More Stability for Moderate Pronators

If your gait reveals moderate pronation that is not severe enough to warrant wearing motion control shoes, you will want to take a serious look at the running shoes in the "more stability" category.

One of the most popular running shoes in this category is the legendary ASICS GEL-Kayano, long cherished by runners the world over.

New Balance is famous for comfort, fit and durability. You can expect all of the above from the New Balance 992 running shoe. It is also notable as a "heritage shoe", meaning that it is entirely made in the USA. The 992 also features a classic look constructed with leather and suede materials.

Many serious runners go for the Saucony ProGrid Hurricane running shoe, which is designed to offer the extra support needed by moderate pronators without sacrificing comfort. Saucony claims to lead the industry in pronation control with their patented ProGrid and impact interface midsole.

Those who like to get a little muddy from time to time will find a lot to like about the ASICS GEL-Trail Sensor. It features enhanced support, yet with added attributes making it suitable for off-road trail running as well as regular paved surfaces.

Unique running shoe technology is found in the Mizuno Wave Inspire. Mizuno's proprietary Composite Double Fan Wave provides an optimal blend of support and cushioning.

The Brooks Trance running shoe is notable for more than just extra support and a soft, cushy feel. It also takes advantage of advanced green technologies, including BioMoGo. Brooks added a non-toxic, natural additive to their exclusive MoGo compound that encourages anaerobic microbes to munch away once it hits the landfill, thus reducing it's lifespan in the landfill and overall waste by 50%

A few lucky sizes can save $35 bucks and pick up the attractive Puma Complete Magnetist running shoe at RunWorldwide.com.

Lastly, cycling gear leaders and running gear upstarts Pearl Izumi offer the Syncro Infinity running shoe. Like all Pearl Izumi running shoes, the Syncro Infinity is notable for it's clean, non-gimmicky, streamlined look and promise of performance for serious runners.

Structured Cushioning Shoes at Your Price Point

ASICS' GEL-Kayano running shoes have been a favorite pick among runners for many years. No wonder that a beginnning runner would seek them out as a sound choice. However, if their $130 price tag gives them pause, there are plenty of other good choices of running shoes in the Structured Cushioning category, which much of the running population is safe wearing. ASICS also offers the best-selling 2100 series, the current incarnation being the GT-2140 running shoe at $90. Another dependable selection from ASICS would be the GEL-1140, the latest in their 1100 series, priced at $75. A previous version, the GEL-1130 is still a fine running shoe, and can be found at RunWorldwide.com at the bargain price of $54.99.

Saucony answers with the Progrid Guide ($95) and Progrid Omni ($79) running shoes.

Brooks' rival to ASICS' 2100 series is the popular Brooks Adrenaline GTS ($88.99) running shoe.

Mizuno offers the Wave Inspire running shoe, which features Mizuno's unique Wave technology, which is much different than the mechanics of other running shoes.

New Balance is famous for fit and durability. Smart-shopping runners can snag a pair of New Balance 1224 running shoes now for $99.99 at RunWorldwide.com, which is a savings of forty bucks.

Running with Flat Feet

Selecting the right running shoe first and foremost requires that you know what type of gait you have. A convenient utility to help you do that can be found online at runworldwide.com under the heading "Shoe Finder".

Runners with flat-feet tend to over-pronate, which has an adverse effect on natural shock absorption. Such runners have special needs, and should select running shoes from the Maximum Support category or Motion Control category.

If you find that you have flat-feet, this narrows the amount of running shoe choices severely. However, there are several excellent running shoes for over-pronators. And getting running shoes for special needs does not mean you have to sacrifice aesthetics. Some of them, such as the GEL-Evolution, look so good that they might make neutral runners wish for flat feet!

ASICS, leader in the running shoe industry and maker of the top-selling GT-2140 and GEL-Nimbus cushioning shoe, offer the aforementioned GEL-Evolution and GEL-Foundation. Both offer ASICS' famous proprietary GEL cushioning system.

Brooks, the company behind the popular Adrenaline GTS, offers the Beast for men and the Ariel for women. Both feature exclusive MoGo technology for long-lasting midsole durability and comfort.

