Shoes? Or no shoes?

JEK717

Not really sure where to place this but......i am a girl! Just kidding that isnt what i was gonna say.

I need to find some good running walking shoes because my dorky little $10 walking shoes are killing my legs and feet.... obviously this you know:) SO.....i need help on deciding on a good(haha kinda cheap or less expensive:) shoes brand. I am like challenged in this area....i dont even know where to start to look for shoes like this...so i thought i would ask all you awesome experts:)


Thanks:flowerforyou:
-Ellie!

stephlake

SAUCONY or NEW BALANCE -

I was wearing Nike and my feet were killing me. I talked to runner friends and everyone agreed on these two brands. I went with SAUCONY and love them. My arch is supported, they look nice and they are soo light. They are not cheap but your feet are worth it. Now when I run I concentrate on form etc not how bad my feet are hurting.

Watch for sales, or go try them on, pick the ones your like and then check out Ebay or online closeouts.

Good Luck!

JEK717

Suggestions....advice? Yes...no?

Mallory0418

I have tried 2 or 3 Nike running shoes and have finally given up. I recently bought a pair of Reebok ZigFly shoes and so far they've been great! They are very light and I've noticed that my knees are no longer sore after my run. I've heard that New Balance and Asics are great too. Good luck!

fitcrew

I have always been a Nike fan because their shoes are amazing....the only bad thing for me is that only certain styles of their shoes fit me just right....I dont like Adidas because for me they stretched out to a whole larger size!! I love Kswiss Tubes and also LOVE LOVE LOVE Asics and Rykas.....have a couple pairs of each and have no foot problems at all.....One thing I will recommend also is dont expect to pay $30 for a pair of shoes and think they will be as good as a $70 pair.....in all honesty you get what you pay for!

I pretty much always shop at Famous Footwear......love their selection and when you sign up and buy shoes there....you get discounts in the mail....the last one I got was $20 off!!!! They also have buy one get one half off

ambie35

new balance are pretty good and fairly priced.
I love my nike runners but they were a little pricey.

guppygirl322

I find new balance to be good. Make sure the ones you choose support your feet very well. What I would do, is go to a store that specializes in what kind of shoe you are looking for, get their advice and try them on. Then go on a quest to find a cheaper version that feels the same on your foot, lol.

atrayubrandy

I don't run so I can't tell you from personal experience. However, I worked at an upper scale shoe store for 2 years and our best selling running/walking shoes were BY FAR Brooks Addictions and Brooks Ariels. Your post title suggests to me that you might also be thinking about the trend of not wearing traditional shoes while running (like Vibram's five finger shoes). If that's the case I would say proceed with caution. Unless you are a strong athlete and are trained on the proper ways of running in them you could seriously cause injury.

fitcrew

I have always been a Nike fan because their shoes are amazing....the only bad thing for me is that only certain styles of their shoes fit me just right....I dont like Adidas because for me they stretched out to a whole larger size!! I love Kswiss Tubes and also LOVE LOVE LOVE Asics and Rykas.....have a couple pairs of each and have no foot problems at all.....One thing I will recommend also is dont expect to pay $30 for a pair of shoes and think they will be as good as a $70 pair.....in all honesty you get what you pay for!

I pretty much always shop at Famous Footwear......love their selection and when you sign up and buy shoes there....you get discounts in the mail....the last one I got was $20 off!!!! They also have buy one get one half off

bettertracie

Well, if you plan on doing this seriously and for the long term, you'll need to spend at least $60 realistically to get something that is BENEFICIAL to your process. I sell athletic shoes for a living, and the truth is there is no 'cheap, good shoe' in life we already know these two describing words don't belong in the same area...

That being said if you have a store locally that sells the brand asics running shoes, try them, model 1160 is the lowest model I would recommend trying, but the 2160 is awesome!! These are last years model numbers, so you could get a better price on them... also I know that champssports.com allows you to order a product and have it sent to your local store so that you can try them on and get an associate to help you make sure they fit properly, PLUS, if you don't like them, we'll return them on the spot for you so you can try something else...

