Spring/Summer Shoe Guide

We've road-tested 40 pairs of the latest shoes - find out how they fared in this bumper guide

Posted: 1 March 2010

As winter recedes, now is the time to invest in your most important piece of gear: new running shoes. Our Spring/Summer Guide includes a bumper crop of 40 new shoes, as well as reviews and technical information on each.

The RW Shoe Lab has once again been fired up and we thrashed these shoes to within an inch of their lives to see how they respond to the pounding you lot are likely to give them out on the road. Runner's World is the only publication in the world that tests shoes this way.

Every shoe in this guide has also been put through its paces by our pool of RW staffers, as well as members of West 4 Harriers and Dulwich Runners.

Non-subscribers can view the full reviews for the Editor's Choice (Asics GEL-1150), Best Debut (K-Swiss K-Ona C) and Best Buy (Saucony ProGrid Jazz 13). To access full reviews for all the shoes listed (as well as hundreds of archived featured training and health articles), subscribe online now.

Neutral Cushioned | Stability | Motion Control | Performance

BEST BUY: Saucony ProGrid Jazz 13

NEUTRAL CUSHIONED

Recommended for runners who need maximum midsole cushioning and minimum medial support. These shoes are best for biomechanically efficient runners (with minimum pronation) and midfoot or forefoot strikers with high or normal arches.

Adidas

adidas adiStar Solution, £95

adidas Supernova Glide 2, £80

Asics

Asics GEL Kinsei 3, £135

Brooks

Brooks Defyance 3, £80

Brooks Glycerin 8, £95

Etonic

Etonic Praya 3 NC, £70

Etonic Tayu 2, £70

K-Swiss

K-Swiss Keahou II, £70

Mizuno

Mizuno Wave Creation 11, £105

Mizuno Wave Rider 13, £80

New Balance

New Balance 751, £70

New Balance 1064, £90

Newton

Newton Isaac, £110

Saucony

Saucony ProGrid Jazz 13, £69.99 [BEST BUY]

Saucony ProGrid Triumph 7, £95

EDITOR'S CHOICE: Asics Gel-1150

STABILITY

Recommended for runners who are mild to moderate overpronators and who generally have low to normal arches. These runners tend to need a shoe with a combination of good support and midsole cushioning.

Adidas

adidas Response Stability 2, £65

adidas adiStar Salvation 2, £100

Asics

Asics GEL-1150, £75 [EDITOR'S CHOICE (AND BEST UPDATE)]

Asics GEL-Kayano 16, £120

Asics GT2150, £90

Brooks

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10, £85

Mizuno

Mizuno Wave Elixir 5, £80

Mizuno Wave Inspire 6, £85

Mizuno Wave Nirvana 6, £105

New Balance

New Balance 760, £80

Puma

Puma Complete Spectana, £95

Saucony

Saucony ProGrid Guide 3, £79.99

Saucony ProGrid Paramount 2, £100

MOTION CONTROL

Good for runners with low arches who are moderate to severe overpronators and who need maximum stability and support on the medial (arch) side of their shoes. Best suited for bigger runners who need plenty of support and durability.

Etonic

Etonic Kendari 2, £80

Pearl Izumi

Pearl Izumi Syncro Guide III, £119.99


BEST DEBUT: K-Swiss K-Ona C

PERFORMANCE

Recommended either for racing or, if you’re biomechanically efficient, for training. They have varying degrees of support and cushioning, but they’re generally lighter (most weigh around 250-300g) and fit like a glove.

Adidas

adidas adiZero Boston II, £70

adidas adiZero Tempo 4, £70

Asics

Asics GEL DS Trainer 15, £90

Brooks

Brooks Green Silence, £55

K-Swiss

K-Swiss K-Ona C, £70 [BEST DEBUT]

Mizuno

Mizuno Wave Musha II, £60

New Balance

New Balance 905, £75

Pearl Izumi

Pearl Izumi Syncrofuel, £99.99

Puma

Puma Complete Ventis, £80

Saucony

Saucony Fastwitch 4, £65


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Discuss this article


2Lap
What about all the new Nikes?  Would be nice to detailed a review of these given that lots of runners are loving them at the moment (and a fair few less than loving them!).
Posted: 04/03/2010 at 10:38


danowat
Theres already a post in the correct (gear) section > http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=4&UTN=154875&V=6&SP=
Posted: 04/03/2010 at 10:41


Karina Cummings

Hhow do I know which running shoes are relevant to women? I need a pair of trainers that I can use off and on road.


Posted: 04/03/2010 at 12:56


Stray Runner
Nike are consistently 'under-reviewed' by RW...
Posted: 04/03/2010 at 22:12


Edward Collier

I've only read reviews of the racing shoes, as I never run in anything else (you should too - read Gordon Pirie's book!)  What narks me is that for some of these the perceived downside is "Poor aesthetics" which I presume refers to the colourway (see the Saucony Fastwitch).  As it happens, I think racing shoes are more aesthetically pleasing than ordinary cookie cutter white trainers with bits of detail - what's wrong with a bit of colour?  Next you'll be telling me that "Eye Of The Tiger" is a good song to run to.


Posted: 09/03/2010 at 12:03


Alexa Briggs
It would be good the get the womens versions of the shoes tested seperately. They can be quite different!
Posted: 11/03/2010 at 13:06


All Tri Wear

Generally I think running shoes or trecking shoes should always be bought at a specialist shop, they measure and look at your feet and give you best suitable pairs that are on the market now.

for clothes and accessories go to www.all-tri-wear.com as personal support avaiable any time.


Posted: 24/03/2010 at 15:09

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