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Welcome to the Women’s Running Awards 2015!
Whether you’re making your Christmas list already or treating yourself to a reward for a great race over the summer, there’s no doubt about it – buying new running kit is a serious investment. From the basics such as decent running shoes, to the extras that make running a bit more fun, such as a nice new set of earphones, there’s so much kit on the market that it could take you six months just to make a shortlist. That’s where the Women’s Running Awards come in. Every year we test the best kit on the market across a whole range of categories to help you work out which products are worthy of your hard-earned cash. We recruited more than 40 testers from a 300-strong running club. All scores returned were logged, totalled and then an average score out of 40 was determined for each product, giving the final result. Products also had to attain a high enough score to deem them worthy of their Gold, Silver or Bronze award. Below you’ll find the shoes, apparel and underwear tested and awarded. To see the tech, accessories, running buggies and nutritional products tested click here.
Shoes:
Apparel:
Underwear:
Shoes
Neutral Shoe
Mizuno Wave Sayonara 3
£100
“These were some of the best trainers I have run in. They were breathable, comfortable on the heel and gave good support.”
To view the full test report click here.
Skechers GOrun Ultra 2
£84
“Fab pair of trainers. Fantastic for longer walks/runs and offered good cushioning.”
To view the full race report click here.
Hoka OneOne Clifton 2
£100
“Very nice to run in especially after recovery from shin splints Used these for long-distance running.”
Support Shoe
adidas Supernova Sequence 7
£105
“This trainer did feel comfortable with mild support. A good trainer if you need a little bit of support. They look fab.”
Mizuno Wave Paradox 2
£115
“Love this, super comfy and supportive, allowed my feet to breathe. Great on all terrains.”
On Cloudflyer
£130
“I love these shoes. They throw you onto the forefoot and are so springy. The laces kept them in place with no pressure points.”
Minimalist Shoe
Mizuno Wave Hitogami 2
£85
“The most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I feel that I can run faster in them, they are so light.”
TOPO Athletic ST
£85
“Lovely shoe, comfortable, didn’t feel too light, some small support. Would definitely buy.”
To view the full test report click here.
Skechers GOrun 4
£89
“They were very lightweight and came with extra insoles, which is great! They provided a surprising level of cushioning.”
Trail Shoe
To view the full race report click here.
Merrell All Out Terra Trail
£100
“Very comfortable and attractive with a useful inner ‘sock’ that provides a good fit and prevents stones slipping into the shoe.”
Salomon Speedcross 3
£100
“From the first time I put these on my feet, they felt comfortable and supportive and had a really decent grip.”
Salomon Fellraiser
£90
“A very comfortable and well made trail shoe. They were great in the wet and mud (fully tested thanks to our awful summer)!”
Newcomer Shoe
adidas Ultra BOOST
£130
“Comfy and light. They were difficult to get on when my feet were hot, for example following a spin session”
To view the full test report click here.
Skechers GOrun Strada
£89
“Loved these trainers! They feel well cushioned and like I was walking on air. I would recommend them.”
Reebok ZPump Fusion
£95
“I found these shoes to be extremely comfortable and lightweight to wear while running.”
Apparel
Waterproof Jacket
Gore Mythos Lady 2.0 GT AS Jacket
£219.99
“A fantastic jacket! This is totally waterproof, lightweight, a flattering fit and bright enough to be seen on the darkest of days.”
Salomon Bonatti WP Jacket
£140
“Great, lightweight jacket. Breathable and a comfortable fit. Good water resistance.”
Montane Minimus Smock
£130
“Really nice and comfortable jacket, very light to to run in. Easily packs down into the pouch.”
Technical Top
Bellum Active Chelsea Tank
£31
“Loved the feel of this top and loved the flattering cut – more feminine than a standard running top.”
Helly Hansen W Aspire Lifa Flow SS
£35
“Loved the colour and fabric, it washed well and didn’t ride up – excellent.”
2XU GHST S/S Top
£45
“Fantastic quality with no cling even with excessive sweating. Good looking and good value for money.”
Capri pants/shorts/skort
Decathlon Elioplay Tights
£6.99
“These capris were soft and easy to wear. Very comfortable and great value for money.”
Bellum Active Workout Capri
£34
“A good entry-level workout tight, easy to run in, washes well, good fit and wicks the heat well – would buy more.”
ZAAZEE Zara Capri
£70
“As soon as I tried them on, I loved them. They fitted beautifully and were very flattering.”
Compression Product
Best Innovation
Underwear
Socks
Hilly Marathon Fresh
£11
“Great, comfortable sock. I get warm feet so tend to wear thinner socks but these remained breathable.”
Balega Enduro No Show
£11
“Very comfortable and didn’t slip when running. I washed them many times and they still look good quality.”
Darn Tough Bermuda Stripe 1/4 Sock
£15
“Lovely bright socks. These were very comfortable. They also washed well, retaining their soft feel.”
Sports Bras
Berlei Running Bra
£32
“Absolutely fell in love with this bra. It’s supportive but not ugly, does a fantastic job and is worth every penny.”
CW-X Versatx Running BRa
£59.99
“From the second wear onwards, I loved it! It supports well, washes superbly and dries quickly.”
Berlei Fresher
£36
“Works well as day bra and gym bra, perfect for when going to classes after work. Doesn’t rub, nice shape.”
Sport Jock Sports Bra
£28
“Material is soft on the skin and very comfortable. Good depth of material at the front meaning cleavage is covered.”
