Contrary to popular belief, choosing a pair of running shoes is not that difficult. Not difficult, as long as you know the purpose for their use and what to look for. It does not matter if you are taking up jogging for beginners or looking for marathon running shoes, the basics are the same.

Shoe Size

To find the best running shoes for men or women, you must first look at their size. As Stu Mittleman writes in his book 'Slow Burn', you should keep on trying larger sizes (increasing by half a size each time). Once you come to a point where you feel like a clown in the shoes you are wearing, buy the running shoes which you tried on just before that pair. That is the correct size of shoe you are looking for. Don't believe me? Try it! Or do you prefer shoes which fit tightly, so that after a longer run you develop black toes and see your nails peel off. Or maybe you like calf muscle cramps? That's right, the size of the shoes you wear for running has a great impact on this. As you take each step, energy travels through your foot and out through the toes. If the shoe is fitted tightly, that same energy is reflected back and travels up your leg. On short distances this may not be as noticeable, but as soon as you start hitting 10k+, it makes a huge difference. So it does not matter if you are wearing Nike running shoes or Adidas or Reeboks, if the shoe is too small, prepare for pain.

Lace Ties

Small things, but huge impact. Forget tying your shoes again. Get a pair of lace ties! This leads to the next crucial point - running shoes do not need to be worn tight. Loosen up the laces. If you are wearing proper running shoes, your foot will be well supported without the need for tight strapping. Most of motion is a forward movement. Releasing the laces helps in preventing ankle twists. Trust me, I noticed it on many occasions. When you place your foot at an awkward angle when running, it will be only the shoe which will twist, the foot itself will remain in a relevantly stable position. That said, if it is bound tightly to the shoe, it will twist together with the shoe.

Nike Shoes For Men

From my experience, Nike shoes for men are the best running shoes for men. But whichever shoes you feel comfortable in, they will be the best running shoes for you, as long as you remember the key principles when buying your shoes. So if you are taking up jogging for beginners, start on the right foot!

Please share which running shoes you consider to be the best.