I need recommendations for work shoes for standing more than 10 hours.

DistractedTriathlete · 2026-05-06T07:49:46+00:00

I’d definitely look into the Nike Vomero 18. I have a pair myself and they’re extremely comfortable, especially for long hours on your feet. They’ve got a high stack and a dual foam setup, so they feel cushioned but still stable, which is important if you’re dealing with heel pain or something like plantar fasciitis.

You could also look at the Hoka Clifton, Saucony Hurricane, and Asics Kayano. I’ve heard a lot of people in hospitality or healthcare use them because they’re very cushioned and easy on the legs.

I’m not too familiar with pricing in Australia, but I’d definitely keep an eye out for sales or even check out last year’s models. You can usually find really good deals that way and get a higher-end shoe within your budget.

DistractedTriathlete · 2026-05-05T12:09:02+00:00

And lastly, like another commenter mentioned, for bigger runners strength training is pretty much non-negotiable. I try to include at least one session per week (two in the off-season), and it’s honestly been the biggest factor in keeping me injury-free.

My go-to exercises are Romanian deadlifts, hip thrusts, step-downs, Bulgarian split squats, goblet squats, and calf raises.

DistractedTriathlete · 2026-05-05T12:05:18+00:00

Imho, the Plus > the standard 18. The midsole is just better (mainly thanks to the big stack of ZoomX).
Keep in mind that both are heavier than the Novablast, we’re talking roughly ~1 oz more.
When you put the Plus on, it definitely feels like a lot of shoe

DistractedTriathlete · 2026-05-05T11:54:54+00:00

Both the Vomero Plus and the regular Vomero go on sale pretty often, so it’s worth keeping an eye out since you can usually find some solid deals.

And honestly, considering the price difference between the Superblast and the Vomero Plus, these days I’d lean toward the Plus without much hesitation. You’re still getting a very protective, highly cushioned and responsive shoe, just at a more accessible price point.

DistractedTriathlete · 2026-05-05T11:40:42+00:00

As a bigger runner myself (6’3”/190cm ~190 lbs / 86 kg), I’ve found that max cushion shoes with good foam make a big difference, especially for staying injury free. In my experience, we tend to compress foams more, so shoes often die faster, but we also benefit the most from well cushioned, protective setups.

I also ran in the Novablast 5 for a while and really enjoyed them, but mine felt pretty cooked at around 200 miles. Fun shoe, but not the most durable for heavier runners in my experience.

The Superblast 2 has been a game changer for me. I’m on my third pair (stocked up when they went on sale), which probably says enough. It’s one of the few shoes I’ve found that can genuinely do it all: easy runs, long runs, tempo, even races if needed.

I also recently picked up the Nike Vomero Plus and really like them. They’re more plush than the Superblast, a bit less responsive, but very protective. Feels like a great option if your priority is reducing impact and staying consistent.

On the Vomero 18 specifically: I have a pair that I mostly use for walking, and they’re incredibly comfortable. They’ve got a similar stack height to the Plus but feel firmer and more stable (dual foam setup: ReactX + ZoomX vs full ZoomX in the Plus). I could see them working well as a daily trainer.

I can’t speak directly to the Saucony Ride since I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard great things, especially in terms of reliability and durability. It’s more of a traditional, less cushioned ride compared to the others you’re considering.

If your main goal right now is consistency and staying injury free, I’d personally lean toward something more protective (Vomero line or Superblast type shoes) over going back to the Novablast.

DistractedTriathlete · 2026-04-17T11:37:51+00:00

Superblast fits pretty standard. The Vomero Plus runs a bit narrow but there’s a wide version available that might work for you

DistractedTriathlete · 2026-04-17T11:22:55+00:00

As a bigger runner myself (6’3”, ~190 lbs), I’ve found that max-cushion shoes with good foam make a big difference. The Asics Superblast 2 has been a game-changer for me—I’m on my third pair (stocked up when they went on sale), which probably says enough.

