering in front of the ball of the foot and the Olympus starting to taper much further back.
 
−
==Hokas==
 
−
{{Main|Hoka Shoe Review}}
 
−
[[File:HokaHalfs.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|The Hoka Bondi cut in half, showing the outside and inside views. You can see that the midsole foam is a lot higher on the outside than the inside.]]
 
−
The Hoka shoes started the 'Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning' style of shoe. The Hokas generally use extremely soft foam, with a wide base to improve stability. Their soles are thicker than most shoes so they are quite heavy, though not as heavy as they look. Most of the Hokas do well on both asphalt and rocky trails. The Hokas provide remarkable protection from rough trail surfaces, and the thick, soft soles mold themselves around stones to provide more grip on rocky trails than you'd expect. Other than the sole, the Hoka is a poor design, with a remarkably tight toe box and they are typically rather inflexible.
 
−
===Bondi===
 
−
The Bondi is my favorite of the Hoka range, with a nicely cushioned ride. I've found that the Original Bondi B, the Bondi 2, Bondi 3 and Bondi Speed are all remarkably similar. I have a slight preference for the Speed, but the difference is mostly visual. I've run with a Bondi B on one foot and the Speed on the other without feeling any real difference. The Bondi has a horribly small toe box, but once it's cut open the shoe works quite well, and the Bondi has best balance of soft cushioning and reasonable weight in the Hoka range. The Bondi is not available as a trail specific version, but I've found it works pretty well on most trails, though it lacks the lugs for slick, muddy tails.
 
−
===Stinson===
 
−
The Stinson is available as a road (Tarmac) or trail version, and the trail version has an outsole that is more aggressive than the road version, though I've found the trail version is quite happy on roads. The Stinson is slightly heavier and thicker than the Bondi, but not by much. There has been a 'Stinson Evo Low' which is a thinner version that I rather liked, but I've not seen it for sale for a while.
 
−
===Mafate===
 
−
The Mafate is only available as a trail version and it's the heaviest and thickest of the Hokas. I don't think the extra thickness and weight is worth it, and I prefer the Bondi. The Mafate does have a more aggressive outsole than the trail Stinson but it's not enough for me to recommend the Mafate over the Stinson. The Mafate outsole is reasonably happy on roads, though I've found the outsole sometimes lacks grip on wet asphalt.
 
−
=Minimax Transitional=
 
−
These shoes are not quite 'minimum drop, maximum cushioning' of the Minimax category, but they're thicker than most shoes and tend to have less drop.
 
−
==Skechers GOrun Ultra==
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
|- valign="top"
 
−
|[[File:GoRunSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A slice through the GOrun ultras.]]
 
−
|[[File:GoRunPressure.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Here's a close up with my foot in the slice. The arrows give an idea of where the pressure points are under the ball and heel of the foot. Here you can see the sole thickening in front of the heel, creating a 'medial post'.]]
 
−
|- valign="top"
 
−
|[[File:GORunAnkle.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A close up of the ankle, where you can see the foam that holds the shoe against the back of the ankle.]]
 
−
|[[File:GORunAnkle2.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Here's the closeup with my ankle, and the blue arrow points to where the shoe presses on the heel bone (calcaneus) and the calcanean bursa. The red arrow points to the Achilles' tendon, which is where most shoes press. ]]
 
−
|- valign="top"
 
−
|[[File:GORunSole.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A close up of the sole, showing the wear that occurred after just 130 miles. ]]
 
−
|}
 
−
Is this a Hoka for only $80? Sadly not, but it's closer than you might expect, though the cost per mile probably works out more than the longer lasting Hokas.
 
−
* '''Cushioning'''. The GOrun Ultra is massively cushioned in the heel; it's as thick as the thicker Hokas, but softer. However, the forefoot is far thinner.
 
−
* '''Protection'''. The GOrun offers little protection compared with other Minimax shoes. This is partly because the forefoot is relatively thin and partly because of the large foam lugs. If you hit a stone between the lugs the forefoot is only 22mm (with insole). If the stone hits on the gap in the red foam, you'd only have about 17mm of remarkably soft foam. Ouch.
 
−
* '''Drop'''. The drop with the insole is 14mm, making it worse than a traditional running shoe. If you take the insole out, the drop is reduced to 10mm, which is not quite as bad, though slightly more than a traditional shoe.  However, if you look at the picture above, you'll notice the cut outs in the red foam around the forefoot, which makes the drop seem worse as the forefoot is softer and more compressible.
 
−
** Note that the measurements published by Skechers indicate the drop is 8mm with the insole and 4mm without the insole. I've also seen the measurements of 23/27mm sole height quoted by third parties. However, an independent measurement is 27/41mm with the insole, 25/35mm without, which close to my measurement. I took my measurement from under the ball and heel of the foot using the slice seen above.
 
−
* '''Medial post'''. The construction of the sole is a little odd, becoming thicker just in front and to the inside of your heel. This creates what is sometimes called a medial post, which is intended to resist the natural roll of your foot as it lands.
 
