The best running shoes for forefoot and midfoot strikers

2) Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 3 · 3) Saucony Tempus · 4) New Balance Fresh Foam 1080V12 · 5) Asics Novablast V2 · Category 2: Speed trainers ... Guides Thebestrunningshoesforforefootandmidfootstrikers bySolerevieweditors July23,2022 bySolerevieweditors Published:July23,2022LastUpdatedonSeptember2,2022 ThisarticlehasbeenupdatedwithcurrentmodelsforJuly2022.TheNikeReactInfinityRunV2hasbeenreplacedwithitsupdatedversion.TheSauconyTempusisanewaddition.TheHokaBondi7,HokaClifton8,andSkechersGoRunRazorExcesshavebeenremoved.Exceptforthenarrower‘B’width,thewomen’smodelsarealmostidenticaltomen’s. Inthisproductguide: 1.Factorstoconsider 2.Dailytrainerforforefootstrikers:NikeStructure24 3.Dailytrainerforforefootstrikers:NikeReactInfinityV3 4.Versatilestabilitytrainerforforefootstrikers:SauconyTempus 5.Long-distancetrainerforforefootstrikers:NewBalance1080V12 6.Long-distancetrainerforforefootstrikers:AsicsNovablastV2 7.Speedtrainer/racerforforefootstrikers:adidasBoston10 8.Tempotrainerforforefootstrikers:BrooksHyperionTempo 9.Tempotrainerforforefootstrikers:NewBalanceFuelcellRebel2 10.Tempotrainerforforefootstrikers:SauconyKinvara13 11.Marathonracerforforefootstrikers:SauconyEndorphinSpeedV2 Ifyou’vebeenaroundforawhileandhavetrackedtheevolutionofrunningfootwear,you’dagreethatasrecentlyasthemid-2000s,shoeswerepurposelydesignedforrearfootstriking. Forinstance,mostofthecushioningtechwascrammedundertheheel.Moreover,runningshoeswithalowheel-to-toeoffsetdidnotbecomepopularuntilthebarefootrunningboomofthelate2000s. Thethoughtofalteringthefoot-strikealsodidn’toccurtomostrunners,sothemarketdidn’texist.Eventhoughtheminimalistshoephenomenoniscreditedwithpromotinglowheeldropfootwearandmidfootstriking,onlinecommunitieshavehelpedspreadtheword. Today,wehaveaslewofbalancedchoices.There’ssomethingforeveryone,nomatterwhatyourpreferencesorrunningmechanicsare. Doyouwantmaximalcushioning,orforthatmatter,ashoewithalowheel-to-toeoffset?Ordoyouwantbothinoneshoe?Manyproductsmeetthesecriteria. Likewiseforrunnerswhoprefertomakefull-contactlandings,whichislooselyclassifiedasmidfoot/forefootstriking.Havingsaidthat,ifyoucurrentlylandrearfootandareinjury-free,there’snoreasontoalterthetechniquejustbecausetheinternettellsyouto. Whilethereisplentyofanecdotalsupportforforefootstriking–wealsofeelthatfull-contactlandingsaremoreefficient–butthere’sscantscientificevidenceprovingthatforefootstrikingisbiomechanicallymoreefficientorleadstofewerinjuries. Therearesomanycomponentsofagoodrunningform,andthefoot-strikepatternisjustonepartofit.However,itmakessensetoavoidover-stridingandexaggerateddorsiflexion,astatewherethetoespointskywardswhenheellanding. Runningshoesthataresuitableforforefootandmidfootstrikingneedtofulfillcertainqualifyingfactors. Ridestabilityisextremelyimportant.Thiscriterioncouldbemetbyeitherafirmmidsole,awideflareorsurfacearea,oracombinationofboth–alongwithasecureupperfit.Ahighmidsolestackisn’taconcernaslongastheothertwofactorsaddup. Thequalityoftransitionalsodetermineswhetherashoeiscompatiblewithfull-contactlandings–ornot.Thetransitionqualityistheproductofdesignchoiceslikethefoamdensityandformulation,theoutsolegeometryandgrip,orthemidsoleshape. Thoughsomerunnerspreferacushionedforefoot,thatdependsonwhattheshoeisbeingusedfor.Isitjusta5Krunorintenseintervaltraining?Here,excessivemidsolesoftnesswillimpedeyourworkout. Ontheotherhand,ifamarathonisonthemind,thenacushionedandfastrideisdesirable. Ahighheel-to-toedropisnotadeal-breaker.We’renottalkingabouta12mmoffsetshoehere,buteven8-10mmworksaslongastheheelmidsoledoesn’thavealongoverhang.That’sthereasonwhytheAsicsNovablastV2existsonthisguide,andtheNikeZoomXInvincibledoesnot. Also,lookforrunningshoeswheretherearmidsoleedgeisflushwiththeupperheel.Agenerousbevelispreferable.Here’sanexample: