What’s the Best Running/Walking Shoe?
Social Media Forum:
Person 1 - “What’s the best running/walking shoe?”
Responses to this person - “I have Brooks” “I hate Hoka, but I love Nike” “I run in the Gel Nimbus from ASICS” “Try Altra”
Person 1 - confused and overwhelmed by the options, not knowing what is actually best for them.
That question is hard to answer, even for me. I get asked all the time, “Out of all the shoes in this store, what is the best running shoe?”
I physically cannot answer that question. My follow-up questions: “Best shoe for the elite marathon runner?” “Best shoe for speed days or long run days?” “Are they 6’9” and 300 lbs?” “Are they in their 70s?” “Are you primarily walking in these or running?” “Do you overpronate?” “Do you have issues with your balance?”
Just a few questions…
The original question is near impossible to answer because, quite frankly, it depends.
There is nuance to it all.
Every foot is different, and every shoe is different. Just because one person loves the Brooks brand does not mean that is the perfect, end-all-be-all brand. Just because one person hates Hoka does not mean that every Hoka shoe is bad. Just because you tried a certain brand does not mean you hate the entire brand. Maybe you didn’t like that specific model within the brand.
What’s the best running/walking shoe?
Well… if you’re a 300 lb male standing at 6’9”, primarily walking with no specific time goal in mind, then I will recommend you a max-cushion daily training shoe to ensure we get the longest life out of the foam: FWD Via from Altra, Bondi from Hoka, Gel Slow Cush or Nimbus from ASICS, and so many more max-cushion shoes. Even this, primarily walking, indicates that there is more time on the feet. We may shoot for a more dense foam to ensure our shoe lasts the test of time, such as a Bondi from Hoka or a Cloudsurfer Max from On. Maybe we decide on the Bondi from Hoka… do we have Achilles problems not due to overpronation? In this case, this shoe would be terrible for this person. We want to elevate the heel to relieve so much pressure from the back of the leg. In this case, the Glycerin Max from Brooks, MagMax from Puma, and more would be the most beneficial.
Even in this scenario, my recommendation may not be what’s best for them. They may love a soft shoe. That’s fine!!! Did they need a wide shoe, or does their foot have a wider forefoot area? All of a sudden, the shoes we chose are no longer the best shoes for them.
The best shoe for you is the one that works for you.
So, the answer to the best running/walking shoe is complicated. Like a middle school relationship, it’s COMPLICATED!!!
At Rhodes Run Lab, we take the shoe-fitting process very seriously.
We analyze the foot. We look to see if there is any overpronation, supination, or a subtalar joint neutral positioning on your foot with the help of our Aetrex Albert Scanner. We walk you through a step-by-step fitting process, from the softness of the shoe to the support, ensuring your shoe fits like you want it to fit and is one that guides you to your goals.
We have also created our Shoe Finder quiz on our website as well. Simply click the button below to access it. This does not replace our in-store expertise and experience. This is our most accurate way to give you the best results in an online format.
What’s the best running and walking shoe?
THE BEST SHOE FOR YOU IS THE ONE THAT WORKS FOR YOU!!!