−
* '''Feel'''. I found the combination of the medial post and the large drop rather disconcerting, and while the heel is nicely cushioned, the forefoot feels rather poor.  I've run a few miles with a GOrun Ultra on one foot and a Hoka Bondi on the other (don't do that at home), and the shoes feel superficially similar.
 
−
* '''Heel counter'''. The heel counter on this shoe is rather different to other shoes, putting almost no pressure on the Achilles' tendon. Instead the heel counter presses on the back of the heel bone, which feels rather odd initially, and when running faster it felt like the GORun Ultras would come off. However, it's possible that this shoe may work better if you are having Achilles' Tendon issues.
 
−
* '''Wear'''. Shoes that lack the hard rubber outsole layer always wear more quickly, but the GORun Ultra's have lugs that wear even quicker than others. If found noticeable wear after only 130 miles.
 
−
* '''Injury. '''I found that I started to develop knee pain during the time I was trying out these shoes, even though I was only running short distances in them. The knee pain disappeared after I ceased using the GORun ultras. This could be coincidence of course, but it does concern me.
 
−
The GOrun has most of the softness and comfort of the Hoka at a far lower purchase price. However, I have some concerns with amount of drop and the rapid wear that undermines the cost advantage.
 
−
==Adidas Energy Boost==
 
−
[[File:adidas-energy-boost.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ADI1702/mens-adidas-energy-boost-2/brproductcrosssell/ Adidas Energy Boost].]]
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ADI1702/mens-adidas-energy-boost-2/brproductcrosssell/ Adidas Energy Boost] has a new material in the midsole (see 'Adidas Boost Foam' below) which changes how this shoe feels. The Boost does not really count as a minimalist shoe or a Minimax shoe, as it has a mainstream design, with the typical raised heel and cushioning that is no thicker than normal. However, because the boost foam works so well, it works far better than you'd expect.
 
−
* As a Minimax. Though it's not as thick as a Minimax shoe, it's soft cushioning makes it feel much thicker than it actually is, and it's a lot softer than something like the Brooks Transcend. While it does not offer the protection of a Hoka, it does offer a lot of the feeling of soft cushioning.
 
−
* As a minimalist. If you take out the insole, you also lose quite a bit of the higher heel and have something that's close to a minimalist shoe. I estimate that the insole is about 3mm in the forefoot and 5mm at the heel. Without that extra, the shoe is a 7mm drop (14mm/21mm). The shoe is light weight, and the new foam is pleasant under foot, combining a forefoot that had good ground feel with reasonable protection.
 
−
The Energy Boost is immediately comfortable, with a light, flexible upper with no noticeable seams. I'm thankfully Adidas has used a traditional tongue and laces, rather than a sock style upper or Velcro fastening. And while the sole has the traditional raised heel, there is none of the multi-density foam or other intrusions that are so common. I think a lot of people will buy the boost because of its immediate comfort, but stay with it for its extraordinary characteristics.
 
−
==Mizuno Cursoris==
 
−
[[File:CursorisSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|The Mizuno Cursoris. You can see the plastic wave plate in the forefoot as a thin blue line between the orange foam and the small black foam inset.]]
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ752/ Cursoris] is a light shoe with a soft sole, almost as soft as the Hokas, but only half the thickness so overall the cushioning is less. The Cursoris is clearly a road shoe, with little protection from stones, and no outsole grip. The toe box is the biggest and best designed of any shoe I've tried, even better than the Altra's. The upper is soft, which some people find strange and can result in them being over tightened. Once you get used to the feeling that they're barely there, they stay in place well. However, they wear as quickly as you might expect, so the cost per mile is quite high. <br style="clear: both" />
 
−
==Altra Torin==
 
−
[[File:TorinSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|The Altra Torin, showing the distinctive taper that Altra uses towards the front of the midsole.]]
 
−
The [http://www.zappos.com/altra-zero-drop-footwear-the-torin-black-green Torin] is superficially similar to the Cursoris, with a similar shape and sole. However the Torin uses a firmer foam, so it feels quite different. Like the Cursoris, the Torin is a road shoe, with no outsole grip. While the Torin has a better toe box than nearly every other shoe, it's not as good as the Cursoris. The Torin has lots of space beside the big toe, but the smallest toe is more cramped and the roof of the toe box is low. There are a lot of complaints about the lacing on the Torin not coming up the foot high enough so it feels like there is too much movement around the ankle. While this feels a little odd, I did not notice any actual problems from this unless the laces are loose. The firmer foam will provide more protection from stones and uneven surfaces than the Cursoris, but it will not provide the level of soft cushioning.  <br style="clear: both" />
 
−
==Saucony Virrata==
 
−
[[File:Virrata.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN1038/ Virrata].]]
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN1038/ Virrata] feels almost identical to the Torin, and when I wore one on either foot I found I could feel only minor differences in the sole. The toe box however is like most other shoes and is way too small, but cutting the toe box open mostly solves the problem. The Virrata is a nice shoe, and while not as good as the other shoes in this category, it's quite a bit cheaper than most of the others. <br style="clear: both" />
 
−
==New Balance Fresh Foam 980==
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1584/mens-new-balance-fresh-foam-980/ New Balance Fresh Foam 980] has less of a drop than a traditional running shoe, but it does not have the same soft cushioning of a Minimax shoe. This is not a bad shoe for someone looking for slightly less of a drop than a traditional shoe while avoiding the thin sole of a minimalist shoe.
 
