– if you're going to be running through deep water then a fully waterproof shoe isn't your best bet. "Shoes utilising Gore-Tex XCR are best suited to use in damp conditions – running through wet grass, or splashing through puddles," says Ian Barnes, the UK

.The Renegade is a completely different beast to the Legend. In fact, it's a more similar beast to the, err, Beast. A hefty motion control shoe designed for heavy runners or those who need bags of stability, or both. Like the Legend, it uses a double Wave rather

. On its release late last year, though, the Zoom Elite came in close to the top. Stable, cushioned, smooth and responsive, it's a smashing running shoe.The all-rounder for you if… You are almost anyone. Some of our lighter weartesters use the Zoom Elite

and responsive.Contact 01388 526 500; www.inov-8.comBest For The Not So Stable On Their FeetMizuno Wave Legend – £70Why it's the best Excessive overpronators – runners who require motion-control shoes – used to be lumbered with heavy and cumbersome shoes that did

It doesn’t matter how expensive your running shoes were, or how many years of research the shoe company says has gone into its latest model, one component of your trainer is always going to be a bit of a let-down: the insole. In all but a very few

trainers for a lighter pair could be the difference between agony and ecstasy. Studies have shown that if you lose an ounce – 28g – from your feet, you could gain a second a mile. So, find a pair of shoes just 28 grams lighter than the pair you ran your

; www.polar-uk.comMucky Pup… Inov-8 Mudroc – £60For runners who only use the road when driving to the steepest, muddiest trail, there used to be just one shoe brand for them – Walsh. This year, the Inov-8 Mudroc has given serious mudpluggers a real

No doubt you'll agree that if you stick to the principle that all you require is a decent pair of shoes and little else, then running is indeed a cheap sport. But you'll probably argue that as soon as you decide to buy some shorts and a T