Fat Guy Sneakers

Not "Snickers".

So, for the majority of my adult life (well, all of it), if it hasn't been a work boot or a dress shoe (except for my wedding), I have worn:

Actual wedding photo

This includes autocross and my feeble attempts lately to get into better shape.

That being said, I'm looking for recommendations of a reasonable priced, but more importantly, comfortable tennis/running/cross-training shoe.

Requirements:

-Try to keep it under 100 bucks

-Good for chasing cones at the autocross (so it also shouldn't be afraid to get wet)

-Good for guys with not-so-great knees

-Not look anything like what a NBA player would wear

So what say you?

Ive always enjoyed Pumas for athletics not related to BMX or Cycling (I prefer DC/Addidas skate style shoes for the grip the flat sole provides on the pedals). I have been rocking a similar version of THESE BASIC MODELS...cheap, washable, and the foam sole is comfy. Easy Rider 78 models is $65 at the Puma website. Play basketball, run, drive (narrow toe, good for tight pedal clearance), or just hang out. Get the right color combo, and you can get some old skewl cred too...if thats your thing, and judging by the chucks pictured above, it is.

For walking and light running? New Balance has big/wide sizes and plenty of support for your feet-parts.

There are some Nikes (the Alvord series, for example) that are also good for big guys that run.

I wear these everywhere. Shoes for summer, boots for winter. Regular tennis shoes just don't last for me. 3 Months max, and don't give the support a fat guy needs. I have yet to wear a set of these out.

Merrell Moab Ventilator

Not the cheapest, but by far the best in my book.

Asis are my favorite sneakers for running and that kinda thing.

I have bad pronation/flat feet. I only wear New Balance and Brooks. Saucony has some good ones too, I've just never gone that route.

Toyman01 wrote: I wear these everywhere. Shoes for summer, boots for winter. Regular tennis shoes just don't last for me. 3 Months max, and don't give the support a fat guy needs. I have yet to wear a set of these out. Merrell Moab Ventilator Not the cheapest, but by far the best in my book.

I would second the Merrell's. My normal everyday shoe has been Merrell's for the last 5 years and they are great. The body of the shoe holds up well, except for the laces. I go through about 3 pairs of laces, then I will replace the shoe as I have worn through the tread (I have a hip issue that causes me to walk flatter and drag the shoe on the ground more).

Again, not the cheapest, but you should be able to find last years model on sale for under your price cap.

+1 for Merrells

Per Schroeder wrote: For walking and light running? New Balance has big/wide sizes and plenty of support for your feet-parts. There are some Nikes (the Alvord series, for example) that are also good for big guys that run.

Precisely the use.

I used to have some New Balances way back in the day and liked them well enough. May have to revisit.

I'll also check out the Merrells!

New Balance are my weapon of choice.

I have owned a few pairs and they last a really long time, are comfortable, and don't look bad.

Usually I can find a few different styles on sale at Kohls for around $50.

I always see fat runners in New Balance. I am not sure why.

New balance makes wides, and they're about the widest ones on the market as is. cankles fit good in them.

I'm not overly fat, but I love my New Balance. The more aggressive soles tend to wear out, but I suppose I use them on pavement and not in the dirt like they are intended.

Joey

IMHO New Balances are to heavy and bulky.

Marrells are great, but the Moab ventilators run around $80. I have had my pair for over 3 years and they are still in good shape.

For plain sneakers, I like Asics. The gels are very nice, and a basic pair at Shoe Dept. is $35-40.

But the important thing is to try them all on and see what works best for you.

Go visit a real running shoe store--like where the local marathoners shop.

Here's how I buy sneakers: size 10 Vans Old Skools, please.

My wife, the hardcore runner, visits a place that caters to runners. They check the wear on her old shoes, ask a bunch of questions, and watch how her feet hit the ground. She has shoes for short runs and different ones for long runs. I think she usually pays about a hundred bucks per pair.

Not sure it's your style, or how they'll hold up to running, but I recently found out DC makes some shoes that have some sort of magic water resistance (I'm guessing a goretex analog).

I would've killed for a pair of those when I lived up in Humboldt

mtn wrote: I have bad pronation/flat feet. I only wear New Balance and Brooks. Saucony has some good ones too, I've just never gone that route.

I use the Saucony ProGrid Hurricanes... they were great when I was 210, still excellent at 185. I buy last season's colors from the local running store at right around $90 a pair.

Sketchers are generally wider at the front if your feet don't taper to a sharp point like all the shoe manufacturers seem to thing the human foot does.

I have wide feet too and like New Balance's, some of the most comfortable shoes I have worn. I usually shop for them at discount shoe stores and such when you can find select pairs from $40-60. Like Kohls or Shoe Dept. I had some old school black and silver Asics back in high school that I really liked too, I think I scored those at Marshalls or something. They were similarly built to the New Balance 373's on my feet right now. These new balances were tight fitting at first but I had to keep wearing them so they would loosen up for my wide feet.

I also have the hiking boot version of those Merrel Moab shoes. Basically like a high top verson with support for your ankle. Once I broke them in, they are super comfortable. My last pair of hiking boots lasted me ~ 10 years and I expect these to last longer since I dont wear them every day, I really like them.

Gotta +1 the sketchers, they are usually durable and last a long time while being comfy.

Some of the running shoes may be better, but wont last as long. (think of running shoes as HoHo's and Sketchers as StarSpecs)

Skechers has zero arch support so if you have medium to high arches stay away. I have been using Asics Gel Kahana's as my do everything shoe for a while now. I went through a few pairs of the 3's a few pairs of 4's and just bought a new pair of 5's last month.

From my old days standing on concrete and even hardened concrete:
Merrel:only the ones with the stiff sole. Flex em, if its stiff, they are good
New Balance:If they don't feel awesome when you put them on, try another type.

93EXCivic wrote: IMHO New Balances are to heavy and bulky.

One of reasons they hold up under heavy, bulky people. For shoes and boots I wear Sketchers since Knapp went out of business, and for sneakers either Reebok Classic high tops, or New Balance.

1.) If you want running shoes go to a store that specializes in running shoes. Do not foot locker or Khols or some crap like that.

2.) Running shoes are for running not screwing around. If you want screwing around shoes go get some shoes from Khols or Pay Less.

3.) You will spend a lot of money on running shoes, but if they fit right you will keep running if they fit like E36 M3 and your shins hurt everyday you wont run anymore. Hence no more need for running shoes.

I wear NB 626, but I run trails and change shoes every 250 miles or so. I also rotate 2 pairs. Go get fitted and don't worry about what they look like. No matter what you do all running stuff looks stupid as berkeley.