You want to buy athletic shoes
Most stores — from discount stores to traditional shoe shops — can offer a vast array of brands and styles.
It's great to have selection.
It's not so great, at times, to have so many.
Choosing the right athletic shoe for the right activity can be downright confusing.
There are things you need to know.
"You can buy the most expensive athletic shoe in the world and if they don't fit right, they will do you no good," said Steve Ruzek, manager of Brown's Shoe Fit Co. in Mason City.
Knowledge about fit, shoe type and foot type are key considerations when buying sports shoes.
"The best thing to do is find someone who fits people everyday," Ruzek said. "Not everyone is going to know how to do this. Customers need to ask questions and let someone who is knowledgeable help them."
Dr. Steve Brau, a podiatrist at the Mason City Clinic, said people serious about exercise should not be swayed by style over function.
Nikes or Reeboks, for instance, are popular shoes but have fewer choices for people with wide feet, Brau said.
Some lesser-known brands — Saucony and ASICS, for instance — may offer more in terms of width and other function.
There are about as many types of athletic shoes as there are sports. About 90 percent of all athletic shoes, however, fall into three categories: walking, running and cross-trainer shoes.
All three have different attributes, depending on the activity and how often the owner participates.
"If you have pretty normal feet and you're only doing occasional exercise, a $40 shoe might be just fine for you," agreed Brau said.
However, anyone serious about activity needs to have shoes that fit for the type of activity, foot type, length and width.
Fitting shoes is particularly important for those with high or too-low arches, or those who deal with pronation or supination (feet that turn inward or outward).
Your feet need to be measured by a professional as well. Studies show that 85 percent of all athletic shoes purchased are too short for the foot, Ruzek said.
Reach Deb Nicklay at 421-0531 or deb.nicklay@globegazette.com.
When buying a shoe:
* Sport Specific Shoe. Plan to select a shoe specific for the sport in which you will participate.
* Specialty Shoe Store. It is best to use a store that specializes in athletic shoes.
* Bring Useful Information. What injuries have you had in the past and what, if anything, is your current problem? What is your general foot type and foot shape? How have previous shoe models worn?
* Have Your Feet Measured Each Time. As you age, you'll find that your foot size may gradually change. More importantly, sizes of shoes can change frequently — even within months. Your feet may also be different sizes.
* Wear Socks You Plan To Use. If you wear an insert, an orthotic or an orthotic with a flat insert underneath it, bring these along to the shoe store. And be sure to wear the same type of sock when you are fitted for your shoe as you will wear when participating in your sport.
* Size. You need at least a pinky finger width between your longest toe and the front end of the shoe. The toe box should have adequate room for your toes. The heel should be stable and not move in and out of the shoe. Wear the shoe for at least 10 minutes in the store to see how it feels.
* Socks. Cotton socks are available everywhere but are not often appropriate for your sports activity. The best sock is often one made of synthetic fibers that wick moisture away from your feet.
— American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
What about price?
Many shoe customers don't understand why they might be able to buy a $40 pair of athletic shoes at discount stores and have to pay more than $100 for the same brand at a shoe store.
Good question, said Steve Ruzek of Brown's Shoe Fit Co. in Mason City. Most of it has to do with quality of construction. Tips to consider:
* Most brands will have multiple lines of shoes, from less expensive to upper end.
* Upper-end shoes, from $90 on up, will most likely be constructed of leather or nylon mesh material — the only ones that allow feet to breathe.
* Sole construction may be more sophisticated in a higher-end shoe. Some will have a roll bar in the back of the shoe to prevent pronation, and feature a good selection of width sizes.
"What you are doing is picking up function" with the more expensive shoe, Ruzek said.
Article: globegazette.com MASON CITY
It's great to have selection.
It's not so great, at times, to have so many.
Choosing the right athletic shoe for the right activity can be downright confusing.
There are things you need to know.
"You can buy the most expensive athletic shoe in the world and if they don't fit right, they will do you no good," said Steve Ruzek, manager of Brown's Shoe Fit Co. in Mason City.
Knowledge about fit, shoe type and foot type are key considerations when buying sports shoes.
"The best thing to do is find someone who fits people everyday," Ruzek said. "Not everyone is going to know how to do this. Customers need to ask questions and let someone who is knowledgeable help them."
Dr. Steve Brau, a podiatrist at the Mason City Clinic, said people serious about exercise should not be swayed by style over function.
Nikes or Reeboks, for instance, are popular shoes but have fewer choices for people with wide feet, Brau said.
Some lesser-known brands — Saucony and ASICS, for instance — may offer more in terms of width and other function.
There are about as many types of athletic shoes as there are sports. About 90 percent of all athletic shoes, however, fall into three categories: walking, running and cross-trainer shoes.
All three have different attributes, depending on the activity and how often the owner participates.
"If you have pretty normal feet and you're only doing occasional exercise, a $40 shoe might be just fine for you," agreed Brau said.
However, anyone serious about activity needs to have shoes that fit for the type of activity, foot type, length and width.
Fitting shoes is particularly important for those with high or too-low arches, or those who deal with pronation or supination (feet that turn inward or outward).
Your feet need to be measured by a professional as well. Studies show that 85 percent of all athletic shoes purchased are too short for the foot, Ruzek said.
Reach Deb Nicklay at 421-0531 or deb.nicklay@globegazette.com.
When buying a shoe:
* Sport Specific Shoe. Plan to select a shoe specific for the sport in which you will participate.
* Specialty Shoe Store. It is best to use a store that specializes in athletic shoes.
* Bring Useful Information. What injuries have you had in the past and what, if anything, is your current problem? What is your general foot type and foot shape? How have previous shoe models worn?
* Have Your Feet Measured Each Time. As you age, you'll find that your foot size may gradually change. More importantly, sizes of shoes can change frequently — even within months. Your feet may also be different sizes.
* Wear Socks You Plan To Use. If you wear an insert, an orthotic or an orthotic with a flat insert underneath it, bring these along to the shoe store. And be sure to wear the same type of sock when you are fitted for your shoe as you will wear when participating in your sport.
* Size. You need at least a pinky finger width between your longest toe and the front end of the shoe. The toe box should have adequate room for your toes. The heel should be stable and not move in and out of the shoe. Wear the shoe for at least 10 minutes in the store to see how it feels.
* Socks. Cotton socks are available everywhere but are not often appropriate for your sports activity. The best sock is often one made of synthetic fibers that wick moisture away from your feet.
— American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
What about price?
Many shoe customers don't understand why they might be able to buy a $40 pair of athletic shoes at discount stores and have to pay more than $100 for the same brand at a shoe store.
Good question, said Steve Ruzek of Brown's Shoe Fit Co. in Mason City. Most of it has to do with quality of construction. Tips to consider:
* Most brands will have multiple lines of shoes, from less expensive to upper end.
* Upper-end shoes, from $90 on up, will most likely be constructed of leather or nylon mesh material — the only ones that allow feet to breathe.
* Sole construction may be more sophisticated in a higher-end shoe. Some will have a roll bar in the back of the shoe to prevent pronation, and feature a good selection of width sizes.
"What you are doing is picking up function" with the more expensive shoe, Ruzek said.
Article: globegazette.com MASON CITY
posted by Fisher at 12:22 AM
1 Comments:
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