Running shoes sport high-tech cushioning, ranging from grids to gels. This benefits underpronators, or supinators, whose feet roll outward when striking the ground. These runners usually have higher arches and require proper cushioning or their bodies become injury-prone shock absorbers. Opt for neutral shoes and avoid motion control shoes for overpronators. The following shoes are endorsed by the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and recommended by shoe specialists at Road Runner Sports. This shoe boasts silicone-based gel in the forefoot to soften blows. Other features include gender-specific cushioning and an asymmetrical lacing pattern to enhance fit. This is Asics' ultimate cushioned shoe. Specifications: 10.4 oz. (women), 12.4 (men), $125 in 2010. The Glycerin 8 promotes a customized ride with specific "DNA technology," which better adjusts to changes in impact and pace. In addition, the BioMoGo is a full-length midsole made of a soft, cushy and environmentally-friendly material breaking down 50 times faster than competitors.
Specifications: 10.3 oz (women), 12.6 (men), $130 in 2010. Instead of relying on flat insoles, this shoe's support resembles a wave. When the foot strikes, the wave compresses between midsole units to disperse impact and guide the foot through its gait. This lightweight shoe sports "SmoothRide Engineering" to reduce shock vibration and provide necessary stiffness. Specifications: 8.6 oz (women), 10.5 (men), $100 in 2010. Named for Sir Isaac Newton, these shoes are based on the premise that running on your midfoot/forefoot is natural and efficient. Designers want these ultra lightweight and thoroughly vented shoes to feel like nothing at all--as if a runner is barefoot. Activator "lugs" are pushed into hollow chambers when your foot lands and then release stored energy, propelling you forward to increase performance. The priciest entry, but a truly different shoe. Specifications: 7.6 oz (women), 9.4 (men), $175 in 2010. Nike has placed "zoom" units--an ultrathin cushioning device--in the heel and forefoot for low-profile cushioning and lightweight performance.
The idea is that it keeps your foot close to the ground and delivers good maneuverability. Specifications: 10.5 oz (women), 12.4 (men), $130 in 2010. This shoe provides a midfoot support bridge to prop up your arch and uses full-length ProGrid technology to deflect impact and allow for a smooth transition from heel to forefoot. Specifications: 11.4 oz (women), 12.3 (men), $130 in 2010. Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week The Best Affordable Running Shoes The Best Running Shoes for People With Back Problems The Best Asics Running Shoes for Supination The Best Trail Shoes for Supinators Exercises to Help Foot Supination The Best Running Shoes for High Arches The Best Shock Absorbing Shoes The Best Running Shoes to Help Supination
How to Determine Foot Pronation Top 10 Jogging Shoes for Men 5 Things You Need to Know About Underpronation How to Correct Pronation During Running Top 10 Running Shoes for Flat Feet Differences Between Running & Walking Shoes The Best Winter Running Shoes The Best Rated Nike Running Shoes for Women The Best Shoes for Flat Feet The Best Shoes for Running on Pavement How to Correct UnderpronationRunning Guides & Resources Favorite Running Shoe Brands WHY AND WHEN TO BUY Owning running shoes gives you more than just street cred; it opens up a whole new world of opportunity you never thought was possible. Just like you wouldn't show up to a skate park with a football, you shouldn’t enter a 5K wearing clunky gym shoes. Fit and comfort are the cornerstones to a properly designed shoe. In fact, it’s often said the best shoes are the ones that cradle your feet. No blisters, no aches, and no pains mean you’ve got a winning pair.
