How to purchase the Right Athletic Shoes

Monday, March 28, 2011 ·

If you're in the market for a new pair of athletic shoes, you may have no clue where to go or even what to look for. There are so many places to shop and shoes to choose from, it's no wonder shoe shopping has come to be such a chore. Here's what you need to know before you set off on your shoe shopping expedition.

Athletic shoes regularly consist of 3 categories: running shoes, cross-training shoes and walking shoes. Each shoe is designed specifically to help athletes avoid injury and discomfort. Remember that good shoes are ones that fit well, and not necessarily the most expensive. Bring an older pair of sneakers with you so that the fitter can decide your wear patterns.

Wonder Shoes

Begin shopping at a specialty store for runners. These shops tend to be staffed by fellow athletes who are more knowledgeable about the varied types of shoes and private considerations in choosing which shoe to purchase. Plan on spending at least 30 minutes at the store to ensure time for a good fitting. Arch, Pronation and foot charge are three terms you might hear when you go for a shoe fitting. If the fitter does not mention any of these words, you should probably go to a distinct shop since these are principal components in finding the best-fitting shoes.

How to purchase the Right Athletic Shoes

Arch
A fitter at a specialty store should decide what kind of arch you have. This is done by finding at an imprint of your bare foot. If you are able to see your unblemished foot print with no gaps, then you have a flat foot. If your print looks almost severed in half vertically, you have high arches. A normal arch is a print that is in the middle of the flat foot and high arch. There are a collection of shoes designed for people with exact arches, so know your arch before you purchase.

Pronation
When you run, you charge the ground with the covering of your heel. Then the rest of the foot comes down and rolls slightly inward as it meets the surface. Pronation is the down and inward roll of the foot-rolling from the covering heel to the inside toe. Pronation is not a bad thing because it helps your feet and legs dispell shock, but some people have a tendency to overpronate, which is when the foot rolls too much. people who overpronate need strong stabilizing shoes and underpronators, or those whose feet roll too little, need shoes with greater flexibility to encourage feet to pronate further.

Foot Strike
Most runners tend to be heel strikers who land on the covering of the heel and then roll up to push off the ball of the foot and the toes. Some runners, however, are forefoot striker and land more on the ball of the foot. Often, wear patters on older shoes can tell a lot about a person's foot strike. Knowing a person's foot charge can help the fitter decide where more cushioning is needed.

More Tips

* Expect to wear shoes that are at least a half size bigger than your usual shoes
* Wear the same socks to the fitting that you intend on wearing during bodily activity
* The top-of-the-line model is not necessarily the best fit for you
* Run and walk in every pair to get a feel for them
* Try on many styles of shoe to ensure you have the best fit
* Go for your shoe fitting near the end of the day when your feet will be slightly swollen (similar to after bodily activity)

How to purchase the Right Athletic Shoes

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