Mostbeveledheeldesignsworkwellforground-contactlandings.TheNewBalance1080V12isn’texactly‘lowdrop’,butitworksperfectlyforforefootandmidfootstrikers. Thebottomlineis,ifyougetalow-dropshoe,that’sabonus.Else,it’sanon-issueformostbrands. Nowthatwe’vedonewiththepre-guidespiel,let’sgettothelist.Someofyoumightlookatthelistandsay,hey–where’sAltraorSalomon?Thosebrandsarerelativelyhardertofindsotheomissionisintentional. Wecoveralotofcategorieshereacrosshalfadozenbrands,rangingfromsupportiveshoesliketheNikeStructuretolightweighttrainerssuchastheBrooksHyperionTempo. Foreaseofuse,we’vegroupedtherunningshoesbytheirusecase. Category1:Dailyneutraltrainers 1)NikeAirZoomStructure24 BuyfromNike.com TheStructure23finallyditchedthemedialpostlastyear.Nike’swildlypopularstabilityrunningshoewentundertheknife,andcameouttheothersideasabrand-newproductthatboreverylittleresemblancetotheultra-firmStructure21or22. TheStructure23’ssingle-densitymidsolewasneutralinitsridedelivery,anditalsoacquiredasignificantamountofcushioningsoftnesswhencomparedtothepreviousversions. Asnotedinourdetailedreview,themajorchangesturnedthenewStructure23intoaPegasusofsorts.Exceptthatitwasmoresupportive,thusentrenchingitfirmlywithinthe‘supportiveneutral’category. Inacuriousturnofevents,theStructure23wasreplacedquicklybythe24.Notthatanythingchanged.Exceptforthemildcosmeticupdatesmadetotheupper,theStructure24featuredthesamesolecompositeasthe23. Thepreviousmodelwasfeaturedonthisguide,andsoisthisone.ThecushionedmidsoleanditsforefootZoomAirbagareexcellentforforefootandmidfootstrikers.Thefoamisn’tverysoft,sothefirmnessinfusesdesirablelevelsofridestability. TheZoomAirinthefrontaddsasatisfyingpopduringthelandings,andthecushioningfeelsveryconsistentfromheeltotoe. Thesupportiveupperholdsthefootinplaceduringlandingsandtransitions;thespeedlacingloopsmakethecinchingprocesseasy. 2)NikeReactInfinityRunFlyknit3 BuyfromNike.com WedidnothaveaveryhighopinionoftheReactInfinityV3,butthisshoehasitsstrengths.Oneofthemhappenstobeitsforefootandmidfootstrike-friendlyroadmanners. Theliberalrubbercoveragemaximisesthecontactsurface. Thefull-lengthReactmidsolehasaflaredandcushionedforefootaswellasastableheelthat’ssupportedbytheplasticclip.Thisgeometryisconduciveforforefootlandings;also,ithelpsthatthere’sampleoutsolerubberundertheforefoot. Weseethisshoebestusedasadailytrainerandlong-distancecruiser.Therideisn’tmushy,sothatalsomakestheInfinityV3goodfortheoccasionalquickworkout. Thoughthetrue-to-sizeupperiscomfortableenough,justknowthatithasashallowtoe-boxandless-than-perfectheelfit. 3)SauconyTempus BuyfromZappos.com TheSauconyTempus8mmheeloffsetistheresultofa28.5mmforefootand36.5mmheel.Soregardlessofwhichpartoftheshoeyoulandon,therewillbeplentyofcushioningunderthefoot. TheforefootgetsacushyPEBAfoamstackandmostoftheoutsolerubber,sofull-contactlandingsaresupportedwiththetransition-friendlydesign.Themidsolehasawidebase,sothattranslatesintoahighlevelofstability.ForeverythingontheSauconyTempus,ourin-depthreviewishere. Speakingofstability,theTempusisauniquerunningshoethatblendsafirmerEVAframewithasofterPwrrunPB(PEBAfoam)core. Sothislightweight(8.9-ounces)stabilitytraineriscushioned,supportive,andextremelyversatile–whetheryou’reusingitasaneverydaytrainer,long-distancecruiser,oratempotrainerat4:30min/kmspeeds. AndlikemostcontemporarySauconyshoes,thetrue-to-sizeupperisbreathable,secure,andcomfortableontheinside. 