Running Shoes - A Beginner’s Perspective
As a hyper-fixated individual who has now consumed plenty of running shoe content and have tried well over a dozen shoes as a "new" runner, here are the highlights of my rapidly growing collection.
Strike MVMNT - HAZE trainer
A great cross training shoe, the stand out feature is the grip, holy moly does this thing have a sticky sole. Everything else it is just a great all around shoe, not the best at running, lifting or walking, but is a great throwback to some of the early do it all crossfit shoes. It features a 4mm drop and a basic slim slab of EVA. I don’t like going further than a mile in this shoe but it tackles some 400m intervals during a workout with no issues.
Nike Pegasus 39
The shoe I bought when I bought my treadmill. I knew nothing about running shoes. Used it for a year and never really loved it. It spawned the mindset of "great I'm running today, might as well wear the Pegasus..."
Hoka Mach 5
My first “real” running shoe, lower to the ground, 5mm drop, felt most natural against an unknown pair of Topo and Saucony at the running store. I went in knowing nothing and came out happy with this shoe. After a few weeks of running in it, I went back in for something with more cushion, thinking that the Mach may not be the shoe for me to run a half marathon in.
Hoka Clifton 9
Here's my long run comfort shoe. Nothing fancy, just a slab of EVA, 5mm drop, Hoka's meta rocker geometry is still the best I've found for me. It feels natural, fit is good but the downside is there isn't anything really exciting about the foam under foot.
Brooks Ghost 15
I ended up sending these back, foam was too stiff for me and I did not like the bottom geometry and higher drop. Felt like I was unnecessarily slapping my forefoot against the pavement because the bottom is pretty flat. Fit was good, true to size and there are some sweet colorways, wish they would lower the drop and I would probably get along really well with this shoe.
Brooks Glycerin 21
Similar story to the Ghost, I sent these back as well. Foam was better than the Ghost and there is a big slab of it, but something about the bottom geometry of the shoe put my ankle in an un-natrual position for me while walking/running, almost forcing an overpronation, weird but I could tell right away it was not for me.
Asics Gel Nimbus 26
First thought, right shoe caused me to under-pronate, left shoe didn't have that issue. second thought, HEAVY. This is a very plush daily trainer but is also an expensive one at that, not sure the 26 is deserving of the price tag in my opinion.
Asics Superblast
A nicer, more neutral shoe for me than the gel nimbus, lighter, sick colorway and the FF Turbo combined with the FF Blast+ reminds me of the dual density of the Mach 5, but with a load more foam for much longer runs. FF Turbo is bouncier than the profly+ in the Mach for sure. Fit is longer than every other shoe I've tried so far, not in a bad way though. This gives me more room in the toe box and still can get a tight enough fit, with no heel slippage. I might try a half size down if I was going to get them again. Unfortunately you are almost paying super shoe price for these, that is the only downside I've found so far. I am reaching for these shoes more and more on long run day.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
I tried these on while looking for a faster shoe. The Mach 5 is pretty fast but also has a lot of squish with a little bit of bottoming out where you can really start to feel the EVA. It really isn't something I would want to sprint flat out in.
The Speed 4 is just ever so slightly narrow in the toe box, on toe off my left pinky toe splays out a bit and would like some more space. The PWRRUNPB foam and nylon plate give you a shoe that just wants to run fast, I like the way this feels and is my first shoe with any sort of plate in it.
Compared against the Mach X i just knew that shoe would be too heavy for me, hopefully Hoka can lighten up the next generation because I am becoming a Hoka fanboy. I didn’t even get a chance to run in the Endorphin Speed 4. Just wearing them around the house they had a strong pressure point on the underside of the front of my right foot. Enough that I knew I shouldn’t go put serious miles on them. Disappointing because I liked the underfoot feel other than that.
