Did you try the foam ear plugs to get a feel for the impact of your gait?

It really is an eye opener. My running gate is much softer than my walking gait.

I wore Asics Tigers back in the early 1970's. Back then, they were known for being the lightest shoes but had no heal cushioning at all. They were great for running in wet conditions since they did not absorb much water. I had to wear heal protector cups to prevent heal bruising. Today's shoes are so much better. I have a nice pair of New Balance shoes. My road test of them was focused on the heal plant impact. Not much at all.