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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoes}}
These reviews cover what I consider to be the best running shoesas well as some strong contenders and a few promising shoes that missed the mark. 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 I categorize shoes are either the as thick soled 'minimal drop, maximum cushioning' ([[Minimax]]) or , well cushioned a lightweight (Optimal) and 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>
=Where to Buy=
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.
=Shoe Categories=
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. 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.
* '''Optimal'''. These shoes ideally have just enough cushioning to improve [[Running Economy]] without the weight penalty of the Minimax Transitionalshoes. * '''Minimalist'''. These are part way shoes vary between what I consider a true Minimax shoe the almost barefoot and those with a traditional shoelittle more protection.* '''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. However =Shoe Brands=You're probably familiar with brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, etc., but you may be less familiar with Hoka and Altra. * '''[[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, there with a remarkably tight toe box and they are typically rather inflexible. * '''Altra'''. The two distinctive features of the Altra shoes are concerns 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 traditional levels was typically made of quite firm foam. More recently they have moved towards softer cushioning may increase injury riskand the Minimax style. =Shoe Reviews=* '''Minimalist Transitional[[Minimax]]. '''. These Minimax shoes are close to have thicker, softer soles, and far less of a high heel (drop) than traditional running shoes. ** '''Hoka Clifton'''. This shoeis a lighter weight version of the [[Hoka Bondi]]. It's a little thinner, but have reduced heel height otherwise it feels just the same. (I even ran with one on each foot, and other than the thickness, they feel the same.) The light weight makes these shoes an Optimal shoe as well as a Minimax shoe, which is a tough combination to beat. [[Hoka Clifton| Hoka Clifton Review]].** '''Altra Olympus.''' The Olympus has become my primary running shoe for longer ultras. I tend to view this issue as an evolution and improvement of the [Hoka One One]]. Like the Hoka it has a thick softly cushioned midsole, but unlike the Hoka it has a thinner solemuch better to books and overall design. [[Altra Olympus| Altra Olympus Review]]. ** '''MinimalistAltra Paradigm'''. If The Olympus and Paradigm are similar shoes, and you want could think of the Paradigm as the road version of the Olympus. However, the Olympus works fine on the road, and while the Olympus is a little more protection thicker and heavier, I generally prefer it. [[Altra Paradigm| Altra Paradigm Review]].** '''Hoka Bondi.''' Until the Clifton came out, the various Bondi shoes (Bondi B, Bondi 2, Bondi 3 and Bondi Speed) were my favorites. Like all Hokas, the Bondi has a horribly small toe box, it's easily [[Shoe Modifications| modified]]. [[Hoka Bondi| Hoka Bondi Review]].** '''Hoka Mafate.''' The Mafate is a huge shoe, and the heaviest and thickest of the Hokas. [[Hoka Mafate| Hoka Mafate Review]].** '''Hoka Stinson.''' The Stinson is a little heavier and thicker than the Bondi variants, and is available in road and trail versions. [[Hoka Stinson| Hoka Stinson Review]].** '''Skechers GOrun Ultra.''' A [[Minimax]] shoe for $80? Not quite. There's a lot to like about the shoe, but there are some significant issues you should be aware of before trying these out. [[Skechers GOrun Ultra| Skechers GOrun Ultra Review]].** '''Adidas Energy Boost.''' The Boost uses a new type of foam, so while the design is quite traditional, the increased cushioning produces a far better shoe than you'd expect. It's not really minimal drop, but I can forgive it that due to the novel cushioning. [[Adidas Energy Boost| Adidas Energy Boost Review]]. * '''Optimal.''' These are the shoes for the best [[Running Economy]]. ** '''Altra One<sup>2</sup>.''' This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite running shoes, combining soft cushioning with a lightweight. [[Altra One2| Altra One<sup>2</sup>Review]].** '''Mizuno Cursoris.''' The Cursoris is a lovely light weight shoe that almost feels like it's not there. While it's not expensive to buy, it doesn't last particularly longer, so the virtually barefoot optionscost per mile is quite high. They've been discontinued, but want to stay are still available. [[Mizuno Cursoris| Mizuno Cursoris Review]].