Simple guide to buying the right running shoes.
So many shoes, so little time. This guide will help you get the right shoes for you.
Whether you’re starting a fitness routine for the first time, or you’re already a confirmed jogger, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is what shoes to wear.
It’s easy to assume that training shoes are more or less all the same. A pair you use for walking will do just as well for jogging. The trouble is, that’s not necessarily true. Shoes for different activities are constructed in different ways, so you need to make sure you’re getting the right ones.
And once you’ve arrived at the sports store it can be a bit daunting as you find yourself facing rack after rack of shoes, different brands, different colours, different styles.
(Related article: The quest for the shoe of running.)
All with exciting names … and exciting price tags to match.
But worry no more. These 9 tips taken from the experts will help you find the perfect shoe in no time.
Key Takeaways
Never mind about the brand. - What matters is you find them comfortable. And it’s perfectly alright to experiment with different brands.
Never mind about the price. - Expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better, and by the same token, cheap doesn’t necessarily mean bad.
Buy your shoes in the afternoon. - As the day goes on your feet tend to swell a bit, so selecting shoes in the afternoon makes sense.
Wiggle room. - There should be a gap of about one inch between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. You should be able to comfortably wiggle your toes.
Make sure the heel is secure. - The heel of the shoe should cup your foot firmly, so that when you walk there is little or no slippage even when the shoe is not tied.
Size for the bigger foot. - A lot of people have one foot that is slightly bigger than the other. You need to make sure the shoe is comfortable on the larger foot.
Bend your shoe in half. - You should be able to bend the shoe easily. The bend should be along the toe box where your foot will naturally flex when you’re running.
Measure your foot on the insole. - Take the insole out of the shoe then stand on it. Your foot should fit inside with no over-hang.
Wear the right socks. - When you go to buy your shoes wear the socks you intend to use for jogging.
Your simple guide to buying the right running shoes.
1 - Never mind about the brand.
Every shoe manufacturer wants you to believe their shoes are the ones you absolutely must have and once they’ve bought a pair quite a lot of runners and joggers stay faithful to their brand and refuse to wear anything else, which can lead to a lot of heartbreak and trauma when their favourite line of shoe is discontinued.
Actually, the brand doesn’t matter. What matters is that you find them comfortable.
And it’s perfectly alright to experiment with different brands, in fact this can be a benefit as it can help you avoid repetitive strain injuries.
But if you are changing brands make sure you size them properly each time as sizes can vary across brands.
Of course if you do finally come across a pair you absolutely love and you want to make a life long commitment, that’s okay. Just remember what we said about styles getting discontinued. We don’t want to see you traumatised.
2 – Never mind about the price.
Well, alright, that’s perhaps a bit of a far reaching statement.
What we mean is that more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better, and by the same token, cheap doesn’t necessarily mean bad, in fact cheaper running shoes often get better overall ratings in surveys.
The essential is to look for comfort in your price range, but don’t stint. Saving a few dollars on a pair of shoes isn’t going to help you in the long run as badly fitting shoes are going to leave you open to a range of injuries.
3 – Buy your shoes in the afternoon.
As the day goes on your feet tend to swell a bit, so selecting your shoes in the afternoon after you’ve been on the move for a few hours makes sense.
4 - Check for wiggle room.
There should be a gap of about one inch between your longest toe, usually the first or second toe, and the end of the shoe. That’s about a thumb width.
You should be able to comfortably wiggle your toes.
You should also be able to push down on the side of the shoe next to the ball of the foot and feel a small amount of space maybe ¼ inch or so.
5 - Make sure the heel is secure.
The heel of the shoe should cup your foot firmly, so that when you walk there is little or no slippage even when the shoe is not tied, so take a stroll up and down the shop aisle to test this.
Lastly with the laces tied you should still be able to slip the shoes off without having to untie them.
6 - Size for the bigger foot.
A lot of people have one foot that is slightly bigger than the other. You need to make sure the shoe is comfortable on the larger foot, which is common sense and you probably didn’t need telling, but some people aren’t aware their feet are different sizes so they try and find a perfect fit for both feet which often means going for a slightly smaller size.
7 - Bend your shoe in half.
You should be able to hold the shoe at the front and back and then bend it easily. The bend should be along the toe box which is where your foot will naturally flex when you’re running. If it bends in the middle of the shoe, under the arch, then those are not the shoes for you.
If you’re not sure put the shoe on and standing, raise your heel off the ground keeping your toes flat. The sole should bend in conformity with your foot.
8 - Measure your foot on the insole.
Take the insole out of the shoe and place it on the ground, then stand on it. Your foot should fit inside with no over hang, particularly in the width.
This is a good way to make sure the shoes are wide enough.
9 - Wear the right socks.
When you go to buy your shoes wear the socks you intend to use for jogging.
(Related article: The Really Easy 7-Step Beginners Fitness Guide.)
Image by Emilian Robert Vicol from Pixabay