Raise your hand if running has become a bit of daily therapy for you. Yeah, me too!
Running has long been one of my single-most defining acts of daily affirmation. For me, lacing up a pair of running shoes and going for something as a simple, 30-minute run is the best way to relieve stress, life my spirits and widen my perspective about just about everything in life, but especially so lately during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While there are no races to focus on for the time being, now is the perfect time to enjoy running and work on your fitness. Being mindful and soaking in the benefits of a daily run can make everything else in your life go more smoothly amid other life challenges. And for those reasons and more, it’s a great time to invest in a new pair of running shoes.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best models to consider this summer, no matter if you’re a new runner, a lapsed runner starting up again or a longtime committed runner who rarely misses a day.
Jack of All Trades
1. Brooks Launch 7, $100
Weight: 9.2 oz. (men), 8.1 oz (women)
Heel-Toe Offset: 10mm
Who says good running shoes have to cost an arm and a leg? The Launch 7 is a lightweight, energetic everyday training shoe, and one of the very best in the $100 price range. If you’re looking for an affordable, training shoe that’s versatile enough to endure long runs and also quick enough to run faster, shorter workouts, the Launch 7 is the shoe for you.
Plus: The latest version of the Launch has been updated with a new, one-piece engineered mesh upper that improves the fit and breathability and gives it a modern, lifestyle-oriented aesthetic.
Minus: For runners who need a bit of support to offset pronation, this shoe might be a bit too soft and unstructured, especially for long runs.
Smooth Operator
2. Saucony Kinvara 11, $110
Weight: 7.8 oz. (men’s size 9.0); 6.9 oz. (women’s size 7.0)
Heel-Toe Offset: 4mm
A lightweight cruiser with a low heel-toe offset (4mm), the Kinvara is a fun, versatile shoe that will make you feel fast and nimble every time you run. It’s low-slung geometry, minimal structure and soft, smooth ride promote quick-cadence running, agility and good running form. Whether you’re running fast or slow, you’ll feel the positive vibes it gives off.
Plus: With a new, more resilient midsole material, the Kinvara maintains the lightweight, low-to-the-ground feeling it has always been known for with a better fit and a more responsive ride than ever before.
Minus: The outsole is comprised mostly of exposed foam and two small rubber segments, meaning it’s not going to be quite as durable as many other shoes on the market.
Cushy Cruiser
3. New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v10, $150
Weight: 9.5 oz. (men’s size 9.0); 7.9 oz. (women’s size 7.0)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm
New Balance didn’t rest on its laurels with one of its top-selling flagship shoes after 10
years. Instead, it broke the mold and updated this premium high-mileage, neutral cruiser
into a masterwork model that is lighter, better-fitting, more energetic and more
aesthetically pleasing. The shoe is built with data-driven design, incorporating
thousands of runners footstrike patterns to create an optimal ride for a wide range of
runners.
Plus: A new stretchy, form-fitting upper and a softer, cushier and more energetic Fresh
Foam X midsole foam have made a great shoe even better.
Minus: A few runners will understandably feel these shoes run a bit too snug and
confining.
Structured Stabilizer
4. ASICS Gel-Kayano 26, $160
Weight: 11.1 oz. (men’s size 9.0); 9.2 oz. (women’s size 7.0)
Heel-Toe Offset: 10mm
The Kayano has long been known as one of the best-fitting and most comfortable everyday running shoes for overpronating runners with low to flat arches. It’s a classic stability shoe with firmer medial-side foam to help offset a runner’s feet rolling inward upon hitting the ground, but it also provides plenty of cushioning and long-haul comfort thanks to the Gel cushioning units in the heel and forefoot.
Plus: Even if you mostly run in neutral shoes without much structure, the Kayano 26 can give you a twinge of additional support during the latter miles of a long run or race.
Minus: It’s a tad bit heavier than some contemporary training shoes and it also carries a higher price tag than many models.
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