Purchasing the right running shoes for you is very important for obtaining the best results. The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo is a lightweight version of the brand’s popular Pegasus running shoe. Its headline feature is the ZoomX foam, which first featured in Nike’s revolutionary VaporFly 4% shoe and was used later in the VaporFly Elite. The tech originally emerged as part of Nike’s Breaking2 initiative, which targeted – and came within 25 seconds of – a sub two-hour marathon. Both of those models were really hard to come by for consumers, but now the tech is trickling down to more mainstream running shoes, designed to be worn every day.
The adiZero Boston can work very well for runners looking for an introductory minimalist shoe – lighter than average, but with a fairly normal heel-toe drop. Some reviewers claimed the shoe is narrower than average (especially in the toebox) so if you have wider feet it may not work out for you. My feet are about average width and I didn’t experience any discomfort putting hundreds of miles on them. The shape of every shoe varies, especially between manufacturers, so it can be helpful to experiment with those that fit your foot best. I’m usually most comfortable in Adidas and ASICS but sometimes struggle to find Saucony’s and Nike’s that are comfortable.
The Brooks Launch 6 is not the fastest, lightest or most cushioned shoe out there. However, it is a brilliant Goldilocks shoe, offering a balance of speed, weight and cushioning that makes it a reliable pick for all kinds of training and racing. On top of that, it’s renowned for its durability, which should be extended even further in this sixth edition thanks to some extra foam under the forefoot. It also costs less than 100. A lot of runners will balk at the idea of spending 100+ apiece on two or three pairs of shoes for the perfect set-up for different training runs and races. The good news is you don’t have to; a pair of Brooks Launch gets the job done every time you pull them on.
Brooks is known for its exceptionally comfortable running shoes, especially on the more stable end of the spectrum. The Glycerin 16s are a notable standout here, so we’d be remiss not to mention it, even though there’s no award, per se. Like the lighter PureFlow 7, it uses a good deal of padding in the collar, except there’s even more in this shoe. On top of that, it uses a thick, highly padded tongue to envelop the top of the foot in excellent cushioning too. The sock liner it uses is somehow even silkier and comfortable than its speedy cousin. For landing comfort, it’s one of the best scorers, using a thick slab of DNA Loft cushioning. It’s worth keeping in mind that these are heavier shoes meant to stabilize your gait, so they’re a bit more restrictive than other models. They’re also a bit clunky for that reason. Despite their mass, they tend to break down sooner than is ideal, but that can be expected from shoes with lots of stabilizing features and cushioning. Those who are looking for a protective shoe that will keep their gait straight and feet enveloped in pillowy goodness will get the most out of these running shoes.
The ASICS Kayano 25 running shoe is custom-built for endurance, so whether you’re heading into competition or a long training run, this training shoe will keep you feeling strong all the way to collapsing in a heap at the finish line. Protection and stability are the name of the game here. The company’s FlyteFoam Lyte tech promises shock absorption, while the medial support system and metaclutch cradle hold the heel in place. There’s a redesigned, two-layer Jacquard mesh upper, and a more spacious toe box to protect your feet on those gruelling endurance runs. As always, ASICS offers a number of attractive colour options to keep you on fleek and unique during the slog (the white/blue variant is particularly attractive). However, all of that support does come at a cost. At 325g it’s a little on the heavy side compared to some of the running shoes in our list. If you’re looking for a little more responsiveness and flexibility, you might want to try the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 20. Read more info at https://info4runners.com/new-balance-993/.