I am curious about everyone’s perceptions of running shoe brands. I know that I have ‘stereotypes’ about certain brands of shoes. So, tell me what do you think of when you think of these brands, and what do you run in and why.
Nike-
Asics-
Mizuno-
Brooks-
New Balance-
Reebok-
Saucony-
Adidas-
(let’s leave Newtons out for now - I want to talk about big brands)
Nike: highschoolers wear them, only make 2 or 3 good shoes…good spikes
Asics: Nice fit, wears out fast
Mizuno: Female swim team girls wear them
Brooks: The best, st racers are sweet
New Balance: Makes a few nice shoes,
Reebok: Who the hell wears those??? Basketball players???
Saucony: Last forever, used more by triathletes than runners
Adidas: like nike, but getting better. Spikes are not so good
I am curious about everyone’s perceptions of running shoe brands. I know that I have ‘stereotypes’ about certain brands of shoes. So, tell me what do you think of when you think of these brands, and what do you run in and why.
Nike- narrow; gimmick marketing
Asics- lightweight in general; wide variety of models; universal fit
Mizuno- wear out fast; good cushy shoe for heel strikers
Brooks- good fit for women; wide variety of shoes
New Balance- very wide variety; most “overbuilt”; great for wide feet
Reebok- limited “high end” shoes; best for casual or walkers
Saucony- good shoe research; follow current “trends”
Adidas- very light and minimal in current iterations; good marketing
(let’s leave Newtons out for now - I want to talk about big brands)
Nike- child labor
Asics- good overall product
Mizuno- cleats
Brooks- ok
New Balance- too many confusion number models, use to be “the brand”
Reebok- black or white 80s sneakers
Saucony- dont like the name
Adidas- soccer baby!!!
I use asics because they have several options I like for people with wide feet. 
peace
Nike- gimmicky, mostly worn by people trying to be hip
Asics- Nicely built shoes that don’t come in my size
Mizuno- Nicely built shoes that don’t come in my size
Brooks- Nicely built shoes that don’t come in my size
New Balance- the holy grail of fat feeted people everywhere
Reebok- do they make serious running shoes?
Saucony- Nicely built shoes that don’t come in my size
Adidas- Seems to be mostly focused on the “retro” style market right now, used to make great shoes.
***I am curious about everyone’s perceptions of running shoe brands. I know that I have ‘stereotypes’ about certain brands of shoes. So, tell me what do you think of when you think of these brands, and what do you run in and why. ***
Perhaps you could speak to specific models. I owned specialty running stores from 1998 to 2004 and can tell you that if you just want to talk about the “big brands” then your discussion begins and ends with nike. Industry stats will show you that nike sells more “running shoes” than all the other companies you have listed combined.
If you’re speaking of the 420ish or so specialty running stores in the US then asics is the #1 selling brand, although when you delineate by category Brooks and NB do very well in motion control, Saucony does well in women’s, asics and Mizuno tend to dominate the lightweight training category, adidas and nike absolutely own track & field/cross country spike business etc.
My perception is that every shoe is a good shoe FOR SOMEONE. The real question is what type of foot do you have, what sort of running do you do, on what type of surfaces, and what are your biomechanical needs?
Here are my thoughts… I didn’t really want to influence anyone by posting this right off the bat.
Nike- got injured running in them in HS. shoes for people who just got into running and don’t know better. fall apart fast.
Asics- don’t really have a perception of these - i just run in them. they come really small, which is a requirement and seem to hold up well.
Mizuno- a brand for real runners. lightweight. fast.
Brooks- a little overbuilt but decent
New Balance- i think someone else said overbuilt - which i agree with. i think of old people wearing the gray ones. somewhat orthopedic, although i know in the back of my mind that they really must make decent shoes. i just think of old people though.
Reebok- shoes for walkers (and by walkers i don’t mean me or other people with my last name)
Saucony- good but wide.
Adidas- i think of spikes and track
I am curious about everyone’s perceptions of running shoe brands. I know that I have ‘stereotypes’ about certain brands of shoes. So, tell me what do you think of when you think of these brands, and what do you run in and why.
Nike- Style over function
Asics- HS XC shoes, light, cheaper
Mizuno- light, good fitting, average overall
Brooks- don’t know much about them
New Balance- Old person and all black referee shoes
Reebok- JV basketball
Saucony- Sharp looking, good trainers
Adidas- Casual, moving to more functional
Mental toughness is to physical as 4 is to 1. Tri_Chiro
I am not interested in finding a shoe for me, etc. I am interested purely in the perceptions that are tied to certain brands…
I don’t doubt that I could get a Reebok that worked for me… but I won’t because I have a very negative perception of their brand for no real legit reason.
Man why all the hate on Reebok? Big Peter Reid wore then, I’d say he’s more than a casual walker/ JV BBall player
Ehh…I wear asics.
