The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Running Shoes

The Run testers are preparing to release their best running shoes guide, a significant video that comes out annually. The guide covers various categories of running shoes, discussing the shortlisted shoes chosen by the team and the selection process involved.

The best running shoes video is the most popular content on the channel, where the team discusses different road categories, selects their top three picks, and provides additional options for viewers. The video aims to offer insights into the chosen shoes, categories, and the reasons behind their selections.

The best running shoes guide is released in July to account for the numerous shoe releases throughout the year. Releasing the guide mid-year allows viewers to make informed decisions about purchasing shoes, as waiting until the end of the year may lead to overshadowing by newer releases.

The team releases two videos annually: the best shoes video in July and the awards video at the end of the year. The best shoes video covers current top picks, while the awards focus on shoes released within the year. This dual approach ensures viewers are informed about both current and upcoming shoe options.

In the best ratio category, each team member selects their top three shoes, which are then ranked using a point system. The category focuses on carbon plate shoes, typically favored for marathons and races. Personal preferences and experiences heavily influence the selections, with an emphasis on shoes suitable for various distances.

The AEX Meta Speed Sky Paris shoe has been extensively tested by all participants, with a consensus that it is a standout product this year. The shoe has impressed testers with its significant improvements over previous models, offering a sensational experience that elicits a 'wow' reaction every time it is used. Testers have found the shoe to be light, bouncy, and a clear favorite, even when compared to other models like the Edge. The Sky Paris is noted for offering a unique and slightly different experience, setting it apart in the market.

The Alphafly 3 shoe has garnered positive feedback, with testers praising its bouncy and springy airpods that provide an extra punch and a smoother ride compared to past Alpha flies. Despite some trade-offs in bounciness from the Alphafly 1, the Alphafly 3 offers a faster turnover, making it an excellent choice for high Cadence Runners. Testers have expressed satisfaction with the shoe, considering it a brilliant product that could potentially be a top choice for the entire year.

The Vaporfly shoe, particularly the Vaporfly 2 and Vaporfly 3 models, continues to be a popular choice among runners for racing. Testers have found the Vaporfly to be exceptional for running quick and racing, providing a propulsive feel and meeting expectations for speed and performance. The shoe is highly regarded by runners at races, maintaining a strong reputation and delivering on its promises of speed and comfort.

The speaker finds the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2 to be slightly more cushioned, making it more accessible to a wider group of runners. However, the speaker personally feels that the shoe has been softened too much, losing its fast edge that was a standout feature of the previous model. Despite this, the speaker acknowledges that the shoe provides more protection later into races, which explains its popularity among runners across different pace ranges.

The Hoka One One X1 is highlighted as one of the most surprising and enjoyable shoes of the year. The speaker mentions using this shoe for numerous training sessions due to its fun, fast, and bouncy nature. Despite some issues with lacing that may need rectification in future versions, the speaker appreciates the overall ride, experience, and comfort provided by the shoe, especially for longer runs like London marathon training.

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is discussed as a potential upcoming shoe. The speaker mentions positive experiences racing in the shoe, noting a significant improvement over the previous model in terms of being more racing-centric. While the speaker acknowledges the need for more races to fully evaluate the shoe, there is overall optimism and praise for the advancements made by Puma in this model.

The distinction between daily shoes and allrounder shoes is explained, with daily shoes typically having slightly more cushioning for easy daily runs, while allrounder shoes offer a balance for various activities including fast running. The speaker admits to selecting the same shoe for both categories, highlighting the subjective nature of categorizing shoes based on individual preferences and usage.

The concept of what constitutes an allrounder varies from person to person, as what may be considered an allrounder for one individual like Nick may not be the same for another like Tom. Despite potential confusion when selecting three picks, there is a significant crossover in preferences. However, a notable absence in their daily trainers is the inclusion of a 'cushion shoe,' a category that focuses on shoes with high cushioning like the Asics Gel Nimbus.

While many may classify highly cushioned shoes as daily trainers, the channel's preference leans towards shoes with more versatility than traditional cushioned options like the Asics Gel Nimbus. Examples of shoes in this category include the Asics Gel Nimbus, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, and New Balance FuelCell Rebel V4.

The New Balance FuelCell Rebel V4 is regarded as a daily shoe by some, despite differing opinions on its level of cushioning. While some may find it suitable for easy runs, others believe it excels in faster-paced daily training. Personal experiences vary, with some users feeling it performs better at uptempo speeds.

The discussion delves into the strategy of incorporating shoes into a rotation based on their intended use. The distinction is made between daily shoes, which are suitable for regular rotation, and allrounder shoes, which serve as a versatile option for those who do not rotate shoes frequently. Examples of daily trainers mentioned include the Puma Velocity Nitro 3 and Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, while allrounder options include the Hoka One One Mach 4 and Hoka One One Clifton 8.

Discussion on best allrounder running shoes, mentioning the Super Blast 2, Rebel V4, Neo Vista, and Boston 12. Rebel V4 considered more of a specialized shoe, while Neo Vista and Boston 12 debated as potential allrounders. Algorithmic challenges in ranking shoes due to limited testing by multiple individuals.

Challenges with the shoe testing algorithm discussed, highlighting the need for multiple testers to provide accurate rankings. Mention of the Boston 12 being overlooked due to limited testing, despite its popularity. Request made to Adidas for more shoe samples for testing.

Debate on the best cushioning running shoes, including the New Balance 1080 v13, Brooks Glycerin 21, On Cloudswift, Brooks Glycerin 16, and Saucony Triumph 17. Differentiating between daily cushion shoes and allrounder cushion shoes, with varying opinions on each shoe's categorization.

Cush shoes are designed for slower, easy, comfortable miles, focusing on comfort and cushioning rather than speed.

The P Velocity Nitro 3 is a cushion shoe in the rotation, known for its comfort and cushioning, despite being categorized as a value shoe.

The best value shoes category includes shoes that offer great value, combining cost-effectiveness, durability, and versatility, regardless of the shoe type.

Seeking input on defining shoe categories and determining the best shoes for each category, encouraging audience participation and suggestions for selection.

In the next few weeks, a full guide to the best running shoes will be released, anticipating comments and feedback on shoe selections and categories.

Concluding the discussion on running shoes, expressing readiness to work on the guide, and thanking viewers for their support, with plans for future releases and engagement.