A veteran’s shoe selection tips

Although some factors have changed, many essential shoe-selection tips remain the same. The following list comes from the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and the experts interviewed for this article. Regard the tips as tried-and-true essentials. 1 Buy at a store: You might save Dh20 or Dh50 online, but the in-store fitting process is so central to a running-shoe purchase that you can’t put a price on it. 2 Try on shoes in the late afternoon or early evening, because your feet swell during the day (and when you run). 3 Wear the same wicking socks you wear while running. Also wear any regularly used shoe inserts or orthotics. 4 Pay careful attention to both feet: They’re slightly different sizes, move differently and receive different amounts of force. 5 Avoid shoes that are too short. Select a pair with a finger’s width of space between your toes and the front of the shoes. 6 Jog around in the store or on a nearby sidewalk. You can’t judge running shoes by walking. 7 Buy the simplest, least gimmicky shoe that feels good and works well. That doesn’t mean the lightest or most minimal, but it does mean avoiding excessive weight and unnecessary doodads. Also, there’s no evidence that expensive shoes are better for you.