The endless variety of running shoes for men in the present-day market is enough to inspire anyone to lace up and start doing laps. However, selecting the right kind of sneakers is a tricky affair. A wrong selection may lead to severe injuries, ligament ruptures, ankle sprain, and whatnot. So, to be safe, it is better to do some recon to find the best and most suitable options and then pin on those that go with your personal style and preferences. Since this matter has been discussed in length several times and in all possible ways, we have assimilated all relevant facts, do’s and don’ts of selecting running shoes for men within a few paragraphs. Let’s get started.
What Not To Do?
- Avoiding Proper Foot Measurements: It is one of the first and most common mistakes made by aspiring sprinters. They avoid getting the right measurement of their feet before setting their eyes on their favorite running shoes for men. If you are looking for some good measurement gear, you may want to check the Brannock device, a device frequently used by top athletic shoe stores.
- Avoiding Arch Length: There are some experts who point out the lack of arch measurement by runners. It is the measurement from the heel to the ball of the foot. It is one of the most crucial parts as it plays a base role in the flexing of foot muscles. Most shoes are designed to flex in synchrony with a foot’s ability to flex. Therefore, the focus should be on locating a shoe whose flexing point coincides with your feet’s flexing point.
- Not Understanding The Difference Between Width and Volume: Shoe volume is considered the measurement of space available inside the shoe. But most people confuse volume with width and end up purchasing extra wide shoes that are neither fit nor comfortable to wear. The trick is to measure the space between the topmost eyelets with the fingers and then narrow down the options.
- Being Scared of Increasing The Shoe Size: Our feet dimensions change by day hours, season, and age. Therefore, it is not advisable to stick to an old measurement every time you step out to purchase your shoe. The point gains more gravity with respect to running shoes since the wrong fit can easily trip your speed or movement leading to long-term injuries.
What To Do?
Apart from avoiding the list of mistakes mentioned above, there are a few other factors that you may want to consider while selecting the best running shoes for men online:
- Focus On Comfortable Fitting: The best running shoes are equipped to handle every possible movement, speed, and friction across various terrains. Every single part of this footwear has a role to play in your stride. So, while brushing through the product catalog or listening to shoe store salesman, focus on the features that are being described. Each part will play a key role in your running experience.
- The Sole: Remember, everything above the sole is considered the upper part while everything beneath it is the bottom. Classic running shoes have high-quality breathable fabric and mesh layers for better flexibility, sturdiness, and breathability. While trying the shoe make sure that the footwear is not bunching, chafing or binding your feet from any point.
- Ankle Collar: It is the wrap at the top side of the shoe opening and its width decides the safety of your ankle. Running shoes for men are supposed to have thick padding on this end and an ideal shoe should cradle your ankle bone in a snug fashion. While trying the shoe, see that the padding interacts healthily with your ankle bones and that the curve on the back doesn’t irritate your Achilles tendon.
- Heel Counter: It is a semi-rigid cup present on the rear side of the foot and its job is to provide support to the heel. Some sneakers have external heel wraps that restrict feet flexibility to a certain extent. If you are looking for complete freedom of movement for your feet, you may want to look for minimalist sneakers that are devoid of heel counters. But if your body weight is on the higher end of the scale, we suggest you go for shoes with a heel counter at least in the initial phase.
- Saddle: It is the reinforced area that is present around the instep which is basically the arch of your feet. It also interacts with laces and plays an important part in keeping your foot secure while your body gains momentum. Make sure to check the saddle’s fitting and how it holds your feet without slipping. It should allow the natural doming of your arch as you take strides to reach your goal.
- Toebox: This part stretches from the front eyelets to the end of the shoe. It is mostly capped with a reinforced toe bumper that secures your toes from stubbing. It is an important feature especially if you have plans to hit an off-track trail in near future.
- Nature of Running Surface: The outsole of a running shoe interacts with the surface you run on. It needs to have good quality foam or rubber to absorb all kinds of vibration, friction, and shockwaves emerging from footfall on the road. Ideally, the material used for the outsole should be sturdy and light in weight to ensure a comfortable experience for the runner.
- Midsole Shape: A good midsole allows the shoe to bend as the feet bend along the way. While trying the shoe, wiggle your toes a little to check how the midsole reacts to it. Check the angle and location of where your feet flex and see how the shoe goes along with it. Small differences can make a big difference to the mechanics and feel while running. So make sure the quality of the midsole is up to the mark.
