Whether your weather is finally in a place where you are not drenched in sweat just from stepping foot outside, or just ready to get back into running, it's the perfect time to invest in a new pair of shoes.
That's where this guide comes in handy.
We gathered testers from all over the country, including veteran runners at ACTIVE, to extensively test the shoes in this guide. All of our testers put their shoes through a minimum of 20 running miles while paying attention to comfort, fit, weight, breathability, flexibility and ride.
From updates of old favorites that had our feet singing to new releases that will ensure you'll find something to motivate your miles well into summer, you're guaranteed to find a shoe you'll love. We know money might be tight, but if you can, treat yourself! You deserve it.
Fall Shoe Guides
Asics | Brooks | HOKA | New Balance | Reebok | Skechers | Under Armour | Vimazi
Vimazi Z20
About:
Designed with specific pace in mind, Vimazi specializes in running shoes that match the body's reaction when calculating minutes per mile. The Vimazi Z20 is a true speedster, meticulously crafted for elite women runners who demand the absolute best in agility, speed, and energy efficiency. This shoe is constructed specifically to take performance to the next level, especially if you're clocking a 10k time between 30:00-37:00 or aiming for a sub 2:30 marathon. The Z20 offers a featherlike feel for fast tempo runs, intervals, fartleks, and racing.
Beneath its streamlined exterior lies a sophisticated design that meticulously assesses stride, turnover rate, and force upon impact. Its light 1-ply upper, strategically placed rubber, speed platform, and rocker design all come together for a delightfully fast shoe. The calibrated heel and midfoot cushioning propel and encourage faster cadence, and the 4mm drop creates a positive heel drop angle upon impact for midfoot or forefoot strikers as the miles fly by.
For maximum efficiency, the midsole features a forefoot FastPod, providing optimal cushioning and maximizing propulsion as it balanced enough grip with momentum. The shoe also offers exceptional arch support during push-off. The fit of the Z20s have the perfect proportions from heel to arch to toe. The contoured heel pocket has a glove-like fit that keeps you connected to every stride and Vimazi Z-Foam in the heel stays comfortable while still providing great return. The breathable upper, light and flexible, is extremely comfortable and barely felt, molding to your own natural shape. Every part is designed to keep its runners light and fast.
Things We Liked:
“The fit is incredible as it seems to have the exact proportions and an upper so light it feels like a ballet slipper.”
“The design and colorway of the shoes are unique and stylish.”
Areas for Improvement:
“Since it has gone this far to match pace, then add a bit more energy to the propulsion”
“I'd reengineer the midsoles with Pebax or equivalent lightweight and cushioned material(s)”
Final Thoughts from our Testers:
The Vimazi Z20 is a lightweight and creatively designed shoe that is designed specifically for ideal training and race paces. The colorway, aesthetics, and overall design of the shoe make it feel and look fast, and the intentions were good in the functional design. However, there is are some areas of improvement in this shoe's performance.
For those ready to race, the Vimazi Z20 offers a personalized approach for increasing speed, helping you achieve your personal bests and conquer the most challenging paces.
Specs
Type: Road
Support: Neutral
Cushion: Mid
Fit: True to Fit
Weight: 5.5 oz
Drop: 4mm
Price: $175.00
Buy:
Vimazi:Womens | Mens
Vimazi Z50
About:
Vimazi's approach to running shoes is unique in that each model is made for a specific pace. The Z50 model is geared toward runners logging a 7:15-8:45 pace or a 3:10-4:00 marathon time. The shoes feature a breathable mesh upper, EVA foam in the midsole and heel, and a FastPod in the forefoot. These elements combine to create the ideal amount of cushioning and energy return for the specified pace.
The Vimazi Z50 offers up cushioning without being mushy and the mesh upper and heel counter provide a locked-in feel. The rubber elements on the upper tend to run a bit hot when the weather is muggy and the black colorway may not be for everyone, but overall this is a solid neutral training shoe that can work for a variety of runs (easy runs for faster runners, race day for slower runners).
Things We Liked:
“I loved the 5mm drop and moderate stack height.”
“I love that you can have a shoe that packs a punch without breaking the bank.”
Areas for Improvement:
“This might be the least important part of a shoe for some people, but I did not love the look and color of the upper. I'd like to see the shoe in a white or grey colorway.”
“I would address the durability of the bottom of the shoe. After 30 miles the bottoms of the shoes were already showing significant wear.”
Final Thoughts from our Testers:
The Vimazi50 is an ideal shoe for someone looking for a racing shoe that is very light, slightly less expensive, and carbon free. Nimble underfoot and ideal for paces between 7:15 and 8:45 min/mi, the Vimazi50 gives responsiveness while the forefoot FastPod helps keep your running form in check. The slightly wider toe box than other super shoes on the market allows for more comfort at paces, but the shoe itself runs a bit short so make sure to size up at least half a size depending on your choice of sock cushioning. The beauties are definitely fast out of the box, so make sure to save them for pace runs and races to get the most life out of them.
Specs
Type: Running
Support: Neutral
Cushion: Extra
Fit: True to Size
Weight: 6.5 oz
Drop: 5mm
Price: $175.00
Buy:
Vimazi Z70
About:
While all running shoes are designed with a purpose, Vimazi takes this to a new level by creating a range of shoes tuned for a specific pace. The Z70 are made for runners (or run/walkers) targeting a 10 to 13 minute-per-mile pace. They determined that runners at this pace tend to be heavier and heel strike, so they've added volume to their Z-Foam midsole for maximum cushioning and protection. This inherently means that these shoes aren't the most responsive, but they're not designed to be. Runners won't exactly feel hindered to pick up the pace -- as you start favoring the forefoot with a faster turnover, you can feel a bit more firmness which helps with the speed, but you can tell it's at home at slower, more consistent paces. The upper was a standout feature of the Z70s -- it was flexible, yet supportive, and was built with a cozy medium width with a wide (but not overly-wide) toe box. The flexible heel "cup" kept the foot secured nicely despite the lack of structure, which added to how the shoe felt broken in right out of the box. Sure, they're pricey and may not have the brand recognition (yet), but the Z70s are built with purpose and many runners who are looking for consistency, injury protection and a supple ride might just have a winner here.
Things We Liked:
“The uppers were exceptionally comfortable - they have a sock-like feel that really hugs the foot without feeling confining.”
"It’s was nice to have a pair of shoes with support and stability while running.”
Areas for Improvement:
“They could be a tad more responsive. They're designed for a 10 to 13 minute-per-mile pace, but they feel the best towards slower end of the range.”
“I can see where the cushion is structured but the sole cushion does not give any comfort for my feet.”
Final Thoughts from our Testers:
The Vimazi Z70 offers stability and cushion for a long distance running. They are customized with an amazing sole and are light in weight.
The inside sole gives the great arch support with the cushion however we found it very important to get the shoe to fit perfectly to avoid any discomfort and a possible development of a blister. The Vimazi Z70 do help encourage corrective running by the design of the arch in the shoe. Definitely a shoe worth checking out!
Specs
Type: Road
Support: Cushion
Cushion: Extra
Fit: True to Size
Weight: 7 oz
Drop: 6mm
Price: $175.00
Buy:
Fall Shoe Guides
Asics | Brooks | HOKA | New Balance | Reebok | Skechers | Under Armour | Vimazi
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ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.