−
==Hoka Transitional==
 
−
The Hoka Conquest and Rapa Nui are not like the Hoka shoes that started the Minimax category. These shoes are much firmer and lack the comfort that make Hokas popular.
 
−
===Conquest===
 
−
[[File:ConquestSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|The Hoka Conquest. Notice the holes in the top of the green foam, which I think are an attempt to soften the overly firm feel. ]]
 
−
The Conquest is a little lighter than the Bondi, but is not as softly cushioned. The Conquest is using a newer type of foam (RMAT) that Hoka claim is longer lasting. I only ran about 200 miles in the Conquest before I'd had enough. I can believe that it would last longer than the other Hokas, but the foam is also a lot firmer. You can see some deep slots cut into the foam, which I assume is an attempt to soften the shoe. The Conquest is not really cushioned enough to be considered a true 'maximum cushioning' shoe.
 
−
===Rapa Nui===
 
−
The Rapa Nui 2 is lighter, thinner and a little cheaper than the other Hokas, but I found it even firmer than the Conquest. In fact, the Adidas Energy Boost feels far more cushioned to me, though it does not offer the same level of protection from stones or uneven surfaces.
 
−
=Traditional=
 
−
I've included a couple of traditional running shoes, mostly for comparison.
 
−
==Asics ==
 
−
[[File:GTSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A dissection of the Asics GT.]]
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ASC1638/mens-asics-gt2000-2/ Asics GT 2000] has been around for many years in one form or another, a reflection of its popularity. The GT 2000 series could be considered one of the best "average" running shoes, and it is often used as the starting point when a new runner is looking for their first shoes. The original GT 2000 was introduced back in 1995 and has been updated many times. (They did add 10 to the number every year until the 2170, then reverted to 2000 and added a version number.)  So I've included the GT 2000 here partly as a good starting point for those looking for a traditional running shoe and partly as the shoe that is probably closest to the average running shoe.
 
−
==Brooks Transcend==
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/BRK1126/mens-brooks-transcend/ Brooks Transcend] is included in this section, not because it is one of the best running shoes, but because it is sometimes considered a "maximum cushioning" shoe, and Brooks claim it is "the Ultimate Plush Ride". However, when compared with a traditional running shoes, the transcend is only 1-2 mm thicker, and the foam is too firm to be considered a Minimax shoe.
 
−
=Minimalist Transitional=
 
−
These are not zero drop, but they have less drop than a traditional shoe, are lightweight and flexible.
 
−
==Nike Free==
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
|- valign="top"
 
−
|[[File:Free30v4.jpg|none|thumb|x200px|The (unmodified) Nike Free 3.0 Flynit.]]
 
−
|[[File:FreeSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x200px|Nike Free]]
 
−
|}
 
−
Nike Free are running shoes that are light weight, with very flexible soles. Even without modification, the Nike Free 3.0 is a good minimalist running shoe and a half way house to a zero drop shoe. There is no outer sole (the hard rubber that meets the road), just a robust midsole (the cushioning part). The midsole has deep groves cut into it to allow the shoe to flex more than is possible with a traditional shoe. There are lots of different models of Nike Free, but I would recommend using the [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NIK1654/mens-nike-free-flyknit-30/ Free 3.0] flynit. (Most Frees have a number that indicates how flexible they are. The idea is that 10.0 would be a traditional shoe and 1.0 would be barefoot.)
 
−
<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
−
==Mizuno Wave Universe==
 
−
[[File:WUniverse.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ724/ Mizuno Wave Universe].]]
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ724/ Mizuno Wave Universe] is a racing flat that is surprisingly comfortable and remarkably light weight. I ran in these before I discovered the Nike Free and got on well with them.
 
−
<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
−
==Inov-8 Trail Shoes==
 
−
[[File:Flite195.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/INN120/ F-Lite 195] trail shoe.]]
 
−
[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3Dinov-8 Inov-8] produces a wide range of minimalist trail shoes. Of particular note are their [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/INN114/ X-Talon 190] for muddy conditions and their [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/INN120/ F-Lite 195] for rocky conditions. I've used a number of Inov-8 shoes and I highly recommend them, especially for the more gnarly and technical trails.
 
−
<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
−
==Saucony Kinvara==
 
−
[[File:Kinvara.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=Kinvara+&x=0&y=0 Saucony Kinvara].]]
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=Kinvara+&x=0&y=0 Saucony Kinvara] is an evolution of the traditional running shoe towards a minimalist design. It looks like a traditional running shoe, but lowers the heel and reduces the weight. To me, this shoe is on the boundary between minimalist and traditional, though others might include some of the [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DBrooks%2BPure Brooks Pure] range as minimalist. <br style="clear: both" />
 
−
=Minimalist Shoes=
 
−
These are zero drop shoes with minimal cushioning, but they are not virtually barefoot.
 
