Smaller, lesser known shoe brands

I used Vitruvians for several years and liked them a lot.

www.vitruvianrunning.com

loco running shoes are pretty nice. old school styled shoes, and supposed to be very comfy.

I love my Karhu's. Made a believer out of me. Getting my son a pair as well.

I bought Somnios and like them. They are light and I have been going with out my othotics for the first time in years. I got mine at a store in Annapolis- The fit process was pretty cool- they used a laser!

Second the vote for Karhu. Their technology is all about efficiency and moving forward. Shoes aren't the most cushioned or maximum stability but they don't pretend to be. Clean look too.

I was going to ask about the Karhus. How heavy are they? Which model do you have?

I had some Zoot flats for everyday wear, but I ran in them a number of times. They absolutely suck for running.

Also, would you recommend Karhus for a midfoot striker?

I have the Forward (neutral) and the Racer. Racer comes in at just under 8 ounces for men and I believe the Forward is 11.

I can chime in here as I actually work for Karhu. The previous poster was correct on the weights--Racer is 7.8 (men)/6.8 (women) and the Forward is 11/9.2.

All of the Karhu shoes use a fulcrum technology, similar to a seesaw, that serves to transition as quickly and efficiently as possible through the gait cycle. The fulcrum technology can work for all types of strikers, but if you are more of a midfoot/forefoot striker you will want to check out the new Fast (neutral) and Strong (stability) for Spring 11. Both of these shoes will utilize a longer fulcrum that extends farther into the midfoot and thus will be most fully engaged by a midfoot striker.

Hope this helps...let me know if you have any other questions!

As if a small piece of thermoplastic could affect the mechanics of your footstrike transition in any significant way...

One word: Spira

How much do the Steady Rides weigh ? size 10.5

I like these shoes.

Also, when you recommend stability or neutral is it because of the runners weight or the gait ? heel striker here

Thanks for the info. You gave a much more informative response than what I had expected.

The men's Steady weighs 11.8 for size 9. The weight difference for size 10.5 would be negligible. Also, we recommend neutral vs. stability based on gait cycle much like other brands, but within those categories we have several models that are differentiated based on someone's weight, type of strike, etc. For example, the Steady is typically for someone who is a bit less efficient and might weigh a bit more and/or be a heavy heel striker. The Strong, which is also a stability model, is designed for someone who still pronates but wants a shoe that feels more efficient vs. more cushioned.