Good news for runners: Your shoes are probably pretty good. Consumer Reports evaluates
24 shoes in its August edition, and the biggest surprise turns out to be their overall rating: 20 scored "very good" or better.
"Not a bad shoe in the bunch," says Gayle Williams, deputy health editor.
That surprised her, because the study includes shoes as inexpensive as $28 (women's Champion, available at Target).
"We wouldn't recommend them for a hard-core runner. But for someone starting running who may not want to sink $120 in a pair of shoes, it's a good shoe for them," Williams said.
A panel of nine runners scored the shoes for fit, cushioning and stability. Consumer Reports weighed them and ran lab tests for flexibility and breathability.
There's a subjective element to the testing, Williams said, which explains the different men's and women's scores for the same brand. The Nike Air Zoom Vomero+2 scored 78 out of 100 for its men's version and 76 for the women's, topping the field. Anything above 60 was considered "very good."
The Brooks Glycerin 6 came in second on the men's list, scoring slightly lower on cushioning. Both shoes retail for $120 and are the costliest on the list.
Attention to "breathability" is among the new advancements in running shoes, Williams says. Shoes that dissipate sweat keep your feet cooler — and reduce the risk of funky stuff growing in them.
Consumer Reports tested and scored breathability by placing a wet sock on a fake plastic foot inside the shoe for four hours. That's where the $28 Champions faltered.
Williams warns that the most important factor in buying a shoe, though, is fit. Your own personal fit.
"The Nike shoe graded the best in our study, but they're your feet, and it's best to go with what feels best on your own foot," Williams said. "Just don't go buy a shoe because we said so."
Nick Sortal can be reached at nsortal @sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4725.
Do you run in shoes that are not on this list? Tell us about it at Nick Sortal's fitness blog, Sun-Sentinel.com/trialsanderrors
