Name your best pair of walking/running shoes ever owned.
Understand best is subjective for everyone but let’s just say comfort tops the list followed by aesthetics/looks and then the price.
What is/was the best pair running/walking shoes you have ever owned?
Ashfield on 01/01/2022 - 13:34
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I loved the kayano but last pair I bought the soles wore out in a few months (I'm 80 kilos). I ask Asics for exchange and they said it's a running shoe and not made for normal walking. Changed to venture, not as comfortable but last very long.
This is a phot of the condition
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3or82kmgGAGRVXD1AAnd photo of the soles
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5cFZgLXHGgeSkyNd8Yea, i use kayanos because of their great arch support, but they do wear out very fast.
Love Kayanos - went from 27 to 28, both have been great, got a lot of mileage from both.
They are 100% a high mileage running shoe.
If you buy them save the cushioning when you need it when putting in the kms running.
After a few months relegate them to walking shoes and buy a new pair for running.
I've seen first hand people who use them for netball and indoor cricket and they last less then 60 minutes before they blow out on the sides.
The ones that got me out of trouble. Cost Priceless
Same. The ones I was wearing when I got chased by a grizzly bear. Unfortunately my camping buddy was wearing an inferior brand.
Yes. I guess fortunate for my buddy too because it was all over very quickly.
Comfort - Brooks Glycerin 19
aesthetics/looks - If I'm lookin' at my Runners, I'm not running.
Price - whatever Rebel says…
Sportitude in Adelaide have a better range and pricing IMO.
Kayano, but I only buy them when on clearance at ~$150, never RRP. I use them daily for work and each pair lasts me about a year, depending on how much abuse I put them through.
Brooks - the level of arch support you need will dictate the model.
I went from Kayanos to Nimbus to Brooks years back. Pleasantly surprised to pay only $125 for my top of the range Brooks during the 2nd wave last year.
Speaking of waves; Mizuno also do great runners but are a smaller fit.
NB 990
Comfort wise: full sole ASICS gels that I had in the 90's. Super soft cushiony feel. Lasted a couple of years until got too much sea water at footy training
.Ultraboosts. I find them lightweight, comfortable and supportive. I also have about 6 pairs for some reason… :P
These killing my feet for some reason …
Same. I don't think I like the arch support
Love the look of my UBs but they're far from the most comfortable.
Love ultraboosts but the don't seem to last well for me.
A long time ago when Merrell were still making quality products I had a pair in the range of waterpro or something like that.
Very light walking sneaker that survived travelling Europe in winter snow and 3 months backpacking South East Asia.
Sadly Merrell is not what they used to be.What happened to Merrell :( They had some amazing minimally soled wide fit unisex sneakers that I walked about 70km of a 100km walking event in a few years ago. Now all their women's range seems to be narrow fit and "fashionable" instead of practical (ie. washable).
What happened for the other 30km?
I put on some Hokas >.> Not that they really helped. My feet were already too sore from pounding the ground and the narrow Hokas just gave me blisters and squashed my toes. Switched back to the Merrells for the last few km anyway. It was a Coasttrek 100km fundraiser from Palm Beach to Coogee so way too much concrete in the second half.
Brand management rather than proper designers
Kayano
Allbirds wool runner. That was the first time I paid full price for a pair of shoes but it was worth it. Extremely comfortable and last forever. I walk/run/trek with my dogs for at least 6-7km everyday and my current pair is about 1.5 years old. Still look as new.
Tip: pay using your 28 degree card to avoid bank's exchange fees.
Holly crap! I was one of the early backer on kick starter. Can't believe they are billion dollar company now.
They are indeed very comfy!
Ohh yeah I have those. The sole did not last very long and lost all its grooves becoming way too slippery. Otherwise very comfortable.
Brooks addiction walkers
Running, Brooks Transcend.
Walking, I prefer hiking book, tonnes of support. Got some Salomon XA Pro at the moment.
Asics Court FF 2
Brooks Adrenaline
Dunlop KT26
Osaga KT26. Dunlop changed the shape of the little wedges on the sole in the 1980s?