−
<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
−
==Modified Nike Free==
 
−
With modification, the [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NIK1530/?cc=WHVLT107 Nike Free 3.0] can provide a minimalist shoe with just enough cushioning to provide good protection. I prefer the [[Modified Nike Free]] to Vibram FiveFingers, as the small amount of extra padding protects my feet much better, while the flexibility gives a surprisingly similar experience. The longevity of the Modified Nike Free is good, lasting for 2,000+ miles.
 
−
<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
−
==Saucony Hattori==
 
−
[[File:HattoriSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN984/ Hattori].]]
 
−
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN984/ Hattori] is a lightweight (4.4oz), zero drop shoe, but the sole is less flexible than the Nike Free and the sock style upper limits the fit. Zappos has the [http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-SHTLCM2.html Hattori LC] which has laces instead of a sock upper.
 
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<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
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==New Balance Minimus==
 
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[[File:RMinimus.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1522/ Road Minimus] .]]
 
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The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DMinimus Minimus] is a range of minimal shoes from New Balance that has created a lot of interest in the minimalist running community as the trail shoe was designed with the help of ultrarunner Anton Krupicka. There is a [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1542/ Trail Minimus] and a [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1522/ Road Minimus] which share similar names, but are rather different shoes. The Trail Minimus worked well for me on mild trails, but I prefer the [[Modified Nike Free]] to the road version.
 
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<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
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==Merrell Gloves==
 
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[[File:TrailGlove.jpg|none|thumb|200px|[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MRL1000/ Merrell Trail Glove].]]
 
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Merrell sells a [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MRL1000/ trail glove] and a [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MRL1002/ road glove]. The trail glove has a thin forefoot plate and both are zero drop.
 
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<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
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=Virtually Barefoot=
 
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If you want to get as close to barefoot as you can, the best option by far is the FiveFingers. However it can be tricky to get them to fit right if you have an unusual shaped foot, in which case consider the Vivo Barefoot.
 
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==Vibram FiveFingers==
 
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[[File:KSO.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The Vibram [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3Dfivefingers FiveFinger]  [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/VFF102/ KSO].]]
 
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[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=FiveFingers+&x=0&y=0 Vibram FiveFingers] are popular Minimalist Running shoes. They are a thin sole combined with just enough material to hold them to your foot and a separate pocket for each toe, hence the name FiveFingers. They were originally created for boating, not running, but they have become hugely popular. The FiveFinger soles generally last a long time, but the uppers can be prone to tearing. Getting FiveFingers that fit can be tricky depending on the shape of your foot, so they don't work for everyone. The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/VFF116/ Bilika LS] are slightly wider and have laces, which improves the fit for some.
 
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<br style="clear: both" /> 
 
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==Vivobarefoot==
 
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[[File:VivoOneM.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The their [http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-one-m-navy-sulpher Vivobarefoot One M].]]
 
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Terra Plana make a range of thin soled shoes under the '[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DVIVOBAREFOOT Vivo Barefoot]' name, such as their [http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-one-m-navy-sulpher Vivobarefoot One M] , with a flexible but tough sole. I'd also strongly recommend the [http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-ra-black Vivobarefoot Ra], which is close to a dress shoe, but remarkably comfortable. I got mine for a wedding and new wear them regularly. <br style="clear: both" />
 
−
=The Outsole=
 
−
To achieve a light weight with maximum cushioning, many shoes don't use a hard rubber outsole over the softer midsole. This can result in uneven wear patterns when the midsole erode away from around the patches of outsole. In the image below, the red arrows mark the soft midsole and the blue arrows mark the hard outsole, with the green arrow indicating an intermediate toughness material.
 
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[[File:MDMC Soles.jpg|none|thumb|500px|From left to right is the Torin, the Cursoris, the Virrata and the Bondi B.]]
 
−
=The Newton=
 
−
Newton shoes focus on forefoot running by adding extra height to the forefoot of the shoe. I purchased a pair thinking they would move me closer to barefoot running. The result of the high forefoot is an unstable shoe. I believe the Newton takes a bad idea (the traditional running shoe) and makes it worse. You can get a better alternative to the Newton just by hacking the sole heel off an old pair of running shoes. (The Newton is mentioned in The 4 Hour Body as a shoe that is correlated with injuries.)
 
−
=Adidas Boost Foam=
 
−
The Adidas boost uses a new type of foam in the sole that has more bounce and is more resilient. Adidas demonstrates this extra bounce by dropping a steel ball on their new foam and EVA, the industry standard foam. Because of the extra energy return in their new foam the ball will bounce much higher than on EVA. However, when we run our feet do not bounce off the ground, but have a short period of sustained contact, often called the 'stance phase'. So when your foot lands, it seems that the boost foam would return the landing shock back up your leg rather than absorbing it, which is less than ideal. It would be good to see a study that looks at how the boost foam changes the stresses on knees and hips compared with a standard running shoe. Regardless of how the bounce impacts your running, the increased lifespan of the new foam is appealing. Having a shoe that lasts longer is obviously good, but Adidas also claim that the new foam is more consistent through most of its lifespan, rather than gradually decaying in the way EVA does. Adidas also claims that their new foam does not change characteristics in extreme temperatures like EVA does.
 

