I'm really enjoying my current daily trainers (Tempo Next%). I am a heavier runner, several stone overweight, so I will probably wear them out sooner than most people.
So, I've been looking at getting another pair, and I see the women's shoes are often on sale quite a lot cheaper.
I take a EUR 44 in this shoe, and I'm thinking if I buy a ladies pair that is EUR 44 it should fit.
Is this reasonable? I'm wondering if other people cross shop the genders and what has been their experience?
I’m far from an expert in this but, depending on the brand, you might find the ladies shoes have a different fit. I run in Altras and they, for sure, have a different shape for women’s shoes as our fit tend to differ in shape. I would personally recommend getting fitted at a proper running shop if you can and getting a gait analysis to make sure you get the right pair.
But having a second pair to rotate in and out is often recommended to give your feet a break and to mix it up for your muscles.
Thank you for the suggestions - much appreciated!
I have a number of different running shoes, and seem to have a neutral running gait - as their soles don't wear down strongly in any particular area, although lately I have been favouring Nike shoes, and my two pairs of Vomero 16, and these Tempo Next % have hardly any wear showing so far at 250 km on the Vomeros and 160 km on the Tempos.
I think women do sometimes buy mens trainers and vice versa, and IIRC a shoetuber (Ed Budd) found a datasheet in the box with a pair of Nike shoes showing a straight mapping between the gendered shoes - just at different declared sizes.
That’s interesting. I know it’s different across different brands. I’ve run in Asics (which I hated) and Altras which I love. So I can only comment from my experience.
Sounds like you’ve done some robust research. Maybe you could order some online from a store with a good returns policy (even better if you can try them on a run) or maybe try in-store to see.
And sounds like your shoes are doing well too. I hear the midsole often goes first but if they’re holding up then that’s great news. (I was totally distracted in a meeting today noticing that my Nike trainers were totalled - never even looked before I spotted that today - big creases in the midsole).
I've tried various Reebok, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, and Nike shoes, and find I really like Nike Zoom X foam (which I've tried in Vomero, Invincible, Tempo, Vaporfly, and Alphafly) . Though Zoom X is notorious for creasing in the midsole due to compression, I believe Nike has worked on the formula for the Pebax foam to toughen it up.
Nike actually designs creases, as styling, into the midsoles to make the creasing that develops from compression less obvious! 😁However, looking at my Tempo Next % the only visible compression / creasing is in the heel - which is React foam, not Zoom X.
I also have several pairs of Nike Pegasus 38 / Pegasus 3 Trail shoes, but I've relegated them to use as hiking shoes as I really don't like them for running. Looking at them I again see pronounced creasing, but they are all React foam, not Zoom X.
That’s interesting. I think when you get to really know a brand it gets a lot easier to gauge both their shoes react and the differences between each model. That definitely helps in finding the right one.
If I had the Next% I think I’d break an ankle. I wear a zero drop, fairly minimal shoe myself. But I hear great things about them.
(Blooming sneaky on designing creases into the midsole! The creases on mine are definitely new though, after all the wear they’ve had. They’re most my pub shoes anyway ).
Yes the Tempo Next% stack height is 46 mm at the heel which means it is barred from competitive racing! (And it has a 10mm drop!)
The Vaporfly Next % 2 that I have are on the current limit @ 40 mm, with an 8 mm drop.
For me, I love the combination of super soft foam, and the whip of the embedded plate. Also in the Tempo and Alphafly the pushback from the Air Zoom units in the forefoot is great.
I haven't yet bought a pair of ladies' trainers. I am a, size 8 and I always seem to prefer the look & feel of the men's. Never noticed a price difference though...
That's a good point - looking at the Tempo Next%, list price is £180; cheapest I can currently see for size EU44 men's is £135 @ Keller Sports, but they also have an EU44 women's @ £98
(I have a "premium" membership @ Keller so I get 10% discount and free shipping).
The prices do move around; if I've been looking at trainers I find the adverts that appear in my browser as I'm reading the news etc show me a range of different offers, which is how I managed to get some Vaporfly half price.
Reading reviews of both women's and men's models would indicate whether there's a difference in construction. As for prices, I've not noticed that women's shoes are cheaper. However, you're going to find more discounted pairs in women's EU44 than in men's EU 44 simply because fewer women than men take a size 44.
Thanks you for those good points cmoi!
Interestingly, looking at the example I gave @ Keller, they have women's Tempo in EU44 in just one of 7 different colourways they are currently selling them in, with greater availability in smaller sizes. (Although the Teal / white which is in 44 is available in sizes from EU 35.5 to 44.5).
New Shoes and a Waffle 
Trail Running Shoes
Same shoes again?
New Shoes 👟 
