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Design Your Own Shoes - Freaky Shoes

No matter your pace during a race or workout, it’s fun to feel fast. Whether you’re doing short intervals on the track or racing up to 10K on the roads, you’ll want a shoe that can help you unleash your top gear. This used to mean lacing up the lightest-weight pair you could find, since the fastest options typically offered just a stiff sole with tread or spikes to grip the track. But, serious innovation in recent years has radically changed what speed shoes look like; even road-racing models with thicker midsoles and tall stack heights are well-suited for your speedwork sessions.

For serious racing and training on the track, you’re still best served by a pair of track spikes—extremely lightweight, stiff-soled shoes that envelop your feet and have spikes (aka, “pins”) attached underneath the forefoot. Track spikes for sprinters feature multiple pins under the forefoot and minimal structure in the heel, while spikes for middle and longer distance have fewer pins and thicker midsoles for a bit of comfort. The pro of track spikes is that there’s no faster footwear for track running. The con is that no, you can’t wear them anywhere else.

Racing flats, which are lightweight shoes meant to maximize a race effort, are more versatile than track spikes—you can wear them to run and race both on the track and on the road. Unless you’re a pro, even lightweight running shoes will work just fine on the oval, though they’re not quite as fast around the turns as track spikes. The biggest benefit is your legs (especially your calves) don’t get beat up as badly in road shoes. We hit our local track on a rainy afternoon to see how these spikes performed at fast speeds in wet conditions.

Between our staff and a 250-runner-strong wear-test team, we laced up every single pair of the 15 spikes and road racers below. We hit our local tracks to see how they performed in both wet and dry conditions during demanding speed sessions including ladder workouts, wind sprints, and 400-meter repeats. On the pavement, we evaluated the spike-less options on this list for their fit, cushioning, and comfort during longer tempo runs and in real race situations. In addition to our on-foot impressions, we also considered the data we collected from mechanical tests in our RW Shoe Lab to determine the best use for each model.

Another crazy new shoe from Nike, the Dragonfly looks more like a conventional spike, albeit one with an exceptionally thick sole. That’s made possible only by the use of ZoomX foam. The result is a shoe that takes out the sting of running hard but doesn’t slow you down. Most of that foam, however, is centered right behind the ball of your foot—you feel a noticeable bulge there, and then the padding drops off at the heel. So, it’s not for easy-paced runs. Our testers all raved about the accommodating yet locked-down fit; the shoe has a square toe box, almost like a normal trainer, which makes it comfortable for long distances. Tip: Go sock-less. The mesh is smooth against your bare foot, and a hole at the back of the shoe wraps around your heel, acting like a flexible heel counter to keep you securely locked to the sole.

The MetaSprint is wildly different from your usual track spike. The entire outsole is made of a carbon-fiber plate, but the forefoot doesn’t include any metal pins. Instead, there’s a honeycomb pattern of jagged edges that bite into the track. Beyond the traction component, the shape of the sole is novel, too. The plate is curved and forces your foot to roll inward on toe-off so that you’re pushing off directly over your big toe for maximum propulsion. It’s a noticeable effect that feels off initially, but smooths when you turn on the speed. Footwear tech has been under scrutiny in recent years, and the MetaSprint calls to mind Puma’s “brush spikes” from the late ’60s. Those had dozens of tiny needles on the bottom for grip, helped runners set world records, and were banned. Current World Athletics regulations stipulate a maximum of 11 pins on the sole of a track spike. It’s unclear how they count a shoe like the MetaSprint—which has eight clusters of raised hexagonal shapes—but it’s been approved for competition by World Athletics.

 Thanks to a carbon-fiber plate plus a snappy outsole plate, this spike has a springy feeling at quicker paces. Carbon fiber’s strength-to-weight ratio and ability to bend and rebound is especially noticeable, making the shoe’s forefoot stiff and ready to rip. Brooks updated the plate to cover the entire forefoot, with extra ridges and cutouts to save weight. But compared to the previous version, the upper is where this shoe really shines. Brooks also upgraded the v5 to the exceptionally fine woven fabric it’s used in shoes like the Hyperion Elite with great success. It keeps the upper extremely thin yet provides outstanding strength and locked-in support without requiring additional reinforcements—it’s the kind of shoe we would have worn without socks back in high school and college. We noticed the v5 runs a little long and narrow, but none of our testers reported any pinching or discomfort.