For consistent runners, a shoe will last anywhere between 300 to 500 miles, or three to four months. If you’re not into calculating the sum of anything, you can instead see if a shoe’s worn thin simply by pressing the midsole with your fingers. Does the area feel weakened? Is the cushion completely flattened? If so, then that’s a strong indicator for purchasing a new pair of kicks. To double check your findings, hold the shoe upright, cup your palm around the heel, and try to fold the toe back toward your arm. Any visible creasing or cracking in the middle of the sole means you’re long overdue. WHERE YOU RUN MATTERS SO, DO YOU RUN HERE OFTEN? This may sound like a cheesy pickup line, but it’s actually a very important question all runners should ask themselves. When it comes to running, it’s vital to your performance, and more importantly to your well being, that you select a pair of shoes that fit the conditions. Believe it or not, going for a jog on the treadmill is incomparable to logging miles on a dirt road or asphalt.
With that said, let’s zero in on the four main categories of running shoes, determine their benefits, and help you score a reliable shoe. Lightweight and breathable, a traditional road running shoe is built with substantial cushioning without that heavy or overly bulky feeling. The high stack heel helps you rebound off of hard, even surfaces, such as pavement or concrete, creating ideal support for feet and joints. Flat or low lug-patterned outsoles help improve speed for more half and full-marathon ribbons! Suggested top brands: adidas, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike As you maneuver across dirt, rocks, mud, and other off-road obstacles, you demand the best in protection, stability, and support. Trail running shoes offer ample cushioning around the tongue and ankle, and a robust lug pattern for maximum traction as you ascend and descend jagged terrains. Suggested top brands: Asics, La Sportiva, Merrell, Pearl Izumi, Salomon If you’re a self-declared gym rat or strength training enthusiast, cross-trainers are a sure and safe bet to your workout.
Its built-up design protects the ankles and provides extra support for forward and lateral movements. Created with a thinner platform, the sole allows athletes to have increased contact with the ground. While not intended for long runs, these shoes will support jaunts up to 5K in distance. Suggested top brands: Inov-8, Under Armour, Vivobarefoot Track and field runners will find a wide variety of footwear options at their disposal, such as stability and motion-control to sprinter’s spike, middle distance, and long distance shoes. Flexible and lightweight, these designs serve up medial arch support despite little to no cushioning in the heel. Rubber and needle spikes line the outsole for improved traction and near Usain Bolt speed. Suggested top brands: New Balance, Saucony, Shop By Running Shoe Style During whole-body activities, such as swimming, field sports, and running, you’re creating a unique way of movement. This is known as your gait. This pattern is bred from your habits and lifestyle, as well as your body's mobility, stability, flexibility, and strength.
Determining your gait analysis can help you map out your pattern of natural movement. For runners, this will heavily factor into the type of shoes and cushioning your feet require due to pronation. Pronation describes the way the foot rolls inward, or outward, just after it lands on the ground. There are multiple ways to check your pronation. For example, you can videotape yourself running on a treadmill and observe which parts of your foot strike the ground first; you can take a look at the wear pattern on one of your older pairs of running shoes; or you can do the wet foot method by stepping on a paper towel or brown paper bag, as shown in the video below. The outcome will help you determine if you’re an overpronator, supinator/underpronator, or neutral runner. If you’re an overpronator, you’ll experience an extreme inward roll of the foot after landing. This means the foot and ankle have problems stabilizing the body, and shock isn't absorbed as efficiently throughout the foot.
This can easily be identified by wear patterns along the inside edge of your shoe. Motion control or stability shoes from Brooks, New Balance, Saucony will help you correct this rolling-in sensation. Opposite of an overpronator, a supinator’s foot strike rotates outwards, resulting in insufficient impact reduction and distribution. This landing can be verified along the outer edge of the shoe. Cushioning and flexibility are of utmost importance to this type of runner, therefore, stability brands like Asics, Brooks, and Mizuno are top sellers. A neutral runner has a normal arch with centralized balance. This means the runner’s foot does not roll more than 15 percent inwards and comes in complete contact with the ground. The rolling of the foot optimally distributes the forces of impact, as well as provides an even push-off at the front of the foot. Adidas, Nike, Saucony, and Under Armour perform well for these types of athletes. We know that buying running shoes online can be overwhelming, intimidating, and downright daunting, but it doesn’t have to be!