Buyers Tips

Interested in running cross country or beginning a running or walking program? If so, check out the following information. It should help you make good choices regarding your next purchase of running or walking footwear so that you can better enjoy the activity. Whether you are a marathoner or just enjoy walking around the neighborhood with the family dog, footwear that matches your needs will help keep you happy and healthy.

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Match your foot to the shoe.

This sounds simple, but too often consumers choose shoes based on factors like color and fashion, and not on the qualitites of support and cushioning. Experienced sales people can analyze your foot shape or gait cycle and make judgments about the type of shoe which might suit you best. This is particularly important for people with high, rigid arches or flat feet. Those with these foot types are more susceptible to injury, and should take extra caution when selecting shoes.

When buying new shoes, bring in your old pair.

If you have an old pair of running or walking shoes, bring them in! Whether you liked them or not, they can provide clues and help you r salesperson advise you. Of interest is the wear pattern on the bottom of the shoes, or the stress on the heel counter. If you look at your shoes from the back, and the heel counte bends in or out, this is a sure sign that a different type of shoe may be necessary.

Talk to the salesperson about your goals and history.

Have you ever been injured? Are you experiencing discomfort or pain in you knees, hips, shins, heels, or arches? What type of workout are you doing (if any) and what do you hope to do? Are you working toward the completion of a specific event? The answers to these questions are ll helpful in determining the appropriate level of cushioning and support for you.

Be sure to get the proper fit.

In general, you should allow about a thumbnail's width between teh end of your longest toe and the end of the shoe, when you are standing up. The top-box should be large enough to allow your toes to spread freely when you push off on each stride. From the ball of the foot to the heel, the fit should be snug but comfortable. Do not accept the nominal size of shoes at face value. Athletic shoes usually run small and sizing is very inconsistent, even among different models of the same brand.

Do not assume a shoe will be more comfortable after you "break it in."

Although there is a break in period with footwear, the shoes you purchase should be comfortable when walking around in the store. At Aardvark, we allow our customers to try shoes out on a treadmill, or with a walk or jog up and down Main Street (weather permitting) to help you decide.