Renewed Running

Assuming you know what the goldilocks zone means when it comes to running shoes, or you’ve read our article about it here, the below is a selection of the 5 most popular shoes that fall into this category.

I’d like to take a moment to mention why it is good to know about these types of shoes. They aren’t necessarily going to be the best performing or the cheapest. But based on their measurements, they’re the most versatile when it comes to a range of running styles, paces and distances.

If you had to compare these shoes to a flavour of ice cream, they’d be vanilla. Meaning that unless you’re in the market for a support shoe or lots of cushioning for recovery, these shoes are the safest bet for mile munching.

In other words, these shoes are the most likely to be comfortable for daily training, with the least chance of needing to return them. Which can be handy when buying shoes online feels like a gamble.

So before I go ahead and mention the first pair of shoes on our list, can you guess what they are? I’ll let this sketch by dumbrunner.com tell you:

Brooks Ghost

There you have it. The shoes synonymous with predictability and comfort. They’re not the most popular daily training shoe out there (the next one on our list is) but they are the most likely to give you the right amount of softness, responsiveness and durability, without changing much from one version to the next.

So if you’re really not in the mood for buying multiple pairs of shoes, and you get on fine with Brooks Ghost, why change? The only reason you might need another pair of shoes in your rotation is for trail running, or a super shoe for getting that PB.

Nike Pegasus

These are the most popular daily trainers out there. However, Nike do tend to change them up a bit between models. The Pegasus maintain a good level of durability and lightness. However, they’re sometimes not as comfortable as the other shoes on this list, which usually have more flexible uppers and softer midsoles. Also, these shoes are on the pricier side for what you get.

This is because you pay a premium for all the marketing that Nike do to maintain themselves as the biggest global brand. With the shoes listed on this page, expect to pay around £50-£70 for last year’s models. However with Pegasus, you’ll be lucky to get them this cheap unless Nike do one of their rare 40%+ sales.

New Balance 860

More affordable than the Pegasus, though each version that comes out tends to change things up a bit, and they’re not quite as fashionable (Have you watched that scene in Crazy Stupid Love?). As well as being more affordable, they’re a bit more supportive than Pegasus, with a thicker, yet firmer midsole. If you want something with a bit more squish, go for the Brooks Ghost, or the next two on our list!

Reebok Floatride Energy

Now these shoes are probably the best bang for buck you’re ever going to get for a daily trainer. Each version generally stays consistent with the last. The upper is soft and the midsole has a bit of bounce to it. You can generally get any version of these shoes for around £50-£60, even on Reebok’s own website. And if you sign up to their newsletter or catch a sale, be prepared to get them for even less! The only downside to these shoes is that their durability isn’t quite as high as some of the more expensive dailies out there. And depending on how hard you stomp the ground, the forefoot can bottom out in the midsole. If you’re just getting into running, and not a fan of how the Brooks look, these are a great place to start as they have plenty of colourways to choose from.

Puma Velocity Nitro

Puma are underrated when it comes to running shoes. They’re trying pretty hard to impress, by selling high quality shoes for cracking prices, in an attempt to take market share from the bigger brands. Puma’s Nitro range cover a lot of different running needs, though the Velocity is their most versatile. They’re renowned for having a super-soft upper, with a dual density midsole that’s usually only seen on more expensive shoes. The dual density foam provides one layer of firmness for support, with a softer top layer for comfort and bounce. Like everyone’s favourite bed mattress! My only grip with these shoes is that whenever I ran faster than 8 minute mile, they felt a bit sloppy. But that’s the trade off when a shoe favours comfort without the hefty price tag.

Conclusion

Overall, these shoes are mid-tier in performance and cost. They’re the Ford Focus of cars to get you from A to B. I personally find that going for shoes cheaper than the above is a risky endeavour, where comfort or durability is usually compromised. Shoes that are more expensive than these tend to have bells and whistles, or are for those that are more fashion conscious.

For daily training, the next step up would be something like the Asics Novablast. They have a heel flare, which helps when your legs get tired and you start to overstride. Also, the midsole is light and bouncy, and despite the extra cushion, they don’t feel sluggish at faster paces. These types of shoes tend to hover between £90-£120, so they can be twice as much as the ones on this list. If you want to buy a fancier pair of shoes for training, check out my list at (TBA). Or if you want to know the websites with the best deals for running shoes, check out my article at (TBA).