Best Neutral Running Shoes
Being a Neutral Runner, you likely find yourself as a runner with a high arch height, and you typically fall into the category of an under-pronator foot stride, which really means that your foot rolls slightly to the inside or even to the outside. The best neutral running shoes are designed to work with your running style, not change it. Notice that being a Neutral runner is not BAD, it just causes different stresses to your leg muscles and different impact points on the shoe when compared to other types of runners.
How are the Best Neutral Running Shoes designed?
The design of the best neutral running shoes concentrates on placing cushioning along the outside of the running shoe to help absorb any outward roll of your foot, in addition to being able to put a lot of cushioning in the heel because your foot doesn’t roll too far inwards.
Neutral running shoes are also called Cushioned running shoes by most shoe companies and shoe stores. Because the shoes don’t need to be too stiff to support heavy inward pronation, the shoes can be designed with more cushioning and still be the same weight as other types of running shoes. The best neutral running shoes have no need for bulky cushioning on the inner part of the shoe because there is no excessive inward rolling taking place.
Below are the best neutral running shoes on the market right now. See our price comparison of online running shoe retailers and read our review to determine which will be the best neutral running shoe for you.
Best Neutral Running Shoes
Lowest Mens Shoe Price
Road Runner Sports - $89.95
Lowest Womens Shoe Price
Road Runner Sports - $89.95
1. Asics Gel Nimbus 12
The Asics Gel Nimbus 12 is the top of the line and best selling neutral/cushioned running shoe that Asics offers. Not only is it one of the most popular shoes that Asics offers, it was also awarded the Best Update from Runners World in the Summer 2010 Shoe Guide.
The Nimbus 12 includes offset lacing and a weight reduction from last year's shoe. I would recommended the Asics Gel Nimbus 12 for runners with normal to high arches looking for a neutral/cushioned shoe with a bit of added stability.
2. Brooks Glycerin 8
The Brooks Glycerin 8 is a Neutral shoe that has been awarded Runners World Editors Choice for Spring 2010.
The Brooks Glycerin 8 is the first shoe from Brooks to contain their new technology called Brooks DNA. This fancy sounding technology basically means that the cushioning adapts to the unique needs of each runner. If you are heavier, it supports more, if you are lighter, it supports less because it doesn't need to. The Glycerin has always been known as a good supportive shoe able to handle the foot strike of bigger runners.
Lowest Mens Shoe Price
Road Runner Sports - $79.95
Lowest Womens Shoe Price
Road Runner Sports - $79.95
3. Nike Zoom Vomero+ 5
For the most cushioned Nike shoe out there, go no further than the Nike Zoom Vomero+ 5. The Nike Zoom Vomero+ 5 could be a great match for you if you have a Neutral to Underpronator running style with normal to high arches.
Improvements from last year include using a no-sew technique on the upper to reduce irritation, and reduced weight from last years model. Consider trying the Nike Zoom Vomero+ 5 if you are looking for a lightweight, responsive performance cushioning shoe to match your Neutral high/normal arch running style.
