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Design Your Own Shoes - Freaky Shoes

Designed to make long-distance running easier, the MetaRide is structured to reduce movement in the ankle joint, where most of your running energy is expended. It does so with Asics’s new design called GuideSole—a rocker-shaped sole that helps you roll forward smoothly through your stride—while layers of FlyteFoam Lyte and FlyteFoam Propel support your feet and provide good energy return. “I did a lot of training for a marathon in this shoe and it ticked all the boxes,” said one tester logging 70 miles per week. “My long runs felt effortless, my short runs felt fast, and my hill workouts felt stable. The downside is the shoe’s heavier weight, but that’s made up for by how easy the rocker sole makes the miles feel.”

The MetaRacer is a culmination of some of the newest technologies Asics has to offer. The big draw here is the GuideSole construction, which uses a rocker sole to help you roll easily onto your toes and improve the efficiency of your stride (at least, that’s what Asics claims). FlyteFoam cushioning absorbs impact forces, and there’s also a carbon-fiber plate tucked into the midsole for added support and an extra jolt of energy return.

Today’s super shoes feature the latest tech (including, say it with us, carbon-fiber plates) and, unfortunately, $200-plus price tags. Asics designed the Magic Speed with some trickle-down knowledge from shoes like its MetaRacer at a more-affordable price (though $150 is still too expensive for a larger percentage of our community). That’s thanks to budget-friendly components from shoes like the NovaBlast. The Magic Speed’s FlyteFoam Blast midsole is bouncy and springy. It combines cushioning, energy return, and durability excellently, but it’s a step-down from the nylon-based foam in the MetaSpeed Sky. Instead of a full-length carbon-fiber plate, this shoe has one made from carbon and TPU that spans only half the shoe. Overall, the result is a solid race-day option for anyone running marathons competitively in the three-to-four-hour range.

The MetaSpeed Sky is one of Asics’ top-tier racing shoes, and it’s designed for a propulsive, cushioned ride that can handle marathon distances. The Sky features the company’s latest tech. It’s made with a new nylon-based foam (FlyteFoam Blast Turbo midsole) that’s soft and springy for maximum energy return, and it includes a full-length carbon fiber plate that, combined with a curved rocker sole, helps you roll forward through your stride. Overall, it’s one of the best alternatives to Nike’s record-breaking Vaporfly currently on the market.

 The original NovaBlast was a radical model for Asics: a neutral shoe with a thick wedge of lightweight foam (and no support tech) tuned for superb energy return. The second iteration largely sticks to that formula, but it comes with a few new tweaks. The FlyteFoam Blast midsole returns to provide a soft and exceptionally bouncy ride, and the material’s low weight keeps the shoe from feeling clunky. Asics added a new TPU heel clip on the upper to provide some additional support and redesigned the outsole’s tread to amp up the energy return at toe-off.

The GT-2000 makes a good pick for runners who don’t need a ton of support but still want something with a bit more stability than a neutral shoe. This version comes with Gel pods in the heel and forefoot and a FlyteFoam midsole for good shock absorption; it’s also coupled with a layer of FlyteFoam Propel for added responsiveness. In addition, Asics lowered the drop on this shoe to 8 millimeters, which makes the forefoot cushioning more protective and promotes a more efficient stride.

We're all susceptible to foot and ankle injuries, but we can reduce our risk for them by wearing properly fitting shoes that conform to the natural shape of our feet. In selecting shoes, keep this basic principle of good fit in mind: Your feet should never be forced to conform to the shape of a pair of shoes. Although style is often a key consideration in choosing a pair of shoes, the most important quality to look for in shoes — from a practical standpoint — is durable construction that will protect your feet and keep them comfortable.

Millions of Americans have trouble with their feet, mostly from wearing improperly fitting shoes. Wearing shoes that are too tight or are not appropriate for your foot shape or size can cause bunions, corns, calluses, and other painful foot disorders. Following some simple recommendations can help ensure that you find the right fit when you buy your next pair of shoes.

They reveal whether he takes pride in the little things. If he throws on a nice suit and pairs it with cheap, clunky lace-ups, he's not what you'd call a detail man. And if he leaves his pricey wingtips scuffed and unpolished, he may not be the closer you're looking for.

There are numerous styles of shoes out there, but what's great about being a man is that you can do perfectly well by sticking with just a few. You don't need to maintain some Carrie Bradshaw–esque obsession about the latest and coolest. If you invest in a handful of sensible (and stylish) pairs and take care of them, you'll be set for years. You just need to take that first step. Before we start talking about styles of shoes, let's talk shape. If you're still walking around in square-toe, rubber-soled lace-ups—the kind you buy on the cheap and that make you look like you've got platypus feet—grab them from your closet and toss them. Seriously. your shoes should be as streamlined as the rest of your wardrobe. That means a slim contour (but not painfully skinny) and a rounded (but not sharp) toe. They'll look stylish, tasteful, and masculine. And that's all you can ask for.

The one shoe every man should own is a black lace-up. You can dress it up or dress it down; it'll work with everything from jeans to suits. And that's the thing—don't think of it as special-occasion footwear. Avoid frilly or ornate details and you'll be able to wear the shoes as easily to the office as to the club. Shoes take a pounding. And nowhere more than in their soles. You need to think about that and make some decisions. Do you want everlasting soles or more bounce in your step?

