Importart Aspects of Choosing the Right Running Sneaker

Jennifer Heiner-Pisano is a running enthusiast who works as retail director at a New Jersey running company. There, Jennifer Heiner-Pisano oversees a variety of locations that sell a wide range of running apparel and sneakers. The managers, including Jennifer Heiner-Pisano, have ensured that the sales associates are trained to aid customers in shopping for new running sneakers and apparel.  This includes the hot topic of gait analysis, which is used to determine the proper type of running sneaker one needs to properly train and reduce injury.  

Even before getting into a gait analysis, it is important to educate the customer, depending on their level of knowledge and understanding about the differences in running sneakers, as to the factors that determine whether a sneaker will be appropriate for their needs. Some customers understand and appreciate and want to learn the technical differences in sneakers, where other shoppers are a more casual sneaker-wearer and do not always need to be taught the nitty-gritty details.  Nevertheless, the important things to consider in a running sneaker are:

Heel to Toe Drop, or “HTT” or “drop” is always measured in millimeters and is the difference between the height of the shoe at the heel and the height of the shoe at the forefoot.

o   The offering of running shoes on the market ranges from 0 mm drop to 12- and 14-mm drop, with most brands offering the widest variety of sneakers in the 6-10 mm range.

o   What drop is best for which type of runner?

§  0-2mm: flat shoe, also called “zero drop” and is best for midfoot or forefoot strikers. Requires a break in period for most users transitioning from a higher drop shoe   

·      Newton Distance

·      Minimalist/barefoot running styled shoes

§  2-4-mm: Ideal for midfoot strikers. Very little padding and shock absorption in the heel.

·      Newton Fate; Kismet; Gravity; Motion

·      Brooks PureFlow

·      Saucony Liberty; Freedom; Kinvara

·      New Balance Fresh Foam More;

§  4-8-mm: Great for midfoot strikers but also has an acceptable amount of cushion in the heel for those who tend to land more on their heels. Middle ground where most brands tend to focus a lot of their shoes on   

·      Altra Escalante; Torin

·      On – all of the styles we carry are either 5 mm or 6 mm

·      361

·      Hoka Clifton; Speedgoat; One One – interestingly a lot of people who try Hoka find them to be too clunky or like they are walking on stilts, but this is due to a higher stack height (30 mm approx) rather than drop which is between 5mm and 8mm on most of the models

·      Saucony Echelon; Triumph; Guide

·      New Balance Fresh Foam Tempo; Fuel Cell Echo; Fresh Foam Beacon; Fuel Cell; 1500x6

·      Nike React Infinity Flyknit

§  10-12-mm: A moderate heel-striking shoe. You will notice the heel. be possible to midfoot strike, but you’ll feel like the shoe’s heel is getting in your way.

·      Brooks Glycerin; Ghost; Adrenaline

·      Asics Gel Kayano; Gel Nimbus; Gel Cumulus

·      Nike Air Zoom Pegasus; Vaporfly 4%; Zoom Fly

·      Adidas Ultraboost; Solar Boost; Solar Glide 

·      Mizuno Wave Inspire; Wave Rider

§  12-16-mm: Heel strikers only.

Stack height only looks at the distance between your foot and the ground when you have a shoe on

Hope this helps as a start - next post we will be back to discuss the different mechanics of a running gait analysis!