I'm wondering if testing running shoes is a good idea. Have any of you done this? If so, what shoes did you test?
I'm wondering if testing running shoes is a good idea. Have any of you done this? If so, what shoes did you test?
I tested some New Balance shoes. Here's a few top things to consider.
1. Are you very injury prone? You could be sent everything from proven shoes that are going to be on the shelves in a few months to early prototypes that are basically just a wedge of foam and not much else so you can test that specific component. If you have glass legs, avoid the temptation of getting free shoes every now and then. If you're bulletproof, it can be a lot of fun.
2. It's like Fight Club, you determine your own level of involvement. If you write in great detail about your likes and dislikes of the shoes and really give the designers feedback they can use, you'll be sent more shoes. If you do the bare minimum you probably won't be sent many.
3. How unique is your running in terms of mileage and terrain? If you're high mileage and/or run a lot on trails, you'll be selected for more tests because people who can put a few hundred miles on them in a test period are in short supply.
If I think of some other stuff later I'll post it. What shoes did I test? I had a version of these:
http://images.irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/New-Balance-MT101.jpg
with a different tread that was never released, a couple other trail shoes that I can't find right now because they were short-lived, these:
http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/tag/rev-lite-midsole-foam/
, and the neatest was basically just a sole of the REV-Lite foam they use in most of their shoes now with just a minimal upper, I guess to focus on testing the cushioning.
I have for 2 companies. It's really hit or miss. One company insists on sending me their low-end shoes to test. Of course when i tested their $160 shoe it caused an injury.
You have some flexibilty to accept a test or not. Most test run 6-8 weeks.
I am fairly neutral runner so I can work with a range of shoes.
If you get accepted as a tester, I wouldn't rely on it as a shoe source.
Overall it's been positive experience.
