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Choosing the right running shoes for you is extremely important for obtaining the best results. The Beacon might look like a clunker, but looks can be deceiving, and this is actually one of the best all-rounder running shoes available. The Fresh Foam cushioning is so lightweight that the men’s version of the Beacon comes in at just 213g, and the responsive ride it offers makes it as well-suited to racing and fast training sessions as it is long, easy efforts. New Balance opted against putting any rubber on the outsole of the Beacon, which has helped to keep its weight low, but might mean that the unprotected foam wears down more quickly than on other shoes.

The Kwicky’s weigh a mere nine ounces. For their size and amount of cushioning, this surprised me. The low overall weight is likely because of the foam sole and seamless upper. Both are great features of the shoe but provide the secondary benefit of reducing weight. The sole is a lightweight foam that is softer than other similar shoes like the ASICS Speedstar 6. Because of that, I’m more comfortable running prolonged workouts on the road in the Kwicky. In most cases, I prefer the combination of a firm shoe and dirt trails but the Kwicky’s give much needed cushioning on the roads.

Any runner can get injured, but over- and underpronation can lead to more problems if you don’t opt for the right shoe. Underpronators should look for a lot of cushioning on their shoe, neutral runners should be comfortable in most shoes, although neutral shoes are most suitable (unless your BMI is 27+, in which case some extra support might be advisable) and overpronators will likely be best off with stability running shoes.

The On Cloud X handily picked up our Editors’ Choice award this year, unseating the exceptional Brooks PureFlow 6 from last year. These are part of On’s Performance running shoe lineup, geared toward high intensity running while the Clouds remain in On’s Active lineup, geared toward cross training. They offer a high degree of comfort through targeted padding along the collar, heel cup, and tongue while generously lining the upper with a smooth, felt-like sock liner. The upper has the right mix of malleability to naturally fit your foot and upper buttressing and structure to dial it in and stabilize your foot for a sprint. Their uniquely designed CloudTec midsole brings them excellent comfort, responsiveness, and stability. They incorporate a hard plastic speedboard that serves as the backstop for the hollow EVA pods, Cloud Elements, which individually flex, support, and spring to bring you a stable ride with pop.

The ASICS Kayano 25 running shoe is custom-built for endurance, so whether you’re heading into competition or a long training run, this training shoe will keep you feeling strong all the way to collapsing in a heap at the finish line. Protection and stability are the name of the game here. The company’s FlyteFoam Lyte tech promises shock absorption, while the medial support system and metaclutch cradle hold the heel in place. There’s a redesigned, two-layer Jacquard mesh upper, and a more spacious toe box to protect your feet on those gruelling endurance runs. As always, ASICS offers a number of attractive colour options to keep you on fleek and unique during the slog (the white/blue variant is particularly attractive). However, all of that support does come at a cost. At 325g it’s a little on the heavy side compared to some of the running shoes in our list. If you’re looking for a little more responsiveness and flexibility, you might want to try the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 20. See extra details at https://info4runners.com/asics-gel-venture-6/.