Running Shoes

dobball23

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
I am going to be ramping up my training for Marathon Weekend 2018. What running shoes does everyone use? I have always been a Nike person, but I know many runners prefer other brands more. Suggestions?
 
Your best bet is to visit your local running store for a gait analysis. They'll look at how you run and recommend shoes suited to you and your stride. The ones I wear, Asics Kayano and New Balance Minimus, may or may not work for you.
 
What he said! GO GET FIT. Find a sports store with a treadmill. They should be able to go a gait analysis. A lot of these are done with an ipad taping your run and then you can see exactly what your strike is like and what type of shoe would be best. Unless they are brand specific (like a Nike or a Asaics running store) they should be able to recommend a couple different shoes across a number of brands for you.

Also remember that most running shoes have a 30 day return policy on them. (check with the individual store) So if you get out there and after a couple runs they are not working, go back to the store and try something else to find the right now.

I love my Nike Pegasus. I tried to switch once, but came back because they work for my feet. Happy Feet = Happy Miles.
 
Sooo individual!

I've been through Brooks Beast and GTS, Saucony Grid, Asics Kayano, quite a few marathons in Mizuno Wave Riders, and for the last couple years have been in Hoka's.

Of them all I love the Mizuno's but feel some amount of fatigue when over 30mpw. Training for and running ultras has been no problem with Hoka's. I can also run shorter fast run in them without issue.

Very individual though.
 


Don't be intimidated to go get fitted! I was at first, but then sucked it up and went in to my local running store. They were SO NICE and very patient with all my newbie cluelessness. They put me in a neutral shoe and had me run on the treadmill for maybe 30-60 seconds, recorded it and plugged it into a little program that shows if you pronate or supinate, then did a check of my arches (flat, low, medium, high) and finally watched me walk toward and away from them barefoot. Then they pulled out probably six pairs of shoes for me to try on, walk around in, try on the treadmill, etc. There was no pressure and no rush. They answered all my questions and helped with lacing techniques and everything. I bought a pair that day, and got out for a run and they were making two toes go numb, so I took them back. They went over my initial analysis and pulled out some of the pairs I'd tried the first time, but also a few other options. I exchange for a second pair, but found they rubbed the backs of my ankles about a mile in. So I went in AGAIN. Tried even more shoes. Each time I went in, they were so nice and patient. They asked me specific questions to try and find the right pair. And after three tries and returns, I finally found the right ones. They never made me feel guilty or stupid or any of the other things I was afraid of. And when those shoes finally wore out, I went back to get another pair and they made sure I went through another quick analysis to see if anything had changed since I was a newbie when I first came in. Lo and behold, my stride had changed and my shoe needs were slightly different. This time the first pair I tried was the one, but I felt totally confident I was in the right place and that they were trying to keep me healthy and in the right shoes. It was SO worth it to make the effort!
 
Like everyone else had said, go get fitted. It's a great experience and most likely to get you into the right shoe. I knew as soon as I tried on the Saucony Kinvara that they were the shoe for me. As my husband likes to say "The shoe chooses the runner" just like the wand chooses the wizard. It may not always be that obvious for everyone, but it really worked for me!
 
I went for my first true fitting a couple days ago highly recommend this for all runners. The process was pretty much as @The Expert detailed but I did my first treadmill run in socks vs a neutral shoe. I have been a pretty loyal Asics wearer for 8+ years and currently have 3 pairs of Kayanos in my run rotation. This fitting confirmed I need a stability shoe which is good. I tried on 5 different brands of shoes including the latest model of Kayanos and found that I liked the ride and fit of the ON Cloudflyer the best and ended up purchasing those as well as a pair of Saucony Omnis to start my Dopey training. Overall this was a very informative process.

My question, I have never heard of this brand (ON) before does anyone here have experience with this brand of shoe, durability, etc?
 
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Agree with everyone else about getting fitted with treadmill analysis.

I currently use three pairs: Adidas Ultra Boost ST (most cushion & heaviest for long and easy runs), Saucony Freedom ISO (good combination of cushion & weight for speed, strength, tempo runs), and Nike Zoom Fly (lightest: speed, strength, tempo runs).
 
Getting fitted was a life saver for me. I started out wearing Nike's because they were cute. Big mistake! I couldn't go a mile without being in pain and almost quit running because of it. I went and got fitted for the right shoe and was able to drastically increase my mileage because my feet felt so good! My second pair of shoes that were recommended I ended up wearing out of the box for a 9 mile run. That's saying something!
 
