Whether you prefer walking or running will be the main factor in deciding what shoes you should choose to buy. Although this might seem like an easy question to answer, its implication runs deep. While the price difference between shoes for the different activities is negligible, the choice of shoes can go a long way in determining the health of your feet, alignment and posture in times to come.
Choices, choices
The shoe industry is awash with shoes in any given colour, shape, size and claim to fame – a visit to any of the Nike sales will confirm this. Where on earth do you start when you have the luxury of too much choice, and how do you sidestep the threat of going for the wrong kind? Start by analysing your lifestyle and the way you intend to use the shoes.
Athletic shoes are churned out in their thousands every day, but just because they are prolifically available, doesn’t mean that you should go for just any old pair. It is by far more advisable to choose your shoes based on how you intend to use them. Love hiking? You wouldn’t bother buying ice skates. Ballet dancing more your thing? Unlikely that you would choose hiking boots for the job.
So what kind of shoe should I pick?
The activity you do the most, should be the one that dictates your choice of shoes. This is because the biomechanics of each different activity puts a different type of strain on the body.
Walking relies on a rolling motion from the heels through to the toes. The actual motion of walking puts an additional force onto your feet, as your body weight becomes distributed across your feet.
With running, your feet are off the ground far more often than they would have been if you were walking. In a running motion, your heel takes far more punishment than any other part of your foot, which is why running shoes are specially designed with enough padding and joint protection to prevent you from getting injured. If you find a great pair of Nike-shoes for sale, these are often a good choice.
Function over form
No matter how “cool” or “pretty” a shoe may be, if it doesn’t meet the activity-specific requirements that you bought it for, you might as well have thrown your money away. Any decent shoe store should be able to give you an analysis of your feet, to help you understand and choose the right pair of shoes for you.
When you are looking for the perfect pair of shoes for sale, you should ensure that you try them on before committing to the purchase. As far as possible, try to buy the best quality that your budget will allow – it is amazing how much further a good pair of shoes will go in helping you support your joints, help your alignment, and generally contribute to the avoidance of injury.
Feature Photo by Aman Jakhar on Unsplash
