WTF is up with running shoes nowadays? [Warning: RANT]

[vi edit]

I'm starting to get back into running a little bit. I've had a 4 year "leave of abscense" from the running scene due to school, work, injuries, ect, ect, ect.

It turns out that it is an impossible quest to actually find a functional pair of running shoes anymore. Nike, who used to make pretty decent shoes has gone completely form over function. All of their shoes are either bloated, overweight juggernaughts of repulsion, or they are flimsy, underconstructed, skeletons of what should be a shoe.

Adidas has fallen into the same category it seems. All of their shoes are either beefed up "trail" shoes, or they are underbuilt EVA laden pieces of crap that will be broke down after 100 miles of running.

Saucony has all but gone extinct.

That really only leaves Asics, but their halfway decent shoes are ungodly expensive.

:sigh: Can't you just buy a normal running shoe with respectable cusioning, a solidly constructed upper, and without all of the extra sparkle, glitter, and reflectors that only add weight and reduce breathability???

Any runners out there have some shoe recommendations for a 190+ pound supinator with an incredibly narrow foot?

 

[HappyPuppy]

Keds.

 

[Zim Hosein]

<< Keds. >>



vi_edit, here's a good source for running shoes: http://eastbay.com/

 

[N8Magic]

NEW BALANCE.

(great running shoes.) *edit*Link to some NB shoes.

 

[Legendary]

Chalk up another vote for NB shoes...cut 15 seconds off of my mile run with just different shoes? Yeah...those Nikes didn't cut it too well.

 

[vi edit]

There's three things I won't buy off the internet.

Anything I eat.
Anything I drink.
Anything I wear.

 

[Novgrod]

I add to the votes for new balance; I really like my pair. Though I agree about buying off the internet, I got these off roadrunnersports.com, which is very good.

You can still find saucony (best place i've found is roadrunner).

 

[UltraQuiet]

Another vote fo New Balance. Especially if you have a wide foot.

 

[murphy55d]

I can only wear Nike Air Max.

 

[cyclistca]

Saucony still around. You'll have to look at bit harder. That's all I buy now. Nice well constructed shoes that look almost normal.

Nike! If I wanted foot wear that looks like it should be worn on the space shuttle I'll become an astronaut.

 

[Miramonti]

I love New Balance shoes. I don't run anymore tho but am still addicted to the shoes because their so comfortable.

 

[ChinamanatNCSU]

how much are you looking to spend? the asics I've always bought (GT's) has been around $80, and from what I've seen that's pretty normal for a nice running shoe that's not a low nor high end model. Dunno about new balance, since I only saw them proliferating when the preppy kids at my hs started wearing them, and then everyone HAD to have a pair...

 

[SWScorch]

Check out New Balance. Wonderful shoes; my current trail shoes are a pair of NB 636s that have over 1500 miles on them, with only minimal wear to show for it. My everyday shoes are NB 713s which have a weird outsole (no mid-foot indent) but are very comfortable and I've used them for several 10+ mile distance runs with no discomfort. My cross country shoes are New Balance 215s (predecessor to 230s) and have worked brilliantly so far. New Balance has won me over from Nike. (Although my track flats are still Nike Zooms)

 

[MrCraphead]

I've been told New Balance shoes are AMAZINGLY comfortable, but I haven't had first hand experience. Sounds like a good choice though.

 

[murphy55d]

<< Saucony still around. You'll have to look at bit harder. That's all I buy now. Nice well constructed shoes that look almost normal.

Nike! If I wanted foot wear that looks like it should be worn on the space shuttle I'll become an astronaut. >>



My shoes look perfectly normal. Very tough to beat the comfort level of them too. You'd be surprised how much of a difference there is between regular ones and the Air Max ones. Very noticable.