[Closed] running shoes advice

go to a running shoe shop and show them your feet

If they ask to see your willy instead, you're in the wrong shop.

(rookie mistake, that)

Try a few pairs on, buy ones that feel comfortable. Don't get suckered in to all that gait/video/pronation crap.

Yep go to a running shop and get assessed.

Ive just got back into running and this very week I went into Sweatshop and got videoed running on a treadmill. Now I ve always needed support shoes as I moderately pronate or so I thought. Turns out I massively pronate. The shop suggested two appropriate shoes for my running style and purchased a pair of Nike zoom structures and can honestly say they are by far the most comfortable running shoes i have ever had.

I'd love to be able to jog properly unfortunately for me I run like Phoebe off Friends..... plus there's the whole two black eyes thing for women without the right gear, men don't have this issue with their 'moobs' or do they? Have you sorted a decent bra out too?

Au contraire. For gentlemen, correct undergarments are important in order to prevent, ah, "bounce" when running.

Indeed - chaffing can be very unpleasent! Not to mention runners nipple 😥

I didn't figure in the bounce problem.... apologies extended Sir!

It's not the nipples you need to worry about. Jogging in Blackpool Tower underpants can leave you feeling somewhat bruised.

HiTec Silver Shadows - £20

It's not the trainer, is the physical conditioning of the runner that counts and how it is developed over the weeks, months and years.

Avoid Nike and Adidas - sh1te, try Brookes, Ascis or NB, proper running shoes. More important to warm down than up. And give fartlek training a go, will improve your stamina no end, enter some runs, start with 10k and work up.

Ignore mastiles, get an expert to watch you run, too much comfort and not enough support can lead to spine and knee injury.

Fartlek is that the walking with sticks I've seen?

No that's Norwegian trekking I think, Fartlek is a workout at different speeds and durations - google it.

Avoid Nike and Adidas - sh1te, try Brookes, Ascis or NB, proper running shoes

You forgot IMHO in there 😉

Horses for courses for trainers. I get on mighty fine with my Nike Triax running shoes, my misses currently has Rebooks and her sister finds Adidas are good for her.

Avoid Nike and Adidas - sh1te

Rubbish.

Depends entirely on what you want and what foot structure you have.

I was gait analysed a while ago but didn't really get on with the shoes I bought as a result - for some reason I run differently on a treadmill.

I now do all my road running in racing flats - Adidas Adizero Adios and they're perfect for me. I have relatively narrow feet.

Off-road is much better and I wear Inov-8 Roclites and X-talons.

Avoid Nike and Adidas - sh1te

And you've based that opinion on.....? Most brands market low end/fashion stuff, it doesn't mean their proper shoes aren't any good.

Go to a running specific shop where they know their stuff.

Personally, Nikes feel by far the best for me, had some old Sauconys before and the difference was unreal. (Not that Saucony are bad, just didn't work for me).

Saucony's are good (or at least my pair is/was), but I have a feeling I've killed them. They've only done 3 10k races (well, and the assorted prep over two years, and they'll do another 10k on Sunday)

Very comfy though.

Tat Wink - Member
Yep go to a running shop and get assessed.

Ive just got back into running and this very week I went into Sweatshop and got videoed running on a treadmill. Now I ve always needed support shoes as I moderately pronate or so I thought. Turns out I massively pronate. The shop suggested two appropriate shoes for my running style and purchased a pair of Nike zoom structures and can honestly say they are by far the most comfortable running shoes i have ever had

+1, plus they will do a 30 day no quibble exchange and 10% off for 'Park-runners'

I don't work there, but the service I got in their Manchester Arndale branch was fantastic and I have never had shoes as comfortable.

Matt

The good running shops I've found have chosen my shoes for me depending on an extensive assessment. For example (Alexandra Sports in Portsmouth, the best I have found) spent 20 minutes looking at my bare feet standing upright whilst wriggling them in different directions and then a good half hour watching me run in different shoes. At no point was I asked which ones I liked as aesthetics are irrelevent.
Now enter an event, follow a proper programme (Runner's World site has some good ones) and don't be tempted to miss out the interval training!!

Buy some red ones if you want speed, black ones if you want stealth, or comfy ones if you want comfort. But forget all that gait crap, it's a sales gimmick.

