forefoot cushioning specs

Bucky said:

I'm frustrated that shoes companies have very limited specs on their
shoes. I'm a casual runner (less than 10 miles/week), so I don't want
to spend a lot on shoes.

Less mileage means that the shoes last longer. Shoe life is proportional
to mileage. Yours should last about a year.

Quoted message said:

I usually get buy running shoes on clearance,
and it's nearly impossible to find specs on them because they don't
list the clearance models on their websites.

The most important specs are shoe weight, and type (cushion/stability/
motion control). Most websites have this.

Quoted message said:

My main requirement for running shoes is that it has extra forefoot
cushioning.

There's your problem -- you are making a big deal out of something that
most informed buyers don't really care about. That should tell you something
right there.

roadrunnersports.com has shoes that are listed as being appropriate for
"heavy runners". These shoes tend to have thicker, more durable cushioning
all-round.

Quoted message said:

Rather than ask for specific shoe recommendations (since
the manufacturers change their models constantly), I'm looking for
technologies or marketing buzzwords that would indicate that a
particular shoe has extra forefoot cushioning.

Most running shoes will have plenty of cushioning in the forefoot, e.g.
airbags, gel pads, etc. It's only when you start moving towards very
light models (like racing flats) that they don't have their technology
of choice in both ends of the shoe. Basically, I think you're worrying
a lot about something that shouldn't be an issue.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Quoted message said:

Most running shoes will have plenty of cushioning in the forefoot, e.g.

airbags,
__

not really true and bucky has a valid concern. get in contact with a
guy named doug freese on this newsgroup. have him email you a jpeg
photo of himself, print it out and crazy glue it to the bottom of your
shoe. you'll love the ride, he's the best air bag available.

Donovan Rebbechi said:

The most important specs are shoe weight, and type (cushion/stability/
motion control). Most websites have this.

I usually look at ads for running shoes that are around $40-50 sale
price ($60-80 retail price). The problem is that many of these shoes
are not listed on the manufacturers websites. [1]

Quoted message said:

There's your problem -- you are making a big deal out of something that
most informed buyers don't really care about. That should tell you something
right there.
Most running shoes will have plenty of cushioning in the forefoot

You must not be a forefoot striker. For me, the opposite is true. I've
never worn a running shoe that did not have adequate heel cushioning, I
don't care about that aspect at all. However, I can personally testify
that many running shoes (in the $40 range) do not have adequate
cushioning in the forefoot. I'm willing to spend more to buy a better
shoe with more forefoot cushioning, but I'm not just going to blindly
pay more for a shoe and hope that it does. I want to be able to read a
spec that says, "This shoe has xxxx technology in the forefoot" before
I buy it.

[1] For example, in this week's ads, I saw the following New Balance
shoes on sale: 808, 411, 471, 307, 406, 507, 477, 606, and 660. Only
two of those models were listed at NewBalance.com. The Adidas website
seems to have most listed.

"Bucky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm willing to spend more to buy a better
shoe with more forefoot cushioning, but I'm not just going to blindly
pay more for a shoe and hope that it does. I want to be able to read a
spec that says, "This shoe has xxxx technology in the forefoot" before
I buy it.

Have you gone to a real running shoe store where the staff can tell you
about these things? and where you can try on & try out the shoes before you
buy them?

Then there's the option of getting shoes big enough in the toe box for you
to add additional cushioning yourself. That's what I do & it's worked out
just fine. I go by feel & road results, not "[censored] technology".
bj

Bucky said:

Donovan Rebbechi said:

The most important specs are shoe weight, and type (cushion/stability/
motion control). Most websites have this.

I usually look at ads for running shoes that are around $40-50 sale
price ($60-80 retail price). The problem is that many of these shoes
are not listed on the manufacturers websites. [1]

If neither that model, nor an obvious predecessor (e.g. Asics 2100 obviously
comes before the 2110), then they're probably not running shoes.

Quoted message said:

You must not be a forefoot striker.

You must not have seen me race the mile (-;

You must not be wearing proper running shoes, for that matter (-;

I can assure you that "heel striking" is not an option if you're wearing
track spikes, or if you race in the lightest flat on the market.

