If the Shoe Fits
The anatomy of a trail shoe and how to select the best fit
As a result of our sport's simplicity, it is essential to choose carefully when it comes to that one piece of equipment—shoes.
Photo by Jolene Melnicoff
As a result of our sport's simplicity, it is essential to choose carefully when it comes to that one piece of equipment—shoes. Navigating the shoe wall of a running specialty shop can be a daunting task. Several recent studies at the University of Calgary, however, make the process slightly more straightforward, suggesting that runners tend to be more economical and less injury prone when they run in the shoes that simply feel the most comfortable.
Explains Rolando Cruz, a manager at Berkeley Running Company in Madison, Wisconsin. "You might have a vision of what works for you, but when you try on other shoes, you may find that certain features are more important than you originally thought."
As you begin your journey into the footwear jungle, keep comfort in mind, but also consider biomechanics, injury history and the terrain you will be running.
TR