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The best running shoes will give you super human strength. With the right running shoes you'll never lack motivation to wake up in the morning to go running or finish that long run. Sound a little too much like fantasy? You might be surprised to find that the best running shoes for you would work a small miracle in the motivation and performance that you get from them. The big question is how on earth do you find the best pair of running shoes for YOU? I can't tell you how many articles I've read recently that talk about how to find the best running shoes. Don't get me wrong, some of them do have a valid information that can help you decide, but in a lot of cases they just miss the point or focus on one aspect of running shoes. One article that seems to have taken a slightly more scientific approach was published by Consumer Reports (CR). In the article they list out six categories used to evaluate the best running shoes. Here they are as a quick list and in the order that CR thought they had most priority. Fit Cushioning Stability Flexibility Breathability Weight These are in fact very important, but how can you apply these six measurements for yourself and YOUR feet? Also, how do you know that the priority given to these six categories will be the same for you? Let's take a look and see what we find. Fit is important, not doubt about it. But fit is a tricky subject due to foot length, width, personal preference, etc. In an interview I did once with a professional runner, he indicated that when he got a new pair of running shoes he wanted his toes right up against the end of the shoe. He didn't want any room at all. But, when he sells running shoes to other people, he always suggests that they leave just under a half inch of room for the toes. Which way is right? In this first case, the answer will clearly be different for every person, and what you might do before you go looking for new running shoes, assess a few things. Do you have wide feet? Do you have high arches? Do you require other special accommodations? With these in mind, you can often find shoe manufacturers that accommodate a particular aspect of your running shoe needs and save yourself from having to try on a bunch of different shoes and finally settle for a pair that isn't "as bad" as the others. One example is that Reebok makes shoes for wider feet. Many of the specialty running stores don't carry Reebok, and so they might try to sell you a shoe that's not wide, and ends up feeling longer on your feet. Knowing before you go can make a huge difference and ensure that you get the running shoes with the best fit. Next is shoe cushioning, and you might be tempted to think right off the bat that you want all the cushioning that you can get. Well, you're right, and wrong. It seems to be that the more expensive the shoe the more cushioning you get. This is great, but may not be as necessary for someone that is running very few miles per day or per week. If you're a casual runner it might be that you get all the cushioning you need from a less expensive pair. If, on the other hand, you run five or more miles per day and you repeat that several times throughout the week, you might want to consider a more expensive shoe. You will also want to cycle your shoes out more frequently. There is growing evidence that the quality of your running shoes can affect your health and motivation.
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