How to choose the best running shoes?

This step is easy, you just need to do what’s called a ‘wet foot test’.

Simply wet both of your feet and stand on a piece of paper for about 10 seconds.

Step off the paper and you can determine your foot type by observing the imprints and comparing it to the chart below!

Once you know your foot type, you can then determine your gait – how your feet behave when you run.

There are 3 main types of gait to take note of:

1) Overpronation:
Typical for people with low arches, overpronation happens when your heel hits the ground first and then rolls inwards.

This results in the inability to stabilise your body when you’re running.

2) Neutral:
Neutral gaits are typical for those who have medium arches, where the middle part of your heel strikes first and then rolls slightly inward.

This helps in the slight absorption of shock.

3) Supination:
For those with high arches, supination (also known as underpronation) happens when you strike the ground with the outside of your heel first, and stays on the outside of your foot throughout your entire stride.

This results in the inability of your foot to absorb the shock impact.

Once you know both your arch type and gait, it’s time to find which running shoes are best suited for you!

1) For Low Arch & Severe Overpronation:

Look for motion control shoes.

Motion-control shoes are designed to hold your feet firmly in place, which is why they will usually have a stiff heel and a relatively straight shape.

These shoes will prevent your feet from rolling in too much, giving your feet maximum support for your arch.

2) For Normal Arch & Slight Overpronation:

Look for stability shoes.

This will help you to have a good balance of cushioning and support.

3) For High Arch & Supination:

Look for neutral cushioning shoes.

This will help to cushion the impact that your foot does not naturally absorb!