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2009 Shoe Review
Step One: Stay on Beat |
By Dave Harkin
In many ways, walking is like dancing. You find trepidation in the first steps. The regulars may intimidate you. You stand in the corner waiting for someone to make the first move. Then you realize that the one to make the first move is you! You find your rhythm, you find your inner spirit, and before you know it, your friends are asking you for some new moves.
Many of you began your walking as a means of staying in shape. That is an admirable goal. But trends now indicate that you are moving on to more event-based goals. Maybe a 5k, 10k, or even a half marathon is in your future? Your shoes may not change as you progress through your own walking play list. However, as you change terrain, speed, and motivation, you may find a change in footwear is the key to staying on your beat.
Knowing yourself is as important as knowing anything about the vast selection of performance walking shoes. When you consider your next purchase, you should know about your feet, your injuries, your preferences and tendencies, and your fitness goals.
A running shoe is best suited to the walking motion. Your style of walking, coupled with your specific set of foot characteristics, biomechanics, and injury history will produce a concise plan for finding the perfect shoe for you. Good walking and running shoe stores will watch you walk, evaluate your gait (the interaction between your feet and the rest of your body), ask about previous injuries, and then provide you with valuable feedback about you.
Paula Harkin of Run with Paula Events and Portland Running Company reflects on the impact that the popularity of walking has had on her business.
“Although our name indicates a focus on running, walkers make up approximately 30% of our business and our events grow every year due in a large part to walkers joining in the fun. We carefully select models based on the human body going forward. It doesn’t matter whether you are walking or running as long as you are moving in the right direction. We believe we can help every walker reach their goals.”
The following four categories are based on arch and overall foot support. In each category, the models appear in ascending order based on weight and support. |
| NEUTRAL: This is about 30% of you. You have few to no previous injuries. You walk with even wear on both feet. You need shoes with flexibility and symmetry. |
Mizuno Wave Rider 12
Responsive and stable, yet lightweight and cushioned. The Wave Rider is a great choice for making a transition from recreation to time or speed-focused goals. It has Wave Plate Technology giving the Rider a smooth feel, and yet provides ample protection for your foot. SmoothRide Engineered, with superior shock absorption and dispersion thanks to the Composite Parallel Wave. It has a great transition to boot. It has a solid rubber forefoot outsole design for durability and flexibility. New! Ortholite sockliner for a responsive first feel. $100
www.mizunousa.com |
Saucony ProGrid Ride
“The Ride” offers just that: a cushioned, yet supportive feel. Many of you do not replace your shoes often enough. If you need cushion and durability, the Ride will give you both. Cushioning and flexibility for the neutral runner, Saucony’s latest impact deflection technology, ProGrid, absorbs impact, dissipates shock and sets the foot up for a smooth transition. Impulse EVA provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning, durability and rebound properties. $90
www.saucony.com |
Asics Gel Landreth 5
The Landreth has a simple look and a simple message: Wear me and find success. With a broad forefoot and an almost seamless upper, the Landreth provides unsurpassed comfort. This proven performer has been updated for 2009, combing a neutral cushioned platform with a fast responsive ride. The new ComforDry sockliner adds soft fit. The Landreth also features the Impact Guidance System (I.G.S.), GEL Cushioning System, and gender-specific Space Trusstic System. $100
www.asicsamerica.com |
Brooks Defyance 2: 
Providing standard neutral support, the Defyance is one of the most stable neutral shoes on the market. Taking many of the qualities of Brooks top performing stability models, the Defyance provides neutral walkers with support, and performance. The Defyance 2 is definitely a “no-brainer.” A small plastic in the arch called the Medial DRB Accel curbs natural pronation. Brooks also realizes biomechanically efficient runners come in all widths, so the Defyance 2 now comes in narrow, as well as wide and regular. $100
www.brooksrunning.com |
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| PERFORMANCE STABILITY: Often an alternative to heavier, stiffer shoes, these models offer lightweight, responsive, and performance motivated characteristics. This category introduces the medial post. It is a slightly denser part of the shoe designed to help support your arch. If you consider rotating or alternating your shoes, you will find lighter, more flexible models in this category. |
ASICS DS-Trainer 14
With an asymmetric fit, and strategic gel cushioning in both the heel and the forefoot, the DS-Trainer has long since established itself as a great platform for everything from recreational walking to race walking. The DS features the Space Trusstic System for more efficient foot function. This is the best version in several years so those of you that abandoned your original DS-Trainer, it is definitely worth revisiting. Newly updated for 2009, with an innovative geometry to the upper, a seemingly custom fitted arch, and an amazing new Solyte midsole material, this standard of the ASICS line is better than ever.
