Advice on Running Shoes

[Strangeluv]

Hi all, I'm new here. What's the top advice on picking a great but affordable running shoes? Any particular recommendation would be great.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes a link to a post on buying shoes, advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Take other people's recommendations about shoes with a pinch of salt..........they are not you, do not run like you and their favourite shoe might injure you.

Enjoy your journey.

[Strangeluv in reply to IannodaTruffe]

That's great, will check out the link. Thanks

[Sarahlou43 Graduate]

Hi there, depending depending your budget (and if a sale is on!!) At week 3 of this plan i decided to purchase decent running shoes. I bought some Brooks and I love them. They have a short questionnaire to fill in and gauge which trainer would suit you best. Alternatively wait till the shops open next week and get a proper running shoe fitting. Other running trainers my friends wear are asics and nike. Enjoy shopping 😄

[Skyblueandblack Graduate in reply to Sarahlou43]

Aside from the first rule of avoiding fashion brands. The only advice I can give is find a shoe that you feel comfortable in. If you have the budget go to a real sport/running shop where they will advise you on what shoes would be best for you.

[Likeithere123 in reply to Sarahlou43]

I bought Hokka they have been great

[Cmoi Graduate]

Top advice? Ignore other people's recommendations! Your feet are not my feet. You don't run where I do. You are not me.

Ideally, get gait analysis from a proper running shop. If that's too intimidating or expensive, then at the very least try on the shoes that you're thinking of buying and jog around the shop in them to ensure they're comfortable.

Although I am a total cheapskate whose running clothes are all from Lidl (usually from the sale box) Decathlon or T K Maxx, when I bought my running shoes I was absolutely blown away by the quality of advice and service I received, and happy to pay for that. And I'm not easy to please!

[nowster Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Totally agree there! Everybody's feet are different. And some of us round here wear really weird running shoes. 😉

[Strangeluv]

Thank you all for your responses. Will do shopping around when shops open next week.

[Tgostswimmer]

Totally recommend a proper running shop. The place I went to in summer made me book an appointment and was all very covid-secure. I told them I was just starting out, they asked me what my budget was and they watched me run outside in a few different pairs while they watched my gait. Felt a bit odd - but it was so worth it. They sold me a brand I had never heard of before, half a size larger than I have ever worn before, and they fit like a dream! I was beginning to get some pain in the ball of my feet with the old pair I had been using, and it vanished with the new pair they sold me. It was magic! I thought I'd feel like a fool amongst the shop assistants since they were all committed runners etc, but they were hugely encouraging. Good luck!

[Lockdownpositive in reply to Tgostswimmer]

Thanks for that! I'm going to try that next week I think.

[Magellan Graduate]

A running shop’s gait analysis is the best way forward. If you have a budget they will try and work within it. Sometimes they will recommend a £120 shoe and the almost-the-same pair from last season is £60 online. If you are planning something like that, be honest with the shop. They might then charge for gait analysis or they might not; if they don’t then it’s good manners to buy socks or something there.

Which brings me to the other important thing about running shoes: a good shoe will help you avoid mechanical injuries but can still give you blisters if your socks rub. So you MUST buy good padded socks (I favour Balega Hidden Comfort but there are many decent brands).

[aberlady Graduate]

Hi - I asked for advice from this forum a month ago for the same. I had been running in daughters expensive Nike which turned out weren’t running shoes. I have a mild niggling Achilles injury and was advised to go for Brooks. I googled best shoes for recovering Achilles injuries for 2021. There are quite a few! Eventually I found one ( Brooks)which was in my price range. Found them on Amazon and saved £30 by buying least popular colour.

[WorcesterMikey]

Hi - if you can't get to a specialist running shop and are just after a daily trainer check out running blogs on youtube or sites like runrepeat.com. Always take time to search internet for offers and discount codes and avoid new models (old models are often heavily discounted and often only have cosmetic changes to the previous iteration). I recently got a new pair of adidas supernova for £45, adidas SL20s for £40 and New Balance Fuelcell Rebel for £40. Good luck

[ele123 Graduate]

Not quite affordable but I am really happy with Brooks and as everyone said it’s best to get gait analysis once shops are open. I also have a pair of new balance but to be honest they are crap compared to the Brooks. I feel like I am flying in the latter. 😊

[Lockdownpositive]

I'm a brand new runner. Just about to start week 3 and loving it! I read the advice that IannodaTruffe spoke about above and opted for the budget shoe for now and to be honest I don't know any better but they seem fine. I think going to a running shop and explaining budget and individual situation might be the next step. Happy running!

[Woody_53 Graduate]

I went to a specialist running shop. They put me on a treadmill to look at the way I run before any shoes appeared. I though that the first pair that I tried on were a wonderful fit, but the guy said I needed a half size up to allow for expansion whilst running. I ended up spending £125 (about twice what I'd paid for trainers) on a brand that I'd never heard of (Brooks). I am delighted with the shoes and will almost certainly replace them with the same make.

[newbie-nick Graduate]

WAIT! It's only a few days until the shops open and then you can go and get a gait analysis carried out. It will help in so many ways, and what I or Uncle Tom Cobley find good may be terrible for you.At the very least do a wet foot test. Google that one.

Try lots and be stick to a) what you find best, b) to your budget - last year's shoes will be MUCH cheaper, and just as good, c) what you find best. Yes, I did repeat myself on that. What is best for you is your best shoe whether that be Asics, Inov8, Reebok etc. Names, colours and styles are not important - your comfort and support IS.

Good luck.

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Get fitted properly. You’ll end up paying out unfortunately. But next time you need shoes you’ll be able to get them cheaper online.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Hi Hidden ...I have to disagree with you..having had a motorbike accident at age 15, losing a kneecap and being told I’d never be a runner it is vitally important that I have the right shoes, I’ve had gait analysis since I started running to make sure I am wearing the correct shoes to compensate for the massive difference between my legs and how I land etc so for anyone who, after C25k and during, I would always recommend a gait analysis, I have avoided injury over the last 4 years because I have made sure I have the correct footwear...it’s a no brainer...why would you spend a £100+ on shoes and not make sure they were the right ones???? IannodaTruffe is right what he says makes perfect sense

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Surprisingly I have a neutral gait so I am lucky to be able to buy the majority of shoes depending on my budget but I’m sure that something as simple as say a left hander landing differently from a right hander needs looking at...I have three children who, from behind, I can see that they all walk differently..my daughter in particular, so if they were to start running I would take them for a gait analysis, if they were neutral that’s fantastic, if not then I’d know I’d done the right thing and they would avoid injury