Some guys think leather soles mean hard and uncomfortable. Not true. If the shoes are well- made, they'll mold to your feet and serve you just fine. True, they won't be as cushiony as a pair of New Balances, but if you want real dress shoes, you want leather soles. Period. Now you've got two choices: There are those slim, contoured kinds that exude elegance and go great with a luxurious custom suit. And then there are the heftier lace-ups with chunkier soles. They're what we show a ton of in the magazine these days. They go great with skinny jeans or trim-cut suits. And if you take care of them (see number 7), they'll last you a lifetime.

"A year ago, I got a pair of Ralph Lauren wingtips for a whopping 800 bucks. I know—that's an insane amount of money for a pair of shoes. Except, in the past, I've paid at least that much (twice that, even) for suits, some of which I don't even wear anymore, because either they wore out or they were too trendy in the first place. These wingtips, though, they'll never go out of style. Bench-made in England, tobacco brown leather, the kind of hefty soles that would allow one to kick some serious ass if one had to. I put taps on them, I keep 'em in shape with cedar shoe trees, and I lather them up with a neutral polish every few weeks. Yes, I'm slightly obsessed with them. But here's the thing—if you invest in quality, it'll pay off. These shoes will last me a decade or longer. If I bought a pair of cheap rubber-soled lace-ups, they'd be in the trash in a year and I'd have to pony up another $150. I'm not a math guy, but that seems like a lot of cash over ten years. I'll stick with my $800 wingtips and bet that over the long run, I come out ahead."—_Adam Rapoport, _GQ style editor

Let's say you're insistent on extra padding for your lace-ups. The good news is that there are now plenty of stylish, wonderfully made dress shoes with full rubber soles, or at least rubber inlays. They're great for crappy weather and for comfort. But keep in mind that once full rubber soles wear down, that's it for them. Replacing the heels (or protecting them with taps) isn't a viable option as it is with leather-soled shoes.

Design Your Running Shoes

The most worn item in your wardrobe—that pair of quality leather-soled dress shoes you regularly wear to the office—requires the most attention. We asked Joe Rocco, third-generation cobbler and owner of Jim's Shoe Repair on East 59th Street in Manhattan, to talk parts and service. Plastic is quieter, metal more durable. Either will prevent the soles (and heels—be sure you remember the heels) from grinding away. Taps typically wear out or fall off after about six months.

Walking on warped soles can ruin a good pair of shoes and even cause back trouble. Start checking your soles after a year or so, and be sure new ones are sewn on, never glued. New heels every couple of years are a good bet, and the right cobbler can adjust them to fit how you walk. Most shoes have shock-absorbing rubber rears to save your soles (and ankles). Have a cobbler replace them before they wear down to the leather soles themselves.

You know how you buy a nice pair of shoes and they're laced straight across? You need to call b.s. on that. They're impossible to loosen and tighten; it's done purely for display. So take out the laces and start over. The most important step is the first, inserting the lace over (not under) the bottom eyelets. Like so.

There was a shoeshine man who used to make the rounds at 745 Fifth Avenue, the building where I worked my first year in New York. He was fond of saying that a true gentleman didn't feel properly dressed unless his shoes were freshly shined every morning. I always liked the sound of that—even if it did feel more than a little self-serving—but after he borrowed $50 from me (and countless other soft touches throughout the building), never to be seen again, I decided that shining my own shoes once a week was gentleman enough. I love the ritual: the careful laying out of newspaper, and the round tin of Kiwi polish with the built-in wing-nut-shaped turn-key opener—a damned near perfect piece of industrial design. After enough applications, the old T-shirt that I use becomes a work of art in its own right, a poor man's Matisse. And my dad's horsehair brush (with the Good Housekeeping Seal branded into its hardwood handle) is the very same one he taught me with. First, I brush the shoe well, cleaning it of any dust or dirt. With the rag wrapped tightly around my first two fingers, I apply the polish in small, tight swirls. By the time I'm through applying wax to the second shoe, the first will be dry and ready to brush, and that's all I do.

I have a closet full of nice shoes but wear the same ones practically every day—a size 13 cordovan (color and leather) plain-toe lace-up. With this particular shoe, I use a black cream every third or fourth polishing instead of cordovan paste. It makes them the same deep aubergine as a perfectly ripe eggplant. They go with everything I own, and they're as comfortable as a bare foot in sand. I've had them resoled twice already, and I'm told a well-made, well-cared-for cordovan will outlast its owner. I aim to find out—just not too soon, I hope.

**A. **One tin of black wax polish and one tin of neutral. The black for your black leather dress shoes (obviously). And the neutral for your brown—because you essentially want to moisturize the leather, not color it. **B. **An old T-shirt or towel will do the trick for applying wax. But if you buff your shoes post-brushing, invest in a nice soft chamois. **C. **Don't skimp on the brush—you want a wood handle and horsehair bristles. And for when you're running out the door and just don't have time for a full polish, keep an instant-wax sponge in your kit for a quick touch-up.

Yes, if you want your shoes to last, you need shoe trees. Ones made from cedar. They'll preserve the shape of your shoes, prevent them from developing deep creases, absorb moisture, and even make them smell better. They're a no-brainer. Wearing boots with a suit achieves two things: It says you understand that uniforms look best when they're messed with, and that when it's raining or snowing, your Ferragamos should be left in the closet. It needs to be the right suit—slim and stylish, and preferably cut from a durable, wintry fabric. The boot itself ? Leather-soled military-style ones like these are ideal. They're like dress shoes, only a hell of a lot tougher.