$110
www.asicsamerica.com |
Mizuno Wave Elixir 4: 
Sometimes, a lower profile is more responsive and may even produce a faster you. The Elixir is lower to the ground and lighter than most of its counterparts. It is SmoothRide Engineered, as a Composite Double Fan Wave that provides the perfect blend of support and cushioning in a low profile, lightweight package. The outsole is perhaps its most interesting feature. It has a combination G3/blown rubber forefoot outsole design for cushioning, flexibility, and light weight.
$105
www.mizunousa.com |
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| RACE WALKING STABILITY: Mizuno, well known in the race walking world, is now taking that success to the mainstream. These models may look a little intimidating but they will make you faster. They are up to five ounces lighter than your usual training shoe. Some use these models for racing, but even a recreational walker will find that this category can spice up a short walk or event. |
Mizuno Wave Ronin 2 (7.5 oz): 
Broad and stable, the Ronin 2 is SmoothRide Engineered, making it performance friendly. Its Parallel Wave Plate is perfectly suited to the quick-transition style of a neutral gait race walker. It has a G3 DR outsole design for lightweight cushioning, durability, and flexibility.
$95
www.mizunousa.com |
Mizuno Wave Musha (7.8 oz): 
Slightly lighter than the Ronin, the Musha has a Fan Wave that provides just the right amount of support in a minimalist racing shoe. Its combination blown rubber/solid rubber forefoot outsole design makes it feel softer than the Ronin but also reduces durability.
$75
www.mizunousa.com |
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| PROTECTION STABILITY: The focus is on stability. These models reduce overpornation or the tendency to roll from your outside heel to your big toe. Up to 70% of you need this and nearly no one figures that out on their own! |
Mizuno Wave Inspire 5: 
First impressions of the Inspire are that it is lighter than comparable models. Although not true on the scale, the Inspire wraps around the foot and provides a significant arch presence creating the perfect marriage between your foot and your shoe. Its thermo-plastic Double Fan Wave provides the perfect blend of support and cushioning in a package that transitions like no other. It has a solid rubber forefoot outsole design for cushioning, flexibility, and durability.
$100
www.mizunousa.com |
New Balance 769: 
Absorbz cushioning technology, and a supportive upper and midsole give the 769 a versatility not seen in every shoe. If you are likely to wear your walking shoe to coffee afterwards, or to school to pick up the kids, the 769 provides durability and comfort. With an amazing heel cushioning system, the 769 feels great walking, running, or just hanging out.
$100
www.newbalance.com |
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9: 
The Adrenaline had long captured the hearts of those who appreciate solid construction, a great fit, and more bang for the buck. Simply a “Go-To Shoe,” the signature midfoot wrap, forefoot capture, and progressive support have made the Adrenaline a shoe walkers can rely on and love. Whether you’ve worn it for years or are trying it for the first time, you will appreciate its reduced-waste system called BioMoGo cushioning and arch system of PDRB support. All technology aside, this is the perfect answer to the “stuck on a desert island with only one shoe” scenario.
$105
www.brooksrunning.com |
Nike Nucleus MC +: 
With a rounded heel for smooth transition from heel to toe, this is no “stand-around” shoe. Nike is renowned for their ability to innovate cushioning (Air, Shox, Zoom). The Nucleus incorporates those valuable lessons into a stable, innovative platform. The Nucleus is Nike+ enabled for instant workout feedback when used with a Nike+ SportBand or iPod nano and Nike + iPod Sport Kit.
Nike Zoom units in the forefoot and heel provide a low profile, super-responsive cushioning system. The Nike Zoom Nucleus MC+ keeps your foot in a neutral position, while Nike+ technology helps you keep track of your progress.
$115
www.nike.com |
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| MOTION CONTROL: Focus is on injury prevention by reducing overpronation. You likely have experienced injuries. You may have custom orthotics or insoles. You commonly reach moderate levels of activity before you are sidelined with a nagging pain. |
Asics Gel Foundation 8:
The task of combining stability with flexibility is handled nicely by this veteran of the “maximum support” category. The improved upper geometry and snug fitting heel combines with DuoMax support and GEL Cushioning for optimal fit and an enhanced level of performance. The Foundation may not win any fashion awards, but wait until all the beautiful people are headed home and need something comfortable and supportive to save their achy feet.
$90
www.asicsamerica.com |
Saucony Grid Stabil CS: 
The Stabil provides ultimate stability and cushioning for the severe overpronator. It has a supportive upper that incorporates Arch-Lock, a Comfort Ride Sockliner, and a breathable, moisture wicking, anti-odor and anti-microbial Comfortride insole that provides i
mproved step-in comfort with rebound properties. $115
www.saucony.com |
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| Dave Harkin is co-owner of Portland Running Company, and has more than 12 years of specialty walking and running retail and product research experience. He competes in local events and coaches hundreds of athletes each year to complete the Portland Marathon. For more information visit www.portlandrunningcompany.com. |
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