The laces attach at the middle of the tongue, and in our testing they stayed put. “They reminded me of what I like about the Ghosts, but I felt a little faster and more comfortable, especially during longer or harder runs.” The narrow, generously padded tongue and collar contribute to the Glycerin 20’s plush feel. One tester, who wore a women’s size 8 in the 19s (and had been wearing the Ghost 13 for her training), said she felt “fast and strong” in them. The Glycerin aims for smooth heel-to-toe transitions and an easy ride, and the 20 delivers. The supportive-yet-flexible mesh upper and soft interior pair for an almost slipper-like experience on the foot in comparison with, for instance, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22, which has a bit more structure in general. (A tester who wore the 19 in a men’s size 12½ found them to be a tad unstable running downhill, due to their height.) The 20 is a soft shoe with ample cushioning that doesn’t feel squishy.

The Glycerin 20 ( women’s, men’s) has a 10 mm drop, a rather high stack height, and a wide sole that gestures ever so slightly toward a platform-much like the 19s did. The Brooks Glycerin was billed by Runner’s World as a shoe that gives the popular Ghost a run for its money. If you pay any more than that, you’re getting into shoes meant for niche purposes. Price also matters, so we capped our recommendations at $150. But because some runners prefer less heel cushioning and a flatter sole, we made sure to retain a few options with lower and no heel-to-toe drop, too. Most of the shoes we kept on the list fit that description. Traditionally, most running shoes have a sole that’s 10 mm to 12 mm thicker at the heel than at the forefoot. We also considered heel-to-toe drop (the difference in the thickness of the sole from the heel to the toe). In general, we favored lightweight models, though our experts pointed out that shoes are getting lighter and lighter across the board. Shoes that promised both features caught our attention. Often these criteria are at odds with each other: Extra cushioning is likely to absorb the impact of each running stride, rather than give you much rebound. We looked for shoes described as being both cushioned and responsive (that is, ones with the “rebound” effect underfoot).

They should tie securely, without slipping.) A heel-lock lacing style can keep feet from sliding up in back, whereas nontraditional toe lacing can provide more spreading room in front. (Take note of the material the laces are made of, as well as their shape and general feel. Laces that are too tight or too loose-in the right or wrong places-can significantly affect the feel of the shoes. You should also play around with the laces. “Ask yourself, ‘Which shoes were you least aware of?’ and buy those,” said running coach Melanie Kann. To compare, put one model on one foot and another on the other foot, and do a lap around the store. Try on a bunch of shoes, and then go back to the pairs that seemed the most comfortable.

If it’s possible, however, we recommend that you first get fitted by a knowledgeable salesperson at a specialty running shop. To help inspire your search, we have recommendations for women’s and men’s styles and sizes, including dependable neutral trainers, stability shoes with various amounts of cushion, and a low-drop option.Ĭompare shoes head to head: You may choose to order a few pairs of shoes online, with the intent of returning the ones that don’t fit. And if you’re ordering from home, consider retailers that have solid return policies, such as Zappos, REI, Running Warehouse, Road Runner Sports, and Fleet Feet.

To find your best running shoes, you’ll likely need to try on several different pairs, either at your local running store (where you can leverage staff expertise to help you find the ideal fit) or in your living room (if you prefer to shop online). We take a look at the two main running-shoe types (neutral and stability), the anatomy of a running shoe, and how a shoe should fit. The focus here is on go-to shoes for everyday runs. Speed? Look for weight and responsiveness.įor this guide, we’ve gathered advice and insight from eight experts, performed dozens of hours of research, and run more than 4,000 miles over the years. Consider what you want most from your shoes.

Womens track spikes