The most futuristic track spike on the market today is the all-new Victory. It uses a combination of a two-piece Air unit and springy ZoomX foam, plus a stiffening carbon-fiber plate to help you rocket around the track. The shoe feels entirely weird the moment you step into it—its tippy, and you notice two distinct bulges under your foot. As you run, it comes alive. However, the sensation isn’t springy, like you might expect from ZoomX, a Pebax-based foam (the same used in the Vaporfly) that’s extremely lightweight, well-cushioned, and has boatloads of energy return. Instead, you feel tension build and the shoe load up as you press your weight down into it, then launch forward with toe-off. The sole isn’t soft in the general sense, but it’s less punishing than a conventional track spike without being slowed by cushioning. Finally, unlike the fit of long- and skinny-like spikes of old, there’s a little bit of a flare that squares up the forefoot to accommodate wider feet.

What sets Hoka’s spikes apart from the competition? It designs the spike configuration to optimize grip on the track’s curves. The brand started that concept with the flashy Speed Evo R spike worn by Leo Manzano and carried it into this budget-priced spike that delivers for events from 400 meters to the mile. Underfoot you’ll see that the pins closest to the outer edge of the track are placed farther forward on the shoe. The asymmetrical design doesn’t impede you when you’re running the straights, however, and it went completely unnoticed by one of our testers. However, we did feel the lack of any heel cushioning. Younger legs might not be bothered, but we were hoping for just a little more padding there when landing heel-first. Fortunately, the spike plate is built in a way to create a slight pivot under the ball of your foot, so it’s most comfortable if you stay up on your toes.

To rip a straightaway or lap as fast as humanly possible, you’re going to need to be locked to the track. The Superfly Elite 2 does that, thanks to eight metal pins under each forefoot—four are positioned in a line directly under the ball of your foot. One tester described the shoe’s grip as “trust”—trust that they’ll deliver no-slip speed. The shoe also eliminates any extra foot movement, due to the unbelievably tight-fitting upper. We all had trouble even getting them on and off. (One tester ripped the tongue loop getting into the shoes; I nearly dislocated my shoulder taking them off.) But, once on, the AtomKnit fabric is breezy yet secure.

The Endorphin Pro 2 has undergone subtle changes, so runners smitten with the OG can exhale a sigh of relief. This second iteration of Saucony’s carbon-fiber-plated racer continues to offer what its competitors fall short on. For example: The thin, cloth-like, single-​layered engineered-mesh upper envelopes the foot without any unnecessary pressure. It doesn’t overheat like Nike’s Vaporweave when you’re six miles into a marathon. And it has a more secure ankle fit than Brooks’s unisex Hyperion Elite, which women found to have a loose collar and heel—a common problem for women running in unisex shoes. The first Pro lacked stability, especially in the heel; turning sometimes led to an ankle roll and a bunched-up, off-center tongue. The 2 provides more support around the heel with an even more secure fit, though runners with weak ankles may still feel wobbly cutting tight corners.

When you make the world’s fastest shoe, you don’t mess it up. And, good news: Nike didn’t. In fact, the changes to version 2 were limited just to the upper, to improve comfort and durability. You still get exceptionally lightweight, soft, and springy ZoomX foam underfoot and a rigid carbon-fiber plate to help you bound down the road with less effort. It’s the kind of package that lets elite marathoners race well under five-minute pace, so it’ll deliver in your fastest training sessions. But, when you’re going long, you’ll find it just feels better on foot. That’s because Vaporweave has been replaced with an engineered mesh. Vaporweave, a ripstop nylon–like material, was great because it didn’t absorb water or sweat while you ran, but it also didn’t stretch or breathe particularly well. The new mesh resolves those problems.

