Personally I only have 100% trust in reviewers who buy the shoes with their own money (e.g. Ben Parkes or Sagasu running). The rest I watch mainly for keeping myself up-to-date on new releases and for entertainment.

Every shoe reviewer should post the training they did with the shoe and say what they usually run in. People have different feet and training types, and if they train daily on a super plush/stacked shoe, their running gait is adapted to that shoe type. You can also get some poorly reviewed shoes for cheaper than other popular shoes, which would increase their perceived value.

That’s exactly how I live my life ….full of gratitude. I tend to watch race reviews and weekends more than shoe reviews to be honest because that’s what I enjoy the most in the run KZfaq sphere. I also watch people who have 200 subscribers as much as those with thousands. Numbers mean nothing to me we all have a day one etc. Keep being you Aubrey and keep showing up like the child in the sweet shop …x

Your humility is contagious. Love the content! 💪💪 Thank you for the BTS look!

I don’t think it’s possible Aubrey. In America we banned physicians getting gifts or free stuff from medical or pharmaceutical companies because they found even unknowingly a bias happened when there was free stuff given. With that said I think it’s fine as long as the disclosure is always stated. For example, HellaGood is one of my favorite runners and I’ll watch all his videos. But I know his opinion on Hoka is extremely biased.

Great video, and agree on searching for multiple opinions 100%. For me, as long as reviewers disclose that things have been sent to them or if they're affiliated, then they've done their part on informing us. Its also on us as viewers to do our own research into the product before buying -- whether that's getting hands on experience, checking out other discussion boards, watching other opinions, etc. Shoes are too pricey to just buy based off one person's review!

Interesting that both you and Sagasu Running uploaded videos about the value and trustworthiness of shoe reviews on the same day - but citing totally different other videos as the sort-of trigger for you each. Both yours and his were very well done and informative just as your shoe review videos are. Thank you and keep it up. Great stuff.

Interesting that we both got to this same point around the same time. This whole topic has been on my mind for weeks, since the MKBHD drama. I can''t say I agree with all your points here, but your overall message is strong. Gratitude and integrity are important here... 🤙🏻

This is one of the reasons why I go into running shoe reviewers KZfaq channels and yammer on about wanting objective measures. The subjective can be influenced at the unconscious level, for even the best intentioned people. Objective measures are a bit more reliable. For example, FOD runner just put up a video where he did run tests comparing the Alphafly 3 and the Endorphin Elite, and provided cadence, stride length, and pace data. Heart rate data was limited because his strap died. Ultimately, for his tests, the two shoes came out pretty much dead even. Then he provided his subjective opinion that he loves both shoes but slightly prefers the Endorphin Elite, citing the Endorphin Elite's roll-through feeling as better for him than the Alphafly's sink-and-bounce.

Thanks for sharing! Appreciated!

Its just not possible, Aubrey. With all those incentives like free expensive stuff, free travel to foreign countries and being hosted at upper class hotels and all this things your credibilty and neutrality is clearly lost. I understand that you accept all those things but don't expect me (or us as I know a few people with the same opinion) to believe in your ( or other shoetubers ) unbiased reviews. I myself was a lead buyer at Siemens for global networks years ago and was invited to the Munich Octoberfest and the Zurich track & field meeting from providers and tried to stay unbiased .... not possible. Worst example are the BitR people where you can cleary see who was the last "sponsor" of the crew ... they are great entertainers and "shake-out-run initiators" and I watch their uploads but never ever would their verdict on a product influence my buying decision!

Can we trust Shoe reviewers when they only run 25k or less in a Shoe (or even less, say 14k in Mach 6)before doing a full review? When other reviewers do 50k+?

I find it funny when people come into our running store and they have done their “research” and have picked out the shoes they want to try. Their research is KZfaq videos. I like watching them too but people don’t realize what fits one persons foot is completely different than how it will fit their foot. Or what one person likes the feel of someone else won’t like it. So when people tell me they want to try the Vaporfly, the Endorphin Pro, the Meta speed Sky, and the Hoka Cielo but they over pronate and are running 8 minute kms I have a little chuckle 🤭

good video.., I would write my thoughts.., but I will just keep them to myself. a lot of others have covered some of the points. keep up the good work

I only truly take run shoe reviews seriously from people who are around my body type (heavier) so if I watch the smaller people it’s just for the watching sake. I enjoy your reviews , it’s not over complicated always fun.

I support you because of your personality and integrity and cool editing skills. You are so much like me in terms of family upbringing, personality, and value. I am a slow runner, have 4 chilren, solo income, smaller market (Korean viewers) But I have been honest with my reviews for 5 years and got to where I am. (30k subs) Not taken shortcut but proud of the way I got supporters around me. Keep up the good work❤ Ps: Takumi sen 10 is a great shoe but your verdict reminds me of my review on Nike Vaporfly next % for being narrow fit and unstable. I got lots of criticism back then but that's how it was to me for a slow runner.

