![]() ![]() For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove.There are a number of caveats it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000 or New Balance RC5000v2. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%.Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor.It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8.It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. ![]() The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. ![]() Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. I've found that it's a big improvement, allowing my toes to move naturally and engage for toe off, as well as reducing the possibility of blisters.) ![]() When you have some worn out shoes, you should try cutting open the toe box. (I recommend cutting open the toe box of virtually all running shoes, with the exception of a few shoes like some Altra shoes. I had to cut open the Sense Ride to prevent it squeezing my toes, even though the forefoot width was just right. The Sense Ride doesn't make any attempt to actually fit the human foot, unless of course that foot is deformed with bunions. The tread pattern has lots of small diamond shaped lugs that are about 3.6mm tall, which provides a reasonable level of traction except on slick mud. The rubber is quite sticky, providing good traction on a wide range of surfaces. There's harder rubber over the virtually all of the softer midsole foam. The lack of flexibility does provide some additional protection from "Rocky Caltrops", but it also reduces ground feel. These grooves do tend to make the forefoot want to bend along those particular lines, but I didn't notice this while running. The Sense Ride is fairly stiff, even with the three groves cut into the forefoot of the rubber outsole. For me, it feels like there is a fairly significant medial post, with both firmer foam and a higher area pushing up against the front medial area of my heel. I didn't get on with this arrangement, but I suspect a lot will depend on your running form and how your foot interacts with the inserts. The Sense Ride uses the two inserts of soft foam in a cradle of firmer foam shown above. For me, the drop is far less of a problem than the uneven cushioning, though the two interact. In practice, the feel is far less than the claimed 8mm of drop. The Sense Ride has a more drop than I'd like, but I measured it at 5mm unloaded and 3mm loaded. ![]()
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