How to buy shoes

[windwalker]

I usually bore everyone once a year with this but we have people new to our world every year so here it is again. Shoes have become so specialized that each fits in a catagory and if you are in the wrong shoe it can actually end your exercise career until you heal up and get in the proper foot wear. In addition there are jokers thrown. As your feet and body in general get in better shape and gain muscle mass while losing fat, your gait dynamics change. If that wasn't enough a shoe that you love will probably be discontinued or replaced with an upgrade that may not work for you at all.

Go to a running specialty store. If there isn't one in your town take a day trip and go find one. This is a necessary trip, YOU CAN NOT FIT YOURSELF WITH THE PROPER TYPE OF SHOW UNLESS YOU HAVE LOTS OF EXPERIENCE.

Go to the running store, Finishline and Foot Locker are not ruinning specialty stores they are fashion stores, they carry what sells and way more people are concerned about fashion that performance. They may carry a shoe that will work well for you but it's rare to find a person in one of these stores that is a trained by a shoe company to analyze your needs and gait.

The trained shoe expert determines your proper shoe. You can help him by bringing your current shoes that have wear or at least an old pair that has wear. He/she will watch you walk or run and also look at how your feet are shaped and the arch. Then they will recommend a catagory of shoe. They will usually bring out several that will work for you.

When you get the shoes spend some time in each one, walk and or run around the store in each. You will find one or two that will feel the best. Insure they are not to tight in the toe box. When you exercise your feet swell so if they are snug in the store they will be to tight when you exercise.

Shoes come in different catagories, Motion Control, Stability and Netural Cushion. Then there are racing flats, and now even shoes designed for forefoot strikers. You need that shoe expert to ensure you are in the right shoe. The shoe types are sesigned to correct gait concerns but if you are in the wrong type it magnafies the problem by forcing your foot to do whatever it's doing wrong to do it worse.

I'm a race walker so I have special needs. A "Walking" shoe is horrible and designed for people to stroll slowly around the mall and give them plenty of support if they have weak ankles and calves. I wear racing flats with a low heel and very light weight.

Once you have a shoe picked out write down you #2 choice also. The shoe you like best now may be discontinued by the time you are ready for your next pair. The shoe companies love to do that to us and it's good for business because we end up having to buy more shoes.

I recommend for first time athletes to go to the running store every 6 months for a couple of years because your body and gait change as you get stronger and more efficient. Once you are fitted and have your shoes you can buy them on line and save some money but it's worth the extra cost every 6 months to get the professional help.

Hope this helps.

Happy Feet Panda

 

[FireDancer]

I could not agree more with windwalker. Once you find a good store in your area they will feel like a training partner. I was lucky enough to find one in the area (well, it is a bit f a drive but totally worth it), and I have never been disappointed.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

I totally agree, I was running in the wrong shoes for so long with no idea, it wasnt until I kept loosing toenials and couldnt walk because my joints were so bad I decided to find new shoes but as soon as I found the running store up the road all of my lifes problems were answered - well not all of them but my toenails are a whole lot happier. I cant tell you how greatful I am for my new shoes and my new friends at the running store

kirsty

 

[bunnyfoo]

Also if you if you have access to two running stores, go and get a second opinion. Last year, I was fitted at one store for stability shoes but the sales guy at the second store said I should be in motion control shoes. I talked to my chiro and PT about it and they agreed with the stability shoe.

And don't be put off if you're fitted for a running shoe that's bigger than the shoes you currently wear. Remember your feet could expand and you don't want your toes bumping the front of the shoes.

 

[SamSam]

I have yet to find a store in my area (or even a few hours drive) that do this. I definitely need to find one, as I'm losing toenails and have developed cramping of my toes. What is odd is that my shoes actually feel good onmy feet.

 

[VernRDH]

AMEN, windwalker. DH and I just went to Fleet Feet a few weeks ago, he has been wearing the wrong size shoe for 10 years! Not until he started running this past fall had it been a problem for him. Now in the right shoe with inserts, he is a whole lot happier.

Me, I just wore NB, anything in an 8D. Never had a problem. Got measured, was in the right size, but turns out I need a stability shoe. Huh, go figure. So now I have a pair of Sauconys, which I totally love. The salesman brought out the Sauconys, a pair of Asics, and the NB. Of the 3, the NB came in THIRD for me.

One other important aspect of shoes too is socks. At FF, they have bins of socks for you to use to try on the shoes. They ask you what thickness/weight you like and give you those to use. Sometimes people think that the shoe is the problem when it could also be the socks.

 

[windwalker]

Veronica, thanks for the input about the socks. The proper shoe sock combo is the secret to being blister free in marathoning.

Walking Panda

 

[WDWFAN9]

Also remember that while it is important to support your local running store once you find the right shoe if you purchase through runningwarehouse.com and use the discount code WISHD you get a 15% discount! Not bad!

 

[Duanerice]

All good advice. Even though I have been running for a few years, I still like to get a new fitting once a year.

Found a new store about 90 minutes away and will go there when I need my new pair. They have this cool iStep system: http://www.fit2run.com/istep.html and they also video tape your running: http://www.fit2run.com/videotapedgait.html

I usually buy from our local store but it is really small and doesn't have any equipment. I want to try something a little more scientific this time. I still have IT Band issues in long races so maybe there is a solution in here somewhere.

On Soapbox:
Please, please, do not go get fitted at a local running store then turn around and buy your shoes on-line or from another store. Once you buy a few pair from them, then it's not that big a deal. But they paid the overhead for you to come in, they pay to have the shoes there for you to try on and they pay for the expert help you get. It's not fair to use their expertise then buy elsewhere, regardless of the discount. If you want the on-line discount, take the uncertainties that go with it.
Off soapbox

Some say that your new shoes should feel great from the first run. Not true for me. Yea they feel good just slipping them on, but I have to run about 50 miles or so until I am comfortable in a new pair. Actually it is just my left foot. Had neuroma surgery years ago and still have issues until I break in the shoes.

The right shoes make all the difference.
enjoy,
Duane

 

[bubba73]

Before I really got into the running/walking thing, I went to one of the local shoe stores that had the IStep system. They primarily carried the Spira running shoes, which is fine but the lady there just "rubbed me the wrong way". She kept making fun of the way I tied my shoes and was telling me that what I was expressing as comfortable and uncomfortable couldn't be accurate. I finally had to tell her that it is my foot and I know what I am feeling. At that point, I walked out and found a Trak Shak to be able to get my shoes from. I think it is time for me to get some more soon too.

Thanks for the advice as always!
Bryan