Advice

Know your foot type

When it comes to running shoes its essential that you establish what 'type' of foot you have. Normal everyday running shoes fall into one of three categories - Neutral Cushioning, Support and Motion Control. Most people fall into the 'Support' category. A simple way of establishing your shoe type is to conduct the 'wet test'. Remember, this is a useful indicator but for a more accurate test we recommend that you visit us in store for a free comprehensive video gait analysis consultation. The Wet Test works on the basis that the shape of your wet footprint on a dry piece of paper roughly equates to the amount of stability you might need in your shoe. It will show you what features you should look for and equip you with the basic knowledge you need to make the right decision. The Normal Foot Normal feet have a normal-sized arch and will leave a wet footprint that has a flare, but shows the forefoot and heel connected by a broad band. A normal foot lands on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards slightly to absorb shock. It’s the foot of a runner who is biomechanically efficient and therefore doesn’t need a motion control shoe. The Shoe for You: Stability shoes with moderate control features. The Flat Foot This has a low arch and leaves a print which looks like the whole sole of the foot. It usually indicates an overpronated foot – one that strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards (over pronates) excessively. Over time, this can cause many different types of overuse injuries. The Shoe for You: Motion control shoes, or high stability shoes with firm midsoles and control features that reduce the degree of pronation. Stay away from highly cushioned, highly curved shoes, which lack stability features. The High-Arched Foot This leaves a print showing a very narrow band or no band at all between the forefoot and the heel. A curved, highly arched foot is generally supinated or underpronated. Because it doesn’t pronate enough, it’s not usually an effective shock absorber. The Shoe for You: Cushioned (or 'neutral') shoes with plenty of flexibility to encourage foot motion. Dont make the mistake of buying support or motion control shoes.