(to reduce warranty claims for wearing out), and they just didn't feel as goodInteresting Wikipedia fact:
"The KT26 is the standard issue shoe for inmates in Australia's correctional facilities. A modified version if the shoe featuring velcro instead of laces is most common in maximum security facilities while laces are still permitted for inmates in minimum security jail."
Damn prisoners living like king's with their kt26 shoes. Greatest shoes ever made.
@pufffdragon: Perfect for rainforest walks, especially uphill. Got to give inmates a chance to escape?
@payless69: Just noticed Big W don't seem to sell them anymore. Been buying them there for years. Looks like they've replaced them with a Slazenger knock off now.
Do you know of any other place that sell them?
@pufffdragon: They make only sporadic appearances. Better ask my walking buddies as I am due for a new pair as well.
@Jackson: If I would ask the age question to any of them ladies outwalking me with their KT-26 I would long be dead!
Brooks Beast
For walking anywhere all day - Merrell Chameleon
For running and walking on non rocky terrain - Nike Pegasus Trail 1I bought my first chameleons back in 2003. Bl**dy briliant shoes.
My first pair lasted 8 years, also brought about 2003. I have 3 color ways in my cupboard.
ASICS cumulus. Most comfy shoes I have ever had.
Merrell. Mid-2000s.
Any particular model?
Trax Firenze from Kmart back in the day.
Sketchers GoWalk.
I came to see if anyone mentioned these, I have the GoRun and they were bloody comfortable for walking around. They were a bit soft in the sole so I don't know if they would be any good for running, but they were great for injured feet
Hijacking a little.
Same question but with a recommendation for those who use orthotics?
Re: Orthotics.
Newbalance 624 MX624OD5 (Brown Suede) , Newbalance 624 MX624AB5 (Black Leather), Rockport K52343 (Brown Leather), Rockport K71185 (Black Leather). They are all large shoes and the best that I can find for orthotics. I have a wide foot and in Newbalance I use 4E and in Rockport 'W' widths.
These codes may vary slightly when they bring out similar, but in new models. Eg I think that NewBalance 624V4 & 624V5 are basically the same fit.
The Newbalance MX624OD5 are what I wear nearly all of the time. They are not all that durable, and the heel pads can eventually lose their oomph, but often I buy them online with discount code etc. and have a couple of pairs in reserve.
I think that the variable width also helps with fitting the orthotics, but that may just be because my orthotics are 'made-to-measure' my wide feet.
Always loosen laces well to minimise damaging the heel pad (which helps to stop heel slippage).
Some examples of what I would buy are:-
https://www.newbalance.com.au/pd/624v5/MX624OD5-4E-09.html?g…
https://www.newbalance.com.au/pd/624v5/MX624AB5-4E-08.html?g…
https://www.amazon.com.au/ROCKPORT-World-Tour-Classic-Chocol…I would add Asics Nimbus, had a pair of these with orthos and they were great
Keens waterproof low cut. I did walks all over NZ, Scotland and China. In China toured Yunnan and it rained relentlessly. Feet stayed comfortable and dry the whole time while everyone else went to rubber boots, plastic bags etc. I’m about to buy another pair…
A 1970's pair of Australian Army boots - the "shoe" boot with a long tongue providing water-proofing almost to my knees and anti-punga steel plate in the soles, bought for $10 from a Skippy at the Waiouru army base [ he was all out of tactical nuclear warheads]. I wore those for ten years on city streets, bush trails, gardening, factory work and chasing goats up mountains.
They would pass for shoes at a glance, and nothing got through them.
I'm happy with the North Face I got three years ago. Not quite as " second skin" but a lot quicker to get on and off.
Nike zoom Pegasus 36. I now have 4 pairs and also a Nike Pegasus trail 3. I have high arches and one foot is wider than the other by half a size almost, so Nike have been the only ones that comfortably fit on both feet 🥰
Nike Free Runs. I was bit concerned about cushioning since they're marketed as 'barefoot' shoes, but these were comfortable the minute I slipped my feet into them. Incredibly lightweight and felt like they just molded to my feet, like a sock. I wear these at work where I'm on my feet all day
Funny you should ask… I should mention my bizarre choice. I walk slow, have lung issues, but walk an hour a day usually on a dirt road or single track. I have hiked extensively, even across the Bibbulmun track and the ElCamino.
