8,113
edits
Changes
no edit summary
[[File:Runnering Shoes 1449592 m.jpg|right|thumb|500px]]{{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. Based on [[The Science of Running Shoes]], I believe that [[What to Look for in Running Shoes]] is a running shoe should 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'''. =The Best Running Shoe={{:Shoes-best}}=Shoe Categories=I've classified my shoe recommendations into several categories, each with their own pros and therefore I favor cons. * '''[[Maximalist]]''' (Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning). The minimal drop has been the hallmark of minimalist style shoes, but these shoes also include lots of shoecushioning. Minimalist At their best, these shoes can be like running barefoot on a cushioned track. Maximalist shoes tend 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 less just enough cushioningto 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 flexible soles. Many years go, and less of a high reduction (drop) between "racing flat" had little cushioning, but with the heel and forefootadvances in materials science, these shoes are now surprisingly comfortable. * '''Fast'''. The These are the fastest shoes below vary , often compromised in other ways to achieve their characteristics, performance. * '''Minimalist'''. These shoes vary between the almost barefoot and those with some providing just a thin barrier 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 your feet minimalist and the groundMaximalist, while others but are an evolution of the traditional too heavy to be considered Optimal. * '''Traditional'''. The classic running shoehas a high heel, normally about 10mm higher than the forefoot . In The biggest advantage of traditional shoes is the wide variety to choose from, making it far easier to find the middle is right fit. =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 Shoe Review| Hoka One One]].''' The Hoka shoes started the "'Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning" (MiniMax) category ' 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 provides the plenty was typically made of quite firm foam. More recently they have moved towards softer cushioning without and the [[Maximalist]] style.* '''Topo'''. Like Altra, Topo make shoes that are designed for the human foot. I find that the raised healshape of Topo shoes is even better than Altra, with more room for my toes to move naturally. =Where 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 Buy=understand how long a shoe is likely to last for you. I generally recommend buying * A runner that lands harder will wear out their shoes from 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 [[http://goRunning 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.fellrnr* For most shoes, the limiting factor in shoe life is the foam cushioning rather than the harder rubber outsole.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Self&url=http%3A%2F%2FwwwThe means the foam becomes compressed and offers less cushioning.roadrunnersportsThe reduced cushioning is generally not the problem, but rather it's the uneven reduction across the shoe that starts to cause biomechanical problems.com%2F RoadRunnerSportsA common situation is that the foam under the ball of the foot wears and so the foot is tilted inward.comThe foam insole often fails faster than the midsole, so consider [[Replacement Insoles]] as they allow you to run in 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 still return them for an exchangeby 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. ItIf 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 know how 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 works for you until youlife. 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 it for some distanceshoes that most people would consider destroyed. {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[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. Another good option I suspect that the runner in question is scraping slightly on landing rather than pawing back fully.]]|[[httpFile://goComparisonHS6Shoes.jpg|none|thumb|300px|By comparison this is my Hyper Speed 6 shoes that have far more miles on them.fellrnrYou can see that most of the outsole still has its texture, and the only real outsole wear is on the extreme heel.com/?id]]|}==My Experiences with Shoe Life==35454X937677&xsSince 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=1&xcust"wikitable" |- valign=Self&url"top"|[[File:ShoeWear1.JPG|none|thumb|300px|This picture shoes the compression of the midsole that occurs under the ball of the foot.]]|- valign=http%3A%2F%2Fwww"top"|[[File:ShoeWear2.zapposJPG|none|thumb|300px|Here's a cross section through the same shoe, showing how much thinner the foam has become due to wear.com%2F Zappos(This is from a left shoe, so the ball of the foot is on the right of the slice.com)] which provides free shipping both ways]|- valign="top"|[[File:Insole Wear and Foot Strike.jpg|none|thumb|300px|An insole where I've marked the area of compression, which allows you is under the ball of my foot.]]|}=How Far Can I Run In That Shoe?=Many shoe reviews talk about "this shoe is good up to spend time wearing half marathon", or some other distance. Such advice is based on the idea that many people find that as the shoes around distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the house pounding and to see how 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 fitrun a 5K, though you while others will run a 100-mile race barefoot. There is no maximum distance that can't be run in them and return themany 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. =Comparison Table={{:Shoes-table}}
