Running Shoes Reviews

Running shoes reviews. Shoes are probably the important item of gear for a runner as it is the feet which make contact with the ground innumerable times during a training session or race. The running action naturally makes the feet hit the ground harder than during ordinary walking. Thus it makes sense to find a pair of shoes suitable for the purpose and where better to look than the various running shoe reviews in the media.

Basically, running shoes have been developed for various types of training including cross country, track, steady road running and road racing. To discover the most suitable shoes available and the different brands can be a daunting exercise in itself. Quite often a running shoe review will revolve around the word pronate, with many authors assuming that the readers are familiar with the term.

Pronating is where the feet roll inward as they hit the ground and the degree to which they roll may determine the type of shoe required. Excessive pronating is often caused by inherent flat feet. Similarly, runners with suspect ankle or knee joints may need shoes with extra cushioning or stability to lessen the impact of the foot hitting the ground.

Runners World, a well-respected media magazine, divided their running shoe comparisons into four different categories comprising stability, neutral cushioned, performance training and minimal. Some reviewers, Runningshoesguru for example, even go the extent of adding motion control shoes for those runners whose pronating is deemed to be extreme. For those with extensive pronation and joint wear, stability or motion control shoes are recommended, and then in a diminishing scale of support, shoes are assessed for neutrals, performance training and finally the road racer requiring the lightest shoe available.

Within each category a running shoes comparison is made of the leading brands including the Asics, Brooks, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, Reebok and Saucony. Ratings by Runners World or any other consumer advice company follow a similar pattern to that when comparing laptops or washing machines, and in some cases the more detailed ratings are only available via subscription.

Bear in mind that when looking for a suitable running shoe, all reviews contained on the internet or in magazines are normally undertaken by runners with experience of testing and wearing a variety of shoes. The only problem is that they do not have the same running style and feet as the reader. A consumer rating and comparison of a running shoe is only an opinion of one person. Another runner may rate the same shoe entirely differently. It often pays to look at the comments under the review to gain a more balanced opinion.

By all means read the reviews and comparisons of the shoes which may be appropriate for your own means, but when buying shoes for the first time, expert advice is essential. This entails going to a specialist running shop. Here, they may have a treadmill where your natural gait can be assessed and where suitable shoes may be tried. In days when mothers ensured that the feet of offspring were properly examined before purchasing a pair of normal shoes, the running shops often provide a similar service for what is an important item of gear.

A specialist running outlet will also offer further advice and may have even conducted an exclusive running shoes comparison. They are in the business of trying to sell shoes and will be targeting repeat customers. A visit to a shop may not always be productive for buying purposes, but by gaining more of an idea of running terms and where the best running reviews are located, it will have proved a very worthwhile experience.

It may also be the case that when looking at a running shoe review, you have been looking for an entirely different shoe to that recommended by a shop. They may introduce different terminology when assessing your style and so allowing for a wider search on the internet. For example, one common problem of supination does exist, but is not as widely covered in reviews as pronation. In these cases the foot does not roll sufficiently inwards, placing more strain on the outside of the foot. For supinators, the outside parts of the shoes wear excessively.

Whatever you running style, it is an essential attribute to know when browsing through the running shoe reviews. Not only can terms be sought after in search engines, but some reviews also have eye catching headings to articles within their magazines. For example, there may be ‘5 best mobility shoes for spring 2012’ or ‘the best mobility shoes for the heavy runner’ or the classic ‘5 myths about minimalistic running shoes’. When an article suggests ‘best’, it is worth remembering that it is only a personal opinion from the testers, and for a web magazine the comments below can be just as informative and direct the reader to alternatives.

It is also worth looking at a reader’s letters page in a print magazine as here there might be comments on a previous review or a few sentences about a new shoe.

Another point to consider, as with technology reviews, is that running shoe reviews will always produce ratings for new shoes on the market, usually the more expensive types. Running shoe ratings for these or for any shoes will concentrate on weight, stability, potential wear and balance. Racers will be looking for a lightweight a shoe as possible.

Remember also that review sites will be looking to sell advertising spaces, so while it may be infuriating at times, the more adverts displayed it is more likely that the reviews are more dependable.

The most important factor to consider when looking at running shoe comparisons is that they are only a guide and one site may differ from another for a particular shoe. Gather as much information as possible and when purchasing a suitable shoe from wherever, take note of where the reviews share your own personal experience. This will be useful for the next occasion when new shoes are required.


Pages