On hikes with backpack I wear light hikers till lunch and then change into the bare foot five finger shoes. I wear five finger sock anklets and carry a new pair for each day, they also fit in my vibram 5finger shoes. I no longer suffer from blisters and it is awesome not to put hikers back on after lunch. It is like starting a new day.
Walking my 3-4km daily off road dog- walk I pretty much exclusively wear believe it or not, the heavy duty Crocs! Been doing this for years now. I live in Crocs and wear them all the time, have many pairs. The hiking ones I use last about 1000kms, or maybe 6-12 months if I just wear them for my walks (not hikes). Surprisingly comfortable and doable even in rain and mud!! But if it is really cold I wear shoes, in tassie I only need to wear shoes on maybe 5 or 10 days per year. Love the crocs I only buy them when they are on serious specials at say 50% off etc. And yes, I am on a pension and don't need to dress to impress lol.
Barefoot five fingers are fantastic. Been using for almost 10 years. On my 5th pair 😂
Picture checks out
Any Asics Gel. A few weeks to mould the gel to your feet, and they are magic
The gel in ASICS "Gel" shoes is basically placebo
.. and very heavy
UA HOVR Phantom 2 Intelliknit. I'll never buy anything without intelliknit again.
I've tried many of the shoes mentioned here, and I always wore out the back of the heel and quickly becomes painful to wear. Yeah, obviously it's me not the shoes, but the UA's tolerate my poor technique. They're more like socks with soles.
Seems that UA HOVR Phantom 2 Intelliknit is meant for running, are you using these as walking shoes? Not too tight?
Definitely not too tight, they're the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.
I wear them for all occasions, so am wearing out the sole prematurely.
(MapMyRun recently emailed me to say I've reached 50% of the lifetime distance for these shoes (after 2 years continuous wear), but the soles will be smooth by then, if not worn entirely through.
Just walking, I would expect they would last a very long time.
The original Dunlop KT-26 (some 35 years ago)
Unfortunately now they are just a budget buy. Crap qualityI was amazed by the bounce when I bought them years ago. They must have changed the composition because when I later bought them from Kmart/Big W? they were not the same.
ASICs unequivocally. Great for wider feet and inserting your professional orthotics.
Once you work out your size, easy to order on Amazon where it is a quarter of the price in OZ.
Maybe an Ascis model is important .. they sell more than x1 model.
A cheap black and green no-name pair of sneakers I got from Walmart in the US back in 2012 when the exchange rate was in our favour. It was marked down to US$10 from memory so I paid something like AU$7 to $8. But the thing is they lasted forever and were so comfortable; I wore them for years. They were amazing and I wish I could have bought 10 of them to bring home. I had to throw them out because they became dangerous on wet surfaces with the worn tread.
Current favorites.
Saucony Iso ride 13 - Nice cushioning daily trainer/long run shoe.
Fuel cell prism - Nice for faster runs good value.
Fuel cell echo - Great shoe for mixed paces and amazing value.
I was fan of New Balance Freshfoam 1080 series but haven't been able to find any at a decent price and feel saucony iso ride 13 may be better.
Totally agree on the New Balance Fuelcell Prism (ran 850km on a pair last year) and the Fuelcell Echo. I thought the Echo would be just ok because it was so cheap, but it really is an awesome, light, well-fitting shoe.
I've also enjoyed a few excellent fresh foams (Zante) and the racing series RC1400, RC1600 over the years.
Doc Martins
Brooks Defyance 11 .
Spent alot of time experimenting different brands/styles but the search ended here and for sure.
Asics GT 2000
On Cloudflyer
I run alot so pricing doesn't bother me too much, although I buy on sale. Love my Altra Lone Peaks, 5.0 in particular. For road running I like Saucony ride for a bit more cushion, otherwise Altra Escalante racers for tempo.
For trail running I have been using Inov-8 Roclite for years, many different types depending on what has been on sale. BarefootInc in Mascot stocked them and you could always get a bargain there but they don't have them anymore 😥. I still have the Roclite 245's I got about 10 years ago and they still fit as well as the day they were bought. They have seen a lot of running (2-3000k) and casual wear
For road running I have been using the Brooks pure series, they suit me well even though they are for someone lighter than me. But I have changed to Mizuno Wave shadow recently because Brooks have discontinued the Pure line and their other runners have rubbish colours.
