1 week Ago By Peter Bevan
Though it’s true that running calls for a lot of gear – t-shirts, shorts , baselayers , gels , backpacks , water bottles etc – the fundamental essential is your running shoes . No matter what kind of route you’re planning, whether it’s a recovery 5k run in London or a trail run in the Scottish Highlands, your footwear makes all the difference. For the former, you’ll want a road runner with extra cushioning and shock absorption, while the latter calls for those with extra traction and a weatherproof finish.
Whichever style you’re after, it’s important to know the brands you can trust. If you go for anything substandard, you could end up with an uncomfortable ride, blisters, aches and pains, or, even worse, an injury. But if you stick to the experts, your chosen fighters will leave you to focus on the run at hand, instead.
I’m a keen runner and have completed a couple of marathons over the past few years, so I’ve been lucky enough to try a lot of the big labels. For me, my number one will always be New Balance from a comfort and performance perspective, but I’ve never been disappointed with the other market leaders like Adidas, Asics, Saucony or On Running. When you’re choosing which to go for, you should play into the brands’ strengths.
Personally, I’ve found that New Balance has the best road running options while Asics hit the mark for indoor training, and Saucony and Adidas both offer great all-rounders. Each offers a wide variety, though, so it’s worth shopping around to make sure you land on a pair which suits your particular needs. My advice? Most of the top-tier companies will have an in-store try-on service, so always try before you buy if you can.
Usually, there’s a running expert on hand who does your gait analysis which will inform you which shoes work best for you from a support perspective, before suggesting options based on your goals – then you can try them on for size and make sure they feel like the right fit. So, without further ado, here’s my rundown of the best brands to browse before choosing your next running companions..