While the Vaporfly Next% 2 is versatile on the roads all the way up to a marathon, some runners wanted even less shoe for short road races like the 5K and 10K. Enter the Streakfly. It’s Nike’s lightest racing shoe, harkening back to the time when we all believed a shoe had to be lighter to get faster. But unlike the old, thin racing flats, the Streakfly uses ZoomX, the springy peba compound that is protective underfoot. There’s no carbon-fiber plate here, as in the Vaporfly. Instead the shoe uses a short Pebax plate under the midfoot only, designed to stabilize your foot as you go through your stride. Based on our testing, with one runner using it on tempo runs and even a 20-miler, we find it’s best suited for speedy runners with an efficient stride who land midfoot or forward. If you’re a heel-striker, you’ll feel the foam “bottom out”—there’s a noticeable “thunk” as the foam compresses as far as it’ll go and your foot runs out of room to travel.

“It feels dangerously fast,” said Eileen Cody, a Runner’s World+ member who tests shoes with us. Eileen is dangerously fast herself, having won the RW Half two years ago. Many other wear-testers had a similar experience with the V2: The shoe feels completely different from the first iteration—it has more life, more spring, more speed. V1 had a notable bulge on the lateral (outer) edge of the shoe, which was designed to give you extra contact where a midfoot striker would first touch the road at high speeds, as in tempo runs or races. The bulge remains, but New Balance slimmed it down so it’s imperceptible. What you do notice is the bouncy foam underfoot. It’s shockingly springy—New Balance claims the new compound has 14.4 percent more energy return than the foam used in V1. You’ll get a similar bouncy sensation from both the FuelCell TC and Lerato, but this shoe delivers more comfort and a smoother ride, thanks to the harmony of the foam and a thinner layer of rubber than what’s found on those other two models.

Create Own Sneaker

One of the most exciting shoes of 2021 comes from an unexpected brand: Puma. Yes, for real. The Deviate Nitro is the first indication that the company is on the right track in building performance running shoes again. Like nearly all of the fastest shoes now, it has a carbon-fiber plate. And, like those other carbon-plated speedsters, the Deviate Nitro leverages lightweight, bouncy foam—it’s TPE instead of the pricier, springier Pebax that some other brands use. The foam is nitrogen-infused, which delivers a responsive sensation underfoot that makes you want to kick your heels to your butt and feels snappy when you’re running laps on the track with comfort for longer road runs. It’s heavier than most of the other speed shoes we recommend, but on foot it feels lighter and more lively than the scale suggests.

The Sky is the first model available in a two-shoe collection from Asics. The reason for two shoes is because Asics believes there are two ways runners can go faster: you can either take longer strides or take more steps. The Sky is built for that “stride” runner, who you’re often going to find gliding around an oval. With a 5mm drop and an almost uniformly thick midsole from heel to toe, it helps those runners increase their stride length while making them roughly three percent more efficient. This means runners can use less energy to cover a given distance.

The midsole isn’t Pebax, like on the Vaporfly; instead, Asics found that Nylon delivers similar benefits. (Nylon compresses easily when you land, feels squishy and soft, and firms up when you need to launch off the ground.) A carbon-fiber plate ratchets up the responsiveness and speed, too. In our testing, we found the Sky’s sweet spot to be tempo runs, but the shoe doesn’t hesitate when you want to make a sprint for the finish line.

The biggest surprise in footwear this year may just come from this legacy brand. Typically, running shoes only see major updates every other year. But, for v2 of this plated racer, New Balance rebuilt it from the ground up. It’s much softer and springier than before, thanks to a thicker midsole. The heel stack height—a measure of everything between your foot and the road—is up to 39mm, 7mm taller than before. And the forefoot got an even bigger boost, reducing the drop from 10mm to 8mm. That extra thickness not only improves cushioning, but it gives New Balance more space under the hood to beef up the engine: The carbon-fiber plate embedded in the foam has been reshaped to curve more, delivering better responsiveness and propulsion. Counterintuitively, New Balance ditched the sporty outsole of v1, which featured a sea of little triangles bonded to the foam, for a more traditional blown rubber outsole. It also gave the shoe one of the most comfortable and conventional uppers that we’ve seen on such a super shoe. But our test team tells us that it does nothing to hinder performance, yet makes the shoe even more versatile for both training and racing.

