Shoes

[Texas Aggie]

trial and error are unfortunately your best way to find out what is best for you.

Not true. You need to be evaluated for your foot pronation type. If you don't know what that means, then go to a running shoe store and ask them to look at the way you walk -- probably without shoes -- and give you an evaluation. If you overpronate, the inside of your foot turns inward as you walk. If you are neutral, it pretty much stays straight. Most people are some form of the former -- they have some inward movement, ranging from a little to severe. That's good news for officials since most of the basketball shoes sold by the Honigs of the world are cross-trainer type shoes that usually work fine for those that over pronate a little or a lot. The problem comes in for guys like me that are neutral -- we need cushioning and usually, a running shoe is the only way to get it.

That's what I wear and it takes a lot of effort to find black running shoes. I've found a couple and just buy several when I've found them. You may have to compromise a little.

Getting other's GENERAL advice on shoes is like asking if you can wear my pants or my shirt. Sure, but its probably not going to fit, just like the shoes I wear might not work for you. If you want to start getting a taste for what I'm talking about, google running shoe and pronate.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Not true.

I agree with what you said (hence why I made similar comments in post #5), except the trial and error part.

I believe even when you know what type of foot you have - neutral striker, over pronator, under pronator, etc., you still may go through a trial and error period with brands and models until you find the shoe that's best for you.

All of the major shoe manufacturers make shoes for all the different foot types. That doesn't mean the width, comfort, support, style, insole, cushion is good or comfortable for you. Just because the shoe “type” is appropriate for your foot type, doesn’t mean the make/model is best for your feet.

Even though I knew my foot-type, it still took me quite a while of what I would call “trial and error,” and I went through allot of the major brands, (Adidas, Nike, Brooks, Saucony, etc.) before I settled on my Asics many yrs ago.

JMO

[Texas Aggie]

you still may go through a trial and error period with brands and models

I agree with that. What I disagreed with was the statement:

trial and error are unfortunately your best way to find out what is best for you

Trial and error works after you've found out what you need. You can, unfortunately, trying the Reeboks, New Balance, and whatever else Honigs sells only to find out later that none of those shoes work for you because of your feet isn't the best way to go about things.

[jritchie]

Got the Air Max 360's the last 2 years and they are the most comfortable shoes on the market! Regular $160-180, but Ebay has them all the time for $109 with free shipping, got them in 3 days. Shox are okay too, but the the 360's are the real deal.