Changing shoe style advice? - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

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Changing shoe style advice?

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon
46 Replies

So I've been running in the same pair of brooks for the last 10 months .. know I'm well overdue a new pair.. 80/100 K per month.. they've certainly done me well..up until my last few runs.. I know a lot of you rotate trainers but I've not had the privilege to own any other than these ..

I've got an appointment with my local running shop on Friday... But ..they are saying Brooks are very limited..

So my question is.. can you advise another make?

I have a neutral gait, I'm naturally a size 7 but took an 8 in the brooks,

I suppose I would have good advice in-store as it's a very good running shop, but thought, I'd ask here to be prepared 🙏

Thanks 🏃‍♀️🏃🙌

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sparky66 profile image
sparky66
Half Marathon
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46 Replies
Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Marathon

If you like the style you had, can’t you order them online instead? Once you’ve been fitted, I don’t real think you need to go back to a shop if what you’ve had suit your feet?

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon in reply toTasha99

If I bought the exact same pair, then yeah.. but I'm wanting a wee change, 👟

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply tosparky66

Don’t blame you! 🙂👍

Neutral! World’s your oyster 🙂

Nike React Infinity are popular. Saucony Endorphin Speed. Hoka and New Balance have plenty to try on. Puma are putting good shoes out 🙂

Asics and Mizuno for build quality 🙂. Mizuno are higher heel offset generally. My On Cloudsurfers are beautifully made but I’d only want to do no more than 10 or so km in them as I still find them a bit firm. The Skechers Maxroad 5 interested me as a long run shoe but I couldn’t track one down 😟

If you’re trying on I’d ask for their sale stuff first up. Most of my shoes are sale bargains 😀. Last year’s models are just fine Good hunting! I hope you come away with something 😀👍

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon

I’m so excited for you sparky66 🥰

Make sure you take your old shoes to the appointment & tell them the distance you run.

I have two pairs of the same model and it’s a Swiss Army Knife shoe really. Does everything for me from fast, slow & long. I only rotate as I run every day except Sunday.

Brands I love that I would wear if I wasn’t wearing ugly foot shape shoes are Saucony & Hoka. ( Brooks make my knees hurt with the high drop but that has not been an issue for you!)

nowster profile image
nowsterMetric Marathon in reply toRunWillie

Foot shaped shoes are not ugly! Is there a pout emoji? 🤣

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon in reply tonowster

Our vibrams are beautiful 🤣 I’ve heard people refer to Altra’s as looking like duck feet.

nowster profile image
nowsterMetric Marathon in reply toRunWillie

I have a pair of Merrell Barefoot shoes and they do look a bit clown-ish. The Vivobarefoots are a little more subtle in their shape.

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon in reply tonowster

My daughter run's in barefoot and loves them, not for me 😳

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

My Altra’s are drop-dead gorgeous 🥰. See recent photo as proof 😀

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon in reply tomisswobble

Yes they’re misswobble 🥰

You’re going to be rocking those beauties!

Cmoi profile image
CmoiMarathon in reply tonowster

Here's a carefully curated selection of pouts nowster - would you prefer 🙎‍♂️ or 😡 or even 😾 ?

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon in reply toRunWillie

Thanks that's a good idea about taking my old shoes 👍

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

I don’t do high drop since shin splint days. I like anything from 8 mm to zero these days 🙂

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon in reply tomisswobble

I had no idea about drops when I moved from Saucony to Brooks. It did not go well for me. I’m 100% zero drop these days due to the desire for a wide toe box.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

I’ve got a wide forefoot but slim in the heel, so always on the lookout for the right shoe.

At the mo I’ve got saucony endorphin speed 1

Altra Torin 4

On Cloudsurfer

Nike Pegasus Shield 36

I got an old model Saucony Triumph which is way generous in the toe box but is so heavy I’ve given up on running in it.

Trail wise the Nike peg shield is really good to say it’s a road shoe. I don’t wear trail shoes unless it’s seriously muddy or madly rocky as the Nikes are fine for most jobs 🙂

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon in reply tomisswobble

Wow that's an impressive shoe collection you have there 💖Thanks for discriptions 👍

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply tosparky66

All sale jobs bar for the Ons 👍

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon in reply tomisswobble

I did C25k in Saucony triumph 🥰

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

😀. Mine weigh tons! Hate the bloody things 😁

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon in reply tomisswobble

Mine were metallic silver like moon boots 🤣

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

I got the lilac ones cheap in the sale. I bought them on the basis of loving the Kinvara and zealots. Sadly disappointed. I could feel definite ridges across the width of the shoe in the mid foot, almost like two pieces badly joined together. The weight was just too much for me. I walk in them infrequently too 😀

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

Just seen a review of Altra Rivera 2. Sounds great! Apparently could be better than the Mach 4 Onky one way to find out 😀💥💪

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon in reply tomisswobble

What review did you see on the Rivera2? I’ve got about 50miles left on my old Torin’s & I’m trying to work out whether to replace them with the Rivera 2 or wait for the Escalante 3 which is coming out in June.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

The Rivera 2 is more ground contact feel, mono mesh for summer. Less shoe than the Torin Slightly narrower in the toe box! Altra has responded to complaints about blisters from feet swimming around in too much space, so they’ve changed the last. Reviewer said it’s as good as the Mach 4. The review was posted on Demoor Global Running on Youtube yesterday. Looks a beautifully made shoe as you’d expect 🙂

Shoes on the “Orginal” last are still available but not the Rivera by the sounds of it but you’d have to check that detail. I looked for it before buying the Torin 4. I ran on the trail in the Torins yesterday as it was dry - well, dryish 🙂. I like them!

