Like Cinderella at the ball, you’ve got to find the shoe that fits. But with so many shoes, so much information and so much hype around some particular options, finding that glass slipper can seem impossible. But do not fret, we are here to help.
Since opening the doors to the Shoe Room in October, we have, by now, performed thousands of gait-analyses on every kind of runner using every kind of shoe available to us. With this, we’ve compiled a heap of data showing what works for people. We have our favourites, sure, but here are some models that fly under the radar for most people, but we think deserve some love.
Hoka Skyflow
Neutral (Every Day)
Drop: 5mm
Weight: 280g
Price: £150
All is not what it seems with the Skyflow, which is often confused for its better known compatriots from Hoka, the Clifton and Bondi. Whilst it may look like a regular ol’ Hoka, the Skyflow packs its own unique punch into a daily runner thanks to its full bed of super-critical EVA foam. In layman’s terms, that makes for a comfortable, encouraging ride, perfect for easy days and equally at home on a tempo run. We love it for its stability too, which has been proven during gait-analyses day after day.
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Adidas Adistar BYD
Neutral (Every Day)
Drop: 6mm
Weight: 290g
Price: £165
Adding a new shoe to the lineup of a mega-brand like Adidas usually means they think they have something interesting on their hands. After all, they already offer just about everything you could imagine. The Adistar BYD definitely fits that bill: different, interesting. A combination of Repetitor and LightstrikePro foams gives durability and zippiness in equal measure; and when combined with the Distance Drive plate there is enough stiffness for elevated paces. We think this is best suited as a long-run shoe, particularly if you are a heavier runner or find other offerings too soft.
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Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2
Neutral (Race Day)
Drop: 9mm
Weight: 219g
Price: £230
“I didn’t know Salomon make road shoes”. Well now you do. Having jumped off of the trail and onto the tarmac a few years ago, it’s admittedly taken them a few misfires before getting serious about the roads. The S/Lab Phantasm 2 is the French label’s premier racing option. Tipping the scales at 219g, it is a little heavier than its competitors, but provides a nice contrast to the uber-squishy, mega-stacked options on the market. Firmer under the forefoot with incredible traction, it reminds us of racing flats of old with a carbon plated twist, making it a choice for shorter racing. Outsourcing the upper to Matryx was a nice touch as it comes in sleek and stylish in the all-white colourway. Being made in France is just the icing on the cake. Runs a little long, so worth trying .5 of a size down from your usual.
In Store Exclusive.
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On Cloudsurfer Next
Neutral (Every Day)
Drop: 6mm
Weight: 273g
Price: £140
Possibly one of the most common questions people have in-store is “What do you think of On Running? I see them everywhere”, and yes, don’t worry, you aren’t the only one who thought the brand is called ‘QC’, ‘QN’, ‘Oncloud’, or similar: we’ve heard just about every iteration. Truth is, like any shoe brand, some people will love them, others prefer something else. But the Cloudsurfer Next is one of the Swiss brand’s quiet standouts. Designed as a daily trainer, the Next offers a true ‘do-it-all’ feel thanks to a lower stack height and weight giving a snappy feel at quicker paces and CloudTec Phase cushioning keeping it comfy for easy miles. Admittedly, the initial reaction was that they feel firm under-foot, but it gently mellowed out, making for a smooth ride.
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Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2
Stability
Drop: 10mm
Weight: 292g
Price: £150
Since the retirement of Usain Bolt, Puma had fallen away from the sport in the eyes of most casual athletics and running fans. Those more nerdy about such things as shoes and pro athletes however have seen a steady rise towards the top for the German brand. The ForeverRun Nitro 2 is just one of a strong line-up of shoes, but one which we think is overshadowed by its more fancy siblings of Deviate Nitro, Fast-R3 and Deviate Nitro Elite. The ForeverRun is a daily shoe with the feel of traditional trainers from a decade ago with the elevated tech of today. Stability is moderate, making it also an option for neutral runners looking for a trusty ride. Nitro foam feels sufficiently comfortable and durable for longer runs, with enough ‘guts’ to go through the gears.
