Pearl Izumi

Yeah had the Shine and for a lighter shoe its kinda heavy like a normal trainer or a higher end one. Not worth the 40 I paid.

I was really just talking about the midsole's durability. I've never had any shoe from any brand fall apart early. Although I did run with a guy in high school who had bunions so bad on each foot that he always ripped the seams apart midway through a season. Maybe it was from rubbing the shoes together or something - I don't think he cut them - but it was sure weird.

Du-uh, of course! I just like jerking the chain of "experts" who have a penchant for hyperbole. There are many comparable experts who would take issue with your analysis.

I tend to agree with Nike=Crap, my experience with Nike goes back to the mid 70's. Back then the only good racing shoe for xc was the oregon waffle racer, great shoe.

However that seems to be the last decent experience i have had with Nike.

In the 70's most of their trainers were terrible. The upper was very soft, felt like a slipper and they just slapped it on top of several inches of cushion & sole. the sole was so narrow at the heel if you had ground that was not level, your ankle would turn over.

Anyway every once in awhile i will pick up a pair of Nikes and give them a try and i always have problems with them.

I then find myself back with ASICS, finally i got some suggestions on another thread and got some nice Brooks & Adidas.

Shoes are a such a personal preference item but in 30+ years of running I have found Nike shoes to be of poor quality & design. Ascics, Adidas & Brooks always seem to rise above expectations

Yo weirdo: I never passed myself off as an "expert", I was simply giving my own, decades-long personal experience. As such, no "comparable expert" could "take issue" because it is - yes - a personal experience and not subject to refutation by anyone else. What are you, some kind of blindly loyal, sycophantic Nike apologist?

Dr. Mr. Crap...actually, no, I'm NOT a blindly loyal Nike apologist. If you would READ my first post, perhaps you will recall that I said that Nike had turned out some poor shoes over the years. I only take issue with your very broad generalization about the "fatally flawed" Air concept which has been the primary shock attenuation technology used in some very successful shoes. I am truly sorry that your decades-long experience has repeatedly been negative with any brand, Nike or otherwise. I guess I'm just fortunate to have had very little issue with the brand in MY decades-long experience. My biggest frustration with Nike has been the frequent compromising of product integrity due marketing expediency. So see...I'm not an apologist...I get frustrated with Swoosh, as well. Maybe you should go for a run to release some of that pent-up hostility. I know it works for me.

I've been very happy with Mizuno for quality and fit.

I'm also sticking with The Northface Ultra for my trail shoes.

Uh, hostility? You're projecting here, bub, maybe you need to heed your own advice since it works so well for you. I was only responding to someone being an ass to me.

It's not a "very broad generalization", it's backed up by my experience. I've never had gel leak out or any other shock attenuation technology fail on the level that Nike Air has. Pressurized air contained by a flexible membrane, while it may have been a novel idea 20+ years ago, strikes me as the epitome of planned obsolescence. It reminds me of what has been noted regarding flat roofs. Anyway, I've found much better shoes with superior shock attenuation technology so obviously I'm pretty damn happy.

Well, this has turned into another pointless letrun shoe thread with lots of insults and cheer leading for different brands and no facts whatsoever. At least I know not to shop at Leroys store. What was the name of your store again, Leroy?

So Nike hasn't made a decent shoe since the oregon waffle racer? Typical ridiculous letrun post. Move along folks, nothing of value in this thread.

Hey, Babe...If YOU'RE happy, then by God, I'm happy! It's great though, that we can each have good experiences with our own respective shoe choices. It's a shame, though, that you can't have respectful dialogue without the name calling that always seems to crop up.

While this thread is bordering on absurd, I'll completely agree that Nike Air is a horrible idea. So is Brooks GTS. I think that solid, simple cushioning systems are the most successful. Anything beyond that is prone to failure. Rubber/foam/gel-based is the way to go. New Balance Abzorb, Asics Gel, Adidas Adiprene, etc. are simple enough that they won't fail.

"Always"? Well, it's a shame that you can't be civil and respectful even without "name-calling". Don't be coy and pretend like you had nothing at all to do with that tone, that it was foisted upon you as an innocent victim. Get a clue.