How to Pick the Best Running Shoes for Men

Actor and runner Joe Taslim once remarked, “You don’t need to go to the gym; all you need is a pair of shoes.” While he’s partially correct, it’s important to have the right pair of shoes. All too often, the rookie runner will heed Taslim’s advice and lace up an old, dusty pair of Nikes, set out onto the open road, and wonder why they end up with screaming calf pain or shin splints.

3 Steps to the Best Men's Running Shoes

As a guy, the single most important thing you can do before starting your running journey, regardless of inexperience or low mileage, is to get properly fitted for men’s running shoes. Unless you live in a small town, chances are you have a store nearby that specializes in running gear and offers free analyses.

• Gait – The most important part of the analysis is gait—a fancy word that essentially refers to an individual’s foot strike. If you under-pronate, you favor the outer side of your foot when it hits the ground. If you’re neutral, you maintain a balanced transition throughout the entire movement of your foot. However, most runners fall into the over-pronation category which is made apparent when the foot rolls inward upon mid-strike.
• Arch – The arch of your foot will also determine the likelihood of over and under pronation. A simple visual analysis can reveal whether you have high, normal, or low arches and, subsequently, whether additional shoe inserts are necessary.
• Size – Remember when you went shoe shopping as a kid and your mom would feel your big toe for proper sizing? Experts at the running store will likely do the same thing; just don’t be surprised if you’re told you’ve been wearing the wrong sized shoe for years as most novices often discover. When buying men’s running shoes, always go a half size up from what you normally wear. This allows for factors such as swelling and downhill-running and gives your toes a little extra wiggle room.

While a proper-fitting running shoe can easily cost over $100, it's your biggest defense against injury. Shop sales but don’t be cheap. Many runners who begin before being properly fitted are instantly turned off due to intense discomfort of the feet and legs. Finding the right pair of men’s running shoes is an investment, but it’s arguably the only one you’ll make. Well, until you catch the race bug, but that’s a story for another day.
Be sure to visit our running shoe store in Washington D.C. if you want more information too.