Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of getting injured instead of efficiently, effectively, and safely running the race to the finish line. So to help you reap the full benefits of running and enjoy getting optimum results from your workout, we’ve lined up here some of the factors that you need to consider when looking for the best running shoes for women.
One important thing that you should keep in mind when buying the best running shoes is that women’s physiological make up is different from that of men’s. With wider hips, generally smaller and narrower feet, and lower body mass, women would definitely have different requirements when it comes to the design, structure and function of shoes specifically intended for running.
Wider Q-angles put extra stress on the lower body so most women naturally tend to pronate outside beyond normal range more than men do. It’s also the reason why runner’s knee often occurs in women. To address this, look for running shoes that have enough support on the midsoles or outsoles.
Apart from wider hips, women’s body mass is generally lower by about 15 percent than that of men’s. As such, women’s running shoes normally require a little less foam in the midsole making them slightly softer, lower and lighter than men’s running shoes. Most running shoes for women also have slightly deeper groves to complement the lower body mass and to allow for greater flexibility on toe-off.
Foot width, length and shape is another major factor that shoe engineers take or should take into consideration when designing running shoes particularly for women. Because aside from the fact that women generally have narrower and shorter feet than men, women also have different feet structure in terms of the shape of the foot arch, toe and ball.
If you are to find the best running shoes for you, you’ll need to find out your feet’s level of pronation, and you can do that by doing some of the methods we’ll discuss here. But before that, let’s get to know some basic things about pronation.
Known as the lengthening of the foot’s arch, pronation is the act wherein the foot rolls inwardly when it touches the ground. Overpronation can cause injuries and come in different levels. Severe overpronation would call for motion control shoes while support shoes are best for those exhibiting mild to moderate overpronation.
On the other hand, those who exhibit supination or whose feet roll outward upon contact with the ground can opt for neutral running shoes, which are also ideal for those with neutral pronation level. Now, let’s move to the different kinds of tests you can do to identify your feet’s level of pronation.