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February 27, 2007
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Which running shoe can save my knees on paved surfaces?
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ProGrid Triumph 4 (courtesy, Saucony)
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I'd love to run on the concrete recreation trails outside my house, but they hurt my bones. I’ve had to stick to dirt trails, which are a car ride away. Which running shoe will cushion well on paved surfaces?
— LCB
Erie, Colorado
Do you have a question of your own?
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 Yeah, running on concrete is awful. And it really isn’t good for you. Asphalt is a little more forgiving than cement, but neither come close to the comfort of running on dirt trails. So the solution, and it’s an imperfect one, is to find the most cushioned shoe that you can. But that isn’t always a solution, either, because well-cushioned shoes have less motion control than shoes that are a bit firmer. Plus they’re not apt to work as well on trails. So it’s a dilemma.
That said, I’ve always found New Balance shoes to offer a good cushioning with decent support. The MR810 ($85; newbalance.com) is actually a trail shoe that’s billed as having excellent cushioning, so might be worth a look.
For lots of cushioning, try the Saucony ProGrid Triumph 4 ($120; saucony.com). It’s a very soft shoe, with a molded EVA midsole and slip last for good fit. It’s a very highly rated, comfortable shoe. Nike’s Air Max 180 ($110; nike.com) has the most air cushioning Nike has put into a shoe, although you might want to swap out the somewhat stiff insole (which I recommend anyway—Superfeet are great add-ons to any shoe for $29; superfeet.com). Lastly, New Balance makes a soft running shoe called the Model 1061 ($130), which has lots of cushioning and an excellent fit.
One thing to remember is that running on hard surface is tough for you AND your shoes. So swap out for new ones more often than you’d like to—at least every six months. Your knees will thank you.
The Gear Guy reports from 2007 Winter Outdoor Retailer, the bi-annual gearapalooza in Salt Lake City. Check out his top picks for gear to watch in 2007.
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GEAR GUY FEATURES
Check out the bio of Douglas Gantenbein, aka the Gear Guy.
Readers' Mailbag: The Gear Guy digs into some of your more bizarre, obscure (and let’s face it, downright weird) posts from years gone by to see if he can make sense of it all, or if it’s just time to run up the white flag. Previous column: Beat the Cost of Gear.
The Gear Guy reports from the 2005 Outdoor Retailer summer trade fair, with his rundown of ten products to watch in 2006, plus the inside scoop on what shook down at the bi-annual gearapalooza.
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