GOOD LUCK!!

brandiuntz

As already said, SAUCONY or NEW BALANCE are the way to go. I've worn both, currently rocking some Saucony's. Watch for sales at your local sports store. If you're near a specialty running shoe store, you can check out what they carry, then wait for a sale.

But, you need to spend some money on good shoes. Your feet and legs are too important not to. I did get my latest Saucony's at a major sports store for $45 (sale), less than the previous $80 New Balance pair I had. Both feel great on my feet.

michelle_mareshfuehrer

I highly recommend Ryka!

atrayubrandy

Oh here's some of the complaints on some of the brands that others have mentioned: Nikes don't have enough support, Asics are good but you have to make sure the last (shoe terminology...see an expert to find out what you need) fits you properly, new balances have good support but tend to slip on the heel more than other brands.

tannaleigh

Try going to a running store. learning about your gait, and trying on shoes. when you find a pair you like.... Ebay all the way!

jeffrodgers1

Start at a running store where they have professionally trained staff who can assess your needs.

Yeah sure, you could go with Nike, or Saucany, or New Balance, or whatever... but they need to be the right shoes for YOU.

What works for some people, may not work for you. Face it we are all different on this planet, my feet are different from yours... I am a 222 pound, 5'11" heavy pronator with wide feet. I am not going to tell you to go buy Nike, because the shoes work for me.

Running is a cheap sport...the only equipment you need is an open road\trail\path and a decent pair of shoes. Those shoes will be hitting the pavement at least 1000 times per mile. Thats a lot of impact on your feet. The wrong shoes will make it hurt.

I am telling you to go and have someone with experience and knowledge look at your gait, your current shoes (to see wear patterns) and see what you need. You owe it to yourself (and your feet) to have someone check this out for you.

Good Luck!

Happy Running!

mrrodriguez

I agree with what everyone else is saying. I think the shoes that are right for you are not the same ones everyone will like. I am currently using the Brooks Beast because I am heavy and they have lots of support. I used Asics for years and loved them, but as I slowed my running and gained weight I switched to the Brooks Beast. The poster who works at a running store is a good person to listen to. When I first ran (25 years ago) I had the same issue. I found out by going to a running store with my old shoes that I was an over pronator. I wore out the outsides of my shoes before the insides because I roll my foot when running. I also have to put inserts in my shoes because I developed Plantar Fascitis and I needed more arch support. Going to a running store is the key. At least consult with someone who has been running for over a decade, and they will have learned a lot.

I want to get back in light racing flats, but I need to lose about 60 lbs first. Good luck and happy running.

reepobob

Hey Ellie, I don't have runner shoes, but I did buy some New Balance cross trainers for P90X and they fit my feet beautifully...I will agree however with the nature of the thread...don't scrimp on good shoes and if you can, make sure someone examines your stride, wear pattern, etc...

I went into the store expecting to buy Saucany or Asics as both were highly recommended, but they didn't fit my feet like I wanted them to.

Good luck to ya, girlie!

TS65

Start at a running store where they have professionally trained staff who can assess your needs.

Yeah sure, you could go with Nike, or Saucany, or New Balance, or whatever... but they need to be the right shoes for YOU.

What works for some people, may not work for you. Face it we are all different on this planet, my feet are different from yours... I am a 222 pound, 5'11" heavy pronator with wide feet. I am not going to tell you to go buy Nike, because the shoes work for me.

Running is a cheap sport...the only equipment you need is an open road\trail\path and a decent pair of shoes. Those shoes will be hitting the pavement at least 1000 times per mile. Thats a lot of impact on your feet. The wrong shoes will make it hurt.

I am telling you to go and have someone with experience and knowledge look at your gait, your current shoes (to see wear patterns) and see what you need. You owe it to yourself (and your feet) to have someone check this out for you.

Good Luck!

Happy Running!