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon in reply tomisswobble

Thanks misswobble 😍

I’ll check out Seth’s review on the Rivera 2.

I’ll keep my Torin’s as my other road shoe for longer runs. I try & have two road shoes on the go as I run most days.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

I’d like a Nike react in my line-up but I’m spent up 😀. I’m not running very much at the mo to give my knee healing time so don’t need as many shoes - fast intervals are out for the time being! I don’t think I’ll ever run them again on Tarmac 😩.

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon in reply tomisswobble

Hope your knee heals soon misswobble 😍 Just watched the review. It was very helpful. I think I’ll try them. Fartleks here I come 🤣

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunWillie

Oh yeah, go for it, 👍

Seth swears by his Lone Peaks too 🙂

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon

If it's a proper running shop they will give you better, personalised advice than we could. They shouldn't be selling you anything unsuitable for you, but if you have any problems you can go right back to them.

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon in reply tolinda9389

Thanks Linda, yes it's a proper running shop and Matt the owner is fantastic.. but I just thought I'd ask some members opinions and favourites 😀

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply tosparky66

Then, ny faves are Hoka Cliftons 😊

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply tolinda9389

I was after a Clifton 7 but couldn’t find one to try on or even to buy

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply tomisswobble

They usually sell out ... very few bargains to be had ☹

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply tolinda9389

The new Mach 5 is here I believe but the 4 sold zillions. Still, the smaller and bigger sizes cd be available. Hoka reminds me of New a balance in colours and general build. Both seem less expensive than other brands.

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply tomisswobble

New balance are too narrow for me, but a wide Hola works reasonably well

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply tolinda9389

I’ve never tried one but supposedly the 1080 is pretty fat in the toes. I’ve tried on Adidas and Asics but found them narrow. Mind you my fave Kinvara got too narrow which is when we parted company. There was a trend to narrow off running shoes at a time when feet were getting wider! Maybe trying to get the weight down

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon in reply tolinda9389

Yeah I bought a pair of New Balance a couple of months ago, and while they are very comfortable,they just didn't feel good running 😳

RunBrianRun profile image
RunBrianRunHalf Marathon

It’s fair to say I have tried a good few shoes in my time. 😂 It took a while, and many times my wallet complained, but I got there in the end.

After my long search I finally settled on Nike. You won’t get them mentioned much round these parts 😅 but they have a great range and are extremely comfortable.

By the way, one observation I made whist doing my stint on the finish straight at the Brighton marathon, were the number of runners in the On shoes who had cramp. It was more than coincidence I’m sure. 🤔

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toRunBrianRun

I like Nikes. They’re well made and last! I’m hanging my nose over some sale Infinity Reacts but I just bought Altra’s so they’ll have to wait. I’ve always got a Pegasus shield in my rotation 🥰

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathon

How exciting, I love a gait analysis. I tried quite a few other brands but have gone back to Nike, because they have suited me really well over the years in general. So it sounds as though your Brooks are my Nike 😊. Is it the exact same pair you think you want? How about online? Or you may try on something totally different that is completely made for you! 😁

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon in reply toFrenc

I fancy a change Frenc, I'm too worried to buy online, can't send them back if they are no good.. after trying a run in them 😳

ForbiddenPlanet profile image
ForbiddenPlanetHalf Marathon in reply tosparky66

Not seeking to supplant any answer from Frenc - but if you buy from Nike online they have a 60 day return policy if you join their website, based upon you road testing them.

I have used their return policy myself just the once, when I bought 2 pairs of Air Zoom Tempo Next% at Christmas, as the Nike website advised going up half a size. I sent back the smaller pair as they didn't fit, and was refunded for them.

I've also been refunded by Adidas for Ultraboost I didn't like. I think it's one advantage of buying from the manufacturer direct.

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon in reply toForbiddenPlanet

AHH that's really helpful thanks, I will go have a look,thanks for this 🙏👍

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathon in reply toForbiddenPlanet

I’ve sent quite a few back to Nike - it’s so easy 😊.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toForbiddenPlanet

If you use Nike run club app you can get into the Nike store from the app. It’s got the outlet stuff in there too. Free delivery. Very quick too! 🙂

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Miles

As you say, your running shop will be best to advise. But I have been wearing Brooks Adrenaline GTS19s and 20s and also Saucony Hurricanes on a rotation basis (don’t ask!). They are all supportive shoes, but they have all been replaced by new versions which I haven’t tried. Trying them out is the only way really, and fortunately our independent running shop allows you to run up the street, and will change them within a month if they don’t feel right. Good luck.

Sorry, just spotted you are neutral. You will probably have more choice available.

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