I’m looking for good advice on new running shoes. I’m 47, 165 pounds, long-time runner, currently running up to 30 miles a week on treadmill/roads/some trails to train for HIM. I’m a moderate supinator with high arches, a high in-step and bunions. I’m often fighting off Achilles tenderness and plantar fasciitis. I tend to rub and get blisters on the inside of the balls of both feet (say 7-8 o’clockish), so I prefer shoes with no extra trim on the inner uppers on the front of the shoe (or I have to cut it off) to leave just the mesh or fabric and low outsoles with nothing jutting up (just tried Brooks Cascadia which feel great until I run and then where they molded the outsole up into the foot caused rubbing). Lately I’ve been running in Brooks Defyance (with upper trim cut away), always use arch insoles, but have tried many neutral/cushioned brands/shoes. We have a slim selection of running shoe stores here in Fairbanks so I often resort to ordering from Road Runner Sports. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
So, you need a neutral, cushion shoe with minimal upper and wide forefoot …
New Saucony Tangent 3 should fit the bill. I would think the Brooks Defyance would have worked well for you. Lastly, the NB 1062.
Sounds like my foot and I have been very happy with the Brooks Glycerin for training and the Brooks Axiom for racing.
Both readily avialable online.
G
Bill,
Maybe you have a shoe size issue. What I mean is, have you checked to be certain that the ball of your foot is in the widest part of the shoe and not too far forward? Have you tried wider shoes? It is possible that the midsole and your foot aren’t as interfaced as well as they could be…either from wearing too short a shoe or too narrow. Usually, the high instep/equine shaped foot is short (as measured on a Brannock device) heel to ball of foot. Arch length we call it. This is a different measurement compared to the toe length. So, as I think…maybe it is more likely you can improve things by going wider rather than longer. Keep in mind some brands like NB and Asics will use a wider midsole on their 4E width’s yet the 2E width uses the same midsole size as the D widths. 'Know what I mean? We have some good info on our store’s website www.the-sneaker-store.com
Thank you all for the advice. I suppose goal one is avoid injury and goal two is to avoid the hot spot/blisters beside the ball of my feet.
rroof - Yepper, neutral, cushioned, minimal upper and wide toe box. I’ll check those shoes out, although it looks like I’ll be cutting some trim off the uppers if they work. The Defyance work okay for me I guess (after cutting away trim), I’m just searching for the best shoe for me. Thanks!
gleveq - I’ve used the Glycerin, Cumulus, Landreth, Pegusus, Nimbus, Wave Rider, Wave Precision, DS Trainer, and probably more I can’t think of right now. I’m just looking for the best shoes for me and prefer not having to cut away trim. Thanks!
RK250 - Richard Karaz? Thanks for the advice and your website. I’ll double-check my Defyance to ensure the ball/widest part of my foot is properly fitted. I’ve never worn wide widths as the normal width (D’s?) seem to fit comfortably. Maybe I’ll try our local store for a Brannock measurement to ensure I shouldn’t be in a wider shoe and get their two cents on my arch length. I wish your store was closer so I could go thru the fit process with you, but 3500 miles is a bit too far. Thanks!
So, you need a neutral, cushion shoe with minimal upper and wide forefoot …
New Saucony Tangent 3 should fit the bill. I would think the Brooks Defyance would have worked well for you. Lastly, the NB 1062.
Isn’t the Tangent 3 a stability shoe? My foot sounds similar to the OP’s and I use the Saucony Progrid Triumph.
This may seem counter intuitive, but I’ve had good luck with light weight neutral trainers like the NB 826. They don’t seem to force the foot in a fixed position like heavier and stiffer shoes. I also have a high arch and tend to under pronate, but I’m a little heavier (182) and a lot older :).
+1 on the Saucony Progrid Triumph. Same feet, except for the bunions.
Yes, technically the Tangent 3 is a performance stability shoe and the NB 1022 is a neutral shoe. However, I’d wager the 1026 (for example only) has more rearfoot control than a Tangent. The Tangent (3) does have a mild midfoot bridge (as does the 1026) and a very slight increased medial foam density (i.e. posting), but not really. It is a full TWO oz lighter than the ProGrid Triumph (5) that Saucony calls their neutral (read WAY too much heel and cushion) shoe.
Thanks again everyone. I appreciate advice from others with similar mechanics and foot type; and shoe and foot experts. It slays me to read shoe review when folks hate a shoe but do not share their mechanics, foot type, weight etc. I double-checked last night and over the last 10 years have run in the Defyance, Glycerin, Hyperion, Cumulus, Nimbus, Pegusus, Wave Rider, Wave Precision and DS Trainer. I’m still seeking that “perfect” shoe to help avoid injuries and the hot spot/blisters beside the ball of my feet.
rroof - Dr Roof, thanks again, I was hoping you’d advise.
gleveq – thanks for the reminder on the Glycerin, thinking back, it seems I did pretty well in it, however as I recall the Glycerin seemed heavy and bulky, so I kept looking for something better.
RK250 – I checked the ball/widest part in my Defynance (and older shoes) and it did seem as if the widest part of my foot was maybe ½ inch back from the widest part of the shoe sole. Can you recommend a neutral shoe(s) for folks with shorter arch lengths?
rexcoltrain and fred526 – thanks for the tip on the Progrid Triumph.
bill c – thanks, I recall reading the light-weight neutral trainers might work better for folks like us. I’ll check into the NB 826 and other light-weight neutral trainers.
Thanks all!
Nike Air Max Moto–Runner’s World rates them as cushiony-est and flexible-est in their tests. I use them regularly with problems similar to yours with wide forefoot, high arches, but very narrow heels. Also, Mizuno Precisions, especially older models like the 6 and 7 if you can find them, haven’t tried the 8 yet, work very well. I find them to be light, cushiony and flexible. I always used a soft insole insert with them. Find them to be similar, but better than the newer models of Pegasus. Good luck,
seamus