Buying running shoes can be overwhelming, especially when you have to decipher all the high-tech jargon the companies throw at you. What’s the difference between ClimaProof and ClimaCool (to use an example from adidas)? Or when you buy a pair of Asics, is it sufficient to settle for AHAR or doe you need AHARPlus. Making matters even more confusing, each brand of shoe seems to have its own set of lingo. You practically need to carry around an “Asics to adidas Dictionary” if you are trying to decide between two pairs of shoes from two different brands.
To facilitate this process, let’s take a look at the variations in midsole materials and special terms used by some of the biggest brands in running shoes.
Asics:
Asics® Gel™ - Patches of silicone (Asics gel) that are placed at strategic places in the midsole to absorb shock and increase flexibility.
Duomax™ - If a shoe advertisement says it comes with Duomax™ this means that its midsole is made from two different materials with different densities. This feature is supposed to be helpful for people trying to reduce over pronation (the foot’s tendency to turn inward when you walk or run).
Speva™ Midsole Material – It would help if Speva were written spEVA because it is the E, the V and the A that are important. These three letters stand for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, a material that is standard for running shoe midsoles.
Brooks:
Podular Technology. A system of “pods” are interspersed throughout the midsole in an effort to increase the shoe’s flexibility and increase support of the foot in crucial areas. There are four different options of Podular Technology to choose from - MC-Pod, Stable-Pod, Hyper-Pod and Cush-Pod – depending on a specific runner’s needs.
Substance 257. It may sound like something out of Roswell, but substance is actually just a fancy of way of saying EVA. In fairness to Brooks, Substance 257 is a special kind of EVA. It has been proven to be 15 percent more durable. This means that Brooks shoes with Substance 257 should last longer (and give you quality support for longer) than your average EVA midsole running shoes.
New Balance:
ACTEVA Midsole. Note the “EVA” in ACTEVA. This EVA midsole is special, however, because the foam is less dense than the average EVA midsole.
Encap. This midsole combines EVA with PU (polyurethane). The EVA is concealed within an outer layer of polyurethane. This is supposed to increase stability and help absorb shock.
