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* '''Best Optimal Shoe''': [[New Balance RC5000]]. So I had to include the RC5000 as well as the Hyper Speed, as they are both 'the best'. The RC5000 weights less than half the Hyper Speed and provides barely enough cushioning to be efficient. This may not be enough shoe for you, but if you can handle it, the RC5000 is a wonderfully fast shoe. I'm happy to run marathon distances in this shoe, but I wouldn't go further, and you may want a little more cushioning even at that distance (unless you're into a minimalist shoe, in which case it probably has too much cushioning.)
* '''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.
* '''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.
[[File:BestRunningShoe.jpg|none|thumb|500px|The best running shoes. The Kinvara (top left), RC5000 (middle left), Hyper Speed (lower left), Clifton (upper right), Trail Glove (middle right), and the Ka (lower right, and yes, I know it's not really a running shoe.]]
=Shoe Categories=
I've classified my shoe recommendations into several categories, each with their own pros and cons.