** '''Saucony Virrata.''' While visually quite different from the Torin, the feel of the shoe is remarkably similar. [[Saucony Virrata| Saucony Virrata Review]].** '''Skechers Go Bionic'''. The Go Bionic is a highly flexible, zero drop shoe that offers great value for money. It's not quite as close comfortable as you some of the others here, but it's a worthy contender. [[[Skechers Go Bionic| Skechers Go Bionic Review]].** '''Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 2'''. This Japanese racing shoe is light weight and relatively stiff, with an extremely grippy outsole for traction on asphalt. [[Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen| Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 2 Review]].** '''Nike Free.''' One of the earliest minimalist shoes, the Nike Free has grown to a wide range of shoes that offer great flexibility and lightweight. [[Nike Free| Nike Free Review]].** '''Modified Nike Free'''. With modification, the Nike Free 3.0 canprovide 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, this while the flexibility gives a surprisingly similar experience. The longevity of the Modified Nike Free is good, lasting for 2,000+ miles. [[Modified Nike Free| How to create the next step upModified Nike Free]]** '''Saucony Kinvara'''. The benefit 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. It's failing is that it's not quite as light as the competition. [[Saucony Kinvara| Saucony Kinvara Review]].** '''Brooks PureCadence'''. Like the Kinvara, the Brooks Pure range of these shoes moves towards a minimalist design. The PureCadence retains a good level of cushioning, but like the Kinvara, it needs to be lighter. [[Brooks PureCadence| Brooks PureCadence Review]].** '''Altra Torin.''' This is their light a good example of the firmer shoes that Altra produces. It's a nice balancing act between weight and lack of protection, but the cushioningis not soft. [[Altra Torin| Altra Torin Review]].* * '''Saucony Hattori''Virtually Barefoot'. 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. * '''Minimalist. ''' These are not zero drop, but they have less drop than a traditional shoe, are lightweight and flexible. ** '''Mizuno Wave Universe'''. The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=wave+universe&x=0&y=0 Mizuno Wave Universe 5] is a significant change from previous versions. It's radically lighter and thinner, dropping its weight from 3.8 down to 2.6oz. [[Mizuno Wave Universe| Mizuno Wave Universe Review]].** '''New Balance Minimus'''. 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. ** '''Merrell Gloves'''. 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 close zero drop. ** '''Vibram FiveFingers'''. [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 barefootyour 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 protectionpeople.** '''Vivobarefoot'''. 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" />* '''Not recommended'''. These are the shoes that looked promising, but failed. ** '''Asics GT 2000.''' 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. ''' Minimalist 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 are associated , 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 [[Are your Minimax]] shoe. ** '''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 shoes injuring you| lower risk 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 injury a drop than a traditional shoesshoe while avoiding the thin sole of a minimalist shoe. ** '''Hoka Conquest.''' While this is as big and heavy as a [[Hoka Bondi]], the overly firm foam rulings the shoe. [[Hoka Conquest| Hoka Conquest Review]].** '''Hoka Huaka.''' This is not quite as heavy as the Conquest, it's still too firm to provide the cushioning a Minimax shoe deserves. [[Hoka Huaka| Hoka Huaka Review]]. =Overview ** '''Hoka 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. ** '''Newton Brand.''' Newton shoes focus on forefoot running by adding extra height to the forefoot of the shoe. The result of this 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 Shoe Recommendations=running shoes. (The Newton is mentioned in The 4 Hour Body as a shoe that is correlated with injuries.)
{{:Shoes-table}}
=Shoe Modifications=
''Main article: [[Shoe Modifications]]''
[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas.]]
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.
[[File:AltraRight.png|none|thumb|500px|A light hearted look at how other shoe makers seem to be designing for a strange shaped foot.]]
=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.
[[File:MDMC Soles.jpg|none|thumb|500px|From left to right is the Torin, the Cursoris, the Virrata and the Bondi B.]]