The Magic Speed was designed with some trickle-down knowledge from shoes like the MetaRacer and has more budget-friendly components from shoes like the NovaBlast, making it a good race day option for those of us running marathons competitively in the three to four hour range. We also love this shoe because it holds up to a heavy amount of speed training. To help you sustain those long efforts, it uses a lively FlyteFoam Blast midsole that’s bouncy and springy underfoot. You won’t mistake it for the Pebax found on a Vaporfly Next% or Asics’s own nylon-based foam from its top-of-the-line MetaSpeed Sky, but it offers an excellent combination of cushioning, energy return, and durability. This shoe, like second-tier performance shoes—Saucony Endorphin Speed or the now defunct Nike Zoom Fly—gets slightly cheaper components. Instead of a full-length carbon-fiber plate, the Magic Speed has one made from carbon and TPU (a plastic polymer) that spans only the front half of the shoe. The result is that the shoe isn’t nearly as stiff from heel to toe, losing a little of that snappy turnover you get from a fully plated shoe. But, it’s softer on heel-strike and still manages to feel peppy.

When Des Linden won the 2018 Boston Marathon, she wore a prototype of the original Hyperion Elite. It was a light and stiff shoe, but unless you were small in stature or light on your feet, the sole felt exceptionally hard. Fear not: Version 2 has an all-new foam package that boosts underfoot comfort without sacrificing a tick from the finish line clock. The DNA Flash midsole uses a nitrogen-infused foam that is softer than the original Elite’s EVA, but not nearly as squishy as its competitors at the $250 mark. The upper really shines on this shoe, thanks to the stretchy woven fabric that is incredibly comfortable no matter how far you run.

With the wave of new midsole foams, we’ve discovered that cush is king—even on race day. Skechers has been working with one of those new formulations, which it calls Hyperburst, with wonderful success. For its previous top-of-the-line racer, the Speed Elite, it used a moderate amount of foam that, in the end, just proved to be too little for going long distances on pavement. It was too much like a traditional racing flat. Enter the Speed Freek, which is basically the same shoe but with a considerably thicker pad of Hyperburst on the bottom. That extra cushion costs you another $10 and tacks on an ounce of weight. But it makes a huge difference in how far you can run at top speed. Unlike the Speed Elite that we only really employ for 5K or, maybe, 10K road races, the Speed Freek is easily capable of going a full marathon. Embedded within the forefoot are carbon-fiber winglets, Skechers’s approach to rigidity. Rather than using a thin full-length plate, it opted to stiffen up only the front half of the shoe, and only at the edges. The banana-shaped pieces give the shoe incredible snap when you’re running at a hard effort, yet allow the forefoot to feel more compliant and flexible as you roll from your midfoot onto your toes.

Design Your Own Shoes - Freaky Shoes

Runner’s World works with more than 350 local runners of all abilities, ages, and sizes, for real-world wear-testing on paved roads, dirt paths, and rocky singletrack trails. After a month of running more than 100 miles in their pair of shoes, our testers report back their findings on features like fit, comfort, performance, and ride. While our testers are putting miles in, the same models undergo a battery of mechanical tests in our shoe lab to objectively measure the cushioning, flexibility, sole thickness, and weight of each. Our test editors combine their own experience with data from the lab and feedback from our wear testers to create reliable, useful reviews of every shoe we test. We were scrupulous in forming these recommendations of the most comfortable running shoes for every type of runner.

The Mach 4 is incredibly lightweight and has knocked the cushy, race-ready Rincon off its mantle. “It’s the best Mach yet, and perhaps the best current Hoka,” said RW deputy editor, Jeff Dengate. The updated design is modeled after the brand’s fastest shoes, the Carbon X and Rocket X. ProFly foam promotes high rebound, while the early-stage Meta-Rocker (a slightly curved sole) presses you on to catapult forward. The upgraded upper hugs your foot more securely so you won’t run out of these explosive Machs.

