About Sole & Stride

Sole & Stride is an independent editorial publication about footwear, written by Alex Carter.

Who is Alex Carter?

Alex Carter is a writer who covers footwear full time. He started Sole & Stride because he kept seeing the same problem: shoe advice online was either a sales pitch or a list of specifications copied from a press release, and neither helped a real person choose a shoe that fits. He writes for runners, walkers, people who stand all day, and anyone who has ever bought a pair of shoes that hurt by lunchtime. He lives in the United States and tests shoes on pavements, trails, and city streets in all four seasons.

How Alex researches products

Every guide starts with a question a reader actually asked, or a problem Alex has run into himself. Research begins with the manufacturer's own specifications: materials, construction, stack height, drop, weight, and outsole design. Alex compares those specifications across brands and models, reads published materials science and podiatry guidance where it is relevant, and talks with running shop staff, walkers, and runners about what actually holds up in use. Where a claim cannot be verified, the guide says so. Alex buys most of the shoes he writes about with his own money. When a shoe is provided for review, that is disclosed in the article itself, and it never affects the conclusion.

Editorial independence

Sole & Stride is editorially independent. No brand, retailer, or advertiser can pay to have a product recommended, to have a criticism removed, or to influence a conclusion. This site currently contains no affiliate links at all. If affiliate links are added in the future, they will be clearly disclosed at the top of the relevant pages, and they will not affect editorial judgment. See the Affiliate Disclosure for the full statement. Corrections are welcome and are published promptly: if you spot an error, please use the contact page.

What this site is not

Sole & Stride is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official site of any shoe brand mentioned on this site. Brand names are used for editorial discussion only. We do not sell shoes, and we do not provide medical advice. If you have persistent foot pain, please see a podiatrist or a doctor.