Saucony offers the Progrid Stabil running shoe for over-pronating runners.

Mizuno's Wave Alchemy running shoe makes the most of their unique Double Fan Wave technology, resulting in proper support without added bulk.

With attention to the special needs of over-pronating runners, athletic shoe companies have engineered running shoes to meet the challenges of those with flat-feet.

More Cushion. Sweeter Pushin'!

Running shoe technology has come a long way over the last 30 years or so. With the market for running shoes flourishing, athletic shoe companies such as ASICS, Mizuno, Saucony and Pearl Izumi constantly invest resources into research and development to increase performance and increase comfort.

Runners who have no major pronation issues have no shortage of choices in running shoes. Their sub-category is known as "neutral shoes" or "cushioning shoes". Anyone who doubts the incredible advances in cushioning technology should try running a mile in a pair of Chuck Taylor sneakers, and then another mile in a pair of ASICS GEL-Nimbus or GEL-Cumulus cushioning shoes. Any doubts will be erased, and quickly.

ASICS' wildly popular GEL-Nimbus is renowned for its luxurious feel. Those unwilling to pay $125 for the privilege can still benefit from ASICS' proprietary GEL cushioning system by turning to the GEL-Cumulus ($95) or GEL-Stratus ($72).

Brooks offers exculsive HydroFlow and MoGo technology in their cushioning shoes. At the $125 price point, they offer the Glycerin, and at $100, the Deyfyance, which is a neutral verison of their best-selling structured cushioning shoe, the Adrenaline.

For neutral runners, Saucony presents ProGrid technology in the ProGrid Triumph ($120) and ProGrid Ride ($90).

Mizuno running shoes are set apart from the rest in that the emphasis is on their bizarre-looking "Wave" technology, as opposed to the materials and polymers. Fans of their Wave Rider ($100) swear by their cushioning attributes.

New Balance is famous for fit and durability. The New Balance 755 is a fine choice for neutral runners. Lucky sizes can pick up a pair for as little as $59.99.

Shoes for Off-Road Trail Running

When I started taking pictures of running shoes, it was a bit daunting that there were so many varieties and technologies. (I can relate to how overwhelmed a new runner might feel when attempting to buy their first pair of serious running shoes.) With just a little bit of homework and guidance from the right sources, it quickly became much easier to discern the unique attributes and degrees of quality and materials of various running shoes. I was also intrigued at the number of sub-categories there are of running shoes. This post focuses on the running shoe category of trail shoes.

Unlike the most popular offerings of running shoes, such as ASICS’ GEL-2140, GEL-Nimbus cushioning shoe, and venerable GEL-Kayano, trail shoes are meant to hold up to greater punishment from the elements. Outdoor trails can put obstacles such as mud, stones, twigs and foliage in the path of a runner. Trail shoes are built to rise to the challenge.

There are even sub-categories within the realm of trail shoes! For fans of ASICS best-selling 2100 series, the 2140 Trail takes the same performance attributes of that beloved line and integrates tougher polymers and water-resistant materials to stand up to the trails.

Similar offerings are available for those who may split their miles between the road and the trail, yet are not willing to shell out the dough for both a trail shoe and a road shoe. The aforementioned 2140 Trail is a good choice for this, as well as the GEL-Trail Sensor, and Pearl Izumi’s elegant Syncro Seek. ASICS’ GEL-Trabuco is offered in two versions; the standard GEL-Trabuco WR, and the GEL-Trabuco WP, which features a GORE-TEX waterproof breathable upper. Brooks’ Cascadia is engineered with many off-road attributes, yet offers such a smooth ride that some runners wear it on the pavement regardless.

For those who are hard-core trail runners, and aspire to fast speeds on tough terrain, there are the highly responsive ASICS GEL-Trail Attack and New Balance 873, which offer lighter weight and optimized traction.

So, even runners who are in the market for trail shoes are best served by doing a little homework rather than buying on impulse.

The Need for Speed

Since its inception in 1949, ASICS (originally called Onitsuka Tiger and renamed after a merger in 1978) has been well-known for offering pinnacle sport-specific footwear. Currently, the focus of the company is squarely on running shoes. ASICS offers oustanding running shoes for the masses of runners around the world, such as the best-selling 2100 series (the most recent version being the GEL-2140), the GEL-Nimbus and legendary GEL-Kayano. However, they also offer many selections for virtually any sub-category of runner imaginable.

