Running shoes is one of those items. No matter how much you read about certain shoes—including reviews—you simply can’t make a good decision without having your needs analysed by a professional fitter and actually running in the shoes. With your health and hobby both at risk of being sidelined, is it worth the guesswork to shop online?
Before you even slip your foot into a running shoe, here are some factors to consider:
How often do you run? How many kilometers do you run per week?
How high is your arch? Are you flat-footed?
Do you overpronate (foot rolls inward) or oversupinate (foot rolls outward)?
How much do you weigh?
What kind of surface are you running on?
The best way to match you to the right running shoe is through a thorough gait analysis. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step because I’ve seen people with very similar body types and foot size, but with very different running styles. Had they been fitted with the same shoes, only a few would have escaped common injuries from poorly fit running shoes, like stress fractures, shin splints, heel pain, blisters, and black toenails.
After the gait analysis, the fitter measures your foot and then watches your running form. Remember that your normal shoe size is not equivalent to running shoes, and that sizing varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Before you even slip your foot into a running shoe, here are some factors to consider:
How often do you run? How many kilometers do you run per week?
How high is your arch? Are you flat-footed?
Do you overpronate (foot rolls inward) or oversupinate (foot rolls outward)?
How much do you weigh?
What kind of surface are you running on?
The best way to match you to the right running shoe is through a thorough gait analysis. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step because I’ve seen people with very similar body types and foot size, but with very different running styles. Had they been fitted with the same shoes, only a few would have escaped common injuries from poorly fit running shoes, like stress fractures, shin splints, heel pain, blisters, and black toenails.
After the gait analysis, the fitter measures your foot and then watches your running form. Remember that your normal shoe size is not equivalent to running shoes, and that sizing varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.