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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoes}}

=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 Modifications=

=Summary Table=

I've categorized my shoe recommendations into several categories.

* Virtually Barefoot. These shoes are close to barefoot, but have some protection.

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=Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning=

* The Hoka has greater cushioning and protection, but is heaver and pricy.

* The Virrata is nearly as good as the Torin, but cheaper.

==Hokas==

{{Main|Hoka Shoe Review}}

==Mizuno 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 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. <br style="clear: both" />

==Altra Torin==

==Saucony Virrata==

=Minimalist Transitional=

These are not zero drop, but they have less drop than a traditional shoe, are lightweight and flexible.

==Nike Free==

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==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.

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==Inov-8 Trail Shoes==

[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.

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==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" />

=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.