As the Ratings show, it's entirely possible for a running shoe to score high in both stability and flexibility. High flexibility is good in any running shoe. You can get a rough sense of a new shoe's flexibility by bending it with your hands, though a shoe fresh out of the box isn't always as flexible as one that's been worn awhile. Support , a judgment made by our panelists, is how well the shoe cradles your foot. All the shoes except the women's New Balance W586WB provided adequate support.
Weight matters most on long runs, of course.
Denser foam and plastic supports generally make motion-control shoes a bit heavier than cushioning models. The Ratings comments list widths and call out shoes that irritated our panelists' feet by chafing or creating blisters, for instance. Recommendations Good running shoes are just about the only accessory you need to be a runner. Conversely, although running shoes are good for walking, you shouldn't use running shoes for sports in which you move side to side, like tennis. If you want a pair of running shoes because you like the look, but your running is confined to seeking shelter from a sudden cloudburst, buy whatever you fancy.