MKBHD does a great job navigating these issues in the tech review space. There's a clear separation between sponsorships and reviews, and even when he's been gifted a product or travel to a nice event, if he's not a fan of the product he'll be honest about it. He spoke once in a podcast about a time he gave a phone from a newer company a pretty bad review, and the next year they came back to him and were like "hey, thanks for the review, we fixed a bunch of the stuff you didn't like last time, check it out". Getting to know the reviewer is definitely super important for me.

Releasing a video on integrity in the aftermath of your Triumph 22 review reeks of a complete lack of integrity & hypocrisy on your part. Aubrey - to be frank, you were the one being irresponsible and demonstrated a lack of integrity when you responded to TimGrose’s comment “I’m ok with reviewers not like shoes and saying so… but there is a responsible way of doing so” + “it disregards the brands, people working at the brands.” Ummmm… last I checked, brands have to earn my business and my loyalty (with quality product & great experience) and not the other way around. You know what real integrity looks like? JasonJogs saying “This shoe sucked for me, it might suck for you (and no words minced).” This opinion is more valuable and demonstrates greater integrity than a filtered and compromised “review”. Speaking from a sales psychology perspective, saying you won’t be swayed by reciprocity forces when brands give you spoils because of “gratitude”? That’s just an elegant attempt at deflection and gaslighting when you’re clearly benefiting from their pocketbook. You are no longer a trustworthy opinion and I will not be following you any further.

Still liking that you keep it open and honest, Aubrey. That UA shoe you reviewed was what showed me you're a real one.

Of course i don't trust the reviews...interesting the hear what an individual thinks but i watch mainly for the entertainment value

Aubrey all KZfaq videos are entertainment and just like your favourite tv shows we are drawn to the ones we like or are influenced by and if you allow it then that can influence your judgment. Don’t kid yourself you and all the other KZfaqrs are only reaching a small section of the running community, the majority don’t watch KZfaq running videos and there’s a good reason why … they bought their shoes ( just the one pair which is all you need ) from their local running store the only place you can 100% trust because the shop owner’s reputation and integrity are his or her business and their lives depend on it. Look I’m here I’m watching your videos because I like you and your personality but I’ve never bought a running shoe based on your review or opinion alone. If I see a shoe reviewed that catches my eye I turn away from KZfaq and seek out as many written reviews as I can before making a decision. You’re in the entertainment business Aubrey. You pay your money you take your choice. Good work as always.

love the mid life runner intro Aubrey one Aubrey two..great stuff keeping up great reviews pushing self 👏 very motivational God bless fine sir one love one run..

To be honest I just listen to the facts of the shoe and determine if I think it would be right for me. Kind of doesn't matter if the you tuber thinks it rides well for them or not.

appreciate you Aubrey ❤

Ethics bro. I got all the clobber, paid with my own hard earned money. Fair enough if you can get them through some sponsors or what not, but at that point, I consider it a biased review, irrespective of whether you state it is a sponsored post or not. I feel bad for sponsored athletes because they have to lie through their teeth about the products they use. I feel a big sigh of relief that I will never need that income stream, and so I can be true to myself and enjoy all the brands and products without kotowing in fear of losing money. There are so many sellouts in this regard and it makes me vomit every time I see them duck out of talking about other brands. If you're a runner, appreciate gear, then why should you not appreciate the best brands? Put it this way, when i mentioned adidas, who do you think of? when i mention nike, who do you think of? I know who I think of, and they both bring a sour taste in my mouth. Influencers are sickening. Authenticity is paramount. I met some of these people irl, and Aubrey, my man, you're the only person who talks to me like a real person. I had one dude I wanted to get a picture with and he ran the fuck away after realising i don't give two shits about online validation. Sorry for not having a million followers that you can't get something out of bro. Man, I run fucking 21km every single day, in a different pair of shoes, every single day. I love the fuck out of my shoes. I know a real running shoe review/reviewer when I see one. I recently got into an online fight with some other reviewer who was trying to review shoes he didn't even blooody own, and then discriminated a whole ethnicity because 'Chinese' shoes needed differentiating from Puma, Hoka, Adidas, Nike. Imagine that? Talking about all the different brands of shoes, and then suddenly talking about 'Chinese' shoes - going from brands (not caring where they're from) and then singling out 'Chinese.' I'm appalled.

Thought my washing machine had finished 3:25 😂

Love the top. We don't hear a lot about Malawi. Love what your doing Aubrey. Keep on being true.

