Right Size Running Shoe
- Right Size Running Shoe | Photo by: Josiah Mackenzie
The right size running shoe can be a hard thing to find. I am still searching the the right size running shoe, and trust me I have tried a lot of them. It seems that the right size running shoe is different from one brand to another. I can fit into a regular 11-1/2 in one brand, and then to find the right size running show in another brand I might have to go to a size 13!
Right Size Running Shoe: Sizing
There are some things to look for when finding the right size running shoe. One thing to look for is a wide toe box. The right size running shoe will need to be about a half size larger than you are used to. This is because if you plan any distance running, your feet will swell and you will need the extra room. Another easy check to see if you have the right size running shoe is to check your large toe placement. If it is hitting the front of the running shoe, your running shoe is too small.
When you are at the store looking for that right size running shoe, do not be in a hurry and try on many sizes and models. When you think you might have found the right size running shoe, try the next size up just to be sure. You won’t offend the sales person, they are there to help you. Speaking of the salesperson, tap into them. let them know what type of running you plan on doing, the type of surfaces you run on, and if you plan to do any racing.
Hints to Finding the Right Size Running Shoe
Volume over Wide Sizes
I have come to the conclusion that many running shoes just won’t work for me, and even fewer come in widths. Sometimes finding the right size running shoe comes down to looking at the shape of the toe box to see if it is high volume. With a wide volume you might not need to get into a wide. I have also found that some of the minimalist shoes fit more comfortably because they are not over engineered with multiple overlays of material.
Lacing Hints
If you have already found the right size running shoe, but just need a little extra room for your foot to expand, try re-lacing your shoes. Pull the laces out, and re-lace entirely skipping the first two eyelets on both sides – this will allow your foot to expand up front. Another thing you can try is when lacing, kick your foot back into the heel; then lace fairly tight across the arch. This method combined with the re-lacing will leave room for toes to wiggle and your foot to expand.
Heal-to-Toe Drop
When looking for the right size running shoe you should consider looking at the heel-to-toe drop. Running shoes that have heals higher than the toes are called “positive heel” running shoes. If your heel is higher than forefoot, your foot will translate forward underway and even worst downhill making a tight forefoot even more of a problem.
Wear Thin Socks
The commonsense thought that thicker socks = more padding = more comfort is false. When looking for the right size running shoe consider the thinnest socks you can get away with for your sport. Thicker socks add to volume problems of foot relative to shoe as well as add to heat accumulation. Heat accumulation along with a little moisture can lead to big blister problems.
