Autumn Trainers :: 2008 Fall Shoe Guide

We have our comfort foods and our favorite pair of pants. The foods simply taste good and go down easily. The pants fit right and, like a conversation with a close friend, allow for effortless flow. Training shoes should be like comfort foods, your favorite pants or a close friend. They should be the shoes to which you gravitate for everyday use. Comfortable, dependable… like oatmeal for your feet.

adidas

www.shopadidas.com
Supernova Sequence $95
The Supernova Control is all about guided comfort and performance. Now adidas has enlisted its adaptive technology, called ForMotion, which aligns the foot from the initial heel strike flowing through the foot for a directed toe-off motion, and incorporated it into the updated Sequence. Our testers found the cushioning outstanding, likely credited to the adiPRENE+ in the forefoot. The test team also enjoyed the control they felt underfoot, a function of the Torsion System in the midsole.
Best For: We recommend this shoe for heftier runners who want motion control and cushioned flex, especially because of adidas’ tweaked fit, which suits runners with narrower heels and midfeet but who need roomy toe boxes.

Response Cushion 17 $80
When adidas calls a shoe “Cushion,” they aren’t fooling around. They could easily have named these shoes the Response Pillow, because these babies are all about cush. And at a bargain price, these lightweight runners were quite pleasing to our testers, who enjoyed the Response Cushion’s easy heel-to-toe transition and, even more so, the snug fit across the instep.
Best For: These neutral shoes are recommended for high-mileage training for runners who need it to be soft underfoot. The fit is different from prior versions of the Response Cushion, with a little more space for the midfoot, so you may want to try before you buy if you are returning customer.

Asics

www.asics.com
GEL Nimbus 10 $120
Stepping it up to meet the challenge of building a cushioned performance shoe, Asics improved upon the Nimbus 9 with asymmetrical lacing, enhanced GEL cushioning, and new Solyte midsole material for improved bounce-back and greater durability. The shoe also boasts a four-piece outsole for more flexibility in the forefoot and added torsional rigidity from a stepped-up Trusstic unit in the arch for medial midfoot support. Testers found the shoes felt a lot like prior Nimbus versions but noticed the snug heel and roomy toe box that, when coupled with the exceptional cushioning and shape of the new curved lacing system, made for a very comfortable trainer.
Best For: The Nimbus is a great choice for high-mileage runners or those seeking flowing transitions from heel to toe and plenty of cushioning and motion control.

GEL Stratus 2.1 $80
Every once in a while you come across a “more-for-less” find and the Stratus 2.1 is one of those: more performance and cushioning out of less shoe, and even less in the way of price. The podular shoe provided a flowing heel-to-toe transition, and the well-fitted upper only enhanced the flexible flier feel for our testers. The Stratus stands out from other Asics shoes because the silicon gel unit sits closer to the rear of the foot, with a second unit under the heel pad, making for one of the softest rides in the line.
Best For: Compared to some of the other shoes in this line-up of highly-cushioned and support-intensive models, the Stratus is relatively stripped down, which is a bonus for lighter, neutral or forefoot runners. The Stratus 2.1 may, however, be deficient for those who need a little more under their feet.

Avia

www.avia.com
Avi-Lite Guide $110
Avia has upped the ante with ingenuity that takes motion control to a new level: a lower one. The Avi-Lite Guide’s Shear Cantilever System combines a decoupled lateral crash zone and a beveled heel for low-profile mechanical integrity that reduces interference with the foot’s natural motion. Our test team found the Guide was rather firm in its motion control qualities, but that the rigidity didn’t interfere with the cushioning.
Best For: Because the support and guidance system is smaller, it also cuts the overall weight of the shoe, providing a lightweight option for those who favor stability without sacrificing performance.

Brooks

www.brooksrunning.com
Trance 8 $140
This shoe is packed with Brooks’ technologies and, as our testers hailed, the best bits were saved for the midsole, which features rear HydroFlow for shock attenuation and dampening with a variant of forefoot HydroFlow for better resilience. The main midsole ingredient is Brooks’ BioMoGo, which couples all of MoGo’s cushioning and energy return qualities with the environmentally friendly compound that breaks down quickly in the landfill where microbes are triggered. It’s one of those “melts in your mouth but not in your hand” tricks.
Best For: The Trance is a support trainer and it is outfitted with a dual-density post and midfoot plastic shank. Our testers found the combination was quite commanding when it came to stride straightening.