Seriously, the difference between the so-called "forefoot striker" and "midfoot
striker" is actually overrated. If you're a "midfoot striker", what actually
happens is that the heel touches very gently, but the center of gravity is
still moving downward until the weight has been transferred to the ball of the
foot. In other words, no-one (at least, no serious runner) really "lands" on
the heel. The heel touches, but most of the shock absorption doesn't take
place until later.

The forefoot does not require a whole lot of cushioning, because once the
weight is foreward, your tendons and muscles are very good at absorbing the
shock.

That's why shoes like track spikes and racing flats have a relatively greater
portion of forefoot cushioning, but also have reduced cushioning all-round.

Given what you've said, I'd recommend that you go with some sort of lightweight
cushioning shoe. A proper running shoe, that is.

I'd recommend the Mizuno Precision for starters.

Quoted message said:

For me, the opposite is true. I've
never worn a running shoe that did not have adequate heel cushioning, I
don't care about that aspect at all. However, I can personally testify
that many running shoes (in the $40 range)

A lot of the things you're calling "running shoes" aren't.

Almost anything in the $40- range is not a running shoe.

Almost anything that retails for less than $80- is not a running shoe.

Quoted message said:

[1] For example, in this week's ads, I saw the following New Balance
shoes on sale: 808, 411, 471, 307, 406, 507, 477, 606, and 660. Only
two of those models were listed at NewBalance.com. The Adidas website
seems to have most listed.

Most of these aren't running shoes. The few that are, are not appropriate for
you. For example, trail shoes like the 808 are stiff, bulky and heavy. Go for
something light and flexible instead.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Dot said:

Are you looking in newspaper ads? or closeout models on websites like
footlocker.com, eastbay.com, sierratradingpost.com, footrx.com, etc.
Sometimes some places (maybe WalMart, Sears, etc - but can't remember
for sure) may have models made specially for them, and they aren't
likely to be on the manufacturer's web site. Closeouts are usually on
the manufacturer's websites - unless they were discontinued long
enough ago that they aren't up there anymore.

AT wwsport.com I found my favorite running shoes, Brooks Adrenaline GTS5
for $40, so I bought 3 pair. http://tinyurl.com/kpan8
Kind of hard to pass up, even if I'm not running much right now.

Quoted message said:

You might also go to a running shoe store to find what works and buy
the first pair there. Then look at sales.

Exactly. I wonder though, after doing this 10 years ago, maybe it's time
to get refitted at FleetFeet.

Quoted message said:

I've started using Cascadias for gravel roads since they provide more
protection in the forefoot -

I've thought about getting those. Just couldn't stand the color. I know
it won't matter when they're covered with mud, but still. ;-)

--
Phil M.

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a
year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its
place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." - Lance Armstrong

"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Most running shoes will have plenty of cushioning in the forefoot,
e.g.
airbags, gel pads, etc. It's only when you start moving towards very
light models (like racing flats) that they don't have their technology
of choice in both ends of the shoe. Basically, I think you're worrying
a lot about something that shouldn't be an issue.

Well, almost. In my opinion unless motion control shoes like the Books
Beast, etc have changed, they have very little cushioning or
cushioning that takes 220 or more pound person to make them compress. I
will go out on a limb and say mot cushioned and stability shoes do seen
to have sufficient padding but some have more. With race flats and
boats, softness seems to rapidly disappear.

-DougF

Phil M. said:

Dot said:

Are you looking in newspaper ads? or closeout models on websites like
footlocker.com, eastbay.com, sierratradingpost.com, footrx.com, etc.
Sometimes some places (maybe WalMart, Sears, etc - but can't remember
for sure) may have models made specially for them, and they aren't
likely to be on the manufacturer's web site.

I should have added here: they're likely to not be real running shoes.

Closeouts are usually on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the manufacturer's websites - unless they were discontinued long
enough ago that they aren't up there anymore.

AT wwsport.com I found my favorite running shoes, Brooks Adrenaline GTS5
for $40, so I bought 3 pair. http://tinyurl.com/kpan8
Kind of hard to pass up, even if I'm not running much right now.

Buying up discontinued models that you know work is *always* a good
investment.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You might also go to a running shoe store to find what works and buy
the first pair there. Then look at sales.

Exactly. I wonder though, after doing this 10 years ago, maybe it's time
to get refitted at FleetFeet.

