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Top 5 Sneaker picks for summer 2020

With the summer months hurtling towards us it’s an opportunity to bring out the whites, Here are 5 top picks for summer 2020, rated individually on their cushioning & comfort, how durable they are and if they are going set you back a few to obtain them.

Nike air max 97 – Available from retailers such as Footlocker, JD & Size?
  • Cushioning – 3/5 – Comfort of the 97s is questionable, I’ve experienced a lot more comfortable shoes however I still love the feel of these.
  • Durability – 4/5 – Having put these through a lot the 97s are holding up nicely, many miles covered and many active holidays later and these are holding up great for me.
  • Affordability – 2/5 – In the going rate of trainers these are expensive, pricing at between £124.99-£149.99.

A personal favorite of mine coming in at number one – The nike 97 is an all round solid choice, made with a textile and leather upper that allows your feet to breath, a sneaker that provides supported whilst sitting on a full length air cushion. The 97s also provide a good amount of grip with a rubber outsole.

  • Reebok Kinetica Zig White

https://www.reebok.co.uk/zig-kinetica-shoes/EH2415.html

  • Cushioning 5/5
  • Durability 3/5
  • Affordability 4/5

A choice for people who want comfort in an all around light weight trainer for casual use or for working out the reebok Kinetica has certainly impressed. A minimalist look but holding some solid features such as a molded neoprene tongue for a snug fit, as well as tonal lace up fastening with a seamless mesh upper that feels luxury.

Adidas Continental 90s

https://www.adidas.co.uk/continental-80-shoes/G27706.html

  • Cushioning – 3/5
  • Durability – 3/5
  • Affordability – 4/5

A favorite of many and a shoe that really has sold very well over the last year, a bold but sharp design this casual sneaker will go with pretty much anything! featuring a leather upper with breathable perforations throughout, perfect for those summer walks, despite being a flat shoe the continental’s have impressive cushioning and a flexible feel.

  • Nike tuned 1

https://www.footlocker.co.uk/en/p/nike-tuned-1-men-shoes-68769?v=314206116304

  • Cushioning – 4/5
  • Durability – 4/5
  • Affordability – 3/5

The nike Tuned air max 1s are a solid choice for many looking for an all around comfortable trainer that they can use day in and day out. especially ones who do a lot of walking. Titled as a lifestyle sneaker these specialize in providing you with an energetic sporty look but also giving you the technology you need -support and cushion.

  • Nike air force react

https://www.nike.com/gb/t/air-force-1-react-shoe-nm7D17/CD4366-100

  • Cushioning – 2/5
  • Durability – 5/5
  • Affordability – 4/5

These aren’t a best seller for no reason and no description of these is really needed, it’s worth mentioning they are more of a chunky design, weigh more and the opinion of how comfortable these are changes from person to person. They look great and are almost guaranteed to fit any outfit, a top choice and always has been for summer and infact winter being so easy to clean.

“If an air force wasn’t featured on this blog post I would be heavily judged (intensely bullied) Nike have really capitalized on the fact they sell so well, bringing out plenty of different colorways for you to choose from, seeing as this is a blog featuring white sneakers I had to chose these new Nike air force reacts, already so popular and eye catching.”

What you SHOULD look for in a running shoe

There are so many sneakers on the market right now that class themselves as runners or are in the running category of most stores/websites when actually most of those are what are called lifestyle shoes, not running shoes.

What should I look for?

  • Weight
  • Cushioning & Support
  • Performance

Working within the industry, there has been many people who have asked me where they can find a good running shoe or something they can use in the gym, although being surrounded in store by sneakers, when you apply the three target points above (weight, support & ability to perform) we were left with very little options, granted sneakers are being used a lot more for fashion nowadays I was shocked at the lack of solid options!

Lets look at what would be deemed as a running shoe but not actually a good option for running in.

So above we have the Nike 97s and Nike Tuned 1s, both shoes are categorised on websites as running shoes but if you are planning on running any distance past a mile you definitely don’t want to be buying these.

Both shoes carry a lot more weight than a trainer built for running, the cushioning particularly around the heel is poor and will cause you pain eventually in that area after periods of running in them.

