Running Shoes

Discussion in 'Health and Fitness' started by Knee Rider, Dec 30, 2017.

  1. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Hello guys,

    I'm looking to buy a pair of actual running shoes for the new year. I currently run in an old pair of NB 574s which are in tatters and figured my feet will probably thank me for the investment.

    I currently run on rocky footpaths, trails, woodland and occasional roads so I'm looking for something that can cover that variety of terrain.

    I'm not looking to break the bank but will probs stretch to £70 max. Ideally I'd like to spend significantly less.

    Has anyone got any recommendations or general guidance for me?
     
  2. Pretty In Pink

    Pretty In Pink Moved on MAP 2017 Gold Award

    You could go to that marathon running shop. They offer to test your style of running and what would be best for your feet and they offer recommendations all free. Then go and buy what they recommend elsewhere because they are extortionate.
     
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  3. Mitch

    Mitch Lord Mitch of MAP Admin

    Yep, find a specialist shop, get them to film you running on a treadmill to do a gait analysis, then go from there. When I've bought (last place I used was a chain called Up and Running), running shoes haven't been as expensive as many fashion trainers.
     
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  4. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Step 1) go to sweatshop

    Step 2) buy whichever shoes work best for a dyspraxic preschooler with brittle bones, for cheapest possible price.

    Sorted!
     
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  5. axelb

    axelb Master of Office Chair Fu

    You can often find a lot of options for your running type.
    The older model of whichever brand will usually be in sale for almost half the price, the only issue with that is the material in the shoes degrade slightly over time even when not being used which is partly why they are cheap.

    That being said, I often look for last or this year's model, then I know they haven't been hanging around too long, and they have all lasted as well as new ones, and often about the £50-70 mark. I've had some £30 under and the internal degraded fast (it was a very old model).

    This is a great comparison site, and has detailed review for whichever shoe you're looking at.
    Running Shoe Reviews by +100,000 Users and Experts

    Sounds like you definitely need a trail shoe as a primary.
    If you do any purely road or treadmill running then it would be worth having a road shoe also.

    The general rule is to change them every 250-500 miles (depending on your weight) I also go by how they feel inside and out. Inside you can feel it dip where your weight hits most.

    I also hated the idea of spending all that money to change the shoe every 6 months to a year, so I keep them around for another year as walking shoes to get my money's worth :D

    I've also been eyeing up the Nike vapor fly 4% for racing, but there £200 :eek:
     
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  6. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Thanks for the advice and for the link dude. Very helpful.
     
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  7. axelb

    axelb Master of Office Chair Fu

    No problem :)
    I have stuck with the same shoe for the last 2-3 years now I found one that suits me best. -Mizuno wave inspire 13, they dropped in price as they just released 14 :D
     
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  8. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    How would you characterise your running style?

    I have slight supination on both feet but slightly more pronounced on my right.
     
  9. Brigid

    Brigid Kung Fu Mother

    You can get your gait assessed and buy shoes based on this assessment. Run and Become did this for free the last few times I have visited their shop in London. They get you to run up and down and assess your needs based on their assessment of your style. www.runandbecome.com
     
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  10. Mitch

    Mitch Lord Mitch of MAP Admin

    Trail shoes do sound like the best bet, but don't use them on road, they're built very differently.
     
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  11. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Cheers peeps.

    That store you mentioned isn't near me Brigid but I appreciate the link and the recommendation for gate analysis.

    There is an Up and Running (who Mitch mentioned) near me that does gate analysis on the treadmill.

    It does seem like a faff but I think it'll probably be worth going into the city and getting it all done properly.

    Thanks for all the helpful replies. I'll let you know what I end up going for. Bet you will be beside yourselves with anticipation eh? Haha.
     
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  12. axelb

    axelb Master of Office Chair Fu

    Overpronating duck feet :D more so in the left. The support shoe helps a lot, I still do a lot of lower leg rehab when the running volume is up, I always used to get really bad shin splints.

    It felt great once I got it sorted with the right shoe and made decent progress.
     
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  13. Morik

    Morik Well-Known Member Supporter MAP 2017 Gold Award

    I have a couple friends who were really into running at one point. One of them recently trained back up for a half-marathon.

    She usually would get running shoes at Marathon Sports as they know how to fit running shoes properly.
    However this time she just fit them herself. She ran the half-marathon and 4 of her toenails fell off... she had noticed the toes getting a bit of messed up coloring in the weeks leading up to it but kept ignoring it.
    Turns out she chose shoes too small. Apparently they usually fit you 0.5-1 size above your walking-around shoe size because your feet swell when you run.

    So while I don't really know anything about running, the friends of mine who do know would say that if you are running regularly, you want properly fitted shoes.
     
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  14. axelb

    axelb Master of Office Chair Fu

    Ouch, that sounds nasty. I think it depends on the brand, some feel different. I walk around in size 12, and run in size 12 which was recommended when I last got checked at sweatshop. That was when I ran in Nike, I tried ASICS and New balance, both seemed a little tighter and rubbed more. I mostly use. Mizuno now which seems to be suitable at a 12.

    The run shops are usually on the ball with that so they will know which does need to be up a half size.
     
  15. Mitch

    Mitch Lord Mitch of MAP Admin

    Size 12? Well at least you won't need snow shoes :D
     
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  16. axelb

    axelb Master of Office Chair Fu

    :D I'm glad the make I have doesn't require any bigger as it's hard enough getting size 12.
     
  17. Mitch

    Mitch Lord Mitch of MAP Admin

    Just to illustrate the difference, you can see the tread on my Adidas off road shoes vs the Brooks on road.

    What isn't perhaps as obvious is that the off road shoes have less cushioning, presumably to make the contact with the ground feel more secure, and less padding on the uppers too.

    You can see how the mud from the local fields and tracks clogs the tread of the Brooks, but the open and deep cleats on the Adidas stay clear and give grip as a result.

    I wouldn't run in the Adidas on road at all, and you can't run in the Brooks on mud, it's almost like running on ice once the tread clogs.

    If your off road isn't muddy though, something like the Brooks will be fine.

    Hope that helps :)
     

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  18. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Cheers Mitch. I run on a bit of a mix to be honest. There is mud but also a lot of just hard uneven surface and some smooth tarmac too. I'll ask when I get my gate analysis done. Not sure which is best right now
     
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  19. axelb

    axelb Master of Office Chair Fu

  20. Travess

    Travess The Welsh MAPper Supporter

    As a former flat footed child, who used to require lifts in his shoes, I can certainly attest to the benefits of the 'Flat foot' tie

    Travess
     
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