I’ve been seeing this question a lot on social media recently. Or the “answer” to that question: either a specific model that is proclaimed “the best” or a type of shoe (Zero drop! Ultra cushioned!) that “everyone” should be wearing.
The truth is that there is no “best” shoe or even shoe type. Everyone is different, we all have different needs.
Let me use myself as an example. My pronation is very middle of the road. I was even told by the owner of a local running store that I had the “most neutral” foot strike he’s ever seen and I could wear whatever shoes I wanted. However, I have feet that are very narrow in the heel and midfoot. So I have specific fit needs that take a lot of shoes off the table for me. I also don’t like super cushioned shoes that don’t feel as responsive to me, which these days takes out a popular and very readily available category.
Others will have different considerations. While these aren’t always true, people who do pronate more than normal might need some form of inner foot support to lessen the pronation. Similarly, those who pronate less than normal might need more cushioned shoes.
There are other considerations. Heel-toe drop is getting a lot of attention right now. Zero drop shoes are having a moment, with some people telling you that they will solve all problems. The truth? If you have knee problems, reducing your heel-toe drop might help the issue. If you have Achilles tendon issues, though, you may benefit from increasing your heel-toe drop.
The bottom line is that there are many variables to consider in every shoe. It’s not a matter of the “best shoe”. There is no best shoe for everyone, no matter what you might hear on social media or in advertising campaigns. What you need to do is find YOUR best shoe. In order to do that, have some idea of the parameters that you’re looking for or at least what considerations you will need to account for. Then, try on a lot of different pairs.