JOIN USFinding the best fitting shoe among the many choices at your local running store isn’t always easy.
To ensure you walk out with happy feet, you need to make sure the shoe fits properly from heel to toe. Most running shoes feel comfortable when you’re standing in a shoe, but the true test comes several miles into your run.
You’ll soon realise that an ideal shoe has more to do with your running style and shape of the foot rather than the brand and the logo stitched to it says Yuvraj Randhawa, gym trainer, Health Plus (H+).
How to choose the best running shoes?
Firstly determine your running style
Pick the category of shoe and feature that match your needs
Try on shoes to find the one that fits the best
A pair of shoes should last between 400 to 500 miles of running (three-four months for regular runners).
If you own a well-used pair of running shoes, check the wear pattern on the soles to help determine your running mechanics.
Neutral Pronation: It shows a wear pattern centralised to the ball of the foot and a small portion of the heel. Basic pronation helps absorb impact, relieving pressure on knees and joints. It is a normal trait of neutral, biomechanically efficient runners.
Overptonation: It is identified by wear patterns along the inside edge of your shoe and is an exaggerated form of the foot’s natural inward roll. This trait leaves the runners at a risk of knee pain and injury. Overpronators need stability or motion control shoes.
Supinaion: It is an outward rolling of the foot resulting in insufficient impact reduction at landing. Very few runners supinate but those who, they need shoes with plenty of cushioning and flexibility.
Types of running shoes:
Stability shoes: Good for runners who exhibit mild or moderate overpronation.
n Motion-control shoes: Best for runners who exhibit moderate to severe oveerpronation, they offer features such as stiffer heels to counter overprontion.
Neutral shoes: They can work for mild pronators, but are best for neutral runners who supinate. These shoes provide some shock absorption and some medical support.
Barefoot shoes: All barefoot shoes feature a zero drop from heel to toe. Drop is the difference between the height of the heel and height of the toe. This encourages a mid-foot or forefoot strike.
Running shoe fit tips
Foot size: The lasting period of the shoe depends on the manufacturer and he shoemodel. You will mostly nee d a half-size or even a full size smaller or larger
than you think.
Try on shoes at the end of the day
Your feet normally swell a bit during the day’s activities and will be at the largest then. You will be able to pick the perfect one then.
If you wear orthotics, get them along while buying your shoes
Aim for thumbnails length of extra space in the toe box.