[i]plus there's the whole two black eyes thing for women without the right gear, men don't have this issue with their 'moobs' or do they? Have you sorted a decent bra out too?[/i]

Not a problem. 😥

Ianmunro - glad there is someone if same belief as me. It cost me the arse-end of £100 to realise that it was bollocks and went back to running in my £20 cheapos I bought off the interweb.

I know a couple of reasonably good club runners and they just find a brand that fits them and run in them. Neither of them have ever done any of this analysis rubbish. They just buy cheapish trainers approx £30-£50 and change them regularly because of the amount of miles they do. These are guys who have come 2 UK male in London marathon or often come top 15 in half marathons.

Personaly saucony fit my feet and good ones can be had for £35 and I didn't gave to be videoed to find that out.

Avoid Nike and Adidas -

Rubbish.

just find a brand that fits them and run in them. Neither of them have ever done any of this analysis rubbish. They just buy cheapish trainers approx £30-£50 and change them regularly because of the amount of miles they do

Good advice. Having shoes in good condition and changing them regularly is more important than having a very expensive pair and running in them when they are past their shelf life. Find ones you like and when they wear out find them on the net when the colourway has changed and they are half price!

You forgot IMHO in there

No I didn't, in my experience maybe, but the guys after advice for good running shoes, I've been through plenty and I tell you what, for the money adidas and nike are very poor, if you run on a regular basis you'll find they last 6 months if that, let's face it they're more interested in fashion and gimmicky product link ups with the likes of Apple than basic running needs, like stability and durability.

Do you still think Rubbish? Maybe it's you that forget IMHO.

rewski, I use nike, mine were £30.00 at Sports Direct. very comfy and not worn out yet.

did 17k in them today, pretty durable if you ask me.

emsz - how long have you had them and how many miles are you doing each week?

Got them in November-ish, do anything from nothing to 30km a week.

Got two local running shops and one will video you , check your pronation and advise you on the correct trainer for you. They're really good because of their aftersales ie they will let you take the trainer back for a refund / different trainer if you have problems.

I'm using some Nike Shox at the moment but that doesn't mean that all Nikes will be comfortable for me. I quite like some of the Asics but would rather buy them from an online shop after trying them out in a running shop [check out Next - offers section].

My Nikes aren't great after 6miles and my feet get quite uncomfortable and I will more than likely end up with blisters but I've just got some Karrimor running socks from Sports Direct and they are helping no end

emsz - you might get another month out of them then 😉

Seriously though, if you're running that sort of distance weekly you probably need to change them often anyway, especially if you road run.

for the money adidas and nike are very poor, if you run on a regular basis you'll find they last 6 months if that

Nike Pegasus are one of the best general neutral running shoes on the market. They have been for a very long time and it would appear that millions of people agree with that. I run about 40 - 5o mpw however in my younger days between 70 - 80. During that period no shoes would last 6 months!!
It sounds like you have little experience however dont put the OP off from buying IMO shoes from one of the best manufacturers in the world.

Maybe this pair of losers need your advice!!

[img] [/img]

From a fairly new runner who has tried pronating/normal/cheap/expensive shoes, do yourself a favour: Nike Lunar Eclipse. On the pricey side but absolutely brilliant.
Beware. Every 'expert' running shop gave me different advice about size and gait. It's all opinion.

Maybe this pair of losers need your advice!!

Lord Coe might, he can barely walk now.

It sounds like you have little experience

It sounds like you've got misguided brand loyalty.

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Lord Coe might, he can barely walk now.

As the only man to retain the Olympic 1500m title and with a string of World records (some of which still stand) I suspect he knew what he was doing and actually he still runs regulalrly, I for one would not challenge him even now! Not sure why you think he "can barely walk"

I dont have any brand loyalty. I have a pair of Nikes and a pair of Asics on the go, as well as two pairs of Inov8's and some older Saucony which I will bin soon.
The point is that you should not be giving bad advice based on a sample of 1!

I really fancy Nike Free.

Lord Coe might, he can barely walk now.

Whoops!!!

[img] [/img]

Paula Radcliffe set the women's marathon world record in Nikes. Haile Gebrselassie set the men's record in Adidas.

I know shoes don't maketh the runner, but they'd hardly be willing to race in "sh1te" shoes would they rewski?

