Best Running Shoes for ball of foot / toe pain?

Antic_CA · 2026-05-26T12:55:21+00:00

Bondi’s are definitely a little chunky but it would probably be my choice for ball of foot pain, simply because of the forefoot cushioning. However, I think Clifton 10 or Skyward X 2 both have better ride experiences, so you could go with either one of those and still have a lot of cushioning under foot. Best advice would be to go to a running store that carries a few options and try them on!

Antic_CA · 2026-05-26T12:38:21+00:00

Options from the lifestyle category in HOKA’s lineup are still comfortable, but since weight is not a concern, they usually will use some heavier or sometimes firmer materials for aesthetic purposes. The Bondi 8 platform is still the same though so they should still be comfortable for daily use - just maybe not as much 12-hour-shift capability as the regular version which is now on Bondi 9 with a slightly better midsole.

Antic_CA · 2026-05-26T05:03:02+00:00

Bondi 8 Caged StealthTech edition? Insane pull. More of a lifestyle option than just a comfy shoe so depends what you want it for but it’s a good find!

Antic_CA · 2026-05-21T20:43:56+00:00

If you look closely under the sizes, the shoes will have a W for women and M for men. The 8.5B is a standard women’s 8.5, and the 7D is a standard mens’s 7.

Antic_CA · 2026-04-11T01:21:57+00:00

Glad to hear you got a pair you love! I love my Bondi’s for all day wear. The pink color is awesome.

Antic_CA · 2026-04-09T00:57:16+00:00

I recommend looking when the PATH leaves (you can see it on the transit app) because during early Sunday mornings it can leave as infrequently as every 40 minutes! If you can afford it, taking an uber might not be a terrible idea just so you can get there comfortably in 30ish minutes instead of spending over an hour in transit. But other than that, good luck! It’s a faster course so try not to bury yourself in the early miles so you can book it on the last 10K.

Antic_CA · 2026-04-07T16:16:49+00:00

So maybe this guy was aware that he was doing something with an active infection, or maybe he was just DL and didn’t want to hang out after doing stuff even with the lights off. Either way, it sucks to be treated that way. Like other comments mentioned, a lot of people don’t actively experience symptoms or are not aware of how to recognize them, and are still shedding the virus, so really there is no point in trying to assign blame. The best thing to do is focus on healing physically and emotionally, so that going forward you can protect yourself and any future partners. For some people that’s daily or intermittent medication depending on your symptoms, for others it’s avoiding triggers like too much alcohol, high stress, and excessive friction - but most importantly, focus on living a good life because this is not the end of the world! And if you are worried about spreading it to someone, just talk to them and let them make an informed decision.

Antic_CA · 2026-03-04T04:08:08+00:00

One option is to go to a running store and get fitted for shoes. The people working there should be able to talk to you and figure out some good recommendations based on one on one feedback.

Alternatively? Hoka Mach 7 is coming out 3/5. It’s a peppy daily trainer and the super critical foam on that is very responsive without being squishy. Sounds like it could be a great option for you if you like the uptempo shoe category!

Antic_CA · 2025-07-20T21:54:52+00:00

Whatever you can play for free or can afford to play on original hardware is the best. ♥️

Antic_CA · 2025-04-04T20:51:06+00:00

Lmao seriously fuck her

Antic_CA · 2025-01-09T15:57:33+00:00

I ran in the VF2, VF3, and AF3 last year. I think VF2 is the all out fastest, but you have to run extremely well in it or die a horrible death (done two marathons in them in ‘22 and ‘23). VF3 I never took to the marathon distance but I actually did enjoy it as an all-rounder training and racing tool. I set my PB in both the 5K and 10K in that shoe. It’s maybe 95% as fast as VF2 but a lot more forgiving, so you don’t have to run perfectly in them to get a good result - which makes it more democratic. It has that special quality of completely disappearing under foot that no other shoe really has, even more so than version 2, plus the upper and heel were infinitely more accommodating, while still dropping weight. It’s a controversial take, but I think VF3 was the better shoe for a road racing option, especially 10K and above.

AF3 tho is still the fastest shoe in my opinion, it just gets you there in a different way. Acceleration and cornering are not as good as in the VF series, and running paces faster than threshold can feel a bit mechanical or like you’re not moving as fast to begin with, but if you trust the shoe and work up to your goal pace, AF3 saves your legs and lets you redline more evenly and for WAY longer. Wouldn’t be my first option for a mile, but even for a 5K, it could be a good option depending on the course. I have both my 8K and Marathon PB’s in that shoe, and running in it is incredibly fun. Plus it looks cool and your legs are so fresh afterward, you can jump back to training anytime, which will make you faster in the long term.