Ghost $100
This shoe is made for biomechanically-efficient runners who want an easy-flexing, springy toed shoe with enough cushioning for long training miles and tempo runs, but not so much that it breaks down or compresses. The Ghost features Brooks’ improved MoGo midsole compound for increased cushioning yet with a weight savings and greater durability. Although our testers didn’t notice any gait interference or much in the way of lateral support, the Ghost also features a plastic midfoot shank device for torsion control. For cushioning and shock reduction, the Ghost is outfitted with two different types of HydroFlow. Our testers were most impressed with the Ghost’s excellent fit, which wrapped the forefoot and secured the heel throughout the stride.
Best For: For neutral runners who want to go the distance without thinking about what is or is not on their feet, the Ghost is a true treat.

Mizuno

www.mizunousa.com
Wave Precision 9 $90
This model was an exceptional performance shoe that delighted the neutral runners among our test team. The ride was flexible and fluid, and although the blown rubber forefoot provided adequate cushioning, the Precision was true to its name, offering an exact feel for the road. Perhaps a bit minimal for heavier runners or those who require motion control, the Precision falls squarely in the lightweight performance trainer category.
Best For: The Precision 9 was a favorite that came recommended for lightweight training, tempo workouts or even as a race shoe for longer events.

Wave Alchemy 8 $100
Order up smoothness and exceptional fit, both of which have long been Mizuno’s signature, add in stability and cushioning and you’ll find yourself being served the Alchemy 8. This motion control shoe features Mizuno’s midfoot Double Fan Wave technology for stability and cushioning that does not skimp on flexibility or durability. Our testers were impressed with the flow they got from such a motion control shoe.
Best For: As a substantial yet relatively lightweight shoe, the Alchemy is an excellent option for overpronators who want a cushioned shoe for logging big miles in preparation for a half or full marathon.

New Balance

www.newbalance.com
1224 $140
The 1224 is New Balance’s top stability shoe and features a new multi-density medial support system, which provides a fluid heel strike to toe-off motion along with medial posting and a structured arch support that reaches from the heel to provide midfoot rigidity. Our testers found the 1224’s cushioning remarkable, which makes sense, given the shoe’s high-mileage focus on lasting comfort through three different midsole compounds placed in strategic shock-absorbing locations to attenuate the foot strike impact. The 1224 also got kudos for its upper finishes, like the dual-density collar, Orthalite insert, Cocona liner, and welded overlays to minimize any blistering from stitch lines.
Best For: Any runner looking for moderate pronation control for long distances.

859 $110
The 859 is like the Swiss Army Knife of running shoes, outfitted with a diverse bevy of qualities, all in a well-built package. Its Acteva midsole compound is 12 percent lighter than standard midsole foam and features Dupont’s Engage for added durability. Like the 1224, the 859 features a multi-density support system for a flowing heel-to-toe transition, with medial posting and arch support that extends from the heel for midfoot rigidity. The shoe also boasts non-cellular elastomer for improved shock absorption without compression. The seamless upper is made of a moisture-managing mesh with reflectivity and a tester-favorite sausage-like lace that stays tied over the long haul.
Best For: According to our test team, the combination of midsole technologies made for a firm ride, one recommended for runners seeking a very stable shoe that works well for larger runners.

Nike

www.nike.com
Lunar Trainer $100
“Free-esque.” “Space-aged neon marshmallows.” Those comments help to describe these incredibly flexible and light training shoes that had some of our test team all in smiles as they appreciated the fact that the Lunar Trainer released their feet “to do their thing naturally.” These are not shoes for runners needing motion control. Rather, they are for neutral runners who like to let it go and enjoy an airy, almost barefoot feeling. Nike, the master at playing with new materials, has encapsulated foam in a midsole/outsole compound with a podular lug pattern to give these lightweight shoes and their flexible mesh uppers the combined feeling of bounding weightlessly on the moon. They reify the term “float.”
Best For: These shoes are best for efficient runners, and our testers found that they wore down somewhat quickly and that the underfoot protection was enough for roads but that they were best kept on the road or soft surfaces.

Air Pegasus+ 25 $85
The Pegasus has long been a favorite training shoe and deservedly so. Why else would it have survived so many iterations? And now, with this most recent version, it surely won’t disappoint past fans as well as be alluring to new runners, given its smooth and stable ride. The 25 comes in men’s- and women’s-specific models that are dialed for their gender. The women’s model has a last that factors in a woman’s biomechanics with a more shallow and less voluminous toe box. Both men’s and women’s models boast breathable mesh uppers with minimal overlays, antimicrobial sockliners and full-length Air units, which stiffened the Pegasus a bit. But the old-school waffle outsole and deep flex grooves (one more in the women’s model) seemed to compensate for that as our testers observed that it ran with a flowing heel-to-toe transition.
Best For: The Pegasus is well suited for heavier runners, especially those who want the cushioning of Nike’s Air.