Top walking and running shoes: get your workout off on the right foot with the season's best new Shape-tested footwear - Gear Update

Shape, April, 2003 by Sarah Bowen Shea

No doubt about it -- you love your walking and running workouts. According to the most recent National Sporting Goods Association report, walking is the No. 1 participation sport among women, with 44.8 million doing it, while 11.1 million women are running and jogging. But with so many footwear options, finding the right shoes can be as challenging as training for a marathon. That's why Shape asked footwear expert Paul Carrozza, owner of Run-Tex and WalkTex specialty stores in Austin, Texas, and a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, to over-see 30 women of various athletic abilities, body types and ages as they tested the season's newest walking and running entries over countless miles.

What our testers found: When it comes to cushioning and support, running shoes are no longer superior to walking shoes, with the main difference being that walking shoes have predominantly nonflashy leather uppers and a beveled heel and toe to facilitate a walker's gait. Also, large-gauge mesh is springing up in a lot of running and walking shoes; some testers loved how it kept their feet cool, while others found the material let in too much rain or dirt. Overall, this season's top picks showcase solid, functional features for optimum comfort and performance. Peruse our review for all the footwear facts you need to meet practically any challenge -- whether finding the right shoes, hitting the footpath or crossing a finish line in your quest for fitness.

Walking          details

BEST ALL         New Balance WW787, $85
AROUND           Lightest walking shoe tested - 8.6
                 ounces. Stability device controls
                 excessive inward rolling of feet.
                 Impact-absorbing pads in heel and
                 forefoot. Available in three widths
                 and an impressive size range

BEST             Ryka Radiant, $70
STABILITY        Thermal-polyurethane shank
                 under arch and dual-density
                 midsole provide excellent motion
                 control and support. Great
                 women's-only fit. Cushioning
                 "cartridges" in heel and forefoot,
                 Available in two widths

BEST CUSHIONING  Nike Air Vos, $75
                 Unparalleled size options.
                 Lightweight -9.1 ounces. Almost
                 seamless mesh upper gives
                 socklike feel. Encapsulated Air in
                 the heel. Supportive midfoot shank


BEST VALUE       Avia 360, $50
                 Two cushioning systems under
                 heel; comfortable foam pad under
                 forefoot. Anatomical heel cradle in
                 midsole offers some stability.
                 Outsole molded at arch, enhancing
                 walking motion

                 Walking Honorable Mention: adidas
                 Response II Walker, $75

Walking          best suited for

BEST ALL         Walkers with hard-to-
AROUND           fit feet; moderate
                 overpronators *





BEST             Speed-walkers and
STABILITY        overpronators *







BEST CUSHIONING  Speed-walkers, neutral foot
                 types ** and moderate
                 overpronators #; walkers with
                 a heavy heel strike




BEST VALUE       Neutral foot types ## looking
                 for an affordable walking shoe









Walking          comments

BEST ALL         * "The stiffness of the midsole
AROUND             was perfect."
                 * "Very comfortable."
                 * "I like the wide toe box."
                 * "I felt very secure in this
                   shoe-there's no side-to-side
                   motion."

BEST             * "I liked the fit and style."
STABILITY        * "I couldn't find anything
                   wrong with them."
                 * "After a long walk, my feet
                   didn't feel tired."
                 * "I always felt secure in these
                   shoes."


BEST CUSHIONING  * "I felt like I had pillows on
                   my feet--it was great!"
                 * "This shoe offers optimal
                   protection and mobility."
                 * "The sole is well padded."
                 * "My feet felt protected and
                   supported."

BEST VALUE       * "Nice and light."
                 * "My feet felt really secure
                   in these shoes."
                 * "Each step in them seemed
                   to roll right into the next--it
                   was great!"





running

Walking          details

BEST ALL AROUND  Brooks Adrenaline GTS IV, $90
                 Silicon-based inserts under heel and
                 forefoot cushion impact. Extra-
                 durable rubberized-foam midsole
                 provides bounce. Inward rolling of
                 foot controlled by high-density foam
                 insert. Large-gauge mesh uppers.
                 Available in three widths

BEST STABILITY   New Balance W855, $98
                 Three devices keep feet from
                 rolling inward excessively. Heel
                 and forefoot cushioning inserts.
                 Available in four widths

BEST CUSHIONING  adidas Supernova Cushion, $85
                 Excellent cushioning under heel,
                 Two forefoot inserts give an extra
                 "kick" at push-off. Socklike fit holds
                 heel secure. Roomy toe box


BEST VALUE       Saucony GRID Jazz 8, $70
                 An update of a Saucony classic,
                 Great fit for women--narrow in
                 heel and arch yet wide in forefoot.
                 Large-gauge mesh uppers.
                 Responsive cushioning pad under
                 forefoot. Heel insert provides
                 stability as well as cushioning.

                 Running Honorable Mentions: Puma Extol
                 II, $80; Nike Air Max Converge, $90

Walking          best suited for

BEST ALL AROUND  Overpronators # and heavier
                 runners in need of extra or
                 longer-lasting cushioning






BEST STABILITY   Runners with hard-to-fit feet;
                 moderate to severe
                 overpronators #



BEST CUSHIONING  Runners with medium or
                 high arches; neutral foot
                 types ##; runners with a
                 heavy heel strike



BEST VALUE       Neutral foot types ## who
                 want a great, affordable
                 running shoe









Walking          comments

BEST ALL AROUND  * "Extremely comfortable."
                 * "Roomy toe box--I can
                   wiggle my toes with ease!"
                 * "Great ventilation."
                 * "Held my heel steady
                   without being too snug."
                 * "My feet were cushioned
                   and stable."

BEST STABILITY   * "This shoe enhances my runs."
                 * "Offers a perfect fit,
                   especially the roomy toe box."



BEST CUSHIONING  * "Best shoe I've ever run in!"
                 * "Loved the cushioning and
                   support."
                 * "The cushioning made
                   running so much easier on
                   my knees,"

BEST VALUE       * "This shoe is so light, it
                   helps enhance my run; I barely
                   feel the shoes on my feet."
                 * "A well-designed shoe."
                 * "Like running on a cloud!"
                 * "Very comfortable and
                   secure."





# Overpronators: Feet roll inward excessively.

## Neutral foot types: Feet do not roll excessively.

where to find them * adidas thestore.adidas.com * Avia (888) 855-AVIA,
avia.com * Brooks (800) 2BROOKS, brooksrunning.com * New Balance (800)
253-SHOE, newbalance.com * Nike nikerunning.com * Puma (888) 565-7862,
puma.com * Ryka (800) 848-8698, ryka.com * Saucony (800) 365-4933,