=Shoe Modifications=
''Main article: [[Shoe Modifications]]'' [[File:ModifiedShoes.JPG|rightnone|thumb|500px250px|Clockwise from the top: [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Free3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNIK1444%2F Nike Free 3.0] (early version) cut open more than most to form a 'running sandal', [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Hattori&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FSCN984%2F Saucony Hattori], [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=tmin&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNBA1542%2F NB Trail Minimus], [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Free3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNIK1444%2F Nike Free 3.0] and the non-minimalist [[Hoka Shoe Review|Hoka]].]]With the exception of the FiveFingers, a few exceptions such as the Mizuno Curoris and to a lesser extent the Altra Torin, I find that all 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 TableShoes for Heavier Runners=I've categorized my shoe recommendations into several categories.* Virtually Barefoot. These shoes are close to barefoot, but have some protection.* Minimalist. If you want As a little more protection and cushioning than the virtually barefoot optionsbroad generalization, but want foot length is generally proportional to stay as close as you canheight, this body weight is proportional to the next step up. * Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning. The minimal drop has the hallmark square of a minimalist shoe, but these shoes also include lots of cushioning. At their best, these shoes can be like running barefoot on a cushioned track. * Transitional. These shoes are close to a traditional running shoe, but have reduced heel your height. * Traditional. The classic running shoe has a high heel, normally about 10mm. I'm not a fan of running in high heels, so I have no recommendations in this category. {| class="wikitable"! Category! Shoe! Weight! Drop! Sole thickness! Use! Notes|-| rowspan="4"|Virtually Barefoot| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=KSOMens&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVFF102%2F FiveFingers KSO] | 5.7oz| Zero| | Road/Trail| No laces|-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=KSOTrek&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVFF110%2F FiveFingers KSO Treks]| 6.7oz| Zero| | Road/Trail| No laces|-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Bilka&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVFF116%2F FiveFingers Bilika LS]| 6.5oz| Zero| | Road/Trail| |-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=VivoEvoII&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVVO100%2F Vivo Barefoot Evo II]| 9.7oz| Zero| | Road| |-| rowspan="5"|Minimaist| [[Modified Nike Free]] | Varies – 5 to 6oz| Zero| | Road| |-| [http://www.zappos.com/saucony-hattori Saucony Hattori]| 4.4oz| Zero| 15mm| Road| No laces|-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=rmin&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNBA1522%2F NB Road Minimus]| 6.4oz| Zero| | Road| |-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=TrailGlove&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FMRL1000%2F Merrell Trail Glove] | 6.2oz| Zero| 10mm| Road/Trail| |-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=RoadGlove&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FMRL1002%2F Merrell Road Glove] | 6.5oz| Zero| 11mm| Road| |-| rowspan="5"|Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning| [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN1038/ Saucony Virrata]| 6.7oz| Zero| 17mm| Road| |-| [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ752/ Mizuno Cursoris]| 6.8oz| Zero| 18mm| Road| |-| [http://www.zappos.com/altra-zero-drop-footwear-the-torin-black-green Altra Torin]| 9.0oz| Zero| 20mm| Road| |-| [http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-bondi-2-cyan-white-lime Hoka Bondi 2]| 11.7oz| 4mm| 29/35mm| Road/Trail| Extreme cushioning |-| [http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-mafate-2-citrus-anthracite-white Hoka Mafate 2]| 13.6oz| 4mm| 29/35mm| Muddy Trail| Extreme cushioning |-| rowspan="6"|Transitional| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Free3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNIK1444%2F Nike Free 3.0]| 6.9oz| 4mm| | Road| Highly flexible|-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=WaveU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FMIZ724%2F Mizuno Wave Universe]| 3.8oz| 4mm| | Road| Lightweight|-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=fl195&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FINN120%2F Inov-8 F-Lite 195] | 6.8oz| 3mm| | Road/Trail| |-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=XT190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FINN114%2F Inov-8 X-Talon 190] | 6.7oz| 3mm| | Muddy Trail| Aggressive tread|-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=tmin&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNBA1542%2F NB Trail Minimus]| 7.7oz| 4mm| | Road/Trail| |-| [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Kinvara&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FSCN1016%2F Saucony Kinvara]| 7.7oz| 4mm| | Road| |}=Virtually Barefoot=If you want to get as close to barefoot as you can, the best option by far and foot area is the FiveFingers. However it can be tricky proportional to get them to fit right if you have an unusual shaped foot, in which case consider the Vivo Barefoot.