Getting fitted is the best way to go, but I stumbled upon my perfect shoes. I had run in Asics, Brooks and New Balance, and then tried on pair of Saucony Rides that were on clearance at Dick's. My local running stores don't really carry Saucony, so I had never considered them, but they work the best for me.
 
Definitely go and get fitted, will make such a difference for you. I like Nike as a "walking around" shoe...because Nike sneakers are poorly made with NO SUPPORT whatsoever...really you're paying all that money for the brand name. They really are not good for running long distances. For running, I personally go with Asics or Brooks...both of those brands have AMAZING arch support and are less likely to cause shin splints and stress fractures. :)
 
Agree with everyone about getting fitted at a specialist running store!

I currently have two pairs of shoes - Asics Nimbus and On Cloud Cloudsurfer.
I started with the Asics and they were great... until I started doing 10km runs regularly. Then I'd find my toes would start to hurt around 8km or 9km or so. So now I only wear them for shorter distances.
The Cloudsurfers are amazing and I've done a half marathon in them with zero pain in my feet after. However they are not as great for short fast runs (e.g. interval runs) as they just feel odd to be sprinting in.

But it's all personal preference and everyone is different!
 
Agree with everyone about getting fitted at a specialist running store!

I currently have two pairs of shoes - Asics Nimbus and On Cloud Cloudsurfer.
I started with the Asics and they were great... until I started doing 10km runs regularly. Then I'd find my toes would start to hurt around 8km or 9km or so. So now I only wear them for shorter distances.
The Cloudsurfers are amazing and I've done a half marathon in them with zero pain in my feet after. However they are not as great for short fast runs (e.g. interval runs) as they just feel odd to be sprinting in.

But it's all personal preference and everyone is different!

@sky13 It sounds like you are having a good experience with your ON shoes, have you had them long enough to get a reading on durability?
 
I went in for new shoes last week (Replaced 2yo New Balance 870's that had mostly sat idle since I decided I 'could' run 2 years ago with Mizuno wave riders). While there was a treadmill in the corner, there was no suggestion of using it for gait analysis. Is this something I should have requested? Is this something I should not worry about until I work my way up in mileage? Again, I am mostly new at running... but I am going to do it! And I would prefer to give myself the best shot at not injuring myself as I possibly can.
 
I have to agree with everyone here. I fitting at a local running store (not a mall shoe store) will be your best bet. I wish I did that a long time ago before I started running. I decided to just get a pair of shoes at sports authority before running many years ago. I was on a run one day and felt a very sharp pain in my left foot. Come to find out a developed a neuroma which the physician informed me was partly due to having the incorrect shoes. Switched to a different model and brand. Have not had the issue since.
 
I am a Nike Pegasus guy - have been for more than 20 years. I have a wide foot, so the last 2 models just didn't work for me because the toe box just got too narrow and they did not come in wide. The 34 is out and it comes in a wide. I got my first pair last week and they are going to work out well for me, so I am back on the Nike band wagon. :cool1:

In the interim I ran in Brooks Adrenaline. They were okay, but the arches are a touch too high for my feet.
 
@sky13 It sounds like you are having a good experience with your ON shoes, have you had them long enough to get a reading on durability?

I got my on cloud shoes start of March - since then have probably run around 200km in them and they're still holding up fairly well!

And yes definitely having a good experience with them - they're the best running shoes I've had so far - it's lovely to be able to go out for a 10k run and come back with zero pain in my feet. :)
 
I had never had a pair of running shoes that didn't make my legs hurt. About 3 years ago, I went to the running store and got fitted, and found out I "pronate" in my left foot. I am on my 3rd pair of Asics Kayano, and they make all the difference in the world! I tried two other shoes, bought one pair (I think they were Saucony) because they were slightly cheaper but similar, and I took them back after two runs because I still hurt. Lesson learned.
 
I had never had a pair of running shoes that didn't make my legs hurt. About 3 years ago, I went to the running store and got fitted, and found out I "pronate" in my left foot. I am on my 3rd pair of Asics Kayano, and they make all the difference in the world! I tried two other shoes, bought one pair (I think they were Saucony) because they were slightly cheaper but similar, and I took them back after two runs because I still hurt. Lesson learned.

It's interesting, among my group of running friends, about half are particular about their shoes. We are injury prone and even slight changes in a running shoe can cause pain or problems. The other half seem to be able to run in most anything. They can just switch willy nilly and it's no problem. I'm in the "slight changes = big problems" group unfortunately.
 

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