4)NewBalanceFreshFoam1080V12 BuyfromNewbalance Oneofthegreatthingsaboutathickly-stackedshoelikethe1080isthatmileage-friendlycushioningisavailablenomatterhoworwhereyouland.The8mmheeloffsetistheperfectmiddlegroundtoo. Theoutsoleissegmentedintomultiplepieces,alayoutthatallowsittoflextogetherwiththesoftmidsole.Thesoftblownrubberontheforefootmufflesthelandingsanddeliversdependabletraction. TheFreshFoam1080V12isequallyenjoyableasthelastyear’sV11,withdeepcushioningandlivelyresponsivenessblendedinequalquantities.Everythingthatyouneedtoknowaboutthe1080isinourdetailedreview. Also,the1080V12istheperfectlong-distancecruiserforforefootandmidfootstrikerswhoalsoliketheirupperstobecomfortable. Thesoftupperisextremelycomfortable.Thetoe-boxissoft,andthestretchyknitmeshwillaccommodatemostfootprofiles.Wideandextra-widewidthsareoptionalifyouneedthem. 5)AsicsNovablastV2 BuyfromZappos.com TheAsicsNovablast2doesnotfeellikearunningshoewitha10mmheeloffset,andthat’swhyit’sincludedhere. WecanthanktheNova2’sbeveledheelandrocker-shapedmidsole.Here,asingle-densityconstructioninarockerprofilemakesthetransitionprocesssmoothandlinear. Theforefootisnoticeablybroaderthantherear,thusformingasupportiveandcushionedfrontmidsoleforfootstrikeversatility.Theoutsolerubberissplitundertheforefoottoenhancethecushioningsoftness. Despitethethickmidsole,theNovablast2feelsanythingbutslow.TherockershapeandresilientFlytefoammaterialaddasenseofquicknesstotheride.Thefinalproductisaversatilerunningshoethat’scomfortableenoughtobeadailytrainerandahigh-mileageshoe. Thelowlevelofrearfootstabilityistheonly‘gotcha’ontheNovablast2.Onthebrightside,that’saconditionalopinion. Inotherwords,theNovablast2excelsonstraightroadruns,butwillstruggleinfastcornersoruneventerrainbecauseofitsscoopedheeldesign.Also,theupperhasalongandnarrowfit–aquirkthat’scommoninrecentAsicsrunningshoes. Category2:Speedtrainersandracers 6)AdidasBoston10 Buyfromadidas ThereleaseoftheadizeroBoston10andadios6raisedafeweyebrowsearlierthisyear. TheBoston10,inparticular,wasunlikeanymodelthatprecededit.Insteadofthelow-profilespeedsterthatitoncewas,theBoston10transformedintoacushionedpacerwithahighlevelofridecomfort. TheBoston,butonlyinname.Thisisabrandnewproduct. The‘Energyrods’oftheBoston10. That’snotall.ThemidsoleabandonedtheBoost+EVAcombinationforastackofresilientLightstrikeProandfirmLightstrikeEVA. TheBoston10isalsoequippedwiththe‘Energyrods’–asetofthreetubesthataddtransition-friendlystiffness. Onlythesnug,classicallystyledracerupperfeelsfamiliar.ThesyntheticsuedeandspacermeshexteriorisavisualthrowbacktotheretroadizeroBoston. We’vebeentestingthisshoeforseveralmonthsnow,andwefoundtheBostontobeanexcellentforefootstriker’sshoe.ThoughtheBostonhasan8mmheel-to-toedrop,theforefootstackhasahigherpercentageoftheLightstrikeProfoam. Thus,mostofadidas’slatestfoamcompoundisaccessibletoforefootandmidfootstrikers.Thestifftubesunderthefrontguidethefoottowardspush-offswithoutwastingenergy. Finally,theultra-grippysectionoftheContinentalrubberoutsoleisalsoavailableundertheforefoot.It’sworthunderscoringthatdespitetheLightstrikeProfoam(TPUblend,weassume),therideisverystablethroughouttheloadingprocess. At$140,theperformancefeature-ladenBoston10offersincrediblevalueformoney. 7)BrooksHyperionTempo BuyfromZappos.com MostpeoplewilllookattheHyperionTempo’s8mmheel-to-toeoffsetandwonderiffull-contactlandingsaredoable. After50milesoftesting,wecanassureyou–itisperfectlycapable. Likemostrunningshoes,theheeldropisn’ttheonlythingthatdecideshowtheshoebehavesundervariousfoot-strikepatterns.Onealsohastotaketheoverallmidsoleandoutsoledesignintoaccount,andthisiswheretheBrooksHyperionshines. ThemidsoleismadeofthefeatherweightDNAFlash.Soeventhoughtheheelis8mmhigherandhasmorevolume,itisn’tmuchheavierthantheforefoot.There’sverylittleweightdiscrepancyacrossthelengthofthemidsole,sotheridefeelsveryuniform. It’salsoworthmentioningthatthemidsoleedgeisalmostflushwiththeupper.Thismeansthatthere’snooverhangforthefoottocatch,thusresultinginaridebehaviorthat’sfriendlyforforefootstrikers. Ithelpsthattheoutsolehasanaggressiveluggeometryforexcellenttractionduringlandings,transitions,andtake-offs.Ourfullreviewishere. 