OK, barefoot runners, your moment as The Next Big Thing in running shoes is officially over. You had a great run (see what I did there?) but the pendulum has swung back, as it inevitably does, and "barely there" is giving way to "maximal cushioning" as the next intriguing idea in helping us all get some exercise without destroying our legs. The shoes look like modern, colorful versions of your grandmother's orthopedic footwear, and some have called them clown shoes. But make no mistake, at least five companies -- including industry behemoth Nike, and two other members of the big seven, Brooks and New Balance --have recently introduced shoes with soles that are perhaps 3o percent thicker than those on traditional running shoes. And they are much, much softer than the "minimalist" and "barefoot" shoes that have dominated the conversation in recent years. The newcomers join Hoka One One, the company that first started marketing extra-cushioned shoes in 2010. The company's president, Jim Van Dine, calls the design "the most dramatic advance in running footwear in 30 years," citing the new lightweight foam in the sole and the shoe's geometry.

Van Dine, 60, a former national caliber runner, said the soft ride of the Hokas has revived his own running career after a knee injury had reduced him to three miles once a week. He believes the shoes can do the same for many people whose legs have taken a pounding, especially aging Baby Boomers like me, and others seeking a cushier feel while running. "Runners get hurt just as much as they ever did, and take just as much time off to recover… One could make the argument that [in the past 30 years] we really haven’t moved the ball down the road at all," Van Dine said.where to buy running shoes on long island Of course, barefoot and minimalist shoes made similar claims that they could prevent injuries. puma high tops mens ukThey have definitely revived the running careers of some people and have passionate adherents. best shoes for walking on rocks

But they also were the subject of huge embarrassment last month when barefoot pioneer Vibram agreed to pay $3.75 million in refunds to purchasers after a class action lawsuit accused the company of making claims about its iconic FiveFingers shoe that it couldn't back up. (By the way, here's the web site where you can file a claim if you're owed a refund.) Over at Brooks, which is offering the thick-soled Transcend, Jon Teipen, senior product line manager, said "the reality is that most people weren't going to try to run barefoot... running shoes wide ukThe majority of the market still likes cushion, still likes support, still likes a more substantial shoe. red nike shoes ladiesBut the industry wasn't talking to them." nike shoes for less price

He has a point. According to this excellent article in Running Times magazine last year, minimalist shoes comprise just 11 percent of the U.S. running shoe market, and only 4 percent if the Nike Free isn't included. Ultra-marathoners were the first to try the new shoes, which quickly became popular among them. According to Outside Magazine, a third of the 275 runners who finished the July 2013 Utah Speedgoat 50K were wearing Hokas. Van Dine believes that any negative reactions to the oversize shoe will go the way of initial sentiment toward oversize tennis racquets and golf clubs, which have become mainstream equipment in those sports. The company, now owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which also makes Ugg boots and Teva sandals, sold $10 million worth of the shoes in 2013, and expects to sell $35 million this year and $100 million in the next couple of years, he said. "The minimalist thing has really, I would say, normalized," Teipen said. "It’s not going to go completely away.

Vibram will pay refunds to buyers of its iconic FiveFingers shoes Is barefoot running better for you? I wasn't Born to Run Minimalist running style undermined by new research from Kenya When it comes to running, you don’t just go for any kind of shoe. It’s important to know what quality characteristics your new shoes should have, how often you will use them, and for what activities. Are you a professional runner who trains or competes every day, and who runs for a living? Are you a runner who likes to go on a run three to four times a week, and who is keen to complete two or three marathons a year? Or do you pound the ground to simply keep fit, or maybe to lose weight? Picking the right footwear can be a challenge. To help you make the right decision, Saucony expert Benjamin Linsner, Marketing Manager for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland, explains the difference between a racing and a training shoe. “A training shoe provides a high degree of cushioning,” explains Linsner.

“But the greater the cushioning, the greater the weight.” Saucony training shoes such as the Triumph and the Zealot, which are part of the new ISO range, are 100 to 150 grams heavier than racing shoes. Another characteristic of a training shoe is the higher offset – in other words, the difference in height between the heel and the forefoot. The heel-to-toe drop of Saucony training shoes varies between 4 and 8 millimeters. This kind of shoe is suitable for any running style. A training shoe should be what you wear for everyday exercise. It’s the shoe you run the most kilometers in throughout the year. These shoes are especially designed for long runs, for example during marathon training.” “With racing shoes, by contrast, the focus is on minimizing weight,” states Linsner. “A racing shoe is less than 200 grams. The ultra lightweight model under all Saucony racing shoes is the Endorphin Racer, tipping the scales at just 88 grams. The Type A6 is just 147 grams, the Fastwitch only 198 grams.

And racing shoes are made with a low heel-to-toe drop of either 4 or even as low as 0 millimeters. Shoes with a 0 millimeter offset are typically used for short-distance competitions of up to 5000 meters. Racing footwear also features cushioning of greater responsiveness throughout for more powerful foot movement. A racing shoe also allows greater dynamism in all body movement. An additional feature of Saucony racing shoes are water drainage ports to keep the foot dry.” But what if you don’t want to be forced to choose between a racing or a training shoe? What if you want to have the best of both worlds? Well, Saucony has a solution for this, too: the Kinvara. “The Kinvara is Saucony‘s best-selling shoe worldwide, and has been voted among the best running shoes of 2014 by Runner’s World magazine,” emphasizes Linsner. “It combines comfortable cushioning with an offset of 4 millimeters while still being extremely lightweight at just 218 grams. So it’s perfect for the type of runner who wants a training and a racing shoe in one.