==Vibram FiveFingers==[[File:KSO.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Vibram [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=VFF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3Dfivefingers FiveFinger] [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=KSOMens&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVFF102%2F KSO].]][http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=VFF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3Dfivefingers FiveFingers] are popular Minimalist Running shoes. They are a thin sole combined with just enough material to hold them to square of your foot and a separate pocket for each toe, hence the name FiveFingerslength. They were originally created This means that for boating, not running, but they have become hugely popular. I would recommend either the [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=KSOMens&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVFF102%2F KSO] (Keep Stuff Out) or the [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=KSOTrek&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVFF110%2F KSO Treks]. The Trek version has a leather upper and a thicker sole. The FiveFinger soles generally last a long timegiven BMI, but the uppers can perceived cushioning should be prone to tearing. Getting FiveFingers that fit can be tricky depending on about the shape same regardless of absolute weight, and you'll need more cushioning if your footBMI is higher, so they don't work for everyoneand less cushioning if your BMI is lower. The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Bilka&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVFF116%2F Bilika LS] You may also need more cushioning if your feet are slightly wider disproportionately small and have lacesless if your feet are disproportionately large. Of course, which improves the fit for different runners prefer radically different levels of cushioning, with some.<br style="clear: both" /> ==Vivo Barefoot==[[File:VivoEvoII.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=VivoEvoII&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVVO100%2F Vivo Barefoot Evo II].]]Terra Plana make a range of thin soled shoes under the '[http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Vivo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fsearch%2Fsearchliking an un-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DVIVOBAREFOOT Vivo Barefoot]' name. Their [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=VivoEvoII&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FVVO100%2F Vivo Barefoot Evo II] has a good reputation for cushioned minimalist running, with shoe and others a flexible but tough sole.<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://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Free3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNIK1444%2F Nike Free 3.0] can provide a minimalist massively cushioned Maximalist shoe with just enough cushioning to provide good protection. I prefer the [[Modified Nike Free]] But if you'd like to Vibram FiveFingers, as the small amount of extra padding protects scale my feet much betterreviews, 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: bothI'm 5' 10" /> ==Saucony Hattori==[[File:Hattori.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [http:180cm, I weigh about 140 pounds//go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Hattori&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FSCN984%2F Hattori].]]The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Hattori&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FSCN984%2F Hattori] 64 Kg, which is a lightweight (4.4oz)BMI of about 20, zero drop shoe, but the sole is less flexible than the Nike Free and the sock style upper limits the fittake about a men's US 10. Zappos has the [http:5/UK 10/go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Hattori%20LC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runningwarehouse.com%2FdescpageMRS-SHTLCM2.html Hattori LC] which has laces instead of a sock upperEU 45 shoe size. <br style="clear: both" /> ==New Balance Minimus=Shoe Gallery=[[File:RMinimus.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=rmin&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNBA1522%2F Road Minimus] .]]The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Minimus&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DMinimus Minimus] is a range of minimal shoes from New Balance that has created a lot Images of interest in the minimalist running community as the trail shoe was designed with the help of ultrarunner Anton Krupicka. There is a [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=tmin&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNBA1542%2F Trail Minimus] and a [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=rmin&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNBA1522%2F Road Minimus] which share similar names, but are rather different shoes. The Trail Minimus worked well for me reviewed on mild trails, but I prefer this site can be found in the [[Modified Nike FreeShoe Gallery]] to the road version. <br style="clear: both" /> ==Merrell Gloves=Shoe Dissection =[[File''Main article:TrailGlove.