Latest revision as of 10:02, 11 January 2024

Runnering Shoes 1449592 m.jpg

These reviews cover what I consider to be the best running shoes as well as some strong contenders and a few promising shoes that missed the mark. Based on The Science of Running Shoes, I believe that What to Look for in Running Shoes is a shoe that does not interfere with the way you run, though I include some shoes that can be useful in transitioning from a more traditional shoe. These reviews are not being maintained.

1 The Best Running Shoe

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories.

  • Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity.
  • Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game.
  • Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g.
  • Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk.
  • Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well.
  • All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close.
  • Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

2 Shoe Categories

I've classified my shoe recommendations into several categories, each with their own pros and cons.

  • Maximalist (Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning). The minimal drop has been the hallmark of minimalist shoes, but these shoes also include lots of cushioning. At their best, these shoes can be like running barefoot on a cushioned track. Maximalist shoes offer lots of protection and comfort. They are great for longer ultramarathons where sore feet become a problem and for trail running where the cushioning makes it easier to ignore smaller rocks and stones. However, the extra cushioning may increase the risk of injury compared with minimalist shoes and the extra sole thickness increases the stress on your ankle.
  • Optimal. These shoes ideally have just enough cushioning to improve Running Economy without the weight penalty of the Maximalist shoes. These shoes are often called "racing shoes", or "racing flats", but I don't believe this term is appropriate any more. Many years go, a "racing flat" had little cushioning, but with the advances in materials science, these shoes are now surprisingly comfortable.
  • Fast. These are the fastest shoes, often compromised in other ways to achieve their performance.
  • Minimalist. These shoes vary between the almost barefoot and those with a little more protection. I consider a shoe to be minimalist if it has insufficient cushioning to improve Running Economy.
  • Balanced. These are shoes that are part way between minimalist and Maximalist, but are too heavy to be considered Optimal.
  • Traditional. The classic running shoe has a high heel, normally about 10mm higher than the forefoot . The biggest advantage of traditional shoes is the wide variety to choose from, making it far easier to find the right fit.

3 Unfamiliar Brands

You're probably familiar with brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, etc., but you may be less familiar with Hoka and Altra.

  • Hoka One One. The Hoka shoes started the 'Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning' style of shoe. The Hokas generally use extremely soft foam, with a wide base to improve stability. Their soles are thicker than most shoes so they are quite heavy, though not as heavy as they look. Most of the Hokas do well on both asphalt and rocky trails. The Hokas provide remarkable protection from rough trail surfaces, and the thick, soft soles mold themselves around stones to provide more grip on rocky trails than you'd expect. Other than the sole, the Hoka is a poor design, with a remarkably tight toe box and they are typically rather inflexible.
  • Altra. The two distinctive features of the Altra shoes are their zero drop and their shape which mirrors the shape of the human foot. Originally their shoes were quite minimalist with a thinner sole that was typically made of quite firm foam. More recently they have moved towards softer cushioning and the Maximalist style.
  • Topo. Like Altra, Topo make shoes that are designed for the human foot. I find that the shape of Topo shoes is even better than Altra, with more room for my toes to move naturally.

4 How Long Will They Last?

There are a lot of variables in how long a running shoe will last, involving both the runner and the shoe. You'll need to understand your running style to understand how long a shoe is likely to last for you.

  • A runner that lands harder will wear out their shoes more quickly.
  • If the landing forces are concentrated, this will dramatically increase shoe wear. So a runner than lands with a midfoot strike will tend to spread the landing forces, where a runner that lands on the edge of the heel will focus the forces in a small area.
  • Good Running Form ensures that the shoe doesn't scrape as it lands. Without this 'paw back', the scraping will wear away the rubber or foam quickly. If the scraping is combined with a concentrated landing area, the effect is a rapid removal of material under the initial contact patch.
  • For most shoes, the limiting factor in shoe life is the foam cushioning rather than the harder rubber outsole. The means the foam becomes compressed and offers less cushioning. The reduced cushioning is generally not the problem, but rather it's the uneven reduction across the shoe that starts to cause biomechanical problems. A common situation is that the foam under the ball of the foot wears and so the foot is tilted inward. The foam insole often fails faster than the midsole, so consider Replacement Insoles to extend the shoe life.
  • Thinner shoes tend to last longer than thicker shoes, which is perhaps counterintuitive. This is because a shoe with a 40mm midsole that loses 20% of its thickness due to wear would be 8mm thinner, where a shoe with only 10mm would only lose 2mm.
  • The life of the hard rubber outsole is rarely an issue, and by the time the outsole is worn through the foam is dead. However, there are shoes that use relatively soft outsole that can wear more quickly. If you're wearing through the outsole before the foam is dead, there's a good chance you're not pawing back correctly and your shoes are scraping as they land. This tends to waste energy and is a sign of poor Running Form.
  • Shoes that don't have a hard rubber outsole can suffer from abrasion wearing away the foam. With these shoes the scraping due to lack of paw back has a much bigger impact on shoe life as the foam is much less resistant to being scraped.
  • Temperature can play a factor in shoe life. Hot temperatures can soften shoes and cause them to wear quickly. At Badwater I've had shoes wear away more in 30 miles than I would normally see in 300. On the other hand, foam gives far less cushioning in cold weather, so a shoe that might be okay in the summer might feel worn out in winter.
  • The running surface changes the rate of abrasion if that's the limiting factor. Rough concrete or asphalt will erode the shoe more quickly than a smooth surface or dirt.
  • How much wear is too much also depends on the individual runner. Some runners may tolerate very little wear, but I know runners that can continue to run injury free in shoes that most people would consider destroyed.
This is a picture of a friend's Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 showing dramatic outsole wear. These shoes had only completed 230 miles but you can see the outsole is completely gone in places. I suspect that the runner in question is scraping slightly on landing rather than pawing back fully.
By comparison this is my Hyper Speed 6 shoes that have far more miles on them. You can see that most of the outsole still has its texture, and the only real outsole wear is on the extreme heel.