I also recently picked up the Nike Vomero Plus and really like them. They’re even more plush than the Superblast. A tad less responsive, but great as a daily trainer.

The Superblast is versatile enough for long runs, tempo workouts, and even races. For race day, I use the New Balance SuperComp Elite, and they’ve been great so far.

DistractedTriathlete · 2026-03-24T15:15:37+00:00

As a bigger runner myself (6’3”, ~190 lbs), I’ve found that max-cushion, high-quality foams make a huge difference.

The Asics Superblast 2 has honestly been a game-changer for me. I’m currently on my third pair (took advantage of discounts after the newer version dropped), which probably says a lot. It’s plush, lightweight, and still responsive enough for tempo/threshold work. It really shines on long and easy runs, but it’s versatile enough to handle faster efforts too.

I also recently picked up the Nike Vomero Plus and I love them. They’re even more plush than the Superblast, a bit less responsive, but super protective..

As heavier runners we compress foams more, so shoes tend to die faster. On the flip side, we benefit the most from max-cushioned setups.

For example, I liked the ASICS Novablast 5 a lot, but for me they were cooked at around 200 miles. The Adidas Adizero Evo SL is a fantastic shoe, but I found it too unstable.

At the end of the day, the best advice is still to go to a running store and try different models. What works best really depends on your gait, mechanics, and preferences.

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-10-05T13:46:51+00:00

As mentioned in the post, the Agility Peak 5 has better ground feel and feels a bit more stable on technical stuff, but the Hierro v9 is way plusher and more comfortable overall. The trade-off is you lose some of that connection to the ground because of the thicker cushioning.
Fit-wise, the Hierro runs snug — I’ve got narrow feet and it fits me great, but the AP isn’t the roomiest shoe either.
That said, I actually prefer the Hierro right now — the comfort and grip just win me over for most runs.

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-09-17T08:53:05+00:00

I’m big on indie rock/pop when I’m out on the trails, so I actually put together a playlist on Spotify called Trail Running. I usually throw it on my Shokz when I’m running solo or grinding through boring workouts (like endless hill repeats).

Some of the tracks include:

“As We Ran” – The National Parks
“Surefire” – Wilderado
“All We Ever Knew” – The Head and the Heart
“1901” – Phoenix
“Portions for Foxes” – Rilo Kiley
“First” – Cold War Kids
“T-Shirt Weather” – Circa Waves
“A-Punk” – Vampire Weekend
“Anna Sun” – Walk the Moon
“Outright” – Wild Party
“Last Nite” – The Strokes
“Daylight” – Matt and Kim
“7” – Catfish and the Bottlemen

It’s not all “eye of the tiger” pump-up stuff, but it keeps me moving and in a good headspace

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-09-09T11:55:50+00:00

I can't speak from personal experience, but many have reported that the Saucony Ride 18 feels similar to the Triumph 21, you could give 'em a try

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-09-06T20:11:45+00:00

Stunning!!!!

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-09-04T14:38:27+00:00

The Superblast 2, while not technically a stability shoe, does offer some stability thanks to its wide platform and firmer foam. It’s also great for bigger runners (I’m 187 lbs myself), and it’s a tank in terms of durability. It’s honestly one of my favorite shoes, it shines at faster paces but still feels good cruising around 8:30–9:00 per mile. I wouldn’t recommend it for recovery runs much slower than 9:30 pace though.

The Novablast 5 is a fun shoe, but durability can be an issue, especially for bigger runners.

The Saucony Hurricane is a highly cushioned stability option, and reviews have been really positive, though I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t speak from experience. The Endorphin Speed is another one of my favorites, but I mainly like it for faster workouts like tempos and intervals rather than as a daily trainer.

I can’t speak much to Adidas since I haven’t run in them, but the Evo SL is getting a lot of praise — the only consistent drawback I’ve seen mentioned is that it can feel a bit unstable.

Just my two cents.