The performance of these, considering they weren’t made to actually run distance in will be poor, perhaps if your need to ‘run for a bus’ they would deliver, just don’t rely on them for a treadmill workout.

“What do you mean by performance and how can I find this?” What we mean by performance is how it will support your feet whilst running and how it will generally feel whilst you are running. Compare it to new tyres on a car, transitioning from a jog to a sprint will feel smoother than ever and you’ll be more energy efficient if you’re gaining these benefits from your footwear.

What IS a good running option?

Running shoes are very easy to come by if you take the three bullet points above into consideration (weight, support, performance) but here in this article I want to make it nice and easy for you and provide links to some options that would be good for the gym to doing a marathon.

Option 1: Nike Pegasus – £100-£110

Women: https://www.nike.com/gb/t/air-zoom-pegasus-36-flyease-running-shoe-PJTJMD/BV0614-001)

Men: (https://www.nike.com/gb/t/air-zoom-pegasus-36-running-shoe-D24Mcz/AQ2203-006)

Starting with a runner that I have personally had experience with and have run a half marathon in, a trainer that has never let me down and has ticked every box, a featherweight trainer that supports your arches and provides you with cushioning and a great performance.

Option 2: Asics Novablast – £120

A very strong option for someone who loves running is these weapons, many people swear by Asics and don’t budge from the brand as they serve them well and are worth every penny.

Asics advertise these features on the Novablasts, which all sound very promising,

“The outsole and midsole of the NOVABLAST™ shoe have been designed to accentuate the energized feeling of the FLYTEFOAM Blast™ technology, creating a “trampoline” effect that propels you forward.”

  • FLYTEFOAM Blast™ midsole foam
  • AHARPLUS™ Rubber outsole
  • ORTHOLITE lasting
  • Reflectivity
  • Engineered Jacquard Mesh

Option 3 – NB Fresh Foam 1080v10 -£135 – https://www.newbalance.co.uk/men/shop-by-style/fresh-foam-1080-for-men/fresh-foam-1080v10/M1080V10-32890-M.html?dwvar_M1080V10-32890-M_style=M1080K10#style=M1080K10

Women: https://www.newbalance.co.uk/women/shop-by-style/fresh-foam-1080-for-women/fresh-foam-1080v10/W1080V10-32889-W-EMEA-W1080M10.html?dwvar_W1080V10-32889-W-EMEA-W1080M10_style=W1080M10#style=W1080M10

New balance will always be a staple for a good running shoe, their minimalist style attracts a lot of people.

The NB fresh foam provides you with premier cushioning, lightweight flexibility and cutting edge comfort, NB states, exactly what a running shoe should have.

Again we see a running shoe that focuses on spring and bounce, returning energy to your feet as you run by acting like a trampoline. a choice for those who prioritize comfort in a run.

Are shoe care products worth it?

You may have seen products such as shoe spray on the market, like crep protect, along with many other cleaning products such as foams and gels. Here’s the breakdown on whether or not these are worth your money.

Let’s start with shoe sprays, this is actually quite clever technology, so much so people don’t believe it actually works and are reluctant to invest in them, to sum it up a shoe spray applies and invisible coat to the shoe that will deter water, so if you live somewhere where it constantly rains this may be helpful as the more wet your shoes get the more they spoil.

From a personal experience the spray also helps make stains less tough to remove.

Onto foams and gels, cleaning foams are by far the best option for a quick cleaning option, for those who use air forces and need to quickly freshen them up before leaving the house then an instantly cleaning foam would be your go to. massively affordable and relatively easy with no mess.

Gels on the other hand are in my opinion NOT worth the investment, these are used to get off tougher stains but nothing a good bit of soap, water and a good brush can’t take care of.

KEEP IN MIND: All in all shoe cleaning products are only worth it if you’re trying to achieve that pristine look to your shoes but nothing will distract away from the fact they’ve creased, the heels caved in due to those times where you’ve had to rush to get your creps on, or even parts of the shoe have been scratched to pieces.

The only time I personally jump to products to maintain my shoes is when I have an all white pair that is predominantly fabric, I’ll add a good layer of spray before using them and once in a while use a cleaning foam or solution, you may as well do the same if you’re investing in £100+ pair of shoes when cleaning products are only £5-£10 at the cheapest.