What running shoes?

I’ll recommend what I run in but they seem a very popular choice for a neutral show

brooks ghost.

You can probably still get a pair of the previous incarnation (Ghost 14’s) in the sale if you shop around. I get mine from Start Fitness

new balance are still popular but i don’t understand all the model numbers

Whatever is going cheap, and maybe two different pairs if you're upping the mileage. Different shape etc gives your feet a chance to recover from any minor niggles. I randomly rotate round 4 or 5 pairs depending how I feel.

Brooks glycerine

I have always run in Saucony Ride which is a neutral shoe. They have always worked for me.

The Brooks ghost is well liked amongst my many running buddies and get universal praise.

Ghost 14's were going for £65 last week at Start Fitness. Buying shoes mail order if you've never tried them may not be the best idea however... At least Start do free returns.

I managed to squeeze 1200 miles out of my last pair of Ghosts before admitting defeat though I am mean with shoes...

That's a couple of recommendations for Ghost 14s, I'll give them a look.

I managed to squeeze 1200 miles out of my last pair of Ghosts before admitting defeat though I am mean with shoes…

I'm about 700km in with the New Balance and now my little toe pokes out of the right shoe. Even the Scroogiest footwear enjoyer would have to admit they're for the bin.

Look for a good pair of well cushioned, neutral shoes.
After being a Nike Pegasus or ASICS Cumulus man for a long as I can remember, I now heavily recommend Puma Velocity Nitro 2’s. You can pick them up for £50 at Start Fitness and I genuinely think they’re a brilliant shoe, irrelevant of the price.

I’m about 700km in with the New Balance and now my little toe pokes out of the right shoe.

That's not a huge distance... I've had a lot of NB shoes and never had that problem, I can usually get at least 1000km out of them and only replace them due to the loss of cushioning.

Assuming you do actually cut your toenails, I'd check how you're lacing your shoes. There are some patterns here, and I'd go for the "heel slipping" one:

https://coolinfographics.com/blog/2021/10/26/how-to-lace-running-shoes-the-right-way

now my little toe pokes out of the right shoe

Swap left with right. Voila, another 700km...🙃

My mainstay in neutral/cushioned is the Asics Nimbus. I think they're on 25 now. Bin using them since 4 (IIRC). Only issue in that time is they changed the fit/last about 5 years ago. I buy the same size when they're on sale and that meant a tight pair for one iteration. Again, I get about 1k miles from mine before they're falling to bits. I'm not recommending this approach BTW.

I think it's more the non-running miles on them. They're my after work kicking about shoes as well and while it's all indoors there's the inevitable scuff up against stair treads or door frames etc.

I’m astonished that people get 1000 miles out for a pair of shoes. 400 is about the max for mine, 500 at a push and much less for race shoes.
I can feel a difference in the midsole at that point, they often don’t look worn, but they feel it.

@lunge I'd imagine our performance levels differ. Imagine Ti vs pig iron shoes on this cart horse... 🙃

IIRC you're a 'proper' runner. I just go running to keep fit though I do a lot of miles (compared to some), I'm not very fast.

I’m astonished that people get 1000 miles out for a pair of shoes. 400 is about the max for mine, 500 at a push and much less for race shoes.

Pretty sure that was km not miles!!!

I think it’s more the non-running miles on them. They’re my after work kicking about shoes as well and while it’s all indoors there’s the inevitable scuff up against stair treads or door frames etc

Ah, ok. I'd keep running shoes as running shoes, and use something else for non-running. Like retired running shoes, for example. Which is exactly what I do 🙂

Pretty sure that was km not miles

Not for me. The last pair of Ghosts were binned at 1200 miles and I've 1100 miles on my just retired Nimbus 23's which is about average for me. I'm still using them for walking even though the soles have worn through to the foam. 🙃 I said I was mean with shoes...

Altra “foot shape” shoes. Why stuff your toes into a narrow lasted toebox when they can be free. Shoe shaped feet often = bunions.
There are 3 “widths” too. Good padding. Don’t get Lone Peak as it’s slippy on hard wet surfaces. I like Torin. Mid width. You can filter site by width.
I buy at JogShop in Brighton.

1200 miles 😱

350-400 max before my Ghosts are retired to the garage.

I got a neutral pair of Asics and liked them enough to get something similar also by Asics when the first pair wore out, but I think that unless you know you're a clear pronator or supinator then most things would work ok

the old ones are used for general wearing while the newest pair are running only

A second for the Puma Velocity Nitro 2. Bought on @lunge's recommendation. Absolutely nothing to report about them, meaning they're doing their job without fuss or incident.

I don’t care what the midsole thinks of it, if there’s some outer sole left and the upper isn’t ripped I’ll still be using it.

I’ve seen some people rip the outer sole up in short order but I don’t seem to scuff much and even at 82kg my shoes last ages. That’s for training only, the race shoes are kept for best. The pair I ran in yesterday are 7 years old and still going strong, not even sure they’re my oldest.

Despite initial misgivings, I'm quite liking my Hoka Cliftons, and they were cheap on SportShoes.

Bit random, but an interesting discussion on barefoot shoe things for runnerists..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001ngl2?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

A second for the Puma Velocity Nitro 2. Bought on @lunge’s recommendation. Absolutely nothing to report about them, meaning they’re doing their job without fuss or incident

That's what I like to hear, glad the recommendation worked.

Well I've just bought a pair now, they'd better be good 🙂

Been using NB860 for a few years now. Buy last year's version when they drop in price. Usually get around 12 months out of a pair before the support cushioning goes then they get relegated to gym shoes.

I have settled on Nike Pegasus. onto my 5th pair, fit me well, just enough cushioning, pretty neutral, and they do a good range of colours. the latest pair has a little smiley face in the insole and tongue, which keeps this easily pleased man happy...

Nike Pegasus - nice neutral, decent cushioning, last pretty well and always a deal.

Or a Brooks or Saucony equivalent.

720's are pretty 'basic' - Hoka Cliftons will be too much, too soft in comparism. (I like Mach5's)

Altras have some fans but they won't last 500 miles, and that's being polite about some models.

Just came back here to thank the posters who recommended Brooks Ghost. I started running (again) a couple of months ago and building up to some longer events later in the year and into next year. I'm 45yrs old and never had decent running shoes. I always felt like my legs were being beaten by sticks whilst running. Followed advice on here and got some Ghosts from Start Fitness. Wow, I cannot believe its taken me so long to discover proper running shoes. Went out and flew around 8km (which is a long way for me) and been loving my runs ever since. Difference between decent shoes and knackered old trainers is night and day. I feel daft not realising this sooner.