The Paradigm is Altra’s cushiest trainer to date, with a thick slab of firm cushioning at the midsole that makes it well suited to both easy recovery runs and everyday workouts. It’s an ideal shoe for runners who like the maximum padding of the Hoka Clifton but with a little more energy return and stability underfoot, as well as a zero-drop platform. Our testers found it to be more versatile than expected for a shoe with a 33mm-high stack. “Though I first thought the Paradigm was going to be too bulky, I even used it for speedwork,” said one. Altra-sponsored runner Kara Goucher apparently agrees—she says she wears the comfy shoe for 70 percent of her workouts.

Packed into the Glycerin GTS is plush cushioning, high energy return, and stability that supports overpronators and neutral runners alike. Brooks has redefined its “Go-to-Shoe” acronym as “Go-to-Support” to go along with its new naming convention. The stability counterparts of neutral shoes are now re-dubbed with the neutral shoe’s name and “GTS” attached. In this case, the shoe formerly known as the Transcend is now known as the Glycerin GTS. Its guide rails system—dense foam on the lateral and medial sides of the heel—bumpers erratic knee movement.

New Balance cranked up the Fresh Foam for the 1080 v9, adding a millimeter of softness underfoot to make the shoe more forgiving. In the 10th iteration, the company again upgraded the midsole, this time to Fresh Foam X, which felt soft (but not marshmallowy); laser-engraving shaved off about half an ounce from the previous version, making the shoe look sportier and more lightweight. Fortunately, not much has changed with the v11. Consistent with the v10, that thick slab of Fresh Foam X provides high energy return—and comfort. The designers tweaked the upper, making it stretchier in the forefoot for runners with wide feet.

Since its release in 1994, the Adrenaline GTS has gained a massive following for its soft platform and stability features that cater to both overpronators and neutral runners. It’s a flexible shoe that falls in the middle of Brooks’s more cushioned trainers, sitting between the plush Glycerin GTS and nimble Launch GTS—making it the true Goldilocks of shoe plush. The guide rails system provides bumper support for erratic knee movement caused by overpronation and late-onset overpronation due to running fatigue, i.e., that final stretch during your long run when your form breaks down.

Beloved as a “crossover” shoe that’s equally capable of tackling smooth roads, technical trails, and unpredictable weather conditions, the Challenger ATR is the shoe to grab when you’re not sure where your run will take you. It boasts a thick EVA foam midsole that absorbs impact well, protecting your feet from the pavement or rocks, and stubby, 4mm lugs for traction on loose surfaces. A shoe tester with wider feet praised the fit and comfort of the upper, as well. “The padding all around the interior of the shoe felt cozy,” he said. “I commend Hoka for a great feel in these shoes. This is one pair I would feel comfortable going long distances in without hesitation.”

The Clifton is beloved by dedicated distance runners and casual walkers alike for its maximum cushion and comfort on a very lightweight, streamlined platform. This latest version of the shoe has a new EVA midsole with even more bouncy energy return, plus a smoother ride and longer heel to soften your landings. Hoka also tweaked the mesh upper to be softer and more lightweight, with improved breathability. It’s a shoe that works well as an everyday training shoe, long-run shoe, or recovery shoe, but tends to feel a bit sluggish for race-pace efforts.

When it comes to a plush ride that doesn’t lose its bounce in the final miles of a long run, the UltraBoost delivers. The Boost foam midsole has a well-cushioned feel with excellent shock absorption for long runs, and a durable Continental rubber outsole that grips the road or crushed-gravel trail in wet and dry conditions. The Primeknit+ fabric upper—made from 50 percent recycled ocean plastics—provides a glove-like fit. And women can expect even more customization and comfort—our version of the 22 sports a new last modeled on extensive research of women’s foot shape.

Although it’s one of the heavier shoes here, the Triumph rides light and bouncy, largely due to a new Pwrrun+ midsole that’s 28 percent lighter and even more responsive than the previous model’s. It’s Saucony’s softest shoe, and also among its most versatile—equally well suited to recovery runs and ample everyday mileage. The new airier, more breathable mono-mesh upper has plenty of space in the forefoot for toes to wiggle, while the pillowy collar and tongue provide a plushness on par with the overall coziness of the shoe.