4.1 My Experiences with Shoe Life

Since I started tracking my shoe life more accurately with MilestonePods, I've found that there is far more wear on my shoes than I realized. With my Foot Strike the cushioning degrades so that the sole under the ball of my foot is quite a bit lower than the rest of the forefoot. I calculate that about 2mm of compression under the ball of the foot is like running on the camber of a standard road (~3°), which creates additional stresses and might be a cause of injury. In as little as 100 miles (160Km) I've had shoes compress by 4mm under the ball of my foot! Since I injured my meniscus I've found I can't tolerate shoes with that much wear, as this artificial camber irritates my knee. Prior to my knee injury I could get away with quite massively worn shoes, sometimes putting on as much as 3,000 miles (5,000 Km) before retiring them.

This picture shoes the compression of the midsole that occurs under the ball of the foot.
Here's a cross section through the same shoe, showing how much thinner the foam has become due to wear. (This is from a left shoe, so the ball of the foot is on the right of the slice.)
An insole where I've marked the area of compression, which is under the ball of my foot.

5 How Far Can I Run In That Shoe?

Many shoe reviews talk about "this shoe is good up to half marathon", or some other distance. Such advice is based on the idea that many people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. However, because different runners want radically different levels of cushioning, generalized advice is unhelpful at best. Some runners may want a Maximalist shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100-mile race barefoot. There is no maximum distance that can be run in any given shoe; it depends on what you want. I compare cushioning levels provided by the shoes I review, but remember a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different.

