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

WALKING  details                best suited for     comments

[??]     Reebok Premier Walk    Fitness and casual  * "I liked the
         FSM, $75 best all-     walkers looking       lightness of the
         around                 for a good blend      shoe while still
         Firm insert between    of cushioning and     feeling a strong
         heel and arch          support.              sense of
         prevents foot from                           stability."
         rolling inward too                         * "My feet felt
         much. Several design                         secure yet had
         features facilitate                          room to move."
         roll-through from                          * "Excellent
         heel to toe.                                 traction on slick
         Well-ventilated mesh                         surfaces and in
         upper.                                       the rain."
[??]     New Balance 790, $75   Walkers of all      * "The sole absorbed
         best cushioning        speeds and sizes      impact well,
         Shock-absorbing        who want every        keeping my feet
         inserts under heel     step to feel          feeling fresh."
         and forefoot. A web    stable and well-    * "This shoe makes
         under the arch offers  cushioned.            my whole body feel
         lightweight support.                         more stable."
         Elastic anchors hold                       * "I love the
         tongue in place.                             elastic anchors on
         Available in three                           the tongue--it
         widths and large size                        prevents a
         range.                                       shifting tongue
                                                      during brisk
                                                      walks."
[??]     Nike Air Axial, $85    Overpronators       * "These shoes'
         best stability         (feet roll inward)    rolling action
         Insert in midsole on   who want to feel      made me feel
         inner side of foot     stable and secure     comfortable and
         provides stability.    on sidewalks. Also    supported."
         Outsole design and     good for walkers    * "The laces
         deep forefoot grooves  over 160 pounds.      provided support,
         help foot roll                               especially near my
         through each stride.                         ankles."
         Air bags under heel                        * "When my foot hit
         and forefoot cushion                         the pavement, the
         impact.                                      shoe had a bounce
                                                      to it, giving me a
                                                      lift."
[??]     Saucony Grid Kineta    Walkers who want    * "Shoe is light and
         Walk, $70 best for     to pick up the        bouncy: I felt I
         fast walkers           pace on road or       could walk faster
         Insert under heel      treadmill. Not        without as much
         offers stability in    well suited for       effort."
         addition to            walkers over 160    * "My feet felt
         cushioning. Midfoot    pounds.               secure and
         "wrap" gives support.                        protected as well
         Rubber outsole                               as supported in my
         provides durable                             arch."
         traction. Airy mesh                        * "Great traction--I
         upper.                                       never worried
                                                      about slipping on
                                                      wet surfaces."

honorable mentions New Balance 843, $105; Asics Gel-GT Sport, $80

RUNNING  details                best suited for     comments

[??]     New Balance 766, $90   Runners going the   * "Comfortable from
         best all-around        distance--or just     the very
         Cushioning inserts     a few miles--who      beginning--no
         under heel and         want cushioning       slipping or
         forefoot. Special      along with some       pressure points."
         extra-durable midsole  stability. Not for  * "The best lacing
         material. Unique       flat-footed           system I've
         laces are              runners who           encountered on any
         triangle-shaped to     overpronate.          athletic shoe!"
         ensure they stay                           * "Excellent motion
         tied. Available in                           control--I felt
         four widths and                              very secure in
         extensive size range.                        these shoes."
                                                    * "Lightweight
                                                      considering the
                                                      stability they
                                                      offer."
[??]     Asics GT-2100, $90     Overpronators who   * "My feet felt
         best stability         require a lot of      secure,
         Extra-firm midsole     motion control.       especially my
         material prevents                            arch."
         feet from rolling in.                      * "Surprisingly
         Several features work                        lightweight for
         together to enhance                          the stability it
         roll-through of foot                         provides, allowing
         on each stride.                              the to run longer
         GEL-filled inserts                           without fatigue."
         under heel and                             * "Immediately
         forefoot provide                             comfortable."
         ample cushioning.                          * "I could feel the
         Available in wide                            air cooling down
         and narrow.                                  my toes as I ran!
                                                      It felt great."
[??]     Reebok Premier Ultra   A wide variety of   * "I liked how much
         DMX II, $110 most      runners who have      cushioning these
         versatile              normal or high        shoes had."
         Large, shock-          arches and want     * "The width of the
         absorbing full-foot    support and           sole gave a nice,
         insert offers          cushioning on         sturdy base."
         stability for heel     training runs.      * "Great
         and forefoot.                                ventilation."
         Midfoot "bridge"                           * "Roomy toe box yet
         eases heel-to-toe                            no slippage in the
         transition. Moisture-                        heel."
         wicking lining in
         large-gauge mesh
         upper.
[??]     Nike Shox Dendara,     Runners who want    * "Shox gave energy
         $100 best cushioning   extra spring in       to my runs."
         Five columns of        their step and      * "My feet felt
         women's-specific Shox  don't need motion     cradled but not
         cushioning under       control;              confined."
         heel. Pads in midsole  overweight          * "Great support and
         under forefoot         runners; or those     shock absorption
         augment cushioning.    with a heavy heel     with minimal
         Lightweight, single-   strike.               weight."
         piece upper offers                         * "Reflective upper:
         smooth fit.                                  great for running
                                                      at night and
                                                      flashy too!"
[??]     adidas ClimaCool       Runners with        * "Very open,
         Response, $75 best     normal or high        breathable, and
         ventilation            arches who live in    'light-as-a-
         Large-gauge nylon      hot climes or go      feather' feel."
         mesh upper for         longer distances    * "The cushioning
         breathability;         and want feet to      system took a lot
         midfoot screenlike     feel cool and         of the work off my
         "wrap" and             well-cushioned.       legs during a
         perforated, moisture-                        half-marathon."
         wicking sock liner                         * "My toes had
         also allow                                   plenty of room to
         ventilation. Inserts                         spread out, and
         under heel offer                             never felt cramped
         shock absorption.                            or crunched."
         Lightest shoe tested
         at 8.6 ounces.
[??]     Saucony Grid Shadow    Budget-minded       * "Light and
         9, $80 best value      runners who want      supportive. Not
         Extra-durable and      high-performance      too cushy, not
         dense midsole          cushioning and        too hard."
         cushioning under heel  design.             * "My foot felt free
         and midfoot. Insert                          to move, but
         under heel offers                            secure."
         additional cushioning                      * "I loved that I
         as well as some                              never had to
         stability. "Bridge"                          adjust my laces
         under arch offers                            during a run."
         support.                                   * "The sole gripped
                                                      like a champ on
                                                      slick roads and
                                                      wet leaves."

honorable mentions Mizuno Wave Inspire, $90; Brooks Dyad 3, $90; Nike
Air Max Moto III, $85
where to find them adidas (800) 448-1796, adidas.com; Asics
(800) 678-9435, asicstiger.com; Brooks (800) 2-BROOKS,
brooksrunning.com; Mizuno (800) 966-1211, www.mizunousa.com; New Balance
(800) 253-SHOE, newbalance.com; Nike (877) 533-6453, nikewomen.com;
Reebok (800) REEBOK1, reebok.com; Saucony (800) 365-4933, saucony.com