Running Shoes - Minimalist or Support?

[raven]

Two main schools of thought here. One is that we we evolved to run a certain way and all the padding and support you see in modern trainers is essentially responsible for a lot of the knee problems we see in runners. When you have little padding you are more sensitive to shocks and so adjust your posture, with padding over time these shocks wear your joints out. So we should buy very ultra minimalist shoes.

The other is that we didn't evolve to run on tarmac and pavement, so the fact that we do means additional support. So we should buy corrective & supportive footwear.

Which do you subscribe to and what type of running shoes do you wear?

 

[Grambo]

Two main schools of thought here. One is that we we evolved to run a certain way and all the padding and support you see in modern trainers is essentially responsible for a lot of the knee problems we see in runners. When you have little padding you are more sensitive to shocks and so adjust your posture, with padding over time these shocks wear your joints out. So we should buy very ultra minimalist shoes.

The other is that we didn't evolve to run on tarmac and pavement, so the fact that we do means additional support. So we should buy corrective & supportive footwear.

Which do you subscribe to and what type of running shoes do you wear?

I lean heavy to the minimalist side/zero drop. I had been looking for a pair of minimalist boots for years. Elk skin moccasins were the closet thing I could find. Not cheap. Then I found these. I've had them for about a year, wear them everyday. Best footwear I've ever owned. Just ordered another pair today actually. After a few months, my calves got huge. I think modern shoes are the reason so many folks have small calves/joint problems.

Belleville TR105

 

[MNK99]

AESICS --> pretty good not best aesthetic.
NEW BALANCE ---> Look like a nerd wearing most. But if for gym who cares.
NIKE ZERO SUPPORT OR whatever they're called... NIKE ... ZERO? --> at 0 or at 2-5 dep on foot arch gradient., lightweight sneaker. ---> v nice, better than old nike shoes.
MIZUNOS - fashionable Japanese gear. I've had all of these. ---> AMAZING!!! the last 2 are great choices, I have flat feet, ran 1000's of times or jogged rather... not lately tho.

-Walking on water or grass or other soft surfaces barefoot may be fine, as well as some arch for lifting or sports... some support I mean, o/w getting used to flatness or natural arch also training single legged lunges and similar movements and balancing can help.
-AND orthotics for heavy wear shoes (for work or out all day).

 

[Aleksandr]

I lean towards minimalist but you gotta work your way up to it usually

 

[talkingant]

Minimalist footwear made running more fun for me, which encouraged me to do it more often. It causes me to focus more on my form, particularly on foot landing, and makes me feel a bit more bouncy/limber. But be careful with switching over, too much too soon can cause injuries. You need to really focus on stretching your whole posterior chain- hamstrings, calfs, achilles tendon, plantar fascia. I've had issues with plantar fasciitis (not caused by running) and had to move away from minimalist shoes to take some strain off the fascia. Now I use Hoka shoes which are sort of minimalist in that they encourage a midfoot strike as opposed to heel strike, but still have some arch support.

Regarding science, the jury is still out on whether minimalist running makes a difference in performance or injuries. Just try different styles out and see what feels best.

Also if you are running on hard ground/concrete, a little padding is needed IMO, to help avoid injuries. One time I was running downhill on a road in Vibrams Fivefingers (no padding) and during one stride I slammed my foot down hard on the road for whatever reason, and it caused a stress fracture. Even though I was fine without padding most of the time, that one time I could have used it to dampen that hard impact. So I view padding as sort of like wearing a helmet- you really just need it for those few times you take a weird step and land poorly. Of course on soft ground, it's not as big an issue.

 

[raven]

Great podcast on shoes and feet: These Shoes Are Killing Me! - Freakonomics