How to Choose the Best Running Shoe for Your Needs
Did you know that more than 50 million people in the United States alone regularly engage in jogging or running? Running can be a great way to get some exercise and fresh air, but you won’t be able to enjoy your run if your feet are crammed into uncomfortable shoes. For that reason, whether you are already a runner or plan on getting into running for the first time, you will need to know how to first choose the best running shoe for you.
There are a few things you will need to consider when choosing running shoes, especially if you’ve never given much thought to your shoes before. Since running heavily impacts your hips, knees, spine, and ankles, you will need to choose a shoe that will absorb most of this impact. Otherwise, you might have to deal with a lot of joint pain and future joint damage.
In order to understand which running shoes absorb the most impact and best support your feet, you will first need to understand the anatomy of running shoes.
The Anatomy of Running Shoes
Whether you’re buying a pair of Yeezy Slides or Nikes or some other brand, most running shoes are more or less built in the same way. For example, there is the upper part of the shoe which is everything except for the sole. You might think that the upper is not all that important for running shoes since the soles will take all of the impact.
However, this is not true at all. The upper part of running shoes plays a vital part in holding your foot within the shoe. If the upper part of your shoe is too loose, your foot is going to be sliding around more than it should.
This can cause some painful blisters around your ankles and the tops of your feet. Not only that, running in loose shoes can be very annoying, especially when you’re running for long periods of time. More than that, the upper part of the shoe is also the most breathable part.
If you have sweaty feet, you already know the pain of dealing with swamped feet and shoes after a long run. If the running shoes you currently have made your feet feel like two furnaces, you probably have the wrong shoes. Thanks to advancements in fabric technology, many running shoes are made of very breathable mesh fabric.
Such fabric will keep your feet cool and dry. The only downside is that they are usually not waterproof, so stay out of any puddles.
The toe box is another important part of running shoes. You will almost always want to opt for wider toe boxes. This is because narrow toe boxes often end up squishing your feet and jamming your toenails into your toes.
Even though narrow toe boxes might look more attractive, try to stick with wider options if you care about comfort.
The Sole of the Shoe
In any running shoes buying guide, including this one, you will find that the sole of your shoes is of great importance, and for good reason. The sole is the foundation of your shoe and if you have a bad foundation, you can be sure that you won’t be going anywhere fast. Or, you might be going somewhere fast, but very painfully.
A good sole is the difference between feeling like you’re running on a cloud versus running over asphalt. The midsole is perhaps the most important part of any running shoe, regardless of what brand you buy or what running shoe store you shop from. This is because the midsole is the part of the shoe that absorbs the majority of any impact.
Without the midsole, you will indeed feel like you are running on asphalt with bare feet. On the other hand, a thick and well-crafted midsole will cushion your every step so you will never feel the hard ground beneath you. More than that, the entire weight of your body will not come down so hard on your joints, so you ultimately won’t have as many problems with your joints down the road.
You will, however, have to make sure that the midsole isn’t too heavy. While a shoe sole might have great impact absorption, if it is too heavy, it won’t be great for running because it will only tire you and slow you down. Fortunately, most running shoes are designed to be lightweight, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble with this.
As for the sole, you will also need to consider the amount of heel cushioning your shoe has. Since your heel is the first thing that touches the ground when running, more heel cushioning is almost always better.
Don’t Assume Your Shoe Size
The last tip for choosing your next pair of running shoes has nothing to do with the anatomy of the shoes but rather your shoe size. Many people assume their shoe size which is something you should never do. Some sizes may also differ depending on what brand you’re buying.
After all, nothing is worse than running in a shoe that is too small or too large. For that reason, it is often best to try on a pair of shoes in a store. This way, you have the chance to walk around and see if the shoes feel good on your feet or if they immediately start to chafe and squeeze your toes.
Choosing the Best Running Shoe for You
Choosing the best running shoe for you can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for, but now you know the major elements of a good running shoe. By making sure your next shoes have the right upper, midsole, and heel cushioning, you can be confident that your future marathons will be supremely comfortable.
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