Gear Review: Avia Light Runner Shoes
After the surprising success of my super-comfy $23 Avia Comfort Performance shoes (which are nearing 150 miles and still going strong), I was on a Walmart run with my mom while I was back in town for a visit. Mom often complains about being unable to find good, comfortable shoes, so I brought her to the shoe department to get her to try some of my new favorites. While we were there, I tried on a few more pairs, too—and, in order to convince Mom to buy new shoes, I went home with some new shoes, too: the Avia Light Runner shoes.
While Avia’s Comfort Performance shoes are similar to Hokas, the company’s Light Runner shoes were inspired more by On Running’s styles. I’ve never owned a pair of Ons, though I tried some On Clouds back in the early days of their popularity and decided to go with my old Hoka Cliftons instead. And, admittedly, I wasn’t sure how to feel about the Light Runners, either. I loved the comfy cushioning, but I struggled more with the fit—and I ended up going up a half-size, just as I had with my Comfort Performance shoes. For just $22.98, I figured they were worth a shot, even if they just ended up being everyday shoes.
Since my Comfort Performance shoes were still holding up well as treadmill shoes, I decided to use my new Light Runners for outdoor walks. From the beginning, I loved stepping into these shoes and feeling the cushioning—but the fit has just never felt quite right, no matter how much I adjust the laces. The right toe seems to fold in on itself while I’m striding, bending back my toes—and they just don’t seem to have the same support as other shoes. While they’re relatively comfortable, my walks in these shoes haven’t been as pain-free as they have been in others.
Meanwhile, though the cushioning is still perfectly comfortable after more than 50 miles of paved trails (and I’ll admit that I still let out a contented sigh when I slide my feet in and feel the padding), the sole hasn’t been quite as durable. After a couple of four-mile walks, the wear was already showing on the bottom of the shoe—and parts of the tread starting flaking off. Maybe this means that Avia’s Walmart shoes hold up better on the treadmill than on outdoor surfaces—or maybe the soles of these shoes aren’t as sturdy. But, to be fair, at just 16% of the price of the cheapest Ons, it could be a fair trade-off for some walkers. As I’ve said before, if you get a good 100 miles out of these shoes, you’ve still gotten a pretty good deal.
My advice on Walmart’s Avia shoes is this: go with your gut. I picked up these shoes even though I wasn’t sold on the fit—and they didn’t get a whole lot better after I broke them in a bit. They’re comfortable shoes overall, but they don’t really work with my feet as well as the Comfort Performance shoes do.
Pros:
– Comfortable cushioning
– Great price
Cons:
– Don’t feel as solid and supportive as other shoes
– Not as durable as others
You can find Avia’s Light Runner shoes at your local Walmart.