(by the way, my last three pairs have all been Saucony)

The point is that you should not be giving bad advice based on a sample of 1!

My advice is hardly bad, I'm just sharing the experience I've had with Nike and Adidas.

Whoops!!!

He's OK running, it's just walking he finds painful.

Can I just point out that professional runners such as Paula Radcliffe have several pairs on the go and would probably only wear them for several races.

Longevity depends on the purpose of the shoe, not generally the brand.

Lightweight racing shoes don't last. Some Nikes (can't remember which model) say on the box that they're racing shoes and will only last 100km. This is because they weigh about 100grams and what little cushioning they provide gets squashed quickly.

Most running shoes are designed to last about 500km. Again, after this, the cushioning gets squashed.

Corrupting the bikes quote: durable, lightweight, cheap - pick 2!

My advice is hardly bad, I'm just sharing the experience I've had with Nike and Adidas.

As several have said, your experience, sample of 1.

He's OK running, it's just walking he finds painful.

Are you serious!

Can I just point out that professional runners such as Paula Radcliffe have several pairs on the go and would probably only wear them for several races.

Of course but for every race each will have run 000's of miles in training. The racing shoes are less important. The trainers are however.

Your looking a bit ridiculous.

Some Nikes (can't remember which model) say on the box that they're racing shoes and will only last 100km. This is because they weigh about 100grams and what little cushioning they provide gets squashed quickly.

Mayfly

Your looking a bit ridiculous

A bit childish maybe but you Sir are looking the same.

We clearly disagree on Nike so let's leave it at that, I've suggested three alternative brands which I regard as good quality running shoes, which was the original advice request, now let us jog on please.

Go to a running shop, have a chat with them and try some on.

I started out with asics, have had about 5 pairs. They gave me blisters on long runs and were a nightmare to break in - lots of blisters. Switches to Nike lunar glide plus, no blisters at all and they are so comfy.

I thought we aren't allowed to like Nike?

Mayfly

Doffs hat.

Brookes Ravenna (older model) here btw.

However I tried about 12 pairs on in the shop and the guy knew every single pair of shoes he had in detail so based on my feedback from each pair we gradually homed in on the ideal shoe. He handed them to me and said 'these are the ones you'll buy' and he was right.

Was he a Jedi?

I dunno, maybe. Very very good at his job tho!

If you are ever in Oshkosh, Wisconsin then I suggest you stop in at Run Away Shoes out on 41 near Walmart and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Nike lunar elites here.

Because I'm cool like that.

Rewski thanks fir the advice but these have got to last at least till the summer. To be honest I didn't buy them because they were Nike, I bought them because they were the comfiest in the shop they were less than I'd set out to pay and they were a nice colour! If Addidas or Asics or whatever had been better, I'd have bought those instead.

i'll also add that (for me) stability is overrated - the more I run in fivefinger, inov8s and racier, low cushion shoes, the better I feel.

Nike and Adidas certainly make good and bad shoes - more niche / run specific brands like asics and saucony certainly make sure you're not choosing their product for the way they look!

stability is overrated

I might agree with you there. Cusioning/stability is pandering to the weaknesses in your feet, isn't it? Not allowing you to fix the issues. Might as well install pneumatic motors in your thighs to correct the weaknesses there too...

That's why I want Nike Frees, so I can gradually introduce less support on occasional short runs to strengthen myself up.

i have nike frees for casual wear - super comfy, looking a bit tatty I suppose. But they are light and so not tough. quite a chunky sole too so not very 'barefoot' in that regard. very flexible.

you probably wouldn't have much trouble running more or less straight away in frees (despite what they say) - unlike fivefingers which are a totally different experience!

for fell run / zero cushion - check these out!

I tried frees in a shop and they felt amazing, but that was just running around the shop. Would've bought them had I not just splurged on a different pair a week or so before.

Never mind Nike, Brookes or whatever - get some [url= http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_18403.htm?WT.mc_id=2011-04-04-11-03 ]Aldi[/url] specials 😀

for fell run / zero cushion - check these out!

Wouldnt fancy a fast rocky descent in those!

Nike Air Pegasus here.

When these wear out I'll get more of them, they fit me, they work, they're light.

All the important things.