Running Shoes — recommendations

Hoka One Bondi 8 and Hoka Cliffton user here. Plantar faciaties and back pain.
Yes, their sole is thicker. How else would you get a cushion for your back and knees need without the thicker sole? Thin soles and back pain are mutially exclusive.

 

I don’t like brooks anymore. I haven’t actually liked them for the last 7-8 years but that was all I knew because there wasn’t a good running store around where I could actually go try shoes out worry free. From what I remember the Frees vs the Ghost was that the Ghost had more cousin yet you could still used them for speed work they were just a little bit more dull when it came to foot response.

Topo and Altra shoes I’ve used over the last two years are by and far more comfortable but still responsive compared to the Frees of yesteryear without going to the barefoot running route with the toes shoes like the Lorax.

 

salomon

 

Thanks, similar mechanics to me, will check these out.

I’ve had trouble finding a sole thickness somewhere between Nike Frees and everything else. It seems there isn’t much in between. Increased cushion is great, but too high of a sole especially in the heel does have some drawbacks for me personally.

Copy…yeah I do sprints in certain workouts and maybe I’d keep the Frees for those. You put words on it that I couldn’t. The responsiveness of a lower profile shoe.

I’m not familiar with those two brands you mentioned at the end but look forward to some reading about them.

 

I have noticed that prices on Hokas almost doubled in the last 2 weeks. And selection is down. Two weeks ago I got a pair of Clifton's for $90. They are $193 now. Hokas are made in Vietnam.
I do not know about eh other brands, but it seems that our recent "relationships" with SE Asia are affecting Hoka supplies.

 

Hopefully that impact eases off… the initial high tariff increase on Vietnam was reduced to 10% as with many other countries, to provide space to make trade deals. So maybe just a transitory price and inventory impact. About half of Nikes are made there too, lots of clothing and shoe manufacture there as everyone knows

 

For sprints and metcon styled workouts/rucks I use Flux footwear runners. Wide toebox, light, breathable and comfortable. Used to run in them leading up to my Hoka switchover! Worth a look - I've designated the Hoka Mach 6's for mileage and the Flux's for everyday use/workouts/weighted rucks of all kinds other than straight up running mileage.

 

The ONLY place Nike wins out is in racing shoes specifically, like track spikes or road racers. But neither of those are suitable for everyday training/mileage in general.

 

I used to wear Brooks a lot, but slowed down my running after having some recurring back issues (I don't blame the shoes, FWIW). Switched up to minimalist wide toe box shoes and running in Altras with a zero drop and have never looked back. EVERYONE'S BODY IS DIFFERENT though so your mileage will certainly vary.

I would typically run shorter and higher intensity versus longer distance. I run at the local school's track when I can and that's been way more enjoyable versus pavement. I'm by no means an expert, just sharing what has worked for me.

 

Rubberized track?

 

Yes in the summer they just leave the gate open and anyone who wants to run there, seemingly, does. I liked it when I was first coming back to running after about a year off; heavy impact I would feel it right in my back where I had issues. The track coupled with an older set of Asics allowed me to get back to running while not aggravating anything more. Change of technique, other strengthening and stability exercises, etc. and for about the past nine months I've just done shorter work on the road. I still don't RUN in the minimalist shoes unless I'm out playing in the yard with my son or daughter, but the zero drop Altras are my favorite for basically everything including 3mi runs or so (far cry from the 10k you mentioned in your original post).

 

Rubber tracks are so wonderful for decreasing the impact to the feet ankles and knees! Many years ago when I was training for my entry to the Marines, all my runs were on a local school’s rubberized track where I lived at the time. Miss that a little bit, although for the longer runs I can’t handle circles (ovals) for that long, I have to feel like I’m going somewhere lol

 

I get it, back in college there was an indoor track that was about 30+ laps for ONE MILE. JFC the boredom. No wonder the treadmills were all filled, ain't nobody want to deal with that nonsense.

I love actual tracks. And if you have some of those super cushioned shoes it's gotta be like a cloud.

 

I had the Hoka Clifton 8’s and loved them. Once those wore out I got the Clifton 9’s and I have 120 miles on them so far; also love them. I’ll be getting the Clifton 10’s when my 9’s wear out.

But, like others have said, it’s a very personal choice.

 

You might like them then. I have wide and kinda flat feet. They run tight in the toe box and or arch depending on style. The older ghost 15's fit me the best. I find the newer styles are narrower.

 

Well, planning on checking them out. Apparently there’s a decent store about 45 mins away, going to try to get up there this weekend and see what they have from the recommendations in this thread.

 

This is the best response. Everyone's body and gait is so unique... go to a local running store and talk to the staff there. Plus - supporting a locally owned business is cool.

 

Only altra(timp/lone peak),Salomon or topo trail on these feet.

 

The type of store you’re talking about where gait analysis is performed does not exist local to me.

I think all or most of these are trail shoes, any of these or others specifically you’d recommend for road running comfortably? I live about fifteen feet above sea level, no trails here…well, none that merit specialized shoes.

 

I love running tarmac on trail shoes. For road I use the Salomon S/LAB phantasm 2 CF. And yes the most important thing is gait analysis.