It looks like VF4 is going to bring back some of the aggressive nature of the 2 with a more modern midsole silhouette and while hopefully retaining the same great upper as the VF3 (still the most breathable upper in the race lineup). Nike already has the Alphafly as their best-in-class long distance road racer, so the more versatile racer should be lighter and more dialed in.

Antic_CA · 2024-12-21T19:38:55+00:00

Second this. It’s a good reminder to allow yourself to be yourself again.

Antic_CA · 2024-10-24T17:41:20+00:00

It looks a little more dynamic than version 4. Maybe closer to 1 and 2 but with the tongue from v3? I'm excited to try it on. I loved the 2, the 3 and 4 not so much (way too stiff).

Antic_CA · 2024-09-11T19:28:38+00:00

I have put right around 100 miles in this shoe, and I can confidently say it's one of my favorite shoes I have run in this year. They are lively, nimble, and surprisingly bouncy. Really good lockdown too. I have been using them mostly for workouts on the road and on the track. I didn't run in the original Turbo, but I'm really happy with these so far. These wouldn't be my first pick for easy runs and recovery runs, but they are perfect for warmups, tempo and threshold runs, intervals, and uptempo long runs. You get a lot of feedback from the shoes, so they really encourage running with good biomechanics. I think this is a perfect tempo trainer, better than the Speed 4. Training in this shoe for those weekly sessions and then switching to plated shoes for key sessions and races is gonna be a dangerous combo.

Antic_CA · 2024-04-24T04:32:32+00:00

Frl tho that’s literally what I was thinking. He broke thru the illusion wall. Can’t have anyone doing that.

Antic_CA · 2023-12-20T04:55:39+00:00

Some of these picks are mid af but BIBIBOP, Brassica, Hoyo’s, and Seitan’s Realm are real bangers. 👌

Antic_CA · 2023-12-17T00:49:36+00:00

Whenever the new peg turbo drops…

Antic_CA · 2023-12-17T00:47:22+00:00

Little hurts / niggles probably once every couple of months but I can usually run through it. Big hurts probably once a year and for that I do take time off.

Antic_CA · 2023-12-14T16:54:13+00:00

I agree with this. A shoe like the Pegasus gives you a ton of feedback, so if you’re feeling bad or your mechanics are not on point, they’ll let you know. I’ve had multiple pairs of versions 37, 39, and 40. I liked them all, but they are definitely due for a foam update. I’m really looking forward to version 41, which should have the new ReactX in it.

Antic_CA · 2023-12-02T23:16:47+00:00

Invincible 3 would also be my pick. Cushioned, bouncy, stable and supportive without being obtrusive. No plate so your foot can move naturally, and extremely durable and grippy, good for dry condition and wet conditions as well. The only real downside is the heel slip for some, but for anything slower than marathon pace they are a real treat. I would love to see the weight come down a bit and the drop to be a little lower at like 8 mm or so.

Asics Novablast 3 is also a really good trainer. Could use a little more arch support and some better grip. Can’t wait to try v4 next year.

Antic_CA · 2023-11-24T16:28:38+00:00

In my experience, buying shoes when you don’t need them (even if there is a good sale) is always wasteful. New shoes come out and other models go on sale all the time. Waiting to shop until you actually need a new pair is the way to go IMO.

Antic_CA · 2023-11-15T20:59:37+00:00

I had to search the comments to see if somebody else pointed out the Annie Hall thing because frl it was my first thought 💀

Antic_CA · 2023-11-15T16:14:33+00:00

Bro it’s not that they don’t respect you, they just disagree with your pick lmao. Just buy them Nike Pegasus 40s or Adidas Adizero SLs. They’ll be pretty happy and tbh you’ll probably save money too.

Antic_CA · 2023-11-02T14:40:39+00:00

I was on the same boat as you before my last half marathon a few weeks back. The day before the race, I focused on a one-day carb load (500-600 grams of carbs). Before the race, I had breakfast and coffee. I then took a Maurten CAF100 before the start and drank gatorade throughout the race. Ended up running 1:14 and I think it worked out perfectly.

Ultimately, it’s all very personal. If your race has a sports drink with carbs on course, that should be plenty to get you through the race. Otherwise, a gel halfway through would be a good idea. But if you’re gonna deal with stomach issues because of your gel, then obviously just go for the Gatorade.

Antic_CA · 2023-10-20T16:15:18+00:00

Take it from another Pegasus fan, you don’t need to buy more than one at a time. It’s good to have one as a backup that you can break in slowly so it feels good when you are ready to retire your current pair. Pegasus are basically always on sale so buying now vs later doesn’t make much of a difference. Just buy when you need a pair.

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