<p>I've always liked running and playing tennis, but I never played competitively. When I bought shoes, I would just get whatever looked nice and was comfortable, and was relatively cheap. Now that I'm going into college, I really want to start running and playing every day, and maybe join the team later on. I've heard that if you don't have good shoes, you can easily hurt yourself if you run a lot. As I have never really researched what makes a good shoe a good shoe, I was wondering if anyone could recommend something? Are there special, high-tech designs that I should look for? Certain materials that the shoe should be made of? I'm willing to spend $100 - 150 for something that's good. Sorry if this sounds like a silly question, lol</p>
<p>What kind of running shoe you should be wearing depends on what sort of foot you have. If you have a high arch, you need something with a lot of arch support, whereas, if you are flat footed you need less. In general, the best brands are new balance, asics, and saucony. Stay away from Nike, Adidas, et al...Try going to a specialized store where you can get your stride analyzed. That way you'll be sure you're getting the right kind of shoe.</p>
<p>I have a pair of asics and love them. but, plenty of people prefer saucony. samonite is right: try to go to a running store and at least try a few pair on. if they have to special order your size/color, make sure you arn't strapped in to buy them. i ended up finding a style I liked, then went on zappos.com and got them for about $20 cheaper</p>
<p>I'm sure Saucony's are great for everyone, but if you have a narrow feet they are awesome. I have yet to find another brand that fits my narrow feet better. I also run and I put a lot of mileage on them and they hold up very well.</p>
<p>ive always liked nikes, ive ran hundreds of miles in the ones i have now and they're still holding up fine...just a little dirty now</p>
<p>they are all good just try on some pairs that you like and see which one is the most comfortable</p>
<p>I have a wide foot...so New Balances are heavenly for me.</p>
<p>tennis shoes are really much different then running shoes - most running shoes will be destroyed by the rough surface of hard courts if you play competitively or frequently and drag your foot when you serve (which is why lots of tennis shoes will have tough material at the front) and tennis shoes tend to be more oriented to provide stability </p>
<p>one of my friends that does cross country always wears asics...she seems to like that brand along with many of the other runners</p>
<p>asics are the best and I go through running shoes in about 4 to 6 months. Try to find the pair that fits and feels best, it doesn't matter if they are the ugliest things you have every seen. Running is about the comfort of your feet and legs. If the shoes suck you will hate running. A good shoe makes all the difference.</p>
<p>Personally I like Asics. I would reccommend going to a legit running store (not Sports Authority or Dicks or anything) where they will have people who know what they are talking about helping you. It will cost a bit more, but it is worth it , because they can find the shoe that suits you the best.</p>
<p>My vote go with Asics.</p>
<p>I have nikes and my back started to develop problems...... So stay away from nikes.</p>
<p>I just play tennis casually, so I just wear anything to go play. As far as running shoes, I've had the best luck with Mizuno. They're kinda of hard to find, though.</p>
<p>Since I was on HS track, Adidas. Dunno why, just feel fine</p>
<p>New Balance is awesome for wide or flat feet...</p>
<p>You should probably wear different shoes for tennis and running. The courts will f up your running shoes pretty quickly due to all that shuffling and sliding. And even if you plan to jog inconsistently and over short distances, f'ed up shoes can cause annoying pains and even shin splints. There are tons of great brands of running shoes, so it all comes down to what feels the best on you - a properly fitted, good shoe is like a Godsend. I second/third/fourth/whatever the suggestion to go to a REAL running store (not Dick's or Sports Authority; around here the "real" store is Feet First), and tell them that you need help picking out your first pair of running shoes. They should be able to tell what shoe is best for the kind of foot you have (normal vs. flat-footed vs. high arched), the running you will be doing, and your general stride. Most of these speciality stores are pretty small, so they will probably only give you a few pairs to try - a knowledgeable sales person will have picked out a shoe that's right for you. If you feel like the person helping you doesn't know what they're talking about, don't hesitate to go back another day in the hopes of getting someone else!</p>
<p>There is no "special brand" or "high tech material" you should be on the lookout for specifically, but just Google "choosing a running shoe" and you'll see a lot of guides that will help you get an idea about what the salesperson should be helping you determine (<a href="http://www.brooksrunning.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.brooksrunning.com/</a> <--they have a pretty cool guide to check out). Once you find a shoe that works, you tend to stick with it. I've been buying new editions of the same model Brooks since 9th grade...</p>
<p>adidas have always been my choice</p>
<p>as a serious runner for four years, i would agree with what everyone is saying (find a real running store). or you can find out online to see what type of arch you are. (wet your foot and step on a piece of paper) and just get shoes that way. asics is definitely the best brand in general, stay away from nike. they look cool but suck. eventually you'll find a model perfect for you, i often get the same pair of shoe several times in a row.</p>
<p>Mizunos are amazing for running- I just bought another pair of the Wave Rider 10's from Finish Line.</p>
<p>First off, everyone is correct in saying that you must find a running store that has a more intimate environment so you can get the proper attention and information. </p>
<p>Nike, Brooks, and Asics are great for running shoes...I've been involved in competitive track and field for years, and those brands tend to receive good comments. </p>
<p>But don't forget to take the initiative to invest in arch supports regardless of what the shoe "claims" to come with. Make certain that they are comfortable, and break them in a bit.</p>
<p>I like New Balance because they have several lasts...one will probably fit you perfectly. In the world of NB, the higher the style number, the more high-tech materials, padding and support it will have. (1000's will be better than 700's which will be better than 300's).</p>
<p>For playing tennis, Wilson is a major manufacturer in the sport and makes some very comfortable and durable shoes. You need much more lateral support for tennis than for running, and running shoes are made for forward motion with almost no lateral support.</p>