While women suffer a similar frequency of injuries to men when running, the types of injuries can be quite different. This is due to the fact that women’s bodies are different structurally, thus altering the way they run. Good running shoes for women are therefore vital to help protect them from the injuries they can be more prone to getting.

With good women’s running shoes, the difference should be more than just feminine colors on the shoe surface and a smaller overall size. The shoe’s shape should be different, taking into account a woman’s narrower heel and wider forefoot. Also, women are generally lighter and shorter, and the cushioning and support should reflect this plus the different way women’s feet hit the ground.

Before buying a pair of women's running shoes, 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 be best 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 women. Please feel free to continue browsing this site for further useful information.

Some highly regarded women's running shoes: