What to Consider When Buying Running Shoes
First, we’ll take you through the key things to look out for, before sharing our pick of the best running shoes to buy right now.
Where You Plan to Run
Do you plan to do most of your running inside on a treadmill or are you planning to get out on the pavement or take things off-road, too?
Most, if not all, running shoes will be well equipped to pound that treadmill belt, but if you’re looking for something for off-road running, you may want to look for a trail shoe or hybrid running shoe, paying attention to the type of outsole that’s packed onto that shoe.
Something with a bit more rubber or a more aggressive outsole pattern will provide better grip, control and stability, giving you greater scope to confidently run on grassy and gravelly terrain. If you’re someone who has access to muddy trails or rockier terrain, there are also off-road friendly shoes dedicated to these more extreme environments too.
How Far Are You Going to Run?
There are running shoes that are a better fit for running shorter distances compared to those built for longer distances. There can be a difference in aspects like the level of cushioning or the weight, which will influence what they feel like to run in. So if you’re mainly going to spend your time on a treadmill, then you might not necessarily need a huge stack of cushioning as the period of impact will be much shorter. Weight or having a slightly heavier shoe might not necessarily be a major issue as well if you’re sticking to short, sharper bursts of running.
Get the Size Right
An obvious one, but make sure the shoe fits well. A size 8 in one shoe brand, for example, doesn’t always equal the same fit in another shoe brand. Make sure you’ve got roughly a thumbnail distance between your toes and the front of the shoe when you’re slipping it on.
Some shoe brands (like New Balance and Brooks) offer many of their shoes in different widths. For example, if you have wide feet and don’t fancy squeezing into a narrow shoe, it’s worth looking to see if the brand you choose offers options that accommodate your needs. This is when it pays off to head into a store and try them out to get a better sense of that overall fit.
Don’t Be Afraid to Go for Older Shoes
You absolutely do not need to spend loads to get a really great running shoe that you can also use for a bit of non-running -based training. There’s some really great shoes that can deliver performance that betters some pricier shoes and means you can save that cash for something else.
Don’t be put off going for older generation shoes either. We’d say maybe go back one generation at most, as some brands can typically make minor changes that really look to tweak things as opposed to drastically alter how it feels to run in the latest version of that shoe.
There Are Other Brands out There
You might be instantly drawn to looking at established names like Nike, Adidas and Asics, but there’s a host of other running shoe brands that make really great shoes to rival and in some instances better some of the major players. The likes of Saucony, Puma, Hoka, New Balance and Brooks, for example, are making really standout shoes that are also worthy of your attention.
