Running shoe buying guide: do these 9 things before buying your next pair of running shoes

As is the case with any product, before you go out to get such products or items, you do your research. You take your time to look out for the best of such products and some nice alternatives.

You might even go on to watch YouTube videos, read blog articles and even check out reviews on Amazon so that you can make the best decision.

This is also the case when it comes to buying running shoes. There are so many sneakers and trainers out there and so it can be hard for one to select or buy the best ones for running.

The truth is, not every shoe is built for running(not every shoe is a running shoe) – there are shoes that are built specifically for this purpose while others aren’t.

In this article, we’d be looking at nine things you should keep an eye for before purchasing running shoes.

Can you run in just any shoe?

Wearing the right pair of shoes(running shoes) will help you avoid pain and injury even if you can run in just about anything. The way running shoes are designed makes it a lot more comfortable to run in them.

These shoes have more cushioning in the forefoot and heel which is not present in regular shoes. Because of the impact generated when running, these cushions are added and needed.

9 things worth considering before buying running shoes

Here are nine things to keep in mind before buying a pair of running shoes:

1. Your foot profile
2. How the shoes fit
3. Price
4. Pronation
5. Type of shoe
6. Cushioning
7. Life expectancy
8. What surfaces are you going to be running on
9. If you have any injuries in your foot or leg

1. Your foot profile

Before getting your pair of running shoes it’s very important to get your foot scanned, this scan would help you have a better understanding of your foot.

The foot-profile scan provides metrics such as:

• the size of your feet
• the width of your feet
• the arch height of your feet
• the instep height of your feet
• the heel width of your feet

And these metrics can then help you decide on which running shoe you should get. The three most important metrics that you should play close attention to, is the size of your feet(which is the next factor we’re going to consider), the width of your feet and the instep height of your feet.

These three metrics would determine how comfortable you’d be in your pair of running shoes and would also play a major role on which brand you should go for and type of shoe you should go for.

2. How the shoes fit

This is another really important factor to consider when selecting a pair of running shoes because how the shoe fits, goes a long way in determining whether you’re going to enjoy them or not.

And because of how important this is, we find a lot of people asking questions such as: Should my running shoes be tight fitted? Should I buy bigger pairs of running shoes? and How should my running shoe fit?

How should my running shoes fit?

Running shoes should fit snugly around your heel and midfoot, with room for your toes to move around, and be half a size larger than your ordinary shoe (when wearing socks). Your big toe and the shoe should ideally be separated by about a thumb’s width. Because your feet enlarge as you exercise, bigger is preferable.

In essence, your pair of running shoes shouldn’t be tight rather, it should be bigger because if it is bigger, the chances of you picking up injuries while you exercise or run would be less.

So, if your shoe size is 11 then you should be buying 11.5 pair of running shoes.

3. Price

The price of the pair of running shoes you want to buy is also something you should keep an eye on. This is because there are fake shoes and most times the fake ones are sold at a cheaper price.

And so it is much better for you to buy your running shoes from reputable retailers. This way you’re certain that you’re getting the original pair of running shoes.

There are so many reasons why you shouldn’t go for fake pairs of running shoes. One of them being that the build quality of the fake ones would be poor and so you won’t get the same build quality as the original ones.

The foam, the sole, the cushioning all these things just wouldn’t be as good on the fake pairs of shoes. So do make sure to keep an eye for this when buying your next pair of running shoes.

4. Pronation

For those who don’t know what pronation is, here’s a good explanation

Pronation is part of the natural movement of the human body and refers to the way your foot rolls inward for impact distribution upon landing. Understanding your pronation type can help you find a comfortable running shoe.

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Since we don’t all run the same way, it is really important for us to understand how we run. Understanding how you run, would help you know whether you are a supinator, neutral or an overpronator.

One way to find out what time of runner you are, is by getting your gait analyzed and if you don’t want to do that you can analyze a pair of running shoes you already own.

Here’s a really interesting video done by RUN FAQ on YouTube that explains these types of pronation really well.

The fact that we all run and pronate differently, means that what’s a good pair of running shoes for one of your mates, might not be a good pair of shoes for you. So it is important to get your gait scanned and also understand how you pronate.

