How To Choose The Right Running Shoe
If this Christmas you’re treating yourself to a new pair of running shoes don’t just go and buy the best looking shoes, or the shoes with the biggest discount. Check out the guide below (courtesy of asicstrainers.net) before you buy to make sure you are buying the right type of running shoe for your foot type.
There’s no such thing as the ‘best shoe’ as everyone has different needs. Biomechanics, bodyweight, the surface you run on and the shape of your feet, mean one person’s ideal is someone else’s nightmare.
The first step in finding your shoe needs is to try our ‘wet foot test’. The ‘wet foot test’ works on the basis that the shape of your wet footprint roughly correlates with the amount of stability you might need in your shoe. ‘Roughly’ is the key word here, though it’s a good starting point, but no more. Pay a visit to a biomechanics expert if you are unsure of which shoe type you need based on your foot type.
The Flat Foot
This foot type has a low arch and leaves a print which looks like the whole sole of the foot. It usually indicates an over-pronated foot, i.e. a foot that strikes the ground on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards (pronate) excessively. Over time, this can cause many types of overuse injuries.
Best shoes: Motion control shoes, or high stability shoes with firm midsoles and control features that reduce the degree of pronation. Stay away from highly cushioned, highly curved shoes, with lack of stability features.
The Normal Foot
A normal sized arch will leave a wet footprint that has a flare, but shows the forefoot and heel connected by a broad band. A normal foot lands on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards slightly to absorb the shock. It’s the foot of a runner who has a neutral gait and is bio-mechanically efficient so therefore doesn’t need a motion control shoe.
Best shoes: Stability shoes with moderate control features.
The High Arched Foot
This leaves a print showing a very narrow band or no band at all between the forefoot and the heel. A curved, high arched foot is generally supinated or under-pronated. And because it doesn’t pronate enough, it’s not usually a good shock absorber.
Best shoes: Cushioned (or ‘neutral’) shoes with plenty of flexibility to encourage foot motion. Stay away from motion control or stability shoes, which reduce foot mobility.
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Tags: Triathlon General
