On the Lighter Side- Shoe Comparison

Now is an excellent time to search for a shoe that is lightweight, extremely comfortable, provides support, and has excellent cushioning. Manufacturers are listening to runners and delivering on shoes that can be nick named “sweet spot shoes”.

Sweet Spot’ shoes used for training and racing must have certain specifications. Below is a table of needed specifications to find sweet spot shoes.

Specfication	Measure	Range	Comments
Upper Comfort	No Pinching	Some give to just right	The shoe must have an upper that feels so comfortable you could wear the shoe all day. It does not pinch anywhere.
Weight	Ounces	6 to 9 ounces	Lightweight
Support	Structure	Light to just right	Shoe has to provide support to cradle the foot
Sole Material	EVA	5 to 70	Zero drop shoes are available and most of the shoes in this category will range from 2 to 6 mm drop
Cushion	Plush	Firm to Plush
Energy Return	Return	Some to Lively	The sole material and design of the shoe will provide spring at the toe off.

Shoes that meet the criteria ranges above include:

	Saucony Kinvara	Brooks PureCadence	Asics DynaFlyte	Hoka Clifton 5
Upper Comfort	FlexFilm lightweight, flexible overlay to provide a seamless and flexible fit that moves naturally with the foot.	Stretchy-snug upper of PureCadence has just enough give to it for a supportive feel. An overlay pulls in the arch area for support. Breathable. The heel is wrapped with a sturdy heel counter for motion control and a plush-snug collar for comfort.	Breathable on runs with the “ComforDry Sockliner” technology. Discrete eyelets and flat laces hide the strength of the lacing system The fit of the lacing system is good.	The upper has undergone a slight redesign that includes reinforced eyelets, less overlays, and a new engineered mesh designed to enhance breathability. The reinforced eyelets come in the form of some harder more dense material that line both sides along the laces. The engineered mesh is soft and comfortable. There are small holes integrated into the mesh that are designed to allow better airflow. On top of the mesh are 3D puff print overlays strategically placed to give the shoe structure. These overlays are in thin strips along the base the upper where it meets with the midsole.
Weight	7.6 oz	9.0 oz	9.2 oz	9.4 oz
Support	Medium Light support	Medium Light support with inner bootie	Medium Light support	Medium Light support
Sole Material	Topsole is EverRun Midsole is resilient EVA+ foam. Outsole injection-blown rubber chevron pattern.	The material used in the midsole feels It adapts to each runner’s weight, stride, and biomechanics. The midsole has Guiderails to keep the body moving in a natural motion throughout each stride. The sole unit is more flexible. The outsole’s Omega Flex grooves bend with the foot, and the Nav band running through the midfoot provides support.	FlyteFoam. This foam is lighter and absorbs more shock when compared to standard EVA foam, and Asics says it utilizes “organic super fibers”. The outsole which follows Asics standard layout of several rubber patches separated along the length by a thin channel of foam, and a large exposed patch of foam below the heel and midfoot.	The midsole uses full length EVA foam and rockered geometry. The foam is designed to be soft and responsive, and the rockered shape helps to promote forward momentum no matter the foot strike. The outsole is composed of mostly exposed EVA foam with some strategically placed sections of hi-abrasion lightweight rubber where needed.
Heel Drop	4 mm	4 mm	8 mm	5 mm
Cushion	Forgiving landing without sacrificing energy return.	Soft when—walking around, easy runs—and turns responsive-cushion under more pressure for speed.	The sole feels very attenuated and in control. The combination of their FlyteFoam, Rearfoot GEL system, SPEVAFOAM 45 platform, and ORTHOLITE X-40 insole come together and put a stable and moderately cushioned platform beneath your feet	soft, smooth and responsive
Energy Return	EverRun enhanced	Enhanced	Enhanced	EVA foam has been slightly modified this year to be softer and the rubber on the outsole received an updated design to optimize grip and energy return.
User Comments	Very responsive Supportive Affordable price Fit like a glove Lightweight structure. Upper construction was flexible. Breathable.	Lightweight Snug fit Comfortable. No knee pain and blisters Performed well on short and long-distance runs. Supportive. Like “running on air” Loved its padded tongue. Style was great. Runs true to size. The shoe has an affordable price	Most of the reviewers loved the shoe’s well-constructed upper. Some testers mentioned that the cushioning was great. A handful of consumers agreed that the shoe was comfortable. A good number of purchasers noted that the product was supportive and lightweight. A lot of users experienced less skin irritation and blisters. Several consumers lauded its attractive casual design.	A number of users said that the shoe is ideal for long-distance running and training. Several users commented that this new version is more comfortable than its predecessor. One user said that he felt like the shoe is well made and looks durable. The shoe offered more support than the previous version said some reviewers. The update on the design was gladly welcomed by a majority of runners. Most reviewers said that running in the shoe did not cause them pain despite having foot and knee problems. A majority of reviewers mentioned that the shoe fits true to size. One tester was appreciative of the high arch support the shoe provided. Most users said that there is enough room in the toe box. A lot of runners agree that the shoe is very comfortable.

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