Lightweight trainer/race with good forefoot cushioning

I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara's. I have a friend who runs on her toes and would get major blister issues. I told her to get into the Kinvaras, and they totally worked for her.

Thanks!

Anyone else out there have any recommendations?

Ever tried the Brooks Pure Flow? Very soft, cushy ride.

I was looking at these. WHat is the forefoot cushioning like? I wear out the forefoot in the shoes i do speedwork pretty quickly so I wondered if the Pureflow would be too hard.

I was also wondering if stack height would make a difference. Yes, i run on my toes when i race and do speed, but my every day runs are a bit more midfoot and i've been running on and off for around 35 years with achilles problems. I have been hesitant to go to a < 10mm stack height for regular trainers but i'm thinking for racing, it wouldn't matter.

I'm a fan of the Asics lyte33 2. They just released the 3's, so you can find the 2's for pretty cheap right now.

Nike Free and Saucony Kinvara

Love the Launch. One of my all time favs.

TippyToes wrote:

I was looking at these. WHat is the forefoot cushioning like?

I run in the Pureflows and used to run in the Kinvaras. I consider the Pureflows firmer than the Kinvara. TO explain it best, the Kinvara feels pillowy, while the Pureflow feels more like styrofoam underfoot.

Thanks a bunch for all of the suggestions and descriptions. You've given me a bunch of shoes to research. *THIS* is why i like the boards.

darkwave wrote:

TippyToes wrote:

I was looking at these. WHat is the forefoot cushioning like?

I run in the Pureflows and used to run in the Kinvaras. I consider the Pureflows firmer than the Kinvara. TO explain it best, the Kinvara feels pillowy, while the Pureflow feels more like styrofoam underfoot.

How funny- When I was trying to decide between the Kinvaras and Pureflows, I thought the Pureflows were too soft, while the Kinvaras felt firmer to me. I picked the Kinvaras, but later bought the Pureflows when I had a foot issue. Both shoes are a little stiff, so if you like something more flexible I can also vouch for the Free 5.0s. Skechers GoRuns have a nice wide forefoot and soft upper as well.

the nike free is the worst "running" shoe in existence.

if you have a narrow foot give the adidas boston a try, or the NB 890 (slightly less narrow). the sayonarra from mizuno could be good though maybe a little thin in the midfoot, or even the new wave rider (also mizuno).

adidas adios boost is worth a try as well, light and soft.

bigmeats wrote:

the nike free is the worst "running" shoe in existence.

if you have a narrow foot give the adidas boston a try, or the NB 890 (slightly less narrow). the sayonarra from mizuno could be good though maybe a little thin in the midfoot, or even the new wave rider (also mizuno).

adidas adios boost is worth a try as well, light and soft.

Have you tried Nike Frees lately? I'm a serious runner (made the Olympic Marathon Trials), and I think the Frees are excellent, particularly since the OP sounds like he/she needs a shoe with a wider forefoot. I like the soft, pliable upper on the Frees and Skechers GoRuns (which were designed by former Nike guys). As I said though, the Kinvaras were the shoe that worked for my friend who runs on her toes.

Saucony Kinvara, Brooks PureFlow, and the new Mizuno Sayonara all have solid forefoot cushioning. I run more towards my forefoot and switch in and out of all three of those shoes, sometimes the New Balance 890 too.

Brooks pureflow is a good choice, very light with quite a bit of cushioning. You could always drop down to the pure connect if you wanted less shoe.

Kinvara's aren't bad, but the pure flow's will last much longer.

Newton. distance Elite

TippyToes wrote:

I was looking at these. WHat is the forefoot cushioning like? I wear out the forefoot in the shoes i do speedwork pretty quickly so I wondered if the Pureflow would be too hard.

I was also wondering if stack height would make a difference. Yes, i run on my toes when i race and do speed, but my every day runs are a bit more midfoot and i've been running on and off for around 35 years with achilles problems. I have been hesitant to go to a < 10mm stack height for regular trainers but i'm thinking for racing, it wouldn't matter.

The stack on your shoes is not 1/10 of 1cm, that's the drop. Stack height doesn't have anything to do with your achilles problem, it's the drop/offset from heel to toe.

The Launch is not a flat either so I don't think you understand what you really want or need.

If you want shoes like the Launch the kinvara and pure flow are not similar at all, don't listen to these fools.

Best choices:

Nike Zoom Elite

Adidas Boost (Adidas is garbage but people love this shoe)

NB 890v4

NB Fresh Foam 980

NIke Flyknit Lunar2

kinvaras ftw wrote:

I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara's. I have a friend who runs on her toes and would get major blister issues. I told her to get into the Kinvaras, and they totally worked for her.

Kinvaras didn't work for me. Something about them caused me calf problems. It wasn't the drop either. Maybe lack of cushion and weird flex? I used Altra Instinct 1.0 zero drop successfully. However, the Instinct 2.0 was too narrow for me.

What trainers are you in now? Having worked in a running store for the past 8 years and having had achilles issues myself, I've noticed that sometimes a softer, more cushioned shoe can be the culprit, regardless of the drop.

Have you ever tried a brand known for being a bit firmer? Like an Adidas or a Mizuno?