Understanding The Main Types of Running Shoes

Everyone has at some point gone on down to their local sports superstore and picked up the best deal available. This "deal" often feels good at first, but then as we break it in seems to give us pain. The truth is no shoe is truly bad, it's just that each shoe that is available on the market is meant specifically for a different foot type. Finding a shoe that matches your foot type best will keep you happy, comfy, and dying to keep going on runs. Here's a simple breakdown of the different types of shoes.

At the bottom of the support spectrum is a Neutral shoe. A Neutral shoe offers no stability for an over pronator, but not everyone needs support. For example an under pronator and a person with a perfectly supported foot require a neutral shoe. Within the Neutral category there's another spectrum going from soft to firm and highly cushioned. A soft shoe will provide that nice marshmellowy feeling some of seek in shoes, and on the other end we receive that nice structured feeling that some of us seek out. 

Climbing up the ladder of of support we have Stability shoes. These shoes are designed and tailored for the average over pronator. A Stability shoe resists over pronation to a certain level in order to help align the runners ankles, knees, and hips. Just like Neutral shoes there is another sub progression of support. A light Stability shoe provides that tiny ounce of stability to the mild over pronator, and a moderately cushioned/high end cushioned Stability shoe will provide correction to an average pronator. 

At the peak of our progression we have the all mighty Motion Control shoes. Some brands will either make 1 or 2 Motion Control shoes, and most actually won't make any. These shoes are designed to correct someone who over pronates to any extreme level. Since only a few exist they all are fairly equal in terms of stability, however the Brooks Beast reigns as the supreme leader in offering stability in running shoes. Someone must get their gait examined otherwise running in these shoes and it not being correct for your gait can pose an extreme risk for injury. 

If you're curious as to what category of running shoes you require go to your local running store and get your gait examined.

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Saucony Rep, Mark Johnson Discussing How The New Stability Shoe The Omni 12 Works

Taken During Saucony Night At Our Rockville Location 4/17/13

8/27/13