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=TrailGlove&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FMRL1000%2F Merrell Trail Glove].]]Merrell sells a [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=TrailGlove&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FMRL1000%2F trail gloveShoe Dissection] and a [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=RoadGlove&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FMRL1002%2F road glove]. The trail glove has a thin forefoot plate and both are zero drop. <br style="clear: both" /> =Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning=This is an emerging category of shoes, started by Hoka and followed by several others. None of the competition can match the Hokas for their huge, oversized soles made of extra soft foam, but they tend to be lighter and better designed. Comparing the shoes at a high level:''* The best all round shoe in this category is the Torin.* The Hoka has greater cushioning and protection, but is heaver and pricy.* The Cursoris is soft, light and seems faster, but has less protection and longevity. * The Virrata is nearly as good as the Torin, but cheaper. [[File:MDMC SolesHokaOlympusSlice.jpgJPG|none|thumb|500pxx300px|To achieve a light weight with maximum cushioning, many of these shoes don't use a hard rubber outsole over A comparison between the softer midsole. This can result in uneven wear patterns when the midsole erode away from around the patches of outsole. The red arrows mark the soft midsole Altra Olympus and the blue arrows mark the hard outsole, with the green arrow indicating an intermediate toughness material. Below, from left to right is the Torin, the Cursoris, the Virrata and the Bondi BHokas.]]==Hokas=={{Main|Hoka Shoe Review}}The Hoka shoes started Ever wonder what the 'Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning' style inside of your shoe and are still unique in their level of cushioning. The Hokas use extremely soft foam, with looks like? Take a wide base to improve stability. Their soles are at least 50% thicker than the other shoes in this category, so they are quite heavy, though not as heavy as they look. Most of the Hokas do well on both asphalt and rocky trails, though the Mafate is designed for softer trails and does not like asphalt. 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. ==Mizuno Cursoris==[[File:Cursoris.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ752/ Cursoris].]]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 inside; I've tried, even better than the Altra's. The upper is soft, which some people find strange and can result cut many of my shoes in them being over tightened. Once you get used half to the feeling that they're barely there, they stay in place well. <br style="clear: both" />==Altra Torin==[[File:Torin.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [http://www.zappos.com/altra-zero-drop-footwear-the-torin-black-green Torin].]]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 much firmer foam, so it feels quite different. Like the Cursorisreveal their construction, 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 Cursorisyou can see above. 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 You can see 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. <br style="clear: both" />==Saucony Virrata==gallery at [[File:Virrata.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN1038/ VirrataShoe Dissection].]]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 well as the other shoes in this category, it's quite a bit cheaper than all the others. <br style="clear: both" />=Transitional=These are not zero drop, but they have less drop than a traditional detailed shoe, are lightweight and flexiblereviews. ==Nike Free=Frankenshoes=[[File:Free30v4.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The (unmodified) [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Free3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNIK1444%2F Nike Free 3.0].]]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://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Free3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FNIK1444%2F Free 3.0]. (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''Main article: both" /> ==Mizuno Wave Universe==[[File:WUniverse.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=WaveU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FMIZ724%2F Mizuno Wave UniverseFrankenshoes].]]The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=WaveU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FMIZ724%2F 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|right|thumb|200px|The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=fl195&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FINN120%2F F-Lite 195] trail shoe.]][http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Minimus&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3Dinov-8 Inov-8] produces a wide range of minimalist trail shoes. Of particular note are their [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=XT190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FINN114%2F X-Talon 190] for muddy conditions and their [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=fl195&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FINN120%2F 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|right|thumb|200px|The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Kinvara&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FSCN1016%2F Saucony Kinvara].]]The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Kinvara&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fproducts%2FSCN1016%2F 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://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Pure&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadrunnersports.com%2Frrs%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DBrooks%2BPure Brooks Pure] range as minimalist. <br style="clear: both" />=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.)'