I get quite a few questions about which running shoes I would recommend. That’s a complex question and I’d have to make the disclaimer that I’m a shoe slut! There is something very special about unboxing a new pair. But I’d like to think that there is a rationale behind this addiction. 

If you’ve read my Natural Running post you’ll have an idea of my thinking on natural movement and the joy of running. The foot is an amazing structure composed of 33 joints, 26 bones, and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments that all work together to bear weight and transmit force. It took millions of years of bipod evolution to perfect, so I think some thought is required before we mask all that magic.

Protecting your feet (too much) with cushioned shoes unlearns your brain from optimal running biomechanics.  My choice of shoe is based on the answer to the question of what is the most minimal cushioning and protection I can get away with based on the terrain, target pace, and duration of the run. As there are many answers to that question I need a lot of alternatives to select from!

This is a subset of my shoe quiver. The first category is general shoes. After all, we spend the majority of time on our feet outside of training. These are all zero drop, flexible, and with a wide toe box.

• Vivo Magna Leather FG

• Vivo Gobi III

• Vivo Gobi (canvas ötillö)

• Vivo Scott IV

These are my current gym selection:

• Inov8 Bare X-Lite 150

• Vivo Primus Lite Knit

These are my road-running go-to selection:

• Top Row – Altra Escalante Racing (most days)

• Bottom Row – Altra Torin Plush (recovery and over-distance)

There is something special about speed workouts on the track:

• Nike Dragonfly (fast track spike – used sparingly)

• Nike Zoom Rival Waffle (non-spike version of the Rival spike)

• Altra Vanish (minimal as they come – unfortunately discontinued)

And yes I do have some carbon-plated shoes. This may sound like a cop-out from minimalism but let’s face it, pushing for a PR in a road race is putting you right at the limit of what you are trained for and capable of – protection and cushioning are therefore justified!

• Asics Metaspeed (not as much pop as the Nikes’ but feels more stable)

• Nike Vaporfly (still my favorite)

• Nike Alphafly (too clunky for my taste)

• Altra Vanish C (zero drop and nice ride, but the outsole is not very durable) 

My current swimrun rotation. Here I am looking for light wet-weight and great grip on slippery rock:

• Vivo Hydra ESC (choice for soft trails and proprioception)

• Adidas Terrex Race 190 (my go-to racer)

• Vivo Tempest (training only – a bit heavy)

• Adidas Terrex Ultra 240 (choice for longer, less technical mixed road and trails)

These are my trail shoes… some have good enough grip for swimruns too:

• Inov8 X-Talon 200 (choice for muddy courses)

• Altra Mont Blanc (my go-to for longer sessions, mixed road and trail)

• NVii XXC (lightweight, fast, but a bit narrow so not for long stuff)

• Inov8 Terra Ultra G270 (a great zero-drop allrounder)

• Altra Vanish XC (got great on wet roots and rocks but feel great)

• Altra Superior (feel great but grip is not best in class)

And the last category of specials:

• Invo8 Oroc 280 (ice spikes soft trail)

• Icebug Newrun (ice spikes road/gravel)

• Monk Running Sandals (when I get the feeling!)

So that’s what’s in my shoe pile. What’s in your rotation and why?