8)Tempotrainer:NewBalanceFuelCellRebelV2 BuyfromAmazon.com Thoughwe’vecategorizedtheRebelundertempotrainers,it’scapableofmuchmore.It’sactuallymarketedasaspeedshoe,butitcanbeanexcellentshoefordailyruns.Ourwear-testedreviewoftheRebelishere. ThethoroughredesignofFuelCellRebelmakesitanexcellentrunningshoefortemporuns,andwithoutanydilutionintheridecomfort.TheFuelCellfoamontheRebelisthesameastheoneusedintheFuelcellElite. TheRebelV2isexcellentforforefootstrikers. Infunctionalterms,thattranslatesintoahighlyresponsiveandcushionedrideexperience.TheFuelcellpartalsokeepstheweightlow;theRebelV2isa7.2-ounceshoe. ThelowbulkalsobuildstheRebel’scaseasaspeedtrainerorarace-dayshoe.Thecomfortableandwell-ventilatedupperkeepsitsimplewithaminimaldesign. Anasymmetricallacingdesigneasesthelacingpressure. Askewedlacingdesignalleviatesthepressureovertheforefoot,andtheperforatedtonguefitsflushoverthefoot.TheRebels’fitrunsshort,sobuyahalfsizelargerthanyourusualsize. SeveralaspectsoftheRebelmakeitasuitableforefoot-strikingshoe.The6mmheel-to-toeoffsettranslatesintoawell-distributedcushioningspread. Thewideforefootmidsolecreatesacushionedandsupportivebaseforlandings,transitions,andpush-offs–andthegenerousoutsolerubbercoveragehelpstoo. 9)Low-profiletrainer:SauconyKinvara13 BuyfromZappos.com ThoughthepastKinvara’shaveusuallyprovedtobeanexcellentchoiceformidfootandforefootlandingrunners,theKinvara12and13areevenbetter. TheKinvara12’smidsoleandoutsolewasredesignedtomaketheridequalityevenbetter.Theflaredmidsoleresultedinbetteroverallstability,andanewlyintroducedgrooveontheoutsoleledtoanimprovedtransitionquality. Thoughtheforefootoutsolewasstill(mostly)madeoutoffoam,thebetterlugdefinitionresultedinimprovedtraction. TheKinvara13isnowhere,butsinceitsharesthesamemidsoleandoutsolewiththeK-12,nothinghaschanged–atleastfromarideperspective.Andno,itdoesnothavethePwrrun+insolefromtheGuide/Ride15andPeregrine12. A4mmheel-to-toedropmeansthattheforefootandheelmidsolethicknessdonotdifferbyalot.TheKinvara13’sresilientPwrruncushioning(EVAfoam)ensuresthatlandings–beitheelorforefoot–arecomfortableyetefficient. Thelightweightupperrunstrue-to-size,anddeliversasmoothandsecurefit.Apartialsleevekeepsthetonguelockedinplace.LearnmoreabouttheKinvara13inourdetailedreview. 10)Marathonshoe:SauconyEndorphinSpeedV2 BuyfromZappos.com AtanMSRPof$160,theSauconyEndorphinSpeedV2offersthebestvaluewithinthefoam+plateracingshoecategory. Afull-lengthNylonplateisencasedinsidealivelyPEBAXfoam(PwrrunPB)core,anditsbaseisanchoredundertheforefoot. Thefirmbaseoftheplatedialsinahighlevelofstiffnesstothecushionedforefoot,thusmakingthepush-offphaseefficient.There’sareasonwhySauconycallsthisdesign‘Speedroll’,afterall. The8mmheeldropisderivedfromthestackheightsof27.5mm(forefoot)and35.5mm(heel),sothere’sabundantcushioningundertheforefoot. Mostoftheoutsolerubberexistsundertheforefoot.Themidandrearfootaresofterduetothelargerareasofexposedmidsolefoam. Thoughforefootandmidfootstrikersmaynotfullybenefitfromthesnappyheelpartoftheplate,thespeed-friendlyforefootoffersasatisfyingblendofcushioningandquickturnovers.Also,mostofthedurableoutsolerubberissituatedundertheforefootfortraction. Thelightweightupperfitstrue-to-sizeandisextremelycomfortable.Sauconyhasbeenknockingoutoftheparkwithitsnear-perfectupperdesigns. OurreviewoftheEndorphinSpeedV1willhelp,(REVIEWLINK)asboththeV1andV2arevirtuallyindistinguishable. 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