Great running shoes can be expensive and difficult to find, but a great pair of running shoes helps to prevent injuries and makes your running experience far more enjoyable.

When you're hunting for the perfect pair of running shoes keep in mind that everybody's feet are different. You can't rely on anyone's opinion about a specific kind of trainers. You have to figure out your foot type and actually try the shoes on.

How to find the best running shoes for your feet:

1. Figure out your foot type
2. Find shoes appropriate for your foot type and try them on
3. Feel the shoe to see if it fits right; walk around a bit and see how comfortable it is
4. If you walk or work out a lot, get two pairs of trainers

To figure out what your foot type is you need to understand pronation, which is when the heel bone angles inwards. This can cause the foot's arch to collapse. People can be either under pronating or over pronating. Some people's feet are neutral.

The easiest way to discover your foot type is by closely examining an old pair of shoes. If the wear seems to be even throughout the foot, your feet are neutral. If the wear is concentrated on the inside of your foot you're over pronating. If, on the other hand, your shoes are worn more on the outside of your foot you've been over pronating.

Your footprint can also tell you your foot type: someone who is over pronating will have a fat footprint, whereas an under pronator tends to have a small, lighter footprint. A neutral foot type is represented by a 'perfect' footprint.

Once you've figured out your foot type, ask to try on shoes that support your foot type. Local sports stores sometimes even have a podiatrist to help you find the right shoes.

Try to walk around in the shoes or even jog as much as you can before you actually buy them to get a real feel for them, and don't forget to feel the weight of the shoe as it can affect the efficiency of your running. The shoe also shouldn't be able to twist much, and should bend under the ball of your foot instead of in the middle.

If you're a runner you should make sure your new trainers have a reduced drop in height from heel to the front of the foot, and be working towards neutral running or even barefoot running.

Should you get a separate pair of trainers for the gym?

If you run two or three times a week and also do two or three workouts at the gym each week you should get a second pair of runners for the gym. The cushioning in running shoes needs 24 hours to recover between runs or workouts, so doing this preserves the lifetime of your shoes and helps you avoid injury.

Overall, buying a new pair of running shoes is just a matter of doing your research and paying attention to the best shoe for you rather than the shoe the salesperson is trying to upsell you to! Make sure you walk into the store with plenty of knowledge so that you can buy correctly.