There are many factors to consider when trying to choose the running shoe that is best for you. Choosing the right pair could mean the difference between comfort and pain as well as safety and injury.

When running, as the foot hits the ground, it rolls from the heel to the toe. This is called pronation. A shoe that has good pronation will hit the outer side of the heel, hit the ball o the foot and then hit the front evenly across the toes. Some people, however, walk and have been walking with overpronation or underpronation for years. People with overpronation hit the ground with their heel and then roll inwards and up to the toes. Those with underpronation have feet that take most of the stress on their outer sides. This is not a problem, but simply means that running shoes that have either overpronation or underpronation are recommended depending on which type of stride a person has.

Running shoes should be the right size. Shoes that are too big can cause one to trip or make other mistakes while running that could lead to an injury. Shoes that are too small can cause severe pain and discomfort.