How to Buy a Good Pair of Running Shoes
Shoes are one thing, and running shoes are another. If you are thinking about purchasing a pair of running shoes, the first thing you must remember is that style is not the only thing to consider. Kids particularly see nothing more in shoes than how stylish the pair is. Parents must educate their children on why comfort and fit come before color and style when it comes to buying running shoes. Whether you are purchasing running shoes for your kids or for yourself, there is one thing that you must remember — check your running shoes for the right fit and shape.
If you wear ill fitted shoes, you could face medical problems. Wearing shoes that do not fit properly can negatively affect your posture, your ankles and even your spine. Running with shoes that don’t fit right can cause extreme pain in your knees as well as ankles. Blisters and callouses are some other issues you could face if you continuously wear ill fitting shoes while walking or running.
But how do you get the right shoes? The first thing is to decide what you need them for. Do you need a pair to run in or to walk in? Do you need one for the gym or for jogging? Each physical activity requires a different shoe type. While most of us use our running shoes for the gym too, this is not ideal.
The next step is to determine your shoe size in a particular brand. In case you have no idea what your foot size is, you will need to measure it on your own if you are considering buying online. For this, you will need a brown paper bag. Stand on it with wet feet for about five seconds. See the imprints? Measure them using a ruler. Now, check the online size chart for the brand you have selected for the size that corresponds to the measurement of your feet. This is your shoe size in that brand. In case you are purchasing shoes for kids online, you might have to measure their foot size every now and then.
What’s your running profile?
An important factor that you must understand before purchasing running shoes is your running profile. This comprises things like the surface that you run on, the distance that you run and the speed at which you run. These things decide the kind of shoe that you should purchase. Certain things like the kind of spring mechanism that you may need in your shoes, depend on your running profile.
How you run
This is another thing that you must consider when purchasing running shoes. Some people run with the front of their foot hitting the ground first. Others run with their heels hitting first. When you understand these details you will be able to think about which pair will suit you and which won’t.
All in all, there are a number of factors that you need to consider before buying a pair to run in. Therefore, be very sure about the one that you are picking.
Article by Meggie Haneckow
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.