Jogging can offer you best results when done with the right gears. But, the trick lies in the right pair of shoes. You jog and run for maintaining good health. But, during the entire process, it is your feet that take care of the body-weight. All you can do is offer comfort and repose to the feet by selecting the pair that suits you best. There are some basic parameters on the basis of which the right shoes can be chosen. The best possible test for judging “What you need” is ‘wet test’.
Running shoes have 3 major categories’ viz. cushioned, motion control and stability, while the minor three are shoes for training, racing and performance. Initially, you need to focus on the first three. These divisions are made on the basis of a runner’s biometric requirement. The second three options are for specialized needs.
‘Wet test’ can be an easy way to know what you need. You can also visit a bio-mechanics expert for help. An experienced retailer can also come to your aid. In the wet test, the best shoe is chosen on the basis of your wet footprint either on paper or on any dry floor. The print reflects how much stability is required at the time of running or jogging. That will decide what shoes you will require.
Highly Arched Foot: Such kind of feet lack the quality of shock absorbing. The heel and the forefoot are either disconnected or connected with a very narrow strip. Such feet are underpronated. Pronation of a foot is based on how much it puts the pressure on the inner part of it after the heel strikes the road. High arched foot does not pronate much after its heel and the outer part of the foot strikes the road.
Highly cushioned shoes are required for such feet. That imparts flexibility for enough foot movement. Stability or motion control shoes can not do any good to them. On the other hand, they might restrict foot movement.
Normal Foot: This is the perfect structure that a runner can have. The forefoot is connected to the heel with a band. While running, such feet land on the heels. The body weight or any shock is balanced by inward rolling of the feet.
Such feet do not need the motion control shoes. They can perform well with a pair of stability shoes having moderate features for controlling motion and shock.
Flat Foot: The wet foot mark of runners with such foot prints usually resemble a shoe-sole. People with such feet have a tendency to step with the outside of the heel. This process makes them strike the road hard with feet and then it is rolled towards the inward direction. They are overpronated feet. They are very prone to injuries.
Overpronated feet like these require high stability and motion control shoes for reducing the pronation level. Highly curved or thickly cushioned shoes are not apt for them. Such shoes lack stability.
