As many of you know, the shoe market is always a moving target and can be quite frustrating. It seems that as soon as you find a shoe that works for you the model changes and it is no longer available.

Although the New Balance Fresh Foam series has been a recent favorite, the price has increased significantly and is out of reach for many folks. In response to the price increase I’ve looked at other shoes on the market. The current Asics “Gel Contend“, “Gel Excite” and “Gel Venture” models have many of the same desired features; neutral alignment, reinforced heel counter, cushioned midsole, nice rocker sole bevel, and light weight at a lower price. If you are looking for a good athletic shoe, one of these Asics models may work well.

Adidas has recently introduced the Racer TR23. This looks promising. Adidas was not a consideration until about a month ago. The heel height is good, the heel counter seems stable, and the toe-box has a rounded shape. *The anterior rocker sole is not as substantial as I had hoped for but the soling is flexible so this may not be a big issue.

The fit is snug but the upper material is pliable, so the shoe doesn’t feel tight. I received a pair today.

On this new pair, the heel alignment is not symmetrical. The LEFT shoe is vertical at the heel but the RIGHT shoe is clearly tilted inward (everted) at the heel. This is a disappointing, yet common, quality control problem with most athletic shoes.

This may not be a problem for me because the alignment that I require for my foot type is exactly that. However, this is generally unacceptable for folks who require symmetrical heel alignment. In most cases I would send this shoe back for a replacement.

I’ll update this assessment after I test drive the shoes for a while.

*As always, feel free to e-mail any shoe-related questions.