I have been running cross-country for years, as well is participating in several other sports. As a result, separating the hype from the fact in terms of running shoes is more than a matter of academic interest for me. Nike running shoes are by far the most popular brand in almost any sport. In this country, Nike has really sealed up a lot of the market with great endorsement contracts and a brilliant advertising campaign. Most people either love or hate Nike running shoes. Those who love them believe that they are great for sports, while those who hate them have other reasons. People who are into cheap shoes never like to purchase a Nike running shoe. The brand name, after all, adds to the cost. Other people disagree with their labor policies and don't support them for that reason. For me, however, it is all about the shoes. I wanted to know if my Nike running shoes were better.

When I was a kid, I used to buy New Balance running shoes. They were pretty simple and straightforward in appearance, and they didn't really get me the attention that Nikes would have, but my family was poor. They were the cheapest running shoes that I could find that were still pretty high quality, and I really treasured them. Now that I have some more money, however, I can afford certain luxuries. I decided to test out my old tennies. I got a set of Nike running shoes and a pair of new balance shoes, and decided to try them out side by side.

Admittedly, it was not a very scientific tests. I was just one person, and I knew when I was wearing the Nikes and when I was wearing New Balance shoes. Nonetheless, the results seemed pretty interesting. In most of the time trials, I would do better in the Nike running shoes. As a matter of fact, I would do better by almost a whole second. If you aren't familiar with running, this might not seem like a long time to you, but trust me – it is. Perhaps this is because I am more familiar with those shoes, but I don't think that is the whole deal. I think I may have stumbled on a real difference between different brands.

Another great thing about Nike running shoes is the number of different choices available. There are literally dozens of different models out, and some of the shoes can even be customized by ordering different color combinations. Now that is a sweet deal for people who are serious about their gym shoes.