Journey of a Thousand Steps – Choosing the Best Athletic Shoes for Your Feet

The athletic shoes are one of the most vital pieces of equipment regardless of your sport kind. From running to tennis, soccer to basketball, choosing the best athletic shoes for the right purpose can extremely make a great difference to keep your body and feet healthy. Here is a list of useful tips for choosing this type of shoes.

1. Know your foot type

While most humans have two heels and ten toes, your feet can come in a wide range of shapes. Knowing the particular quirks of your foot is key to choosing the right type of athletic shoes. The majority of major brands currently offer a model to suit all types of feet.

One sure way of determining the shape of your foot is to perform a “wet test”. Here, you need to wet your foot, step on a brown paper piece and then trace your footprint. Alternatively, just determine where your past or current pair of shoes has highly worn out. For instance, if it shows the whole sole of your foot without any or with a little curve on the inside, or there is a major wear on the inside edge, then it means that you have flat or low arches feet, which means that you have overpronation. This condition can create severe wear on the inside forefoot and outside heel. In this case, you need a shoe type with a maximum support and motion-control feature.

If your footprint shows just a portion of your heel and forefoot with a little connection between the two, or if the shoes wear out highly on the outside edger, then you have high arches, which is underpronation. This condition causes your shoes to wear out on the outer edge of your heel and on the little toe. The right athletic shoes are those that are cushioned using a soft midsole.

In case your footprint has a very distinct curve from the inside and your shoes, mostly wear out uniformly, then you have a neutral arch. It’s recommended to look for stability shoes that have the right mix of support and cushioning.

2. Know your sport shoes

If you participate in a particular sport more frequently, a sport-specific type of shoes may be crucial and necessary. Always remember that after 300 miles to 500 miles of running or after 300 hours of any aerobic exercise, the soft cushioning material in the shoes becomes worn out and this is the right time of tossing the shoes. So, what’s the best type of shows for your sport?

Well, basically there is a wide range of athletic shoes available in the market these days. At times, you may feel being overwhelmed by various choices available to choose from, particularly since the industry of athletic footwear likes to introduce more technologically sophisticated athletic shoes with advanced features and new designs every year. Television commercials and slick ads tout these advanced features, but give little in the way of advice in choosing the right shoes, which match your feet.

Also, remember that a single brand won’t completely meet the requirements of every individual, and the newest innovation or most expensive athletic shoes that have all the features may not be your preferred choice. Look around for something that fits your needs in particular. For example, if you’re planning to do a lot of running, you’ll probably want a shoe that has ample cushioning or shock absorption to reduce heel pain or stress fractures.

3. Wear your socks

When trying out some new shoes, don’t forget the socks which you usually wear while jogging, walking or running. Make sure the shoes and socks feels comfortable together and that neither of them feel too tight. For instance, if you usually wear orthotics, you can bring them too. Athletic shoes need to properly fit with orthotics inside.

4. Understanding the bells and whistles

Some types of athletic shoes are best when suited to the space mission than just a run in the park. However, a few of those groovy-looking features, in fact, serve an important purpose. Typically, clear inserts which are filled with gel, air or even Freon and provide more shock absorption. Especially, these features good for individuals who tend to have heel pain and not very good for those whose ankles turn easily. This is because shoes with more cushioning tend to offer less traction. Some athletic shoes allow a person to pump up the tongue that lets people with difficult-to-fit their feet get a more customized fit. If you’re not sure what a particular feature actually does, don’t be afraid to ask.

5. Leave your brands behind

One of the mistakes most people make when buying the athletic shoes is choosing them based on their styles and brand names instead of what is right and best for their feet. Of course, it can be very difficult leave those great looking shoes which match your outfit perfectly, but at the end, the most important thing is that the athletic shoes serve their function which is to protect and support your feet.

6. If in doubt, use the rule of thumb

The right athletic shoes should have about a half inch between the end of the shoe and the front of the big toe, usually about the width of your thumb. Your heel of the shoe should fit tightly and perfectly, and your heel shouldn’t slip-out when running or walking. In addition, the upper part of your preferred shoe that goes over the top of the foot should secure and snug, but not very tight anywhere. This means that whenever you fit into any athletic shoe should be able to wiggle all of your toes freely when the shoes are on.

Need More?

Under Armour Bandit 2

• Heathered upper is light, breathable & extremely stretchable
• Seamless internal heel cup for a locked-in, anatomical fit throughout the foot
• Smooth, ultrasonic welded seaming with Bemis tape for next-to-skin support & comfort
• Firm external heel counter for additional support that keeps the back of the foot in place

Nike Free RN Sneakers

Conquer mile after mile with these Nike Free RN Distance Running Shoes. This pair features Flywire cables for support and a cushioned sole to keep you light on your feet whether on the track, treadmill, or the streets.

New Balance CW620CD Women Lifestyle CL Shoes (Blue)

It is important to keep our feet protected and comfortable at all times, especially while exercising or working out. Therefore, a pair of sports shoes is definitely a must-have item to have in your shoe cabinet. The New Balance Women Lifestyle Shoes ticks all the boxes for what a pair of sports shoes should be. Firstly, it is made out of a combination of high-quality materials. Also, the insole and outsole are extremely sturdy and can stand the most extreme conditions. These factors ensure durability and resistance to wear and tear. Next, never complain about blisters or aches because the New Balance Women Lifestyle Shoes are so comfortable! These shoes have cushioning which is lightweight and bouncy, providing a secure bed for your feet.