India, Nov. 5 -- My sports shoes have a rather demanding job description. They are expected to accompany me on walks, survive long days outdoors, make errands less exhausting and, occasionally, look good with a pair of jeans. Ideally, they should also be comfortable enough to make me forget I'm wearing them.

Apparently, that's asking quite a lot.

I've realised that shopping for sports shoes is a little like dating: a pair can look absolutely promising on the outside, but you only discover whether it's actually right for you once you spend some time together.

Take my experience with the ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28. I loved how comfortable it felt and appreciated its performance-oriented design, although the price and relatively high base made ...