What's your ideal running shoe that doesn't actually exist?

Something reasonable priced. There is no reason running shoes have to cost $100.

Bring back the Hoka One One Huaka, but with a little padding on the tongue like on the Clifton 2. Use Goodyear Continental rubber, a la Adidas, on the Huaka's tiny rubber patches for better durability, and change the tread pattern (those tiny bird-shaped nubs are ridiculous) so the tread doesn't wear completely flat in less than 200 miles. Use flat laces instead of the crappy round laces that so easily come untied (the optional laces that are SOMETIMES included that can be used once you cut off the crappy speed laces). Add a decent insole rather than the stupid one that tends to slide backwards and out on the heel.

OR

Change the new Hoka One One Clayton, which is simply a Huaka replacement, giving it the changes above, especially the Continental rubber patches since its RMAT ("Pro2Lite") outsole is super slippery in wet conditions. And work on changing the fit so that the vast majority of runners won't get that hotspot on the inside arch of the shoe that everyone says causes major blistering.

If Hoka would make these changes, the original $150 price tag of the Huaka would be much less ridiculous. That's all.

Brace yourselves...

1. New Balance Vazee Prism: modified with just a little bit more cushioning in the forefoot.

2. Nike Zoom Streak 6: wider base/last, with a bit of medial posting a la the New Balance 1500.

3. First version of the modern Nike Zoom Odyssey with slightly higher medial posting in the midfoot/heel.

4. Hoka Tracer: wider last, with medial posting.

5. NB 5000 spike: more cushioning in the midsole, a la the Nike Zoom Matumbo.

6. Forefoot of the Nike Zoom Elite, with the midfoot and heel of the Nike Zoom Structure.

7. Brooks Adrenaline: revert to the upper of the 14th edition, and find some way to shave weight so that a men's size 9 is 10 oz or less.

8. Generally speaking, alter the shape of the forefoot last of Saucony shoes. The standard Saucony toebox is shaped such that my littlest toe rubs holes the mesh upper.

9. Widen all Adidas racing/workout flats, introduce one model that features medial posting.

10. Widen the Mizuno Wave Catalyst, or at least offer the current version in a 2E width.

The Nike Terra TC that went out of existence in about 1985

The Nike American Eagle flat that went out of existence in about 1984

Every new adizero prime finesse spike in that purple and orange colour scheme they had for the 2015 season

Zero drop

>160g.

Wide toe box.

Vegan.

Cushioning of a racing flat

No structure to the upper, just thin strong material.

I think my favorite shoe so far has been the One 2.5 from Altra. The only modification I think I would make is to put more rubber on the outsole. There are only a few spots that have rubber, the rest is exposed midsole. Keep the same blocks in the sole so the flexibility is there, but add more durability. I could handle the extra ounce.

gfhgfhgfh wrote:

Vegan.

Shoes, not dinner, thanks.

RE: What's your ideal running shoe that doesn't actually exist?

The kind that would give me miles on end and not a blister to show forth..:)

Nike Lunarspeed Lite with high density carbon rubber on the forefoot.

Nike Zoom Streak 6 with a more durable forefoot.

Nike Zoom Elite 8 with high density carbon rubber on the forefoot.

Blown rubber sucks for durability.

The Nike Mayfly with half the thickness of sole and a bit wider forefoot. The upper would be a somewhat tougher material with a kangaroo leather strip around the front and heel.

NB 1400v4 with 4 to 6 mm heel-to-toe drop (instead of 10) and a slightly wider forefoot (or make 2E available)

I like the promise of the Nike Pegasus 33 with more forefoot cushion. I have a pair of 32s in my rotation right now and it is a solid all-round trainer, but would be better if balanced a lift more towards a midfoot strike

Interesting read. It seems like most people here actually want similar things:

slightly wider forefoot

lower drop

better durability in the rubber

And I think I'd want those things mostly, too. I mostly like the Kinvara, but I'd widen the forefoot a decent amount, and I would probably firm up the midsole a tad.

NB 1400 = lower the drop to NB 'modern' low drop 5-6 mm, current model is both needlessly heavy and has stupid drop (for anyone now used to low drop shoes

NB 1500 = ditch the dopey medial post; still an excellent shoe but...

NB Zante = needs to be firmer, different outsole that doesn't slip so easily in wet

NB Vazee Pace = bit more forefoot, bit less obtrusive arch

Saucony Zealot = V1 superb, V2 added an unnecessary oz

Most people here are describing a Topo Athletic shoe, lower heel, durable rubber sole, lightweight roomy upper... but they won't buy them because Rupp, Farah etc... don't wear them.

crap shoot wrote:

Most people here are describing a Topo Athletic shoe, lower heel, durable rubber sole, lightweight roomy upper... but they won't buy them because Rupp, Farah etc... don't wear them.

Have you run in them?

I've been curious to try a pair. I've mostly heard good things, the only downside that seems to come up is a lot of people say they are quite stiff in the sole.

crap shoot wrote:

Most people here are describing a Topo Athletic shoe, lower heel, durable rubber sole, lightweight roomy upper... but they won't buy them because Rupp, Farah etc... don't wear them.

I have not tried Topos but are they not just the same sort of thing as Altra shoes?

A shoe with mini-jet packs. Also frickin' laser beams.