THIS! We don't know if you pronate or not; have wide feet or not; etc. Plan on spending $100 (if you find something on sale that works for you, great! If not, you won't be surprised!). DEFINITELY go to a reputable RUNNING store, not a sporting goods store. If they offer a stride analysis, do it. It'll be the BEST money you ever spent.

Dellonious1

Hi ! I have always gone with the cheep sneakers, up untill my daughter got me a gift about 6 months ago. They are Sketchers fitness Shape ups.. Here is a link.. Yes pricey but WELL worth it.
http://www.famousfootwear.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?p=75927&pg=1018900

bbush18

i totally agree with jeffrodgers1...you have to get your gait analyzed, that's the best way to go. and honestly, you'll get what you pay for when it comes to running shoes. i prefer nike's because i've been running in them for over 20 yrs and they work for me. however, i also like the feel of mizunos and brooks...everything else either fits too snug around the arch or there's too much room around the ball of the foot and that tends to give me blisters! happy shoe hunting!

Pebble321

You need to get shoes that fit right for YOU, and the best way to do this is to go to a sports shoe store and ask for help and try some to see what is best for you. Nikes always seem to fitme best, but I have wide feet and old foot injuries, so they may not work for you. There is no point buying on price, as the wrong shoes can cause you pain and problems and it is worth spending money to prevent that.
great advice to find the right shoe first, then look for it at a better price. Good luck!

knewbill72

Vibram Five Fingers! Like going barefoot but better!!

JEK717

Try going to a running store. learning about your gait, and trying on shoes. when you find a pair you like.... Ebay all the way!

Um...what is my gait? What is gait?

blue3628

Start at a running store where they have professionally trained staff who can assess your needs.

Yeah sure, you could go with Nike, or Saucany, or New Balance, or whatever... but they need to be the right shoes for YOU.

What works for some people, may not work for you. Face it we are all different on this planet, my feet are different from yours... I am a 222 pound, 5'11" heavy pronator with wide feet. I am not going to tell you to go buy Nike, because the shoes work for me.

Running is a cheap sport...the only equipment you need is an open road\trail\path and a decent pair of shoes. Those shoes will be hitting the pavement at least 1000 times per mile. Thats a lot of impact on your feet. The wrong shoes will make it hurt.

I am telling you to go and have someone with experience and knowledge look at your gait, your current shoes (to see wear patterns) and see what you need. You owe it to yourself (and your feet) to have someone check this out for you.

Good Luck!

Happy Running!

I FULLY AGREE!!!!! and i learned its not so much the brand as the model of shoe. I was wearing New Balance and my feet, shins, and knees were killing me. Apparently i was wearing a low impact model. the girl literally twisted my tennis shoe as if she were wringing out a towel!!!! then she had me step on a machine to tell how i stand, and whether my feet tend to roll inward or outward etc. she set me up in a pair of Brooks and i have been thrilled with them! don 't know where you live, but i'm in Bradenton Florida and went to a running specialty store called "On a Shoe String" they were fantastic!!!!!! good luck!

bbush18

Um...what is my gait? What is gait?

it's how your foot hits the ground when you walk and run. it's how your weight shifts on your legs and feet.

jeffrodgers1

Gait is the motion and path your stride takes. It starts at the toes and includes everything in the running\walking movement all the way up to your hips. Quite often people have physical or mechanical defects in the way in which they move (one leg shorter than another, weak muscles from an old injury (ankle sprain, broken leg etc).

At a base level everyone is either a pronator, a suppinator, or has a neutral stride. Pronation -> My foot rolls heavily to the inside when I push off with my toes. The opposite is suppination, basically when your foot rolls outwards in motion and neutral of course is where everyone should be.

A person who is properly trained will watch how you run or walk from a variety of angles, paying close attention to how you plant your feet, twist your hips, bend your knees, check your arches etc and ensure that the correct shoe is recommended.

_eislek_

My husband is a big runner and will pretty much only wear Asics or however you spell them. I run better barefoot but I'm a weirdo