Perhaps the most enthusiastic and hard-core sub-genre of runner would be the racer. Such athletes train year-round, demand much of their bodies, and tend to demand much of their running gear as well. With so much time, sweat and pride invested, a serious racer is not likely to choose their speed shoes without close examination. ASICS offers several excellent running shoes for the dedicated racer.

The GEL-Speedstar and GEL-DS Trainer are lightweight training shoes that are also well suited for 5K races. Other shoe manufacturers are not prepared to cede this market to ASICS. Brooks' new racing shoe, the Ghost, features their proprietary MoGo technology. Saucony's racing shoe is the Grid Sinister, featuring a flexion plate designed to naturally propel runners onto their forefoot. A long-trusted brand in the realm of cycling, yet an upstart in the running shoe market, Pearl Izumi offers the uniquely streamlined Streak racing shoe.

ASICS' GEL-Hyperspeed is wider than most racing shoes, resulting in greater stability. It is the favorite of world-class Middle/Long Distance & Marathon racer Ryan Hall.

For the specific needs of Cross-Country runners, ASICS offers the Hyper XCS Running Flat for men and the Hyper Rocketgirl XCS, engineered specifically for a woman's foot. A similar racing shoe from competitor Saucony is the Kilkenny XC2.

So, with the ever-changing technology of running shoes, what becomes of these styles once they are no longer on the cutting edge? Some of them enjoy a second life as throwback shoes. As a matter of routine, ASICS successfully reissues many of its past athletic shoes under its original brand name, Onitsuka Tiger.

The Birth of Onitsuka Cool - Part 4

ASICS is well-known as the premier manufacturer of running shoes in the world. This is the result of a long tradition of engineering athletic shoes for sport-specific purposes. ASICS makes running shoes for every kind of runner. The famous GEL-Kayano, the best-selling 2100 series, and the 1100 series are in the structured cushioning category, for runners who pronate slightly yet demand excellent cushioning. The GEL-Nimbus is recognized as the industry's top cushioning shoe. The GEL-Evolution and GEL-Foundation are motion control shoes that are excellent choices for overpronators. It is this very dedication to meeting the most specific needs of athletes that is the foundation of ASICS. (The company began in 1949 as Onitsuka Tiger, and was re-named ASICS when Onitsuka merged with two other firms in 1978.) Many of the Onitsuka Tiger offerings from years past have been reissued for the casual sneaker market with tremendous success. This success is a direct result of this, as high-profile world-class athletes wore Onitsuka Tiger shoes in competition. It was only a matter of time before Onitsuka Tiger made its mark in the world of streetwear and popular culture.

In Quentin Tarantino's 2003 epic "Kill Bill Vol. 1", the story's heroine (played by Uma Thurman) was outfitted in a costume similar to Bruce Lee's "Game of Death" outfit as an homage during a key set piece... complete with the Onitsuka Tiger shoes. (In the film's sequel, Thurman can be seen wearing a white variation of the same shoe with blue and red stripes.) Since then, the visibility and enduring cache of cool has compounded for Onitsuka Tiger. The original mission of Kihachiro Onitsuka remains with the output of ASICS' sport-specific footwear, notably revered for their world-class running shoes.

The Birth of Onitsuka Cool - Part 3

ASICS is well-established as the leader in high-performance running shoes. Their development of technology to accommodate all sorts of runners has brought them massive success. The best-selling 2100 series addresses the most common type of runner, who needs structured cushioning, as they may pronate just a bit. It is also the most imitated running shoe, with many competitors gunning for a slice of the running shoe market. The GEL-Nimbus and GEL-Cumulus are top choices for non-pronating runners who desire maximum cushioning.

ASICS' dominance in the running shoe market did not come by accident, or overnight. The company started in 1949 as Onitsuka Tiger, founded to boost morale of Japanese youth through athletic excellence. (The company was re-christened ASICS when Onitsuka Tiger merged with two other firms in 1978.) From its inception, Onitsuka Tiger was dedicated to offering athletes products that were engineered to offering sport-specific maximum performance. As the world's top athletes gravitated toward Onitsuka Tiger athletic shoes, their appeal extended to the street.

