How to find the right training shoe for you
Most of my clients ask me what type of shoe they should get, what brand, even which model number. But as we are all so different in body frame and anatomy, there is not one clear answer to this. So I would like to take this opportunity and share with you some important factors when going out to buy new training shoes.
A couple of years ago, I went to a sports store to get a new pair of running shoes. I had New Balance ones before and liked them. But when I got into the store, I was completely overwhelmed with choices. And luckily, an angel in the body of a sales person came up to me and asked me if he could help me. Usually, I would turn him down, just quickly picking out a pair that would feel comfortable on my feet and dash to the cashier. But that day I thought I would give it a try and actually have a proper consultation, especially as I had just started running again after a knee injury, so I didn’t want to make the wrong choice. After measuring my feet for the actual size, observing my running style and stride as well as guessing my body weight (yes, that matters too), he came up with a few suggestions that I should slip on for comfort. With every shoe I put on, I felt I was more and more in heaven. And in the end I picked Asics, with which I’m still sticking. Every year I get the same model and I still feel like I’m running on clouds.
Of course, not everyone can be so lucky as to find the right sales person with the proper knowledge and enthusiasm, especially here in Asia where you will want a running shoe and they will try to sell you a golf shoe. So here are some points for you to take along when you throw yourself into the jungle of buying new shoes.
Martina from www.bangkokfitnessanywhere.com
1. Decide if it is time for a new pair of shoes.
Most clients who start with personal training rummage in their closet until they find some old sport shoes and throw them on. This is fine for the beginning, but once you actually get into a proper fitness routine, you should start to invest in a pair of new shoes. Just like the tires on your car, sport shoes get run down as well and need to be exchanged to protect your joints and spine as well as to prevent split shins.
This gives you a rough idea of when you need new shoes:
Look at the sole of your shoes. If they are worn out or unevenly worn you should replace them immediately. A shoe should be replaced after about 100 hours of training. So you do the math how quickly you need a new shoe. This of course also depends on how much cardio and weight training you do, because with weight training the shoes don’t wear out as easily. However, it is still important to have a proper shoe for stability during exercises.
2. Decide what kind of sport you will be using the shoe for mostly.
Most people don’t just do one sport but maybe they play alittle tennis, do some running and walking, as well as weight training.
A very easy decision would be to get a cross training shoe which is a multi-purpose shoe and you can use it for a variety of sports. It meets the basics in comfort, stability and durability requirements for most sports and it’s easy because you just have to get one pair.
However, in case you do a lot of running, a cross training shoe might be too heavy in the long term, as well as not give you enough cushioning and flexibility. In this case, a running shoe would be a good idea.
For different kind of sports you need to determine yourself if you want to invest in an extra pair. When playing tennis for example you will want to have a shoe that gives you stability when stopping and turning quickly to protect your ankle. For basketball you want to look at a shoe with a good rubber sole for the indoor court.
It is always better to have the proper shoe wear for every sport. You wouldn’t go to a ballet class in your golf shoes, would you?
3. Check your size.
Most people know their size but training shoes are usually half a size smaller than what we are used to. Also, you will want to get them a bit bigger as your feet start to swell up during exercising. So in fact, aim for a whole size bigger than what you are used to. The training shoe material won’t stretch like leather shoes so don’t be tempted to go for a smaller shoe!
4. Analyze your feet.
With most sports there is running involved and you will want to be properly supported for that by your shoe. So take a friend along when going shopping and have them there to analyze your running style. There are shoes designed to control excessive pronation (tipping your ankle inside; most likely to occur when you have flat feet) or supination (tipping your ankle outside; most likely to occur when you have high arches). So run around a little and have your friend check if your ankle is tilting either inside or outside or staying in the middle. You can also look at your old shoes and see where they are run down the most to get an idea to which side you are leaning when running.
For pronation, look for shoes with different colors in the arch which shows you that there is extra stability.
For supination, look for shoes with flexibility and cushioning in the midsole to act as shock absorbers.
If you have normal feet, there is a wide variety of normal training shoes to pick from.
It is very important to analyze your feet because if you pick the wrong shoe which counteracts your foot you might cause injury.
5. Try them!
Now that you have analyzed your feet and what kind of shoe you want, you can pick some different brands and try them on. Make sure to try them with the socks you would usually be wearing when training, so that you can get the right feeling in the shoe.
Try on both sides and run around the store a little. The shoe shouldn’t rub or feel tight.
6. Don’t fall into the brand trap!
Just because you simply adore one brand and think it is so cool, don’t be tempted to buy its shoes. Instead, really go for the comfort and stability that you need.
7. If you like them...
Keep buying the same model every time you need a new shoe. Every year, company’s bring out the new models but you want to stick to the number following your shoe so you can be sure you get the same shoe with some new technology.
Martina from www.bangkokfitnessanywhere.com