Good Running Shoes for Men

October 17, 2009 | Posted by pruffy

Man Running When it comes to injuries from running, both men and women suffer them at a similar frequency. However, the types of injuries that occur in men can be quite different to those experienced by women. This is because men’s bodies are different structurally, thus producing a different running technique. Good running shoes for men are therefore vital to help protect the male form from the types of injuries it can be prone to getting.

There is much more to a pair of good men’s running shoes than stylish lines and masculine colors on the shoe surface. The shoe’s cushioning and support will be engineered to cater for a taller, heavier form, and the overall width of the shoe will naturally be wider than its female counterpart, particularly in the heel.

Before buying a men’s running shoe, you should have a rough idea of your foot type, which will basically fit into one of four categories:

0 and 1 = high arches 2 = neutral 3 = flat feet

Initially you can gage this by self examination, with your foot placed on a hard surface and by the use of a probing finger. But the best way to determine it is to get some expert foot analysis at a dedicated sports shoe store. There they will also be able to determine your foot pronation (how your body distributes weight as you move through your stride).

You may have neutral pronation, overpronation or underpronation (also called supination). Overpronation means to roll inward from heel strike to lift off, whereas underpronation (supination) is the tendency to roll outward from heel strike to lift off. Once you know which category you fit into and whether or not you’re an overpronator, underpronator or neutral, the sales assistant will be able to direct you to the brands and models that will best be suited to you.

Just as there are categories of foot type and pronation, so too there are categories of running shoe. These are: motion control running shoes; stability running shoes; and cushioned running shoes.

Generally speaking, motion control shoes are for people with flat feet or those who tend to overpronate. They are a more rigid shoe, preventing excessive rotation.

Stability running shoes are typically for runners who have normal arched feet (foot type 2 above) and neutral pronation. They combine medium cushioning with some rigidity, and of course offer good support.

Cushioned running shoes are for those with high arches and the underpronation that usually accompanies this condition. The runner typically experiences greater joint shock, thus requiring greater cushioning to absorb it.

So, as you can see, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing good running shoes for men. Please feel free to continue browsing this site for further useful information.

ASICS Men’s GEL-Nimbus 11 Running Shoes