Nike Running Shoes... what's the deal?

The best advice that I can give you is to go to your local running store and get fitted by one of the folks there. There are far too many variables that come into play for anybody to be able to recommend the best shoe for you without seeing you in person and helping you try on a variety of brands and styles.

Hey, the different types of sneakers are dependant upon what type of stride you have. Barefoot is the "minimalist" option, where it'll feel the most like you're running bare-footed (I use Nike Free TR for strength training and I love them for that- makes you engage more muscles). Neutral shoes are for someone who neither over nor under pronates. Many people over-pronate, where their feet roll inwards. Stability sneakers are for someone who pronates and rolls inwards. You can kindasorta try to figure it out on your own, but your best bet, if you wanna run injury-free, is to go to a running specialty store (not a big chain store, but a specialty one!) and they should check all sorts of things about how you run and be able to recommend the right shoes for you.

A few years ago I had no run technique at all, was a major heel-striker and as a result had terrible pronation, so the running specialty store put me in stability shoes. I spent a season training and correcting my gait and stride and became a mid/forefoot striker, so I now use neutral shoes. The point being, I wouldn't have had any idea which to use either time, had I not had a trained person fit me. Hope that helps )

I go to a place called the Running Room. They ask you to bring in your old ones so they can see where and how they've worn down in order to determine what are your best options for durability.

they also watch you walk barefoot across the store to see which ways your legs naturally turn. That's also helpful for getting the right type of support.

Since I've been going to them for shoes, its made a world of difference. Not only can I exercise longer without foot, leg or back pain, but they seem to last way better than when I picked on my own.

Maybe there's somewhere near you that would do the same thing?

I would never buy something this important online --- unless I had gone to a good shoe store, gotten fitted and know exactly what I need. I personally thought I wanted Nike (I have a Nike+) but I ended up not liking them at all and got New Balance -- and I can still use my Nike+

---

go get fitted then look for cheap deals online.

Yup, I'd also recommend going to your local running store and getting fitted. Not like Finish Line or Sports Authority or something, but an actual running shoe store. The associates will be more in tune with runners, rather than selling sports equipment or the newest Nike shoe (not to say big box store associates don't know anything, I'm sure there are plenty of smart ones out there, somewhere). It's free and will they will help you find the right shoe for your foot. Some of them have video analysis, others will ask you to take your shoes off and just walk in front of them.
Good luck!