The perfect running shoe must be tailored exactly to your individual needs, therefore the correct shoe for one person will not necessarily be the correct shoe for another.

Pronation describes the inward rolling motion of your foot after it lands on the ground. There is an optimal degree of pronation (15) but most people either under or over pronate. Neither type of pronation is particularly good or bad in itself, it just means that you have different requirements when looking for a shoe. Once you are aware of your pronation pattern you can determine much better what you require from a running shoe.

The easiest way to do this is to look at your footprint. Place a damp foot onto a tiled floor or a piece of newspaper, then compare the footprint you see with the 3 foot types below.

Overpronator (Flat feet)

This is someone who experiences the foot rolling excessively inwards as it strikes the ground. This excessive motion causes instability which can lead to stress of the foot, lower back and knee and hip.

The type of shoe required for an overpronator is known as a motion control or stability shoe. These are heavier, more rigid and are designed to limit the foot from rolling inwards.

Examples include: Asics Gel Kayano 16 AW10, Asics Womens GT 2150 AW10, Mizuno Wave Inspire 6, , New Balance WR760, Saucony Womens Progrid Omni 9

Neutral (Normal feet)

This is the most common foot type and means the runner lands on the outside of the heel before rolling the foot inwards as the arch flattens. This is the body’s natural shock absorption, known as pronation. The type of shoe required for a neutral runner is known as a cushioning or neutral running shoe.

Examples include: Asics Gel Asperatus, Mizuno Womens Wave Rider 13, , New Balance MR759, Saucony Womens Progrid Ride 3

Supinator (High arched feet)

This is someone with an excessively rigid foot that does not roll inward enough.  Although this is stable, there is not enough shock absorption.  The type of shoe required for an supinator is known as a cushioned running shoe as it is flexible to encourage movement.

Examples include: Saucony Womens Progrid Echelon 2, New Balance WR759, Etonic Praya 3 NC

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