Purchasing Athletic Shoes

By: Jason Petrina



Shopping for athletic shoes can be a trying time, especially due to the fact that there are so many different kinds of shoes on the market. There is no denying the fact that athletic shoes are big business; however. Estimates indicate that some $13 billion are spent every year on athletic shoes. To insure that you receive the best product for your contribution to the that total, it's important to understand that athletic shoes are manufactured to fit special needs.

If you have a certain type of foot structure, such as a very high arch, flat foot or pronator, then you may need a specialized athletic shoe. For athletes with high arches, athletic shoes are produced to provide additional cushioning. This can make a difference in your comfort as well as your performance. On the other hand, if you have flat feet then you will need a shoe that is much more rigid in order to control motion because you will tend to have excessive motion when you move.

If you find the need to look for a specialty athletic shoe, be sure to follow the tips below.

In the event that you wear a prosthesis it's a good idea to bring it with you when you are shopping for a specialty athletic shoe. This can save you a lot of pain and trouble later on.

Ideally, whichever shoe you ultimately choose, realize that you should have sufficient space between your longest and the tip.

Avoid trying on just one shoe. Believe it or not it is not that uncommon for a person to have one size on one foot and another size on the other foot. You may need to have one shoe adjusted somewhat but you won't know that unless you try them on lace them up just as if you were getting ready to head out to participate in your sport.

Along the same lines, make sure that you wear whatever type of sock you would normally wear when you play sports to assure that you're getting the same fit.

Once the shoes or on, walk or take a quick jog around the store. If you're shopping in a store that caters almost exclusively to athletes then no one will think anything of it.

Keep in mind when you are purchasing athletic shoes that it's a good idea to have a spare pair just in case.

Be aware of the different athletic shoe designs when shopping. These include:

Motion control shoes which are very rigid shoes that are designed to control overpronation. If you need a stable shoe or you wear any type of device in your shoes this is a good type of shoe to have. Also works well for individuals with flat feet.

The stability type of shoe combines support and cushioning. These shoes are also known to be very durable. If you do not have any problems such as pronation but need support, this is a good shoe to choose.

Cushioned shoes have the least amount of support, but they work well if you underpronate or you have a high arch.

If you do not have any motion control problems and you are a relatively fast runner you should consider lightweight training shoes, which are designed specifically for racing.

Trail shoes are designed with traction in mind. These are good for bad weather and running off road.




Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com