Question:My wife has recently taken up running and now averages about 20-25 miles
a week. She's looking for some new shoes as her old ones have now
become worn out. What is/are the best brand(s) to buy? How long should
they last and what is an approximate cost?
Answer:
The best shoe ... my recommendation is to call Road Runner Sports
800/551-5558. I've used them for many years.
1. They have well trained personnel and database to match shoe(s) with
runner.
2. Very good return policy. Any problems or just don't like, send them
back. I have on several occassions, with no problems.
3. Very competitive prices, good selection.
That's my tip for the day :). I am just your average customer (no ties
to Road Runner).
You may want to look at the Saucony site (http:www.saucony.com). They
have a questionaire that will recommend a shoe for your wife based on her
running habits. Roadrunner sports (1-800-551-5558) is a good source if
you don't mind catalog ordering, also if you know what you want, Eastbay
(1-800-826-2205). I HAVE to try on the shoes (wierd feet) so I buy at
the local running store. One option is to try them on locally, and then
order from a catalog if the price is better.
The best thing for your wife to do is go to a running store with
competent people. Posting a request in this group is a good way to
locate ones in your area.
The staff will watch her stride and foot strike and evaluate her
mileage and goals and then recommend a variety of shoes for her to
try. Normally, they will watch her run in various shoes and compare
her feedback to what they see.
This is why you might pay a little more at the running store than if
you ordered the same shoe through the mail. Believe me, it's worth
the expertise to pay $5 or $10 or even $20 bucks more for a pair of
shoe that really works for her. I find the idea of trying shoes on in
the store and then ordering through the mail to be completely
reprehensible.
I also think this is unethical. However, I think it is completely ethical,
not to mention cost-effective, to get fitting advice and buy your first
pair of shoes from a running shoe store and then buy your subsequent pairs
of the same shoes from the cheapest place you can find them. Twice,
I have bought a pair of shoes from my local store, whose owner is a friend,
only to find that he can no longer get that same model when I am ready for
a second pair. I then tried mail order, Road Runner Sports (no
affiliation, blah, blah, blah), and both times they had the shoes in stock.
And they were $20 a pair cheaper than what I paid at the shoe store.
With one of the models I wanted, the New Balance 865s, I bought a pair from
the shoe store in October 1994. When I went back about 6 months later for
another pair I was told this model had been discontinued. I then called
RRS and since they still had them in stock I ordered 2 pair. I called RRS
again last week and these shoes were *still* in stock. So much for being
discontinued. The person at RRS who took my order claimed that New Balance
was making special production runs of these shoes just for RRS and that
they weren't available at shoe stores. Anyone out there know if this
is true?
Road Runners Sports has advertised frequently that shoes are available *only*
through them. Forexample, I bought Saucony Azurras for a long time after they
had been discontinued retail, and I believe that they rescuscitated the Nike
Epirus after it was unavailable elsewhere.
New Balance will make specials on any past shoe you are willing to order
enough of. The only rub, if any, is that they are made overseas not here
in the USA. Most of their in line running (training) shoes are made here
in the states.
Depends on where she prefers to run. If it is on a fairly flat surface, such
as an alley or well paved road in the city, the best shoes she can find is
Nike Air or similar. They cost about $50 here in CA and last for about one
year (given my weight of 145 lbs and about 14 miles a week schedule).
If she prefers running on a rugged terrain, she will need cross-training type
of shoes and I beleive Nike is got a few pairs of those too. I have tried some
other brand names too but so far found Nike Air to be the best - they are
light, absorb shocks well, and fit the feet perfectly.
This may be true for other NB models but all 5 pairs of the 865s I own have
Made in USA stitched on the tongue.
I have been ordering shoes from Road Runner Sports for 13+ years and they
are very helpful and service oriented. I wouldn't mind buying shoes
locally but since I wear a women's narrow there are none to be found. I
have only found one Nike in narrow and didn't like the shoe near as well
as the New Balance 700's I've been using. New Balance is the only brand I
have found with many styles to choose from in narrow widths for women.
They also have a web site something like www.newbalance.com.
i'm surprised no-one else has said this, but...
while mail-order is a apparently a good way of getting lower
cost and limmited distribution shoes, your wife would be best
going to a shop that specialises in running gear (not just a
shop that sells running shoes as fashion wear), at least for
her first pair. after that, it makes sense to get the same
model for a lower price from elsewhere. but for a first pair
of shoes, the extra cost of a specialist shop covers the price
of quality advice. the best database will have problems if
it can't see you wife's feet!
i was buying a new pair of shoes yersterday. if i'd used mail
order it would have taken months to find a good-fitting pair
(but i may have particularly strange feet, i suppose) - everything
felt too tight across the front of my foot...
