We lab tested budget and expensive running shoes

Running shoes, unlike many other items of equipment, are not a “buy for life” proposition. No matter how carefully you clean and store your kicks, at some point, the tread wears out, the foam cushion fails to rebound, and the upper rips — and that “some point” can take up to four to six months. Depending on your mileage.

But can purchasing a pair of expensive running shoes slow down the purchase, use and repurchase cycle? Is it better to wear more expensive running shoes? These are the questions Maggie Slepian asked when she decided to do this Test these $50 running shoes from Amazon Versus familiar brand options from Hoka and Saucony.

Her conclusion? Although its cost is less than half that of other models, Nortiv 8 Allswifit ActiveAiry Running Shoe from Amazon It felt in the same league as more premium shoes. While the Nortiv 8 was a bit larger and simpler in construction, the actual foam felt just as bouncy as other shoes Maggie has tested. Maggie writes that for beginners, casual runners, or anyone looking to save money, budget running shoes are probably good if they fit your foot needs.

But that wasn’t enough for us. We contacted Adam Trenkamp, outsideEditor and laboratory test engineer, to conduct further testing in the external laboratory at UC Denver. This is actually part of our process for us Gear guides– Field and laboratory tests, so you can see how kits perform in real-world situations and in controlled environments that accelerate wear and tear.

Adam field-tested new pairs of running shoes through four of our typical lab tests: abrasion, breathability, foam compression, and running durability. Do his results mirror Maggie’s? I will go to the laboratory expert himself to explain to me.

How we test running shoes in the outdoor laboratory

Corrosion and ventilation

To test wear durability, we use the James Heal Aquabrasion machine, which rubs two materials together to analyze wear. For running shoe uppers, we use two different test scenarios to evaluate normal, severe and accelerated wear. One test uses a wool fabric as an abrasive (the substance that is rubbed against the test sample) to mimic natural wear during use. The second test uses a more aggressive material to speed up wear and truly evaluate the hardness of the shoes.

Breathability measures how well moisture vapor — sweat — moves through a material. To test breathability, we close part of a shoe’s toe box over a bowl of water heated to a constant temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, simulating body temperature during a sweaty workout to create a similar moisture vapor. Since the laboratory is located outdoors in Denver, the generally dry air (about 25-35% relative humidity) helps draw in moisture during testing. We track how much weight a sample batch loses over time due to evaporation; More weight loss equals better ventilation. The shoes are rated from 1 to 5, from least to most breathable.

One note: Our testing only takes into account the upper material and does not take into account running motion, which may help wick away additional sweat vapor. Although our testing is static, it allows us to accurately compare different materials and constructions.

Laboratory results

For corrosion, tested specimens are graded on a visual scale from 1 to 5, from worst to best. Top performers with little to no change scored a 5, while samples that were torn or completely changed in appearance and texture received a score of 1. The Allswifit Active Airy shoes received the highest possible score for upper wear, while the more expensive Saucony shoes surprised us with moderate to low scores—despite costing about four times as much. This is due to the thin materials used in the upper of the premium Saucony Endorphin Pro series to increase performance in other areas. If you find yourself stepping off the pavement and onto a gentle trail occasionally where you might encounter an obstacle, or rub mysterious holes in the tops of your shoes (especially where the forefoot flexes), you may be let down by more expensive, race-focused runners.

If sweaty feet are really ruining your running style, it might be worth splurging on luxury shoes. The lab found that the more expensive the shoe, the greater the degree of ventilation. The uppers on more premium models tend to be made of a thinner material with a breathable weave, which facilitates moisture escape. However, this construction can result in reduced durability – see above.

Foam pressure

In the outdoor lab, we measure the foam properties of a running shoe’s midsole by using our global testing machine to compress the heel and forefoot impact zones 26 times each at a specified depth, recording the force required to press down throughout the cycle. We analyze the graph of the final compression cycle to see where the foam stops sinking and starts bouncing back. Specifically, we evaluate the slope of the curve in the graph and the force recorded during the normal running pressure range—where the foam sinks and bounces back during a normal running stride—and near the maximum effective point, when the foam begins to stop compressing and becomes noticeably stiffer.

We combine these measurements into a lab score that reflects how stiff the sole is under the same loading conditions. Results are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is firm and 5 is soft.

Laboratory results

Here, the budget running shoe was a clear anomaly. The Allswifit ActiveAiry scored a score of 1, indicating more stiffness, while the Hoka and Saucony scored 4 and 3, respectively. When it comes to crushing, budget kicks can’t compete with the plush, responsive engineered foams found in more expensive models. But rigidity is not always a bad thing. Comfort is personal and boils down to the feeling you prefer underfoot. Test results give a good idea of ​​how each shoe feels out of the box to help you compare and find the right feel.

Durability running

We test the durability of the shoes’ midsole and outsole using the Heeluxe Time Machine to replicate the impact of human running. The machine uses flexible foot shapes with positionable ankles along with taut springs to mimic the stride of a 180-pound person cruising at eight miles. Based on previous studies, we know the number of “steps” per shoe equals a mile. We use these numbers to run each shoe a total of 125 miles, stopping at 10 and 25 miles to take measurements, which gives us two ways to evaluate durability: midsole foam breakdown and outsole tread wear.

• We measure foam height in the heel and forefoot before the beginning and at the end of each test session to chart how they will wear over time. When foam degrades, it loses bounce and cushion — basically, your shoes tire, which can easily transfer pressure to your feet and joints.
• We also record the weight of each shoe at the beginning of the test and at each interval to see how much material is “lost” during the test. We use this data to calculate how many miles a shoe’s outsole will last. At the end of the test, we take a closer look at the outsole’s wear patterns to assess how well it breaks down.

Shoes are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, from worst to best in terms of wear and durability. Each shoe is evaluated for performance over 25-mile and 125-mile distances. This provides data for one marathon distance (approximately), and longer distance for weeks of training. Measuring failure over time allows us to predict the end of life of each shoe.

Laboratory results

At lower mileage, the shoes we tested had similar durability scores; The mid-budget and premium shoes had exactly the same overall score after a 25-mile “run” (although they showed different levels of durability within the midsole foam and outsole tread).

When you cover long distances, luxury shoes start to show their value. While the budget Nortiv 8s and mid-priced Hokas earned the same overall score after 125 miles, the Saucony models we tested scored higher overall despite their ultralight designs. Worth noting: At both distances, the Nortiv 8s received the lowest outsole durability scores with excessive rubber shedding, suggesting they may break down faster than more expensive pairs. Rubber outsole provides grip and also protects the foam in key impact areas.

So, are the most expensive running shoes the best, according to lab tests?

It all depends on what you are looking for. If you value breathability, bounce, and durability, go ahead and buy your shoes — especially if you run frequently and see yourself using these shoes for several hundred miles before replacing them. Just be aware that the upper material may be a little more delicate than stiffer, cheaper options.

But if you’re a minimalist runner, take comfort in the fact that cheap running shoes can compare to expensive models in many ways. The main differences are found in foam performance and durability over time.

Remember, running shoes are a very personal matter, and our lab tests are just one aspect to consider when finding the right shoe Best running shoe for you. The more we test, the more we know – and the further your running shoes can go.