2nd Annual: Your Worst Shoe Purchase of the Year

Worst shoes I bought are Hey Dude loafers. The insoles disintegrated within like 4 or 5 mos (lil rubbery pellets flaking off) and they have no tread left after about 9 mos. I only wear them around, no running. Typically get 400mi out of pegasus running, for reference.

I like Sanuk shoes better

Adidas Boston 10 - took a phenomenal light weight training shoe and ruined it by putting a ton of unnecessary foam on it. Even the outer part of the shoe feels rubbery and cheap.

Hoka One One was the name of the brand, now just Hoka.

So which hoka again, dipsh*t?

CTTC wrote:

I have had like 5-6 pairs of the 890v6 and still love them. I'm actually blown away at how bad they f*cked up the v7's and just from looking at the v8's, they can't be much better.

Running shoe people: This is a plea for help. Anyone have pretty inexpensive recommendations similar to the 890 v6? Low drop, neutral shoe? I heard the vomeros are similar, are they a good shoe?

Also, why do shoe companies stop making versions of shoes?

I have no new shoe recommendations but if you liked the 890v6 you should also really like the Sonic Vazee (Boa laces). Very similar feel if a bit less cushioned and less grip. I have been buying up old stock on Ebay, now on my fourth pair. They unfortunately aren’t going to be around forever but for now are more available than the 890v6 in my size.

I am hopeful for some of the New Balance 2022 offerings which seem to be going back to a lower stack and firmer shoe, at least by the looks of them (the Fuelcell SC Pacer in particular).

I think I bought the Novablast last year, but maybe it was this year. It was certainly my worst shoe purchase. I went for a run in them, cleaned them, and returned them, which I feel somewhat guilty about, but they were unusable for me. Unstable, uncomfortable and just not great. I run in the Asics Gel DS Trainer and the Asics Kayano with no issues, and love the Nike Pegasus Turbo 2. But the Novablast just did not work for me at all.

Worst shoe: Hoka Clifton — very uncomfortable in the forefoot area.

Best shoe: Asics Novablast 2 — best easy day shoe.

HOKA Clifton Edge

Was a damn moon boot.

I had four pairs of the vomero 14s when they were available. Since then I've been using the zoomx invincibles. I decided to try the vomeros 16s based on kofuzi raving over them.

They were easily the worst shoes I've ran in in years. I never return shoes but I had to get rid of them. They felt heavy, hard, and dead. I got a ton of lace pressure from them which made the bones on my feet ache and the upper didn't hold my heel. I still don't know why he likes them. Sometimes I feel like he says some bs just to say it. There was nothing redeeming about that shoe.

Agreed with the Novablast. For those with blisters, keep in mind, Asics runs more narrow so might need to half-size up.

Loved the Novablast 2 and HOKA Mach 4. The later being phenomenally light and responsive.

Asics Metaspeeds are my worst shoe. Might have been circumstances (received night before Falmouth), but they blistered my heels bad a mile in. Incredibly thin heel padding.

A so-called super shoe should have a lot of cushioning and should be fast.

The Carbon X is rock hard and not fast at all.

Saucony Endorphin Trail. It fell apart after less then 3 miles, I returned them for a new pair that also fell apart on the first run after only a few miles.

I enjoy the Vomero 16 as an easy day shoe. Insane outsole grip, very comfortable and not too cushioned, or mushy feeling. No react in the midsole is a treat. The airbag at the ball of the foot feels good and less intrusive than the ones in the Pegasus 37 and Vomero 14. I don’t like that it has a 10mm drop but it’s okay to use once or twice a week for me. I think Nike should just combine the structure and Vomero and take the best of both worlds. No need for both as they’re already very similar.

For me it is the Atreyu base model 2.0 . 50 miles in I had a hole in the upper, sent them pics ..nothing convinced them to refund my cash. Lesson learned.

Dude Duderson wrote:

Saucony Endorphin Trail. It fell apart after less then 3 miles, I returned them for a new pair that also fell apart on the first run after only a few miles.

These were recalled for manufacturer’s defect.

Nike Infinity React Flyknit. Terrible, hard and heavy cushioning. Zero responsiveness. How this passed wear tests I'll never know. Worst shoe I've worn in a very long time.

Worst shoe: I don’t think I bought any shoe that I was particularly disappointed with, definitely no shoe that was un-runnable

Best shoe: Reebok forever floatride energy 2. Have found it perfect for anything faster than easy pace. Have even been able to run 200s at mile pace in them. Recently got the 3s and so far disappointed but only 30miles in

I didn't buy anything dissapointing, but got a lot of great stuff

Managed to buy 3 pairs or little used Flyknit Streak. Light and responsive, great for easy runs, tempo runs and longer road races. I can ran 1000 miles in each pair.

Found also Streak LT3. Super light, amazing for shorter races. But doesn't look durable.

But crown goes to Dragonfly. Got new ones from friend who works on Nike with big discount. They are like Streak LT's, but little lighter and more bouncy. But seems, that they can last for long time. Will order another pair.

I use them now for all indoor fast running. Sprints, intervals, tempo runs and race 60m to 1500m.

In summer will try to run 3k,5k,10k on them.

seikosha wrote:

Saucony Triumph 18. For me, this is anything BUT a maximal soft cushioned shoe. Lots of material between my foot and the ground, but it’s not nearly as soft, responsive and bouncy as just about any decent Nike out there right now. Glad I got it at 1/2 price.

I noticed the same exact thing. The Triumph 17 felt so much more plush and soft than the 18. I also didn't like it how they got rid of the crystal rubber, which seems to last longer than the regular rubber. I just hope that the 18 is just as durable as the 17. But at least the 18 came in better colorways and provided me good support for a recently spained ankle.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro

the $220 carbon shoe

I swear that thing makes me run slower than any other shoe on the planet. I just sink into the heel and have to work hard to get out of the resultant hole. It's like running uphill, all the time.