Do you want to be a professional shoe designer? You must learn how to select and specify shoe materials correctly. The Shoe Material Design Guide details all the materials you will need to make modern athletic, classic casuals and high fashion footwear. Written as a companion to our best selling How Shoes are Made , The Shoe Material Design Guide digs deep into the world of footwear materials and design. A must-read for young shoe designers!

Each chapter covers a specific shoe material type. You will learn how each material is made, the options available, and how to specify the material correctly. Chapters focus on shoe leather, textiles, synthetics, shoelaces, glue, reinforcements, hardware, logos, midsoles, outsoles, and more! You will also find information on topics such as material testing, sustainable production, and exotic materials.

See exactly how each material is used inside real production shoes. Annotated cross-sections of over 30 different shoe types. Look inside basketball shoes, running shoes, track spikes, hiking boots, work boots, high-heels, cowboy boots, and many more! You will also find information on topics such as material testing, sustainable production, exotic materials, and more. Written as a companion to our best selling How Shoes Are Made, The Shoe Material Design Guide digs deeper into the world of footwear materials and design. Mac and PC Compatible ebook, 28 chapters, 195 pages with over 330 color photos.

Photographic cross section diagrams from more than 30 different shoe types included. You can see exactly how each material is used inside real production shoes. Look at basketball shoes, running shoes, track spikes, hiking boots, work boots, high heels, cowboy boots, and many more! A must-have book for anyone interested in shoe design, shoemaking, and footwear design.

Design A Tennis Shoe

What materials are shoes made out of? Leather is the most commonly used material for shoemaking. It is durable, flexible, breathable, stretchable and conforms to the wearer like no other material. Study the character, color, grain, thickness, temper and the production steps such as curing, soaking, liming, tanning, etc. Next, we look at the finishing operations, final grading and main types of shoemaking leather like aniline, nubuck, pigmented, top-grain, crazy horse, split leathers, patent leather, action leather and many more. Finally, we cover leather import duty and tariffs, price per square foot and how to specify shoe leather.

Fabric options for footwear. Shoe material types and shoe fabrics such as textiles are tough, lightweight, resistant to the environment, long wearing, and relatively inexpensive. What is the best sneaker material or the best basketball shoe material? Review footwear fabrics such as nylon, polyester, Kevlar, linen, Rayon, wool and their processing, weaves, backing, treatments, and other special features. Study the environmental factors, import duty, lasting and test standards for textiles.

Synthetic, synthetic leather, PU leather, pleather, or PU; whatever you call it, this class of shoemaking material offers an immense variety of colors, textures, and features at a range of prices. What are sports shoes and athletic shoes made of? What are basketball shoes made of? Synthetics! What is a synthetic upper? This shoe material can be made to look like natural leather, split leather, textiles, wood, metal or almost anything. Many of the modern icons of basketball shoe design would not be possible without synthetics. When specifying synthetics you have complete control over the outer skin layer and inner backing layers so it is important to understand how it is made and know all your shoemaking material options.

 Shoe stitching thread is also an important shoe designing material. As a design element, the thread color choice and specification are important to the look of the shoe. You may choose matching stitching for your sneaker materials list to help conceal poor alignment, or bright contrast stitching to highlight exceptional craftsmanship and your shoe print fabric. Are you making a waterproof shoe with as few stitches as possible or a hyper-modern design with all the stitching hidden inside? Learn about this tiny component that holds it all together.

The internal reinforcements you select will allow your shoe to hold its shape, protect the foot, provide support, and stay together. Reinforcements are a significant factor in your shoes’ performance, comfort, durability, and suitability for its designated task. Look at heel counters, heat-molded plastic sheets, vulcanized rubber, backing materials and outsole reinforcements.

Shoelaces hold the shoe onto your foot and provide some style. Study the construction, materials, lacing systems. The “correct” shoelace depends on the function of your shoe. The same lace that works for a fine leather office shoe will not be suitable for hunting boots or ballerina slippers.

Shoe glue  The use and application of adhesives in shoes. Almost every part of a modern shoe is glued or laminated in place.  The use and application of adhesives in shoes. Almost every part of a modern shoe is glued or laminated in place. It is critical to specify a glue that will not saturate, stain, or melt the material you are bonding. It is also important to nd the bonding process suitable for each material type.