How to Choose Jogging Shoes

Keep your health in mind as you pick your jogging shoes.

The shoes you jog in have an effect on your ability to jog and your health (jogging impacts your legs and back), so you have to keep that in mind when you're choosing your shoes. Base your choice mostly on the comfort of the shoe, as you can't jog if your feet hurt. Support also plays a factor because a shoe that doesn't support your foot may cause you to injure yourself through sprained ankles, bruised feet or some other athletic injury.

Instructions

1. Ask a shoe salesperson to examine your foot to determine the type of foot you have. Your foot may be average, wide, high-arched or flat, and the shape of your foot will determine the type of shoe that fits comfortably. A salesperson at a running specialty store will probably have more knowledge of foot shapes than one at a shoe store in a mall or one of the low-priced shoe chains.

2. Shop for jogging and running shoes only, and try to buy shoes from a store that specializes in this particular type of shoe. The salespeople at a running specialty store are more knowledgeable about your activity and will likely be more attentive to your needs.

   Don't attempt to substitute tennis shoes or basketball sneakers for running shoes with the hope that the added cushioning is sufficient to protect your feet. The tread on the soles aren't suited for jogging and only the contour of running, and jogging shoes provide the specific degree of stability that gives you the most comfort.

3. Ask a knowledgeable shoe salesperson about preferred brands, and let him guide you to those shoes. Once you have a lead, all you have to do is narrow your choice down to what feels the best.

4. Try on shoes of various brands and shapes. Lace the shoes up and walk in them to see which is the most comfortable. Remember, if the shoe doesn't feel good on your foot, choose another one because the shoes will feel much worse, even painful, once you jog in them.

   Crosstrainers are stable enough to support most foot shapes, and you can perform all running activities in them, regardless of the terrain (indoor and outdoor tracks, streets and trails).

References

• Jogging: Choosing Jogging Shoes
• Let's Play Games Now: How To Choose Jogging Shoes That Suit You To Avoid Hurting Your Body