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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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What constitutes the best running shoe will depend a little on what you're looking for. Right now, there are five shoes that I would consider to be 'the best' in their categories.* '''Best All Round Shoe'''. The [[Altra Escalante]] is my current favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, 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 light, comfortable, and reasonably cushioned. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. * '''Best Maximalist Shoe'''{{: The [[Hoka Clifton]] has been dethroned by the [[Saucony Kinvara| Saucony Kinvara 8]]. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, though it's a major change from version 7. * '''Best Optimal Shoe''': [[Nike Zoom Streak LT]]. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills. The Streak LT doesn't have the Shoes-best cushioning-to-weight ratio, but it has a shape that's closer to the human foot than most running shoes and it's one of the longest lasting shoes I've found. Until recently, my favorite was the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]], which is a great shoe but doesn't last as long as the Streak LT, nor is its shape as good. The [[New Balance RC5000v2]] is a stunning shoe, providing more cushioning for its weight than any other I've tested, but it's hard to find and many runners want a bit more shoe. Other shoes to consider should include the [[Puma Faas 100 R]], and [[Pearl Izumi EM Road N0]].* '''Fastest Shoe''': [[New Balance RC5000]]. The original RC5000 is amazingly light, offering just enough cushioning to make it efficient. It's the fastest shoe I've tested, and it would be my first choice for a fast marathon. It's hard to find, as is its successor the [[New Balance RC5000v2]], but if you can find it, it's well worth it. * '''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'''. I don't generally review trail running shoes, but check out the [[Hoka Mafate]] if you're after a shoe with remarkable abilities on a wide range of surfaces. If you want a Hiking Boot, then I love the [[Hoka Tor Ultra]].* '''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. }}
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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.
=The Best Running Shoe=
=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 [[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.
* '''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 truly light fastest shoes, weighing often compromised in at around 4.0oz or lessother 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.