In the Seventies, an iconic athlete/movie star who would become a legend cemented Onitsuka cool for eternity. Martial arts superstar Bruce Lee famously wore a sleek yellow jumpsuit with black racing stripes in his final film, "Game of Death", before his untimely demise. He also wore a matching pair of Onitsuka Tiger shoes. The impact of this striking ensemble was magnified with the tragic, mysterious death of Lee. Now, the mystique of those final images of Lee are linked to those yellow and black Onitsuka Tiger shoes. To this day, Lee is idolized by millions, and an entire cottage industry has been built around his image and likeness. Onitsuka Tiger shoes are part of this legacy, and their enduring cool is recognized by athletic, martial arts, urban and hip-hop subcultures all over the world. Onitsuka Tiger shoes are also highly coveted by sneaker aficianados.

The Birth of Onitsuka Cool - Part 2

In my last post, I examined the origin of Onitsuka Tiger athletic shoes, and how the company's founder was driven to uplift the morale of Japan's youth after the devastation of World War II. (In 1978, Onitsuka Tiger merged with two other firms and is known the world over as ASICS. The company has maintained the Onitsuka tradition of excellence, and is most famous for its top-of-the-line running shoes.)

By the Sixties, Onitsuka Tiger shoes had become the athletic footwear of choice among many world-class athletes. (The first running shoe explosion would follow shortly that decade.) In 1972, one of these athletes achieved a pinnacle in his already-dominant career. The renown of Onitsuka Tiger grew even more as a result.

Wrestler Dan Gable was already famous for having only lost one match in his entire Iowa State University collegiate career. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Gable won the Gold Medal without surrendering a single point to his opponent. This, in spite of a bleeding ear injury that could have caused him to be disqualified... except the resourceful Gable wrapped a bandage around his head, which allowed him to continue the match. Gable went on to further dominance as a wrestler and equally impressive success as a wrestling coach, etching his name in history as a true legend in the realm of sports.

ASICS, now widely recognized as a global leader in running shoes, has reissued the wrestling shoes Gable wore in that historical match as "The Gable". Many top-level wrestlers still choose them for competition, as evidenced in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Gable wrestling shoes also hold tremendous appeal for hipsters looking for authentically cool sneakers. ASICS' reputation for excellence continues with its consistently high-performing, best-selling running shoes, such as the 2100 series (the current offering being the 2140), the supremely cushioned GEL-Nimbus, and the renowned GEL-Kayano.

In part 3 of this story, we'll examine another legendary figure who boosted the status of Onitsuka Tiger.

The Birth of Onitsuka Cool

Onitsuka Tiger is clearly one of the hippest sportstyle shoe brands in the world. What's fascinating is that the company did not set out to achieve that status.

Originally, Onitsuka Tiger was one of the pioneers of engineering shoes specifically for optimal athletic performance. Japanese entrepreneur Kihachiro Onitsuka founded the company in 1949 with an altruistic mission in mind. After the atomic destruction of two major Japanese cities in World War II, that nation's youth was severely traumatised. Onitsuka was compelled to use sport as a vehicle to infuse Japan's surviving youth with a sense of vitality and inherent pride. Onitsuka chose the tiger as a emblem, as it was widely recongized as a powerful symbol in Asia.

Onitsuka began crafting and refining shoes for specific sports, such as track, running, martial arts and fencing. With such close attention to the very particular needs of individual sports, it didn't take long for Onitsuka Tiger shoes to catch on with world-class athletes. They became the shoe of choice for many compeititors in Olympic Games by the Sixties. 46 medal winners wore Onitsuka shoes in the 1964 Olympic Games. As highly-visible dominant athletes were noticed to be wearing Onitsuka Tiger shoes, their demand grew among sports enthusiasts and aspiring competitiors. By then, the momentum carried Onitsuka Tiger to the streets.

Yet that was just the beginning. The next post will focus on how one legendary athlete further raised the profile of the Onitsuka Tiger brand.