Media Query Source: Part 52 - Forbes Vetted (US digital magazine); The best men's running shoes

• Forbes Vetted (US digital magazine)
• The best men's running shoes
• Shoe selection should focus on runners themselves
• Know one's body and understand one's running patterns

The query responses I provided to Forbes Vetted on April 21, 2025:

Forbes Vetted: Runners, fitness coaches and physical therapists, I'm looking for expert input on what to think about when choosing running shoes (primarily for street/tread, not trail) in terms of materials, design, treading, geometry, support, etc. and also hoping for specific brand/model recommendations.

Gfesser: I'm specifically responding to something you haven't mentioned in your query: the runner themselves. Focusing on runner characteristics should take utmost priority when considering what running shoes to use for oneself.

I'm a lifelong runner who started competing for schools at the age of 10, and have kept it up as an adult despite my decision to swear off further racing. I run every single morning to start my day, typically running outside unless there's inclimate weather or I've had a severe lack of sleep.

Coincidentally, I just commented on this topic on LinkedIn, which you can find here on my blog (a link to LinkedIn is provided):
https://www.erikgfesser.com/community-comment-part-38-choose-your-words-wisely-not-just-for-llm-prompts-but-for-life-in-general/

The key to choosing running shoes to use for oneself is to know one's body and understand one's running patterns. Weekly mileage is important for example, as are other factors such as one's weight, level of pronation, the width of one's feet, and typical running surfaces.

For example, I've long known that Nike running shoes don't work well for me because they tend to be far too narrow for my feet. Additionally, I know that I prefer feeling the surface below me rather than running on a cloud, and I'm not a heavy runner, so I opt for less cushioning.

One aspect of running shoe models is that they are often categorized, helping runners with the selection process, even though categories often aren't perfect. For example, I know that I need to use what are called "neutral" shoes because I don't pronate, and so "stability" shoes aren't a good match for me.

I've also experimented with a variety of running shoe models over the years, and I've since come to be quite loyal to Altra shoes because of the zero drop, and shape which seems best to conform to my feet.

It might also be worth noting that shoe models change over time, so sometimes one is forced to switch to another model when a past model no longer meets one's needs. For example, I wore Asics Gel-Nimbus for many years, and as soon as the toe box sizing was increased I felt forced to look for an alternative.