Somnio Runaissance

The basics

Tailored footwear for fitness fans. Somnio has created a pair of trainers that can be customised to suit any wearers feet. The Runaissance features interchangeable footbeds to suit a runner's arch height for a comfier fit. And If you've got a Somnio dealer near you their trained fitters will adjust the footwear until the knee is aligned using a patented Line-Up device. The result is a more comfortable running experience for all foot types.

The good

The helpful fitting service from Somnio shows just how conventional trainers impact negatively on your legs. A laser is also used to make sure your knees properly align when they bend, before correcting it with knee inserts.

The result is footwear that, while feeling slightly stiff, genuinely protects the feet a lot more from stressful impact than cheaper shoes. With hundreds of customisable combinations you'd be hard pressed not to find a decent fit.

The bad

Wearing the trainers you can really feel the inserts on your feet but there's almost too much padding, meaning a stiff running experience.

For the price (£105) there are other trainers on the market with a comfier fit. For many, particularly more casual runners who might be less likely to feel the difference, the effort in getting them fitted and the cost won't quite justify the purchase.

The bottom line

The Somnio Runnaisance is a novel concept with a sackful of potential, but for now it's not quite the holy grail of trainer tech just yet.