You must be in the photo or video industry to know panny s9 and Gerald undone ? Explains the quality of your productions 🎉🎉

Personally! I like the running shoe community. So far all the influencer/youtuber i’m watching regarding shoes are straight out honest like “this shoe is not for me”, “it’s too squishy”, “not for speed work”, “i don’t know where this fits”, “it doesn’t work with my style of running”. I haven’t watch someone pushing a shoe for me to buy.

I would believe you sir

I watch all Shoe reviews but in the end of the day All Foot/Feet are different. The shoe maybe bad for others (RebelV4) but great for me ..

When it comes to shoes reviews, or running tech or items, I look for one thing first, what are they? A runner first who does KZfaq, or a KZfaqr using running as their niche. You sadly seem to fall into the later category. Kofuzi, Phily, fordy, edbud, ben felton, hellah, guys from believe in the run. They are all runners who support their passion for running with KZfaq. You run to make content..

Great video again. Thank you.

Hopefully this will not sound racist but I tend to lean towards the reviews of Kofuzi and Brandon (Running Shoes Guru) because they have asian genetics. Me being asian, most probably they might have the same foot shape as mine. Their reviews were spot on most of the time with my own experiences. There are shoe reviewers here that I can sense the bias. Some of them I follow and some I will never follow.

Great video my friend, honesty and integrity all the way. You know I don't always agree with your opinions but I trust them 100%

I like your channel, but I feel like Gerald Undone's video was coming from a wrong place. Companies arent paying for reviews, sending people out on trips, free merch, etc out of the goodness of their hearts. These are all extensions of their marketing budgets to paint their brand in the best light and sell more product. People mention he wasnt invited due to how he reviews, maybe its not for him, bad relationship with Panasonic, etc etc, but I'd argue its hard to be impartial, when on the receiving end of these relationships in general. Ignoring that, we've seen time and time again on how pre-production products (be it cameras, shoes, cars, etc), often times don't match up with what the general consumer sees (be it in quality or substance.) I think all of this contributes to why some review organizations have a formal ethics policy on not receiving things from manufacturers at all. All that being said, with regard to shoes, I still watch KZfaqrs as I really like some of their opinions and personalities. I do think its hard to take their opinions seriously when all of us our so very different with our backgrounds, use cases, bodies, and fitness. The financial incentive just adds another layer to it, but I appreciate when folks give a disclosure.

Its a hard one im a big fan of fordyruns, edd bud and the run testers tho

Runners 2018: we need more shoe reviews and different opinions. Runners 2024: all these reviewers are untrustworthy plugging bricks. Also runners how dare these reviewers make money or commission on promoting products. Yolks mate. You’re doing great in a world where you can’t do right for doing wrong.

Appreciate the info.

PAUSE IT 2:32 🤣🤣😂🤣🤣

Can’t take shoe reviews seriously in my opinion. People are all different, take the run testers as an example. Never (kinda) the same thoughts on a shoe across the 6 of them. And, when you get Ben is running openly admitting he’ll never give a bad shoe review then it begs the question - what’s the point in his review if everything is the best ever ? Ultimately, imo, the shoe doesn’t matter without the training, so find something that you like personally and go with it.

Facts!!!

You can only Trust them when they start out and are trying to build credibility so they can build the subs hen collect the swag. It all starts going downhill the bigger they get. It's a natural life cycle because it's human nature.

Unfortunately you seem to be on KZfaq for the wrong reasons not because you love running or shoes but you want to be a KZfaqr. The miles in the shoes you review are so low we can’t take the reviews seriously. Your video of best running shoe for the NB SC Elite V4 highlights the lack of integrity as you’ve not run a marathon or trained for one so you have no real basis on which to quantify that review. You were gifted a shoe by NB sent to an event so you decided to do a very positive review based on nothing. This is constructive criticism so please take it with no bad intent.

Yup-- this is why you're where you are now. Because sometimes here on YT you can just FEEL the product pitch coming ( I skip through most of them), but when I found your channel, it was like-- blue skies! no pitches, no random product pop-ins... just pure info with a good attitude behind it. Pure. Love it Aubrey. Thanks for always being YOU.

Notice how every single runner seems to be promoting the hell out of Ketone-IQ lately? Have you read the discussion around these products? I used to respect a lot of the people who are promoting it. Now, because they're getting a huge chunk of commission from sales, and me realising it's just snake oil, i've lost respect for all of them. I get that people need to support their families but that is in no way a pass to just spew shit for views. If it was just about the money, then we might as well just kick the whole running can down the road since that is now secondary. And what's primary? The gear, the accessories, the supplements, and all that nasty second layer crap which seems to be more important to ""runners"" these days than running itself!

Irony 😉

You lost me.