How Should Your Shoes Fit? A Guide To Your Most Comfortable Run
February 25, 2021
Comfortable running shoes are shoes that fit, but how should running shoes fit?
Since you spend a lot of time in a pair of shoes, it's worth the effort of getting to know your personal running style in order to find a pair of running shoes that are perfect for you. There are plenty of variables to consider when looking for the most comfortable shoes, including shoe width, terrain type where you’ll be running, and foot pronation or supination. Here are some ideas on how to find the ideal pair of shoes in this running shoes fit guide.
Type Of Shoe
Will you be road running, running on a purpose-built track or perhaps on a forest trail? All these surfaces require a different kind of shoe. Another basic distinction is between racing and training shoes. Comfortable running shoes can be worn on more than one type of terrain but knowing where you’ll be spending most of your run can help you determine how your shoes should fit to allow for the most comfort.
Pronation Type
Pronation is the term used to describe the way your foot rolls when you walk and run. Essentially, when buying any kind of sport shoe, you should know your pronation type first. Each shoe on the market is suitable for a type of pronation.
You can find out what your pronation type is by getting an expert gait analysis done for you – many specialist running retail stores will offer this service. Knowing how your feet move when you run can make all the difference in the comfort of your run.
Understand more about pronation in our easy-to-understand pronation guide, and learn how to spot the best running shoes for supination and pronation.
Shoe Length & Toe Box
Keep an open mind with your shoe size and remember the following: your foot will need more room the more you run.
The further you run the more your foot will naturally expand. This means it's wise to have just a little extra room in your shoe. Making sure there is enough space in the toe box of your shoe can give you the room you need for those long runs without any unnecessary discomfort.
Shoe Width
The width of your shoe is equally as important as the length when it comes to a good fit. People have a variety of foot shape and width, and often have wider or narrower feet than some of the standard shoe sizes.
Weight
Weight refers to two things:
- The runner’s weight - if you are a heavy or bigger built runner then you may need more supportive shoes
- The shoe’s weight – generally, since you are going to be wearing your shoes for many miles, the lighter they may need to be to allow for a more comfortable run.
Running Socks
When you are buying shoes try them on in the evening (when your foot is slightly bigger) and try them on with running socks. There is a wide range available, with socks which are specifically designed for running and vastly improve the feeling of comfort and support inside the shoe.
It is even possible to buy socks which have been custom designed to match with a particular shoe design.
For more information, check out our wide selection of comfortable running shoes from ASICS.