Running Shoes/Inserts
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And after more years of running/biking, Nike Frees for sure- those or the Reebok Reflex? shoes- anything that lets your foot really move like nature meant it to move. Vibram Five Fingers if you can handle them and aren't running on concrete or some other pavement.
Yup, spamarama. And still rockin' Nike Frees. Wife uses Five Fingers.
I know this is old but J hit on the ideal combination for most serious runners.
Brooks shoes
Superfeet Inserts
If you're going minimalist
New Balance Minimus
Vibram any model
Inov8 most models (also a trail running shoe)
Brooks shoes
Superfeet Inserts
If you're going minimalist
New Balance Minimus
Vibram any model
Inov8 most models (also a trail running shoe)
Great thread - I have recently gotten into long distance running myself. I'll admit that I don't know jack shit about running shoes but I went to my local VA Runner and the salesman recommended the Saucony's Hurricane 15 model. I tried on several other pairs of NB, Nike, and Asics and ran around for a few minutes but personally the Saucony's were the most comfortable and lightest. Overall I have been satisfied with my purchase and have clocked over 300 miles so far with no problems. Also - they've definitely helped with my knee problems. Running for long periods of time with cheap Nike shoes and then running with these Saucony's is like night and day!
I actually have some Saucony Kinvara that I like for tempo runs. I've had them a while and they hold up really well.
Only issue I have with the light shoe is coming down steep hills its like your fillings are going to fall out if you don't adjust your stride, or you go slow as hell. Nothing like a brooks or asics gel kayano.
Only issue I have with the light shoe is coming down steep hills its like your fillings are going to fall out if you don't adjust your stride, or you go slow as hell. Nothing like a brooks or asics gel kayano.
I run 4-8 miles (trail) 2-3 times a week. usual pace is 10 min/mi, but its pretty unfair to compare that to someone who's only running flat pavement. trail is more difficult, especially when the trails involve a lot of steep hills and uneven/muddy ground. this shit i usually run on, you HAVE to slow down, or youre going to slip and fall, or tumble down a long hill, or land on a rock, or faceplant into a stream lol. i dont run pavement at all anymore, but my pace is about (or was) 9:30ish. if youre running on a treadmill you will be faster still as the treadmill does a little work for you. take someone who only runs pavement or treadmill, and they will fall on their face (either literally or figuratively) when put on a trail with hills and uneven ground. but thats kind of my philosophy, Id rather do something more dynamic and well rounded, than have every step be exactly the same.
speed:
treadmill>pavement>trails
level of boring:
treadmill>pavement>trails
so I use the Nike Free's with no special inserts. Its a good lightweight semi minimalist shoe. they are more geared towards pavement, but i use them for trails too. I want to get a set of actual trail shoes, but at the same time, I like the fact that I'm building a lot of the stability muscles in my legs by using a less supportive shoe.
speed:
treadmill>pavement>trails
level of boring:
treadmill>pavement>trails
so I use the Nike Free's with no special inserts. Its a good lightweight semi minimalist shoe. they are more geared towards pavement, but i use them for trails too. I want to get a set of actual trail shoes, but at the same time, I like the fact that I'm building a lot of the stability muscles in my legs by using a less supportive shoe.
Be careful not to twist an ankle with the height of those soles and the flexibility they give.
Like I mentioned in the prior post, for your application; NB Minimus or Inov8 are hard to beat. The only other shoe that is really up there for a trail shoe is a Merrell.
http://www.theclymb.com/ tends to run really good sales, especially on the Inov8's.
Looks like you can get into a ton of Merrells or Vivobarefoot's for less than $60-$70 right now on there.
http://www.theclymb.com/all/3827/men-s-365-men-s-running-footwear
I run light years faster on pavement than a treadmill.
I have a couple pairs of nike free 4.0's. Like them quite a bit.
I think I've had pretty much every revision of the Frees from when they were still called Kukinis.
But my most frequently used pair is a set of 4.0s that's just starting to wear through after 4+ years of daily abuse.My feet actually feel much better in the minimalist shoes on uneven surfaces than "normal" running shoes.
Yeah I feel fine in these. I know I've built up a lot of the stability muscles in my legs so I'm less prone to tripping or twisting an ankle. I've lightly rolled it a few times but nothing I couldn't walk off and get right back to it. I almost never trip anymore. Partly because I'm used to these trails and because I'm aware of my capabilities and pickup my feet around very uneven terrain and make very careful foot placement. And I don't book it down hills screaming YOLO without paying attention. Lol.
My brother runs with me almost every time. He loves to wear the super minimalist shoes with basically zero sole or support. The only complaint he has about it is stepping on pointy rocks that poke his feet lol. Otherwise he feels like he has more control.
My brother runs with me almost every time. He loves to wear the super minimalist shoes with basically zero sole or support. The only complaint he has about it is stepping on pointy rocks that poke his feet lol. Otherwise he feels like he has more control.
I think I've had pretty much every revision of the Frees from when they were still called Kukinis.
My feet actually feel much better in the minimalist shoes on uneven surfaces than "normal" running shoes.
Not sure it you were intending to support or go against my point but what you said is what I meant. A Nike Free isn't a minimalist show. The sole height is pretty tall and squishy. I was warning him to be careful because that's much easier to roll an ankle.
Contrast that with a minimalist shoe that doesn't have the squishy give and you're much better off. That's why people use them.
Oh, trying to agree with your point. The barefoot running sites I've read through tend to endorse the Free and its imitators as good shoes, so I cluster them in with minimalist shoes even though they're not quite as minimalist as a pair of Five Fingers. They're still closer to your definition of minimalist because of the flexibility as opposed to a pair of something like an Air Max or another monster wedge running shoe.
I understand your comments 100% though.
Gotcha.
I guess I've just become a minimalist elitist.
I too have shoes very similar to Nike Frees. I have the Reebok Reelflex. I bought them as a minimalist shoe but now they sit in my closet, unused except for yard work or maybe a mud run, because I found the Inov8's and Reebok Nano 2.0's that fit my needs much much better.
I would load up 300lbs+ to squat and it would feel like I was squatting on a tennis ball with the amount of the give the reelflexes had - they also had no lateral support so they would go "squish" and then sort of shove your foot to the left or right, making it real easy to roll an ankle or do MCL damage.
I get upset, looking back now, because I could have bought better shoes for less money. That's one of those things that just irks me.
Elitist.
Yeah, squishy + squats = bad always.
My Reebok Flexes feel ok, but the roll surface is a little weird- and I hate shoes that don't have the tongue in a sock configuration or anchor them somehow so they don't roll to the side of the shoe. Good thing I got them on a clearance deal. They're good daily wear shoes, but I still prefer my Frees.
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