Graded Footwear
How Footwear Is Scored
TBD
Every brand talks about technology differently. We simplify it by grading what runners actually experience: Absorb, Bounce, and Stability. All footwear is graded from 0-100 across these three variables. Because no shoe can fully maximize all three, the grading system makes those trade-offs clear.
Absorb
Simulate landing and check how well the cushioning reduces impact on the body.
Graded from 1 (firm) to 10 (soft and shock-absorbing)
Bounce
Observe push-off and measure how much rebound the shoe gives back.
Graded from 1 (flat) to 10 (springy and responsive)
Stability
Look at how the shoe holds up through turns, transitions, and uneven ground.
Graded from 1 (wobbly) to 10 (controlled and supportive)
Who Grades Footwear
Graded by Footwear Experts and the Running Community
Every shoe is graded by multiple evaluators to produce a reliable score. A minimum of 10 grades is required before scores are displayed to ensure the results are consistent across different runners.
Internal graders include footwear specialists, run specialists, and physiotherapists who test shoes within the RunReady System.
External graders come from the running community through demo runs, grading events, and RunAsYouAre customers.
Grading Weights
Scores Weighted by Running Experience
Footwear grades combine internal expertise with real-world running experience. Within each group, grades are weighted by experience level so more experienced graders inform the final footwear grades.
Weight Breakdown
65%
Internal Graders
Footwear specialists, run specialists, and physiotherapists grade shoes in a controlled testing environment at RunAsYouAre.
25%
Community Graders
Experienced runners test footwear through demo runs and grading events.
10%
Customers
Within each group, grades are further weighted by experience level. RunAsYouAre customers and RunReady clients add real-world feedback after running in the shoes in different conditions and levels.
How Grading Works
Controlled Testing for Better Running
Footwear grading begins in a controlled testing environment at RunReady where our internal and external grading teams evaluate shoes under consistent conditions.
Community demo runs and customer testing introduce additional variability by capturing how footwear performs across different runners, surfaces, and training environments. Together these layers strengthen the grading system by combining structured testing with real-world running experience.
Discover Which Shoes Match Your Movement
Your RunReady Assessment measures your Absorb, Bounce, and Stability. You receive a RunReady Score, which we use to match footwear that supports how you move.
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