Mizuno Wave Idaten 3

Christmas has come early for me this year - these Mizuno Wave Idaten's are a Christmas present from my parents, and should really be wrapped up in their box and not opened until the 25th December!

One good thing is that I haven't run in them yet. I ordered them from the Natterjack website a few days ago hoping they would arrive before Christmas. Well, they arrived the day after they were put in the post. So, top class service from Natterjack. Not only were they £6 cheaper than I could find anywhere else (including ebay), but they arrived very quickly, and they fit. That can be a problem ordering shoes online or through mail order: you order a cheap pair of shoes, they turn up and you discover they are the wrong size!

I had an advantage here because I actually tried on a pair of Idaten's at Keep on Running a month ago, and didn't buy them then because I'd just bought a pair of Walsh fell shoes and didn't have enough money - which is very fortunate because I would have paid around £54 for them.

How to Find the Best Cushioned Running Shoes

Buying running shoes can be confusing – especially since the running shoe companies seem to be introducing new technologies all the time. What you don’t want to happen is to go into a shop – or worse still buy a shoe over the phone or the internet – without a good idea of your foot type. The shoes you buy might be the best cushioned running shoes, but if you pronate when you run it will only be a matter of time before you’re injured.

Buying a running shoe is not the same as buying a smart shoe for work. Too often naive runners will not realise the different choices on offer, and go with either the cheapest shoe they can find, or fall for the running shoe salesman’s line that “more cushioning is better because it will protect your knees from the impact of running”. That is what he wants you to believe because it is his job to sell you running shoes, and the shoes at the high end of the market (priced in the UK at £80 to over £100) have more cushioning, and logically speaking should be the better shoe. Why else would they cost so much?

They will not be the better shoe for everyone. Of course, they will suit some people and enough people must be buying them each year for the running shoe companies to continue to make them, but don’t be seduced into thinking that because they are the most expensive they are automatically the best.

Even if a cushioned running shoe is the right choice for you too much cushioning can lead to problems with your running style, and possible injuries. Of course if you are 6 foot 3 and built like a rugby or American football player the best cushioned running shoes for you could be the most expensive, but try different shoes on first to discover which ones feel the best.

A shoe that is mid-priced might feel better on your feet, and if this is the case will probably be a better choice. Many specialist running shops do a video gait analysis, which basically involves you running on a treadmill for a few minutes. They can then playback the video and analyse your running style. Running shops that are staffed by fellow runners, who have been well trained can advise you on the best running shoes for you simply by looking at an old pair of shoes, or by the way you stand when you are barefoot.

It is definitely worth investing the time and effort to find the best running shoes for you instead of buying a shoe that is either the cheapest or the most expensive. I hope this has helped you in your search for an excellent pair of running shoes that should serve you for many miles to come.

Nike Lunartrainers

If you're looking for a great pair of lightweight trainers that you can use for both racing and training it is worth looking at Nike's Lunartrainers. LunarTrainer+ weighs 250g so will not hold you back, and at the same time provides great levels of cushioning.

I can't give my personal opinion on these shoes as I haven't worn them, but they look good and Nike do make excellent running shoes. I have worn Nike Pegasus at various times over the last few years and have been pleased with them. I have also worn Asics DS Trainers, and it seems to me that the Nike Lunartrainer+ are similar shoes. Both are lightweight, but designed for both training and racing, and both have a similar stripped down cousin -- in Nike's case this is the Lunaracer+ that weighs in at 150g.

My conclusion: Lunartrainers look good, and I would expect perform excellently as well. They are worth trying on in the shop, and testing out. At £85 they are rather expensive, but this is the usual price you would pay for a similar shoe.

Mizuno Wave Rider

I picked up a good pair of running shoes when we were in the States in January. For a long time I ran in them mostly on the treadmill, but over the last month I've been running on the roads and across fields as well. For me they seem the ideal all-purpose shoe.

They are Mizuno Wave Rider 10. I think they cost around $60 to $70 in Orlando, which was an excellent bargain. The full price for the same running shoe in the UK is £70, so a good rule of thumb is if it costs £100 in the UK you can expect it to cost $100 in the USA. With the exchange rate as it is it's about half the price in America.

Mizuno Wave Riders are great shoes if your foot type is neutral, and you're looking for a good all round shoe. They provide excellent cushioning, and good heel to toe progression. You may be able to pick up some bargains at this time of year since Mizuno now have version 11 in the shops; you should be able to get a pair for around £50.