It’s 2015 and gone now are the days of simple canvas shoes used by the likes of Roger Bannister. With the running shoe market now flooded with innovations, philosophies and promises that make increasingly less sense, HUH. has the rundown of the latest and greatest shoes in 2015.
Aesthetics: 7/10
Performance: 8/10
Durability: 7/10
Weight: Female - 268 g (size UK 5.5). Male - 302g (size UK 8.5)
Puma debuted the IGNITE earlier this year in a flashy advert featuring the brand’s star promoter Usain Bolt. Whilst the eye-catching IGNITE may not be enough to turn excited viewers into world class athletes, the shoes are certainly designed for performance with a slim racing profile. IGNITE foam supposedly gives similar energy return performance to adidas’s Boost technology. The shoe’s official description contains a plethora of buzzwords such as ‘ForEverFoam’ integrated in the heel to provide durability. The upshot is mid-weight, responsive and durable shoes, with testers reporting “feeling fast”. The Puma IGNITE is an excellent choice for fast, competitive running up to half marathon distance.
Aesthetics: 6/10
Performance: 9/10
Durability: 8/10
Weight: Female - 232g. Male - 284g
New Balance are keeping pace with running shoe innovations with the zany looking Fresh Foam Zante. New Balance seem to have taken inspiration from their popular featherweight MRC1600 racing flat road shoe to create a similar but more durable cushioned shoe. The extra support means more advanced runners could use this shoe for high mileage training without having to worry about it wearing out too fast. In addition the shoe remains very light and should perform well in races all the way up to the marathon. Considering the £95 price tag the Zante is decent value for money.
Aesthetics: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Durability: 8/10
Weight: Female - 182g. Male - 214g
The adidas Adizero BOOST 2.0 is another BOOST shoe, which has proven popular for world-class athletes and casual runners alike. No wonder, considering that Dennis Kimmito used a pair to break the world record in a remarkable 2014 Berlin marathon victory, hinting that adidas’s performance claims aren’t just hot air. The new design is a performance enhancing makeover of the original BOOST shoes, cutting down on weight from the soles. The shoes still provide plenty of cushioning and feature a narrow foot-hugging fit, making for a comfortable ride even after putting in hundreds of miles. Considering that this model is now selling at £55-£80 in most stores, they are a tempting choice.
Aesthetics: 7/10
Performance: 9/10
Durability: 9/10
Weight: Female - 200 g (size UK 5.5). Male - 228 g (size UK 8.5)
Nike spent eight years studying the biomechanics of shoeless running and the result was the Nike Free range. Known for their weightless, natural fit and casual aesthetic, the 5.0 version of the shoe continues in this vein and features “hexagonal flex grooves” for increased flexibility. The 5.0 also features a moulded sockliner which mimics your foot's shape and a low midsole profile to encourage a natural and efficient footstrike. The shoes are cushioned, yet featherweight and boast a contemporary urban look that makes them appealing for everyday casual wear. The Free 5.0 may not be the F1 car of the shoe world, but they are light and comfortable making them an attractive proposition for the amateur runner.
Aesthetics: 9/10
Performance: 7/10
Durability: 7/10
Weight: Female - 186g (size UK 5.5). Male - 227g (size UK 9)
Hoka One One claim to have produced a shoe which provides ample cushioning whilst staying acceptably light. Great for runners who need extra support, but also serves as a durable training shoe for the more serious runner without compromising speed too greatly. Boasting 34mm of rubber to burn through, these shoes score highly on comfort and durability. Ideal for long training runs and road races 10k and further.
Aesthetics: 5/10
Performance: 6/10
Durability: 10/10
Weight: Female - 185g. Male - 217g (Size UK 8.5)
Not to be outdone by new-fangled running brands, Nike really pushed the envelope when they debuted the Flyknit racer in 2013. In the 1980s, Nike presented research at the World Congress of Sports Medicine showing that adding 100 grams to a running shoe increased the aerobic demand of running by 1%, which translates to about 3 second difference per mile. They also found that the aerobic cost went back up when the shoes became too light and cut back on midsole cushioning, resulting in the runner’s muscles absorbing more landing shock. The Flyknit Racer offers the best of both worlds, being both astonishingly light at only 160g, but also providing plenty of heel and midsole cushioning, meaning that the shoe gives excellent racing performance from 5k even up to the marathon distance. These shoes come with a hefty price tag, but you can see why. High quality, water-resistant materials, sleek design and a durable Flyknit upper makes them one of the very best racing flats on the market.
Aesthetics: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Durability: 8/10
Weight: 160 grams (Size UK 8)
The GT-2003 is Asics' new release intended to give some extra support to runners who commonly over pronate (under pronation is when the foot rolls outwards, over pronation is when it rolls inwards). Built to keep your foot stable as you run, Asics promise a fluid ride with their SpEVA Midsole Material and ComforDry sock liner. As a beefier shoe it should have no problem handling hundreds of miles. The GT-200 3 doesn’t particularly stand out from the crowd design-wise and is perhaps a little pricy, but a good training shoe from Asics nonetheless.
Aesthetics: 5/10
Performance: 6/10
Durability: 10/10
Weight: Female - 258g. Male - 325g
The Kinvara 6 is the latest shoe of Saucony’s popular Kinvara range. The shoes are known for their lightweight natural feel, speed and sturdiness. The Kinvara range is designed for runners with a neutral footstrike and is optimal for 5-10k races. From looks alone, very little seems to have changed between version 5 and 6, yet somehow Saucony have managed to shed 34g and still keep the same amount of cushioning on the sole. It also now sports updates to the FlexFilm upper and a new more breathable mesh. One potential downside is that some users also report that new version is narrower and hugs the foot too much compared to the Kinvara 5.
Aesthetics: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Durability: 8/10
Weight: 218g
Brooks debuted the first Launch shoe in 2009 and it was an immediate success. In February this year the highly anticipated Launch 2 was released. The Launch is a favourite amongst the running community because they are relatively light weight and yet durable enough for high-mileage training. The newest addition has added tougher rubber in the mid-foot for durability and more cushioning in the forefoot. Brooks say “We’ve taken everything you love about the original Launch neutral shoe and made it even awesomer”. Shannon Kocher, a tester for Runners World was immediately impressed by Launch 2 “I probably could have run a half-marathon in them the first time I had them on: They were that comfy and needed no breaking in."
Aesthetics: 7/10
Performance: 8/10
Durability: 10/10
Weight: Female - 224g. Male - 278g
Source: http://www.huhmagazine.co.uk/9947/the-10-best-running-shoes-2015
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