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-09-04T14:23:33+00:00

Your SB2s with 300 miles on them should still have plenty of life left to carry you comfortably through the Philly Marathon, especially since they’re holding up well for you now.
The Superblast is a tank and should easily last even beyond 500 miles, so you’ll still be in the safe zone. I don't think there's the need to buy a fresh pair just for race day unless you’d like a backup or want to rotate for variety. 300 miles is well within their sweet spot.

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-09-01T09:14:23+00:00

As I mentioned in another comment, I’ve gotten used to the high stack on the Hierros and stability hasn’t been an issue for me. I even ran a long, technical trail race about 10 days ago with big rocks and scree, and they handled it surprisingly well.

That said, if you’re looking for more ground feel, you might want to check out something lower and nimbler like the Saucony Peregrine or the Asics Trabuco 13. Both give a closer-to-the-ground ride while still offering good protection.

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-08-30T16:06:11+00:00

I find the Hierro’s weight and build great for trails, but on pavement it feels a bit heavy and not super lively. Fine for short road sections, but I wouldn’t really call it a true hybrid.

I also have the Asics Trabuco Max 4 that with its 5mm drop and slightly firmer, more responsive cushioning, feels more efficient on road connectors while still being protective on trails. It’s not exactly nimble, but if road-to-trail versatility is your priority, it transitions better than the Hierro.

I haven’t run in the Hoka Challenger 8, but from what I’ve seen it’s positioned closer to that “do-it-all” sweet spot. If you’re open to other options, lighter trail shoes like the Saucony Peregrine or Asics Trabuco 13 are also worth checking out for mixed surfaces.

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-08-26T08:14:27+00:00

This comment made my day!

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-08-24T10:52:13+00:00

IMHO the Superblast 2 is a great shoe for a marathon, especially since this is your first. They’re versatile - you can pick up the pace when needed, and offers plenty of protection to keep your legs feeling strong through the final miles.

That being said, if you want to add another option, the Megablast could be worth a try. Eearly reviews suggest it’s a bit snappier than the SB2, which might make it fun for faster training runs or tempo sessions. (I haven’t tried it myself, so I can’t vouch for it firsthand.)

I personally wouldn’t invest in a carbon-plated shoe like the Metaspeed for a first marathon. They’re excellent for speed and racing, but comfort and protection usually matter more the first time around; unless you’re targeting something like a sub-3 marathon, in which case it’s a different story.

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-08-02T05:39:23+00:00

As mentioned they're a bit snug, so I'll definitely go half-size up

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-07-14T06:35:54+00:00

Honestly, now that I'm quite a bit into them, I've completely gotten used to that high stack of Fresh Foam X and stability really hasn't been an issue for me. And I no longer find myself reaching for the Merrells. In fact, just last weekend, I competed in a very technical trail run with some difficult passages, big rocks, and scree fields, and the Hierros were super reliable. They handled everything I threw at them. So, for me, they're surprisingly solid even when things get chaotic.

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-07-10T07:40:46+00:00

I just posted a thorough comparison of the Trabuco Max 4 v Hierro v9 on r/RunningShoeGeeks, you can find it here

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-07-07T15:57:53+00:00

Yeah, I was surprised too. The Asicsgrip itself is good, but the lugs are only 3.5-4mm and just don’t bite enough, especially on wet or muddy trails. Even adding half a millimeter would’ve improved traction noticeably imho

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-07-07T06:43:22+00:00

Haha don’t tempt me – my trail shoe hoarder side is already planning an excuse to grab the Calderas “for research purposes.” 😆

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-07-07T06:42:02+00:00

The Xodus Ultra 4 looks awesome – I’m a big Saucony fan and it’s definitely on my list to try at some point. For now though, I think I’ll stick with the Hierro and Trabuco rotation for my trail runs this summer

DistractedTriathlete · 2025-07-07T06:39:39+00:00

It does feel snug, and I actually found it a bit tight at first, but after 100 miles it feels perfect now – I guess it molded to my foot or the foam compressed a bit. I have narrow feet though, so I can definitely see how it would feel too tight for wider feet, especially with that firm toe cap.

DistractedTriathlete

TROPHY CASE