6 Comparison Table

This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

Full Review

Brand Name Rating Recommended
price 		Benefit Weight
(oz) 		Penalty
(sec/mile) 		Forefoot
Thickness 		Heel
Thickness 		Loaded Drop
mm 		Cushioning Flexibility
Saucony Type A Review Saucony A/A7 Recommended $100 6.4 6.7 12.1 19 22 1 4.3 7
Saucony Type A6 Review Saucony A6 Highly Recommended $100 8.2 6.1 9.5 17 21 4 5.0 7
Saucony Type A8 Review Saucony A8 Highly Recommended $90 7.5 6.2 9.7 19 20 -1 4.7 7
Adidas Adios Boost 2 Review Adidas Adios Worth considering $140 4.7 8.6 13.4 17 27 11 4.0 6
Hoka Bondi 5 Review Hoka Bondi Recommended $150 6.1 11.6 18.1 38 42 5 7.1 2
Hoka Clayton 2 Review Hoka Clayton2 Highly Recommended $150 9.1 8.3 12.9 23 28 1 7.5 5
Hoka Clifton 4 Review Hoka Clifton4 Worth considering $130 7.7 9.3 14.5 30 35 10 7.2 3
ON Cloudflash Review On Cloud Cloudflash Worth considering $180 4.4 8.3 14.6 19 26 7 3.7 6
On Cloudracer Review On Cloud Cloudracer Worth considering $130 5.7 8.2 12.8 19 27 5 4.7 7
ON Cloud X Review On Cloud CloudX Not recommended $140 4.5 8.3 16.3 21 27 7 3.8 7
Mizuno Wave Cruise Review Mizuno Cruise Worth considering $120 6.6 5.9 12.5 17 20 7 3.9 6
Newton Distance IV Review Newton Distance Worth considering $155 7.5 9.1 14.2 26 31 3 6.8 5
Asics Gel DS Racer 10 Review Asics DS Racer Worth considering $110 8.2 7.0 10.9 21 26 6 5.8 5
Altra Duo Review Altra Duo Recommended $130 6.0 8.4 13.1 29 29 1 5.0 5
Mizuno Wave Ekiden 8 Review Mizuno Ekiden Worth considering $115 5.7 5.7 14.6 13 18 6 3.2 8
Saucony Endorphin 2 Review Saucony Endorphin 2 Worth considering $115 8.0 5.1 9.6 15 13 -1 4.1 8
Adidas Energy Boost Review Adidas Energy Worth considering $160 7.2 10.0 15.6 20 30 7 7.2 5
Altra Escalante Review Altra Escalante Best of the Best $130 9.1 8.7 13.5 28 25 -1 7.9 6
Altra Escalante 1.5 Review Altra Escalante 1.5 Best of the Best $130 8.2 9.0 14.0 26 27 -1 7.4 7
Saucony Fastwitch Review Saucony Fastwitch Highly Recommended $90 9.5 7.1 11.1 20 22 4 6.8 7
Topo Fli-Lyte 2 Review Topo Fli-Lyte2 Highly Recommended $100 6.7 9.1 14.2 24 26 3 6.1 5
Reebok Floatride Run Review Reebok Floatride Worth considering $150 7.7 9.6 14.9 28 34 10 7.4 5
Saucony Freedom Review Saucony Freedom Recommended $160 5.4 10.7 16.6 25 29 3 5.8 6
Skechers GORun 4 Review Skechers GORun Not recommended $100 6.1 7.5 11.7 15 23 3 4.5 7
Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 Review Skechers GRU Worth considering $90 7.5 10.0 15.6 28 34 8 7.5 4
Asics GT 2000 Review Asics GT 2000 Not recommended $120 4.8 11.2 17.4 28 35 5 5.4 2
New Balance Hanzo S Review New Balance Hanzo Worth considering $110 7.6 6.9 10.7 21 19 2 5.2 5
Hoka Hupana Review Hoka Hupana Recommended $115 6.1 8.9 13.9 31 36 7 5.4 4
Asics Gel Hyper Speed 7 Review Asics Hyper Speed Highly Recommended $75 10.9 6.3 9.8 22 26 5 6.8 6
Altra Instinct 4.0 Review Altra Instinct 4.0 Worth considering $120 6.0 9.8 15.3 29 25 -1 5.9 5
Asics Tarther Kainos 3 Review Asics Kainos Worth considering $130 10.0 6.9 10.7 17 27 9 6.8 6
Altra King MT 1.5 Review Altra King MT Recommended $140 7.5 10.7 16.7 19 21 3 8.0 5
Saucony Kinvara 8 Review Saucony Kinvara 8 Best of the Best $110 9.3 8.6 13.4 26 31 3 8.0 5
Altra Lone Peak 3.5 Review Altra Lone Peak Highly Recommended $120 4.2 11.4 17.7 24 25 4 4.8 5
Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 Review Nike LT3 Best of the Best $80 9.8 5.4 8.4 16 21 5 5.3 7
Nike Zoom Streak LT 4 Review Nike LT4 Recommended $90 8.5 5.5 8.5 15 21 3 4.6 6
Nike LunarSpider R5 Review Nike LunarSpider Recommended $125 6.9 6.7 10.4 17 21 3 4.6 6
Hoka Mafate Speed Review Hoka Mafate Best of the Best $170 7.6 11.9 18.5 39 40 4 9.0 1
Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 v2 Review Pearl N0 Highly Recommended $100 7.9 6.5 10.1 14 20 4 5.2 8
Saucony Nomad Review Saucony Nomad Worth considering $110 4.3 10.5 17.2 25 27 2 4.5 4
Hoka Odyssey Review Hoka Odyssey Highly Recommended $130 8.5 9.4 14.6 37 45 5 8.0 3
Altra Olympus 2.5 Review Altra Olympus Highly Recommended $150 4.6 11.8 18.4 35 34 0 5.4 6
Altra One 3.0 Review Altra One Recommended $100 6.1 8.8 13.7 23 23 0 5.4 6
Altra Paradigm 4.0 Review Altra Paradigm Highly Recommended $150 5.3 11.0 17.1 28 30 5 5.8 8
Asics Piranha SP 5 Review Asics Piranha Recommended $100 10.1 4.2 6.5 11 15 3 4.2 9
Brooks PureFlow 5 Review Brooks PureFlow Worth considering $110 6.0 9.7 15.1 26 29 5 5.8 8
Salming Race Review Salming Race Worth considering $130 6.9 6.5 10.1 16 19 4 4.5 6
Altra Escalante Racer Review Altra Racer Highly Recommended $140 6.6 7.6 11.8 24 26 6 5.0 8
New Balance RC1600 v2 Review New Balance RC1600 Highly Recommended $110 8.8 5.6 8.7 15 21 5 4.9 8
New Balance RC5000v2 Review New Balance RC5000v2 Best of the Best $125 14.2 4.0 6.2 13 21 6 5.7 7
Skechers GoRun Ride 3 Review Skechers Ride Worth considering $85 5.9 8.5 13.2 18 28 6 5.0 8
Nike RN Distance 2 Review Nike RNDist2 Worth considering $120 8.0 9.2 14.3 25 28 4 7.4 7
Inov-8 RoadXTreme 220 Review Inov-8 RXT-220 Worth considering $120 5.2 8.0 18.2 14 17 3 4.2 8
Salomon Sense Ride Review Salomon Sense Worth considering $120 8.5 10.0 15.6 26 29 6 8.5 0
Altra Solstice Review Altra Solstice Highly Recommended $90 7.1 8.1 12.5 23 25 0 5.7 5
Topo ST-2 Review Topo ST-2 Highly Recommended $90 8.2 7.3 11.4 20 18 0 6.0 7
Hoka Stinson Lite Review Hoka Stinson Highly Recommended $160 7.3 11.6 18.1 35 40 6 8.5 0
Altra Superior Altra Superior Highly Recommended $110 5.6 9.9 15.5 21 25 -1 5.5 4
Adidas Takumi Sen 3 Review Adidas Takumi Sen 3 Highly Recommended $160 7.7 6.6 10.2 17 21 4 5.1 5
Topo Terraventure Topo Terraventure Review Pending $110 2.6 10.8 27.5 24 24 0 2.8 10
Altra Timp Review Altra Timp Best of the Best $130 3.7 11.6 18.1 30 31 -1 4.3 6
Altra Torin 2.0 Review Altra Torin Worth considering $125 3.4 9.6 20.7 30 25 1 3.3 9
Altra Torin 3.5 Review Altra Torin 3.5 Worth considering $125 5.8 9.3 14.5 27 28 0 5.4 8
Hoka Tracer Review Hoka Tracer Recommended $130 7.2 7.4 11.5 21 24 2 5.3 5
Merrell Trail Glove 4 Review Merrell Trail Glove 4 Best of the Best $100 3.4 8.4 23.8 13 13 0 2.8 10
Topo Tribute Review Topo Tribute Recommended $100 5.9 7.3 11.4 20 18 -1 4.3 6
Mizuno Wave Universe 5 Review Mizuno Universe Highly Recommended $125 10.7 3.1 10.6 9 12 1 3.3 9
Altra Vanish-R Review Altra Vanish-R Recommended $100 16.1 5.3 8.2 19 21 4 8.5 6
Merrell Vapor Glove 3 Review Merrell Vapor Glove 3 Highly Recommended $85 2.1 6.1 27.6 6 5 0 1.3 10
Nike Vaporfly 4% Review Nike Vaporfly Best of the Best $250 10.4 7.2 11.2 25 37 8 7.5 2
New Balance Vazee Pace Review New Balance Vazee Pace Worth considering $110 6.0 8.6 13.4 18 24 6 5.2 5
Asics TartherZeal 3 Review Asics Zeal Worth considering $140 10.9 6.3 9.8 17 27 9 6.8 6
Saucony Zealot 3 Review Saucony Zealot3 Recommended $130 8.9 9.5 14.8 29 32 4 8.5 6
Nike Zoom Fly Review Nike Zoom Fly Worth considering $150 8.3 8.7 13.5 29 36 8 7.2 3

