Best new footwear: it's time to replace your old running or walking shoes! Try one of these Shape-tested models to put a spring back in your step

Shape, April, 2005 by Sarah Bowen Shea

Few things are more inspiring for your fitness regimen than a new pair of running or walking shoes: When your energy, excitement or motivation to head out the door dips, a new pair of kicks can get you moving again. But which pair? To help you select your ideal shoes, we had more than 200 women in Portland, Ore., try out 25 new-for-spring running shoes and 11 walking shoes.

This year, "visible" technology is popular in midsoles--the cushioning inserts you can see in shoes like Nike Air and Shox, Reebok DMX and Saucony Grid. Testers noticed that some shoe sizes are changing. After years of running small, Nike now consistently fits true to size; other brands such as Reebok and adidas continue to run true. Our advice? Try on shoes in a variety of sizes rather than just buying your old standard.

After countless test runs and walks to rate comfort, cushioning and stability, we narrowed the field to the 15 standouts that follow. Happy trails!