What is the best running shoe for actual runners?

November 13th, 2008 | by DistanceRunner |
coreydevillier asked:


Looking for a new running shoe. Thinking about the Asics Kayano. Looking for something very comfortable but still with support. What are some of the best running shoes in your opinion and why?

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  1. 7 Responses to “What is the best running shoe for actual runners?”

  2. By lestermount on Nov 14, 2008 | Reply

    The best running shoe is the one that you like the best.
    All major brands make good shoes, try on different shoes and use the one that fits you and feels good to you.
    I own mostly Adidas, but that is my personal preference.

  3. By thatartistwin on Nov 16, 2008 | Reply

    Ones that have Police Benevolent Society Donation stickers all over them

  4. By TEA on Nov 18, 2008 | Reply

    I have almost all asics and they’re awesome, especially the ones with the gel cushioning on the sole.
    Just remember, if you’re running every day, you’re going to want at least two pairs of shoes because if you wear the same pair every day it can give u really bad shin splints (that’s from experience.)
    Good luck with running!

  5. By susie on Nov 18, 2008 | Reply

    I’d recommend going to a specialist running shop, where they’ll analyse how you run (usually by videoing your feet and legs while you run on a treadmill, and getting you to run over a pressure mat, so they can see how the weight moves over your foot), and select the best trainers for you accordingly.

    Most people have feet which either over or under pronate (ankles lean slightly in or out), and if you correct this, it helps avoid problems such as shin splints.

    It costs a bit extra, but then apart from trainers, running is fairly inexpensive. I spent £200 on my trainers, including 50 minutes worth of analysis, custom made foot beds, the actual trainers themselves, plus a free check up in 6 months time. This was at Profeet (www.profeet.co.uk), and I’ve always found them to be really good, but I think there there are other places that do this too.

  6. By Running Coach on Nov 19, 2008 | Reply

    With your term “actual” runners, I think you mean by people who run over 40+ miles a week.

    I coach at a high school full of kids who are over 60+ miles a week on average throughout the season, so if you really want to know some good shoes, keep reading.

    You say that you are looking something comfortable but still with support, so it looks like you know what shoe you want. But are you netural, pronator, or do you underpronate?

    If you pronate, then I think the Asics GT - 2130 are the best shoes. They have a lot of cushion and are made for slight pronators.

    Another shoe you can try is the Mizuno Waveriders series. The current most up to date one is the Waveriders 11 (I think). They are basically the same as the GT-2310 but they are more neutral runners, so if you don’t pronate or underpronate, get these shoes.

    If you underpronate, then you would want the Mizuno Wave Precision. They are the same as Waverider and 2130, but they are made for underpronators.

    Hope this helped!

  7. By 2fastforluv on Nov 21, 2008 | Reply

    I really like asics and I run track everyday, they do get dirty pretty fast so i wouldn’t recommend white.

  8. By Jeremy Z on Nov 22, 2008 | Reply

    The answer can be broken down into a few steps:

    1) Find what type of foot/stride you have
    2) Find what kind of shoes work with your foot/stride
    3) Try the shoes on and run with them AT the store
    4) Decide which of the shoes that fit and are comfortable fit into your style and price range

    I’m assuming you will go to a specialty running store to get your shoes.

    To help them out with 1), bring an old pair of running shoes in. They can look at the wear pattern to have a hint at what kind of foot structure and stride you have. Then they likely will study your foot and gait to complete your analysis for part 1). You will likely then know if you are neutral, or you are a supinator or pronator.

    For number 2), you can do the research online at each of the running shoe company websites to get the shoes that match the result from number 1) for finding a neutral shoe, support, guidance, or control (see the Brooks running website for how they break their shoes into these categories). What the results in 1) tell the shoe store owner is where your arch is, and what kind of support you need to control what your foot does. This will tell them where they should look for more foam cushioning (outside, inside, forefoot, heel). This will eliminate your selection of shoes down to likely < 10.

    On to 3), try the shoes on. Run with them. Wiggle your toes. Are they comfortable. This is all about you, the shoe store owner can only tell you so much, you need to convince yourself the shoe fits well. You should be able to eliminate a bunch of shoes just by running with them a bit, as things like the width of your toes (toe box) and the width of your heel come into play.

    Then, use your style and price range help you with 4).

    Hopefully that will help out. I don’t have enough time to give you everything I know, but a website that has been very helpful to me is. It goes through the process of finding the best running shoe by having a shoe store owner give out his secrets. Believe me, there are quite a few more to help you out.

    Jeremy Zerr

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