And I have a pair of Nike wildhorse trail runners for general walking and larking about
I buy kayanos for ~$150. Run 500kms in them over time, then they become my daily shoes, then my yard shoes. I have done this for 4 pairs.
However, I bought some rocker shoes, asics glideride 2. Very different feel. Actually works. Not a gimmick, but has drawbacks. E.g. It reduces ankle flexion, train in these exclusively and you will become less flexible, calf possible get weaker etc.
Maybe I'm not 'old' enough yet, but I just wear whatever the hell is my size, black, and a good price.
Got a $50 pair of adidas air foam runners, very light, soft sole and they breath really easy.
Brooks Ghost and Chaco sandals
Scarpa. I have long narrow feet and they fit me nicely. I find that most brands don't go long enough and most are too wide.
I've had 2 pairs of Scarpa boots so far and neither needed "breaking in" (which is the term for your foot adjusting itself to fit the shoe as I understand it).
I have been told that the lifetime of a pair of shoes is around 1000 km.
Another hint: your feet swell over the day, so you often need shoes 1 size bigger than you think.
Nike Free RN 2018
Minimal but still comfortable, absolutely love running in them. I wish I could find a comparable non-Nike version. The new ones look very different. It seems most shoe companies have moved on from the minimal "sock-like" running shoe craze.
For trails I have a pair of Topo Runventure 3. I don't know a lot about trail shoes but these have a wide toe box to spread out, very happy with them.
Agree, am a huge fan of the Nike Free RN 2018 and older ones. I did get late 2021 ones and they are pretty good. Cant remember what number I'm up to of the Nike free RN, once the 2 that I have at the moment fall apart, I will most likely get another pair.
I did try the allbirds, but found that they kept coming off on the heel even though they were the correct size, ended up returning them unfortunately.
At one stage, I did go to a professional foot store, did all the measurements and tests as I wanted to get some proper walking shoes, after returning the 3rd different type that didn't work for me, I went back to the Nikes.
I actually picked up a pair of these from Kmart for $25 today. I hope that they are the Nike RN replacements. Will see how they go for $25.
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/recycled-knit-sneakers/3414…
Interesting, thanks for your insights! I was wondering how the Allbirds would compare. Were they the running version? May give them a try.
I've resorted to trying to find second-hand pairs on ebay. The 2018's seem to be popular and therefore expensive, but earlier versions (e.g. the RN 2017) is more affordable.
The Allbirds were the Men's Tree Runners. Very comfortable, but just kept slipping off my heel. I'm pretty sure that it was free shipping and free to return them, so its worth a shot to try them.
Go try the new late 2021 free RN
https://www.nike.com/au/t/free-run-5-road-running-shoes-DBLJ…They are pretty good, the model before them felt horrible.
Damn I got these when for like 40 bucks as el' cheapos when I had a staff discount but they ended up being the best shoe I've had until the soft foam gave out. I have bought the more recent releases but they aren't nearly as comfy.
Nike react flyknit
$300 reebok pumps I got on ozbargain for $110 on here 6-7 years ago.
- Always wanted them as a kid
- so many comments from randoms
- the laces were fake, basically slip-ons aka comfy as hell.
Nike ZoomX Invincible Run. Like running on clouds.
Vaporfly Next% for races.
Ultra Boosts for walking.This!! Minus the ultraboosts.
Also Hoka Clifton’s for longer easy runs.
Came here to post about these. My hubby bought some about 6 months ago, and the foam is already wrecked underneath (pieces actually chipping off) just from running on footpaths/treadmill - nothing offroad! He bought me a pair, hoping it would be good for bad back/leg joint issues. They're super soft, but I find after about 10 mins of walking in them, my calves are so sore I can barely stand up. Could be a "me" issue with my stupid disability. Also they're made for running, not walking, so maybe I'm using different muscles that they're intended for? Either way, probably wouldn't buy these again.
have you tried the alphafly's yet? I went from invincible run -> alphafly and they are next level
I have but don't think it's worth using them on a regular basis purely based on the cost. I agree they are good as well.
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kayano