How to choose the best running shoes
Determining a shoe’s comfort is pretty straightforward and largely related to its fit and the cushioning it provides. Your feet hit the ground two to three thousand times for every mile that you run and that’s transmitting five to six times your body weight with every step. Because of this, a proper pair of shoes fit to your foot type is very important.
What You'll Need
- how to choose running shoes
- how to choose the best running shoes
Tips
If you're using orthotics, make sure you take them with you when you go buy a pair of shoes. That way you will be able to fit them in the shoe and make sure they fit for that type.
Warning
If you’re having some pain while wearing the new shoes that you bought from a store, take them back. Go back and see a professional because it’s not something that should happen and running with the wrong type of shoe can give you lots of pain come race day.
Steps
- 1
Step 1
Keep it simple and don’t get too brand conscious. Just because it’s branded doesn’t mean that it is the best shoe for you. Instead of focusing on the brand, it is best to determine the type of foot that you have. There are three common types: the higher arch where the foot is very stiff, the normal arch where the arch is present but the foot is still very pliable and the low arch where all the foot comes into contact with the ground. Because of these different feet types, it is important for the shoe to promote a normal motion of the foot and to disperse some of the force that’s coming when you run. - 2
Step 2
Remember that running shoes also come in different types. Our feet, depending on how we land and how we strike will determine which of these categories will fall into resulting into choosing the best shoe type to get. The neutral is very similarly round, thick, absorbs shock very well but is still very flexible. Stability shoes are for those who have lower arch. This shoe type has lots of cushion but usually has gray foam on the inside, only stiffer allowing you to hold your foot up a little bit more when you run. I’ve you’ve been running for a long time then it might be best to use a minimalist shoe which has less cushion and has more flexibility which you can even fold and put into your pocket. - 3
Step 3
No matter your foot type or the type of shoe that you need, it is important to see a professional to determine which one is right for you. Shoes have different variations and so do our feet and a trained professional is very important to make sure you get the right fit and the right shoe for you. No matter what shoe you get, remember that running shoes are only good for 300 to 500 miles per pair and after that you should not be running any kind of distance with them anymore. - 4
Step 4
Go to a specialty running store as opposed to going to a local sports store that doesn’t focus on running. Usually the sales people from these stores know how to analyze your gait and fit you for the proper shoe. These stores also allow trying out several different kinds of shoes and even running them outside for testing.
