You don’t need much kit Y to run, but a decent pair of shoes are essential. And while there’s no such thing as the perfect pair (only the perfect pair for you) that doesn’t stop the biomechanical boffins at the big brands’ design labs from coming up with ever more creative ways to help us run better.
From springy carbon fibre plates and specialised responsive foams to slipper-like one-piece uppers, here are five of the latest innovations setting the pace in the running shoe arms race.