5. Type of Shoe

When you know how you pronate, then the next step is really important – knowing what type of shoe to buy based on how you pronate. There are shoes for neutral pronators, overpronators and supinators.

What type of running shoes should a neutral pronator go for?

If you’re a neutral pronator then you should go for a shoe that provides a little bit of shock absorption and medial support because such shoes are designed to roll in a nice neutral motion. These sort of shoes are also good for people who supinate as it won’t add unnecessary control or stability.

What type of running shoes should a mild overpronator go for?

If you’re a mild overpronator, then a running shoe with a lot of stability(stability shoe) is well suited to your running style. This stability shoes normally include a firm area around the arch side, this provides enough support and stability to control the motion of the foot as it rolls through.

What type of running shoes should a person with flat-feet(an overpronator) go for?

If you have flat-feet(an overpronator), then it’d be ideal to go for running shoes that stops the arch from collapsing so much and the shoes that are ideal for this are an upgrade of stability shoes which we mentioned earlier – Motion Control shoes are ideal for people with flat-feet(overpronators.) as it provides a little bit of support around the arch area.

6. Cushioning

The cushioning on the pair of running shoes you want to buy is also something worth considering. If you’re someone who is looking to get involved in long distance running and jogging then going for a well-cushioned shoe would be a much better option, as it keeps you safe and reduces your injury-risk.

While if you’re looking to get involved in some running probably you want to race against your friends, then going for a less heavier light-weight pair of running shoes would be a lot better.

The shoes with more cushion, weigh more than those with less cushion and that’s why using the light-weight shoes are better than the heavier ones when running, because as a runner you want to be as light as possible.

Many atimes though, it does burst down to preference and the type of runner you are. Some runners prefer to use a light cushioned shoe when running a marathon race and others would rather the more cushioned running shoe.

7. Life expectancy

Another thing to keep in mind when buying a pair of running shoes is, how long would it last before it begins to lose its quality. The truth is running shoes aren’t built to last forever(well, not yet) and so after some time it loses its quality and when this happens we put ourselves at risk.

When you use a pair of running shoes for a long time, the cushioning begins to fade and when this happens you begin to feel the impact when you’re running a lot more and this can lead to injury.

So before you buy any pair of running shoes it is better to know how many miles they are meant to be used for – this would give you an idea of how long it’d last and when you should probably change it.

8. What surfaces are you going to be running on

Are you going to be running on the road? or are you going to be running on trail? This is yet another thing worth considering before buying a pair of running shoes.

Road shoes are great but they don’t feel all that great when used off the road – there’s a significant lack of grip in them when used off the road.

And this is because road shoes are built for flat smooth surfaces and groomed trails – they are not great on loose slippery surfaces or mud.

Whereas, trail shoes are built with more grip, have a slightly jagged design to sole and have a reinforced upper. The jagged design on the sole improves traction and grip. So if you’re doing off-road multi sport events, then trail shoes are a good buy for you.

9. If you have any injuries on your foot or leg

Another thing you want to consider before buying a pair of running shoes is if you have any injuries on your foot or leg. If your knee hurts when you run, then you have to put that into consideration before getting any pair of running shoes.

Shoes that don’t have enough cushion can cause or would affect your knees. So it is better to go for a well cushioned shoe if you have pain in your knee.

Also if you have knee pain, consider replacing your shoes(if the cushioning is worn-out) or consulting a physical therapist to work toward pain-free running.

I am a new runner, what is the first thing I should do when buying new shoes

And to round it all off, here’s the most important thing for you to do before buying a pair of running shoes:

The very first thing you should do is go to your local running store and get a foot scan to see what your foot structure looks like. An in-store gait analysis is not the best way to determine your running form. It is advisable to consult a physical therapist/physiotherapist to see which muscles need to be strengthened in order to run.

Make sure to always try on shoes you are interested in and always take people’s advice with a grain of salt. Yeah, you really want to take people’s advice with a grain of salt, because remember we all don’t run the same way and we also don’t pronate the same way, so a running shoe that’s good for one of your mates, might not be ideal for you.