Buying shoes online or wait?

[SammiN3]

I am in need of some new shoes, I love my pair but they are worn and I can tell that the support is going.

I would love to get a GAIT analysis now I'm running regularly and planning on running further but my problem is that my nearest shop is over 40 miles away. With 3 kids that would have to come with me and having stayed away from most shops/ people during this time, I don't feel ready to do that trek and go to a city. (Small town girl worries! 🙈)

My only sports shop locally is sports direct and the staff- If you can find any are not helpful, so I have limited options.

Any suggestions are greatly recieved. At the minute I run in Nikes as I have wider feet across the ball.

[Womangolfer Graduate10]

You can do gait analysis at home with wet feet and a piece of paper. Google it. Also look at the soles of your present shoes as these will give you an indication. I’m giving advice but I haven’t done it myself, I went to a shop 🤣. Brooks are excellent running shoes although they are not cheap. Hope this is of some help.

[SammiN3 in reply to Womangolfer]

Thank you, I didn't know that. I'll google it now

[Speedy60 Graduate10]

I've never had a gait analysis but I did buy my first pair of running shoes (Ons) in a sports shop. They are neutral and I love them - never had a problem. 🤞

During lockdown, I bought another pair of shoes online. They're also neutral, but a completely different style (Asics). They've been fine, especially for longer distances on rougher ground. I bought them on sportsshoes.com sale section because I had been assured by their customer care and returns policy, although luckily I haven't needed to use them.

As has been said, most sports shoe company websites do offer an at home guide to gait analysis (obviously, they will recommend their own brand). You can also look at your current pair and see where the soles are worn.

Personally, I'm not convinced about the effectiveness of gait analysis in shops; you need to go to a healthcare professional to get a reliable analysis - but maybe I've just got lucky. 🤷‍♀️

Good luck 👍

[SammiN3 in reply to Speedy60]

Thank you very much, that's given me more confidence.

[Hidden]

There are some really good running shoe comparisons on YouTube. Brooks do a no quibble 30 day guarantee if you go on their website to order a pair which I've done the last twice. Gait analysis in a shop is always worth it but if you can't then these options are there.

[SammiN3 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I'll get researching

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Brooks is a 90 day refund actually 👍🏽

If you’re going to buy some, go neutral and size up. Find a 8mm ish drop. Get something reduced.

Sportsshoes.com usually have good offers

sportsshoes.com/products/wo...

Go down to features to check the fit and drop

Saucony are great

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

I think I'll try Saucony as my next pair. Yes it is 90 days. See... you know stuff!!

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

🤣

I’m a Hoka fan as they fixed my knee issues overnight but the low drop can take some getting used to

[HappyNoodle Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Opps I just said about Brooks, teach me not to read all the comments first!

[SammiN3]

Thank you all! I've done my wet foot print and I have a really high arch. So need to figure out what that means in terms of what shoe to buy🤣 the Brooks test says I should have neutral shoes. So now I need to research widths and fits too. Thank you all for the links and guidance, I'll be going through them all now.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

Not sure how old your current shoes are, but Nikes tend to linger after they’ve been updated. In the Pegasus, for example I can still find 35’s from 2018 online. You may be able to get the exact same shoe at a bargain price. I use the pricespy app to find bargains. That could tide you over until you’re comfortable with shopping again.

[HappyNoodle Graduate10]

Brooks give you 90 days to try them out and change if they are no good they have different width fittings on lots of their trainers too.

[SammiN3]

Thank you all so much, I've gone for a saucony pair as helper at sportshoes.com said they had closest fit to my Nikes. Got a great sale bargain so fingers crossed they fit!