Which Running Shoe Should I Buy Next?
We asked our resident Running Shoe expert, Linda Stott, things to consider when buying your next pair of running shoes:
Linda has decades of experience working at one of Edinburgh’s most popular running shoe retailers, Run & Become. During her time there she fitted out some of Edinburgh’s top runners with their running shoes. When the Edinburgh shop closed its doors for the final time a few years ago, we were lucky enough to gain Linda as part of the ProMOTION reception team!
Linda’s Top 10 Tips When Buying Running Shoes
1: Were you happy with your current pair of shoes? If so try on the current version of that shoe.
2: If not happy then what was wrong with them? injury, niggles, comfort, size or just the feel of them.
3: Consider whether you have made any changes to your running schedule. For example: upping mileage, training for a particular race, and changing the terrain that you run on.
A lot of people start training for marathons in the new year and a lot of mileage will be done in the new shoes so consider getting one pair now and another exactly the same or similar in, say 3 or 4 months depending on when the race is. You want the newer pair to be worn in but still have that newish shoe feeling.
4: What other brands have you worn? Were you happy with them?
5: Consider if you need 2 pairs of shoes in autumn/winter if you’re running on the road/trails. The soles of road shoes will wear really quickly on rough stony ground so a pair of trail shoes could be an investment, not a luxury.
6: Whether new to running or not it’s best to go to a running store where your gait can be checked and you can try on a range of shoes to ensure you get the most comfortable and relevant pair for you. If you’re starting out running you won’t need as much space in your shoes unless you’re plunging in with a half marathon/marathon straight off! Not really recommended but a lot of people do.
7: Although looking at shoe reviews/recommendations is good, it may not be that the top-reviewed shoe or the latest craze is right for you. It is always good to keep an open mind and try on a range of shoes and get the one which you feel like you’re not wearing. You should not be aware of the shoes on your feet and feel like you’re running naturally in them. Listen to the sound of your footfall. It should be light and your foot shouldn’t slap down on the pavement.
8: If you’re unable to visit a running store and buy a pair online (not great for a first-time purchase) then you could try a little run on a treadmill in them. As long as the shoes aren’t marked you can return them for exchange/refund, but double check the returns policy before doing this. One simple check you can do is stand in front of a mirror and stand on one leg. Bend your standing leg and you shouldn’t collapse/rotate inwards. One side will be stronger than the other. If you can bend one knee and not wobble that’s a good sign that the stability of the shoe is good.
9: Another thing to consider when buying online (or in-store) is that if you buy the next version of your current shoe the company will have made some changes to them. Sometimes it’s minor but sometimes it’s a much bigger change. So check the changes made, try them on and make sure the fit and feel of them are similar to your old ones. Check the company’s specs of the shoe and compare that with the previous version.
10: Pay special attention to the fit of the shoe around your arch and heel. You shouldn’t have excess fabric around the arch and the heel shouldn’t slip or be too tight. Also, the forefoot of the shoe shouldn’t be too tight. You shouldn’t feel that the shoes will “give”. Nowadays, running shoes are designed to fit straight out the box so there’s no need to break them in.
Remember if you’re buying shoes in winter, your feet will be bigger in the warmer months so buy some nice cushioned socks for winter then you can swap to thinner lighter socks in summer. If you’d like to find out more about your running performance, why not arrange a gait analysis with us?
