) and will be used in more of Brooks top-selling models next year. Best Looking Shoe Award: Adidas Response Cushion 17 Following one too many comments about less-than-fashionable running shoes, we decided to have a bit of fun with this new category

this function by using column-like pods in the heel to act as individual shock absorbers. Since 80 per cent of runners land on their heels first, decoupled heels have become a popular way to enhance a shoe's cushioning.   FootbridgeA reinforced platform under

– 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

, BioMoGo; a trio of unusual new releases from Pearl Izumi; and updates of Asics’ top-selling cushioned styles, the Nimbus and Cumulus.If you’re new to shoe buying, use this guide as a starting point only - you should always visit a specialist running

If there's one bit of running kit that really matters, it's those bits of moulded polyeurethane on your feet. So this week we've picked out three niggling shoe queries from the Gear forum. Lend us your thoughts...Q1: The washing machine conundrum

and punished hundreds of shoes using state-of-the-art equipment to see how they perform under stress. Runner's World is the only publication in the world that tests shoes like this. We've also sent the shoes out to our extensive panel of wear

’ve enlisted the advice of some top kit experts to give you the definitive answer to your queries in our Q+A guide to keeping your gear running.SHOESQ: How can I tell when it’s time to replace my shoes?A: It’s tough – your favourite pair of shoes might feel

-neutral runners? The North Face: Arnuva 50 Boa, £90Weight 355g A versatile shoe, the Arnuva 50 Boa can be used to run on trails, muddy dirt paths and even road. Snug and responsive, its weight belies the fact that it packs a lot of technology. A dual-density EVA

.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

it a little heavy and clumpy.Great for Long distance on difficult groundContact www.lafuma.com Montrail Continental Divide, £75 Weight 370gThis shoe is already popular with ultrarunners and is an easy shoe for road runners to get used to. It has a