February 21, 2001


What's a good distance-running shoe?

Dear Exalted Gear Guy, my wife is doing the Avon breast cancer three-day walk this fall (60 miles over three days on roads). She is starting a training program now and was wondering what type of shoes to wear. I was thinking a good distance-running shoe might be in order instead of a walking shoe. We would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks,

— Chollie and Lisa Townsend Loganville, Georgia

Well, good for her! That's a fairly substantial hike — 20 miles a day.

I'm inclined to agree with you. To train for such an event, then walk in it, will put a lot of miles on shoes — more, really, than most "walkers" might be able to handle. So I concur with your idea to use trail runners. They'll be more durable and more supportive.

You have plenty of choices. Montrail makes some great trail runners — among them, the Leona Divide ($95). It has a well cushioned but stable midsole, and good grip on slippery surfaces. I also like Asics' shoes, as I always found their gel cushioning to be one of the better systems around. Asics makes several trail runners, including the Nandi DS ($95). And New Balance is a good choice because its shoes come in widths. A good, trail-ready example: The model 703 ($65).

Along with good shoes, make sure she has good socks. I recommend something like the Thorlo Coolmax Crew sock ($33 for three-pack), which use DuPont's excellent moisture-management Coolmax fabric. Another good choice is an all-wool sock, as wool does a great job of absorbing moisture and keeping it away from the skin. An example: the Smartwool Running sock ($12). These are great socks; Smartwool is about the only sock I wear when bicycling now.

Hope this helps —- and hope the walk goes well!