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
Older shoe reviews: Saucony Hattori Review, Mizuno Cursoris Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, Hoka Clifton Review, Saucony Virrata 2 Review, Brooks PureCadence 3 Review, Brooks PureConnect 3 Review, Brooks PureFlow 3 Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, New Balance 980 Review, Brooks Transcend 2 Review, Hoka Huaka Review, Patagonia EVERlong Review, Asics 33-DFA Review, Hoka Conquest Review, Saucony Cortana Review, Puma Faas 100 R Review, Saucony Fastwitch Review, Nike Free Review, Asics Gel Lyte 33 Review, Skechers GOmeb Speed Review, Skechers GOrun Ultra Road Review, Nike LunaRacer Review, Altra Paradigm Review.

7 Shoe Modifications

Main article: Shoe Modifications

Clockwise from the top: Nike Free 3.0 (early version) cut open more than most to form a 'running sandal', Saucony Hattori, NB Trail Minimus, Nike Free 3.0 and the Hoka.

With a few exceptions such as the Mizuno Curoris, I find that most shoes benefit from cutting open the toe box. This allows the toes to spread out as you toe off, creating more natural biomechanics and preventing toe blisters.

8 Shoes for Heavier Runners

As a broad generalization, foot length is generally proportional to height, body weight is proportional to the square of your height, and foot area is proportional to the square of your foot length. This means that for a given BMI, the perceived cushioning should be about the same regardless of absolute weight, and you'll need more cushioning if your BMI is higher, and less cushioning if your BMI is lower. You may also need more cushioning if your feet are disproportionately small and less if your feet are disproportionately large. Of course, different runners prefer radically different levels of cushioning, with some liking an un-cushioned minimalist shoe and others a massively cushioned Maximalist shoe. But if you'd like to scale my reviews, I'm 5' 10"/180cm, I weigh about 140 pounds/64 Kg, which is a BMI of about 20, and take about a men's US 10.5/UK 10/EU 45 shoe size.

9 Shoe Gallery

Images of the shoes reviewed on this site can be found in the Shoe Gallery.

10 Shoe Dissection

Main article: Shoe Dissection

A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas.

Ever wonder what the inside of your shoe looks like? Take a look inside; I've cut many of my shoes in half to reveal their construction, as you can see above. You can see a gallery at Shoe Dissection, as well as in the detailed shoe reviews.

11 Frankenshoes

Main article: Frankenshoes

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