Depends on how much confidence you have in local store. I try to ask my
local PT about other shoe options, if I can. He's about 1 mi from me,
and his partner in his practice has similar feet to mine - and she runs
trails, but much, much faster than I (she won one of the big mtn races a
few years ago). Shoe store's about 50 mi and frequently doesn't have the
shoes that work for me.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've started using Cascadias for gravel roads since they provide more
protection in the forefoot -

I've thought about getting those. Just couldn't stand the color. I know
it won't matter when they're covered with mud, but still. ;-)

The women's are blue, or at least the year I bought mine they were.
They're an even uglier color now. When they looked like they might not
work for me, a runner in my PT's office was considering buying them -
for the color😉 (wrong size for her, I ended up trying them after the
ASR's worked so poorly in real life rather than on tm - and the
Cascadias were so mushy on tm).

They've only got a light coating of dirt on them (mostly gravel roads),
and it makes the blue even uglier.

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people"
-Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Bucky said:

Donovan Rebbechi said:

The most important specs are shoe weight, and type (cushion/stability/
motion control). Most websites have this.

I usually look at ads for running shoes that are around $40-50 sale
price ($60-80 retail price). The problem is that many of these shoes
are not listed on the manufacturers websites. [1]

Quoted message said:

There's your problem -- you are making a big deal out of something that
most informed buyers don't really care about. That should tell you something
right there.
Most running shoes will have plenty of cushioning in the forefoot

You must not be a forefoot striker. For me, the opposite is true. I've
never worn a running shoe that did not have adequate heel cushioning, I
don't care about that aspect at all. However, I can personally testify
that many running shoes (in the $40 range) do not have adequate
cushioning in the forefoot. I'm willing to spend more to buy a better
shoe with more forefoot cushioning, but I'm not just going to blindly
pay more for a shoe and hope that it does. I want to be able to read a
spec that says, "This shoe has xxxx technology in the forefoot" before
I buy it.

[1] For example, in this week's ads, I saw the following New Balance
shoes on sale: 808, 411, 471, 307, 406, 507, 477, 606, and 660. Only
two of those models were listed at NewBalance.com. The Adidas website
seems to have most listed.

And what is the cost of a foot/ankle injury. Find a shoe that fits you
and is comfortable. When you like it, find a place on the net that
sells it cheaply and buy a lot of pairs. Since shoes constantly change,
you can't depend on the next model working for you. Forget the stupid
descriptions of what works for who, it still depends on how you feel.
All the "wizards" put me in motion control shoes, but they feel terrible
for me. I do great in Saucony Jazz, but not in the Grid or Controls.
Not even close. And of course, no description will match your arch to
make sure it's in the right place. The heel width matches your heel.

So find one pair that works, than order 10 pair. When you run or wear
them, alternate them, they'll last much longer than worn sequentially.

Dot said:

Phil M. said:

Dot said:

Are you looking in newspaper ads? or closeout models on websites like
footlocker.com, eastbay.com, sierratradingpost.com, footrx.com, etc.
Sometimes some places (maybe WalMart, Sears, etc - but can't remember
for sure) may have models made specially for them, and they aren't
likely to be on the manufacturer's web site.

I should have added here: they're likely to not be real running shoes.

Closeouts are usually on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the manufacturer's websites - unless they were discontinued long
enough ago that they aren't up there anymore.

AT wwsport.com I found my favorite running shoes, Brooks Adrenaline GTS5
for $40, so I bought 3 pair. http://tinyurl.com/kpan8
Kind of hard to pass up, even if I'm not running much right now.

Buying up discontinued models that you know work is *always* a good
investment.

As it turned out, they were sold out of my size. I get annoyed when
these sites don't keep a real-time inventory that is accessible to the
public. Of course they tried to switch me to the GTS 6 for twice the
price. I have a pair of these. They seemed to wear out much faster than
the GTS 5. I found a few pair on ebay. So I'll be ready whenever I
start running again. Could be another 2 weeks. ;-(

--
Phil M.

Phil M. said:

As it turned out, they were sold out of my size. I get annoyed when

Are you a 9.5-10.5 ? I'm a 10 and my size seems to be first to go all
the time. Grrrrrrrr !
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/