One of the most frustrating things you could possibly do is looking for a new pair of shoes. Exciting as it is, it is time-consuming, tedious, and comes with a huge set of responsibilities. Although at first glance it may appear that it’s as easy as going into a store and picking up a pair, in reality, there are many considerations that you will have to apply to ensure that the pair you end up with is both safe and functional.
Although spending a bit more money at the outset can feel like “too much”, remember that what you don’t spend upfront will end up being spent later, in the form of pain medication, backache, postural issues, and alignment problems. Far from being a waste of money, spending more on a better pair of shoes when required will save you money, discomfort, and suffering in the long run.
What is the best kind of support in a shoe?
Maximum support running shoes offer just that – the greatest amount of support. These shoes are also often used in response to issues related to pronation, which refers to the natural rolling motion of the foot while in motion: inwards or outwards.
Another great benefit of maximum support shoes is that the amount of high-density material in the midsole is a great way of providing stability to the foot, particularly during the descent of the heel during running. Asics sales are a great place to start looking for the best type of maximum support shoes at a reduced price.
One step down from maximum support is the category known as stability shoes. These shoes provide both cushioning and motion control, but are a bit lighter to wear than maximum support shoes. This is arguably the most popular category of running shoes and provides great ground contact while adequately cushioning the foot.
Finally, there are cushioned running shoes. These are the softest type and do not provide any particular motion control. In fact, they are considered to be neutral shoes. In addition to being soft, they are also the lightest type of running shoe, and as such, are often worn for speed, as they do not include any heavy components that could hold the wearer down. If you are lucky to have neutral feet, you will do well with this type of shoe, but if you over- or underpronate, rather consider something with a bit more support. The range of Asics shoes for sale covers all these categories, and you will definitely be able to find a solution!
The right pair at last!
Knowing the different types of shoes that are available is a big step in making the right choice. But before you start checking the stock across Asics Stores in AU, there is one more thing you should know.
That is to determine what type of feet you have. We have already touched on the topic of pronation, and knowing your foot type will be a great help in knowing what type of shoes you should buy. One of the easiest ways to do this is to wet your feet and then to stand on a piece of paper.
The resulting imprint holds the secret to what your foot type is. If most of the imprint is visible, without much curve, you probably have low arches. This can be easily remedied by shoes that offer a reasonable amount of stability. Artificially creating arches in your feet is easily done, and will help you to create stability and prevent pain while running.
If the print shows a significant curve connecting your heel and toes via a thin line, your arches are probably quite high. This would indicate that you need a cushioned shoe, to make up for the lost surface area.
What is the deal with pronation?
Overpronation means that the foot rolls inwards after the foot hits the ground, due to the ankle not being able to provide enough stability to stop this motion. This is common in people with flat feet or low arches.
Underpronation leads to the outside edge of the foot carrying most of the impact, as the foot will tend to roll outward while in motion.