Nike-sweatshops, marketing, non-runners who want to be runners, Steve Prefontaine
Asics-skinny college guys who come home to win the local 5K wear them
Mizuno-I wear them - I think of them as clunky chunky supportive old standbys
Brooks-rich people and yuppies from NYC wear them
New Balance-cool-looking walking around shoes, not for running
Reebok-1980s/90s ladies aerobics class, really under-designed
Saucony-Wore them for about a year…for me really spongey, soft, wore out quickly
Adidas-burly guys who run on cedar paths and wear cotton shirts with the sleeves cut off
.
Nike- Not a performance running brand
Asics- The benchmark for all other running brands
Mizuno- Good but inconsistent
Brooks- Closest to ASICS
New Balance- Have lost their vision
Reebok- Adequate and very inconsistent
Saucony- Like Brooks but with a limited fit range
Adidas- Redefining their focus and getting better
Puma- Quietly sneaking up with some good product
.
Nike- all marketing. quality is medicore.
Asics- very good quality…the vast majority of the 10,000 or so miles I’ve run in my life have been in Asics.
Mizuno- also very good, a bit more cushioning and lightweight.
Brooks- No experience
New Balance- well made, but clunky and heavy. The width options are nice for people with extra wide or narrow feet.
Reebok- they make running shoes?
Saucony- no experience
Adidas- cool looking, but never tried a pair. Similar to Nike in that they seem more interested in style than quality.
There are other brands besides New Balance and Red Wings? Hmmm, I wasn’t aware.
New Balance-Made in America-but their materials may come from somewhere else.
Nike-Michael Jordan, Michael Vick…enough said. I won’t EVER buy a product of theirs.
Bernie
The only people who were Nike are either Kenyan’s running a 2:10 in Nike flats or wannabes
.
Nike- Fashion and fad over function. But, the Bowerman series shoes seem good. Air Pegasus used to be my go to shoe. Vick and pit bulls.
Asics- My shoes. The only brand that consistently works for me, every time. Kinda ugly.
Mizuno- Baseball cleats.
Brooks- Injury. Bad fit. Kept me from running for almost a month when I tried a pair this spring. But, strangely, also good shoes… if they fit you.
New Balance- Haven’t worn a pair in a decade. Unappealing.
Reebok- Aerobic hotties in leotards with leg warmers. My 6th grade gym coach. She was purrrty, even my dad thought so.
Saucony- Good shoes. Second to Asics. I likes them, just not as much as Asics.
Adidas- Wish I was cool as Beckham. Soccer. Uber-German.
I hate buying new running shoes. But I love wearing new running shoes. A paradox.
This is a good topic. Interesting responses so far.
Nike- More concerned with looking good, not as practical
Asics- best fit for me. Not trendy either. Small concerns about quality and how long they last. I will wear these for the foreseeable future.
Mizuno- Never worn them or tried them on. A few guys on my college baseball team had spikes from them and they were all falling apart.
Brooks- People buy these shoes when they want people to think they are a great runner
New Balance- great for fat people. I wore them for a few years. Last a long time, but just didn’t like them.
Reebok- will never buy them because of Allen Iverson. This is just practice right?
Saucony- See brooks. Bought a pair to make people think I was cool, just never felt good. They only have~75 miles on them.
Adidas- Trendy and similar to Nike, but not as much. Too many euro trash wanna be-soccer players wearing frickin sambas for me to ever wear them. I do like their sandles though.
Nike- I bought a pair of Nike shoes a couple weeks ago and they were wicked bouncy at first, now they feel worn out. That said, the Nike store is one of my favorite places on Cottage Street.
Asics- me likey!!!
Mizuno- I wore these when I was running pretty high mileage in high school, and liked the Wave Nirvanas.
Brooks- never worn any of their shoes
New Balance- made in the town I grew up in and they have an outlet store there too. Some of their clothes are cool but I’ve never found any of their shoes that fit.
Reebok- sponors Zap fitness so Judson is always wearing reebok stuff. he has a pair of bright red reeboks but I think he wears through them pretty fast. but he likes them… I’ve never worn their shoes, my mom likes them for walking.
Saucony- I still can’t figure out how to pronounce that. sock-ony? sauce-ony?
Adidas- soccer!!!
I can’t remember how long they lasted.Nike- Shox HAHAHHAHAH, just crap, crap for people with narrow feet.
Asics- Tip Top great shoes, consistant and constantly upgrading without too much change, more concerned with function than fashion, most of their shoes are ugly as can be.
Mizuno- Unknown to most, just picked up my first pair and I gotta say I like them, great rebound and generous fit for my wide feet.
Brooks- Trail shoes, rear platform was too high, Cascadia model also the shoe just wasnt flexible the rock plates didnt help either.
New Balance- Who does’nt love technlogy from the 70’s, the only advancements I have seen from these guys is there new nifty locking laces.
Reebok- They are still making the PUMP! not a fan of these either.
Saucony- Never worn, my girlfriend wears them and likes them though.
Adidas- Too narrow and and more fashion than function.