Loop-lacing lockThis is a great way to create a secure, tight fit. Just put each lace end back into the same hole it just exited, leaving a small loop on the top side of the shoe; now thread each loose end through the loop on the opposite side

and support for comfortable running on hard-packed tracks or roads. A “bellows” tongue stops debris creeping inside the shoes, while a Kevlar one-pull lacing system helps achieve a supportive fit. What you don't receive is a great deal of grip. The outsole

. It produces a comfortable, airy ride that feels a little like running in bare feet, but unless you really want the airiness and the triathlon-style lacing system, you’d be better off with a shoe called the Neftanga. That was Adidas’s flagship racer last year

. The lacing system has mercifully reverted to a normal one for a snugger fit, but you should replace the shoe’s cheap, extra-padded insole with a normal, more responsive one. Even then, its heel sits fairly high off the ground – good for rearfoot cushioning

Weight 400gEvaluation Salomon’s shoes are a familiar sight at its two-day adventure races, and at longer raids. They have a strong emphasis on protection, and they’re packed with innovation: the kevlar lacing system designed to tighten the upper

's certainly one of the most stable performance shoes available. The post is helped by a low-profile heel and NB's N-Lock lacing system - the N on the side locks the arch in through the laces for a tighter fit. The midsole is made from the firm's new

strap, which integrates into the laces.

Stability Web in the midfoot, the 750 is one of the most supportive racers available. The shoe also utilises New Balance's N-Lock lacing system, so the upper can be pulled snugly around your midfoot for extra support. Of course, we aren't talking motion

Weight 288gEvaluation Its weight could place it in either category, but the performance-oriented Azura is more like a protective racing shoe than a lightweight trainer, because it sits low to the ground, with a fast, responsive feel and an emphasis

typically wide base, the new Stabil has an extremely broad fit in the upper. That makes the feel of the shoe slightly unbalanced. The loop lacing system doesn’t allow runners with moderate-width feet to pull the laces really close together; but on the other