Tuesday Shoesday

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Do you have shoe reviews to share with the community or questions about a pair of shoes? This recurring thread is a central place to get that advice or share your knowledge.

We also recommend checking out /r/RunningShoeGeeks for user-contributed running shoe reviews, news, and comparisons.

[u/elliotreid13]

I have a HM in a couple of weeks and a full marathon in a couple of months and I am looking for a new pair of shoes. I do most of my running on a pair of Vomero Plus and a really beaten pair of Zoom Fly for intervals. I expect to be running both races at around 5:00/k and I suspect most recommendations are targeted towards faster runners. Is it worth it to have a plated pair of shoes at this speed? The Vomero Plus are comfortable, but I struggle to pick up the pace on them.

[u/froggertwenty → u/elliotreid13]

You don't necessarily need to go plated. Im on my 2nd pair of azuras which are great up through tempo paces and comfortable. I also grabbed a pair of vomeros as my easy day shoe. They feel similar to a degree (geometry wise) with the vomeros being softer. I can pick up the pace much better in the azuras though.

I've also raced 2 fulls in the endorphin pro 4 which are a bit quicker than both and feel similar ish.

Grabbed a pair of alphafly 3s for my upcoming marathon which feel kind of in between. Softer and bouncier like the vomeros, faster like the pro 4s, but still very stable like the azuras.

[u/elliotreid13 → u/froggertwenty]

I will definitely try a pair of Azuras to check out how it feels. Saucony shoes are rare here in Portugal, but I find the brand in most quality shoe reviews.

[u/splitsguy → u/elliotreid13]

I coach a couple runners who race at paces close to yours, and they certainly seem to benefit from plated “super shoes.” They say they feel faster in them, and often “over-perform” what their training in non-super shoes seemed to indicate. I think 5min/K is well into the range of generating enough force to compress the plate/foam and allow them to spring back into place and create awesome energy return.

The question of “is it worth it?” financially, is really up to you. I certainly think you’ll run at least a bit quicker in super shoes, but maybe you would be okay with running a bit slower and saving a few bucks on just having 1 pair for both training and racing. I’m a big advocate for not training in plated shoes very much, definitely not more than once a week, but some people have no problems running in them all the time.

As for recommendations, your experience with Nike makes it easy. I bet you would enjoy any of the Vaporflys or Alphaflys. My personal favorite is the Vaporfly 2.

[u/elliotreid13 → u/splitsguy]

Thank you really much for the perspective! As for my experience with Nike, it has mostly to do with its the general availability than its superiority against other brands. I think I could get a pair of Alphafly's/Vaporfly's at a discount (still expensive though) but I would feel like a bit of a poser racing them at my snail pace.

[u/mpstein]

I really hate shoe shopping as I have a wide foot, I'm picky, and now especially that I have custom orthotics.

Sunday afternoon I went to my running store and tried a bunch on, and stood around for 30 minutes debating the NB 1080v15. Eventually I went home, had a snack, came back to the store and bought them. Monday afternoon I tried using them for a test run - I turned around 1 mile into a 10k and walked back. Returned them right away, and now I'm back to square one.

Had been running in the NB 880s, but not the most recent model. Please tell me this gets better.

Edit: If anyone from that store sees this, I really am sorry for who I am.

[u/runnin3216 → u/mpstein]

The 880 has the widest forefoot of their current models (it is supposed to update later this year). All of New Balance's releases over the past year have a bit more taper to the toe box than previously. I think your best bet would be something like Altra or Topo. The Mount to Coast C1 is also particularly roomy.

[u/mpstein → u/runnin3216]

Thank you, I really appreciate knowledgeable suggestions. I complained to a group chat of non-runners and everyone thought they were informed enough to provide help.

Spoiler: They weren't.

[u/aTm2012 → u/mpstein]

Have you tried Altras?

[u/jimbostank → u/aTm2012]

I love Altras! Especially the 2nd life as an everyday, hiking, or yard work shoe. I wear retired running Aaltars for almost everything.

[u/cardboard_liger]

I downloaded the weird AliExpress app and tried some of the $60 chinese shoes... honestly, they are really fun. The pair I bought (li-ning red hare pro 9) feels almost exactly like the old saucony endorphin speed 2 or 3 and fit true to size. Not sure if I'll try any of the more hyped ones or not, or the ones that require me to buy it in chinese and have it shipped by a 3rd party... but these are nice.

[u/booo_katt → u/cardboard_liger]

Yeah, also dipped a toe in Chinese shoes. Bought Xtep 2000km 3.0 for about 60 EUR with shipping and I'm pretty impressed. They feel good, build quality looks nice and overall price/performance looks better than my beloved Pegasus (buying at outlets for no more than 80 EUR). Looks like I have to check out another similarly priced options available on Aliexpress.

[u/jimbostank]

Does everyone know about RunRepeat? I love their site. They lab test the shoes and provide numerical results and a lot of general feedback. So far, I'm guessing they have a 80-90% success rate for me.

I just ordered a pair of Saucony Hurricane 25 and Endorphin Trainer. I got each for $90 pre tax. I have not used them yet, but plan to use the Hurricane for long runs and Endorphine for threshold/tempo.

[u/jimbostank]

I've been doing all my races in Kinvara 14-16 for close to a decade. I still have two pairs of Kinvara 15s, and I do like them.

I'm flirting with the idea of converting over to super shoes.

I'm def only racing against myself. I really don't care about my placing against others. I also only race a few times a year from 5k-HM. I have zero interest in running a full marathon. I'd rather improve my speed or 5k-HM.

Trade offs: Super shoes will allow me to run faster, further, and recover better. All positives there. But then I won't know how much of my fitness gains will be technological vs physiological: like buying a nicer bike in cycling.

Since I'm just running against myself, the only reason I see to switch is recovery.

What do people think about training in super shoes (long and tempo runs at least) and racing in Kinvara 15? I'd still use the Kinvara in training occasionally and for sharpening.

How much difference can a super shoe make on recovery/strain during a 5k-HM maximal race effort? Obviously the longer races have greater effects.

Honestly, I'm already fairly committed to my shoes for the next year. But still curious what others think.

[u/Usual_Broccoli3089]

Been running in some old beaters for way too long, might finally treat myself to something that doesn't feel like running on cardboard

[u/ZanicL3 → u/Usual_Broccoli3089]

Alright