The biggest difference in foot shape is the relationship between the heel and the ball of the foot. Women often have a narrower heel in comparison to the circumference of the ball of their foot. This means that if a woman wears a size nine running shoe, she will likely have a wider ball, wider ball girth and narrower heel than a man with the same sized foot. We told you it was all a bit technical.
In terms of how we run, women tend to have wider hips, so our feet are more likely to strike the ground toward the outside of our soles. Women’s running shoes also tend to be lighter and softer than male offerings, because women tend to have less muscle mass.
How to choose the best running shoes for women
GAIT ANALYSIS: If running is your main aim, make sure to get a running gait analysis before you buy. A gait analysis is a test that determines what kind of shoe will work best for your feet. Even if you’re a seasoned runner, you should get a new gait analysis before buying a new pair of trainers, because there’s a good chance things will have changed since your last result.
The gait analysis shows how your foot moves when it hits the ground and establishes if you are an overpronator, an underpronator or a neutral runner. This is really important, as wearing the wrong shoe could potentially cause injuries. Your gait test will also show you where you need extra support in your trainer – there should be adequate room in the toe box and your heels shouldn’t slip around. It’s important to find out what kind of runner you are, says SportsShoes.com ambassador and running expert, Ben Mounsey. “Do you overpronate or underpronate? This will inform what type of shoe you need, for example, will you require extra support, or can you wear a neutral shoe? Once you understand how you run, you can find the shoe that is most suited to your running style.”
Most sportswear shops are back up and running and offer gait analysis as a free service, but you can also do some tests at home or find expert via virtual running-shoe appointments, where running stores will ship a selection of shoes to you.
TESTING: Regardless of where you try your new shoes, we recommend you try them out either on a treadmill or jogging around the shop floor, so you can get a better feel for how comfortable they really are.
“Do your research and read the reviews before you make a purchase to make sure the shoe you’re considering is a good fit for your chosen preferences,” adds Mounsey. “Our feet are as individual as we are, and they come in all different shapes and sizes. Therefore, running shoes have to be equally as diverse, and with hundreds of types to choose from, it can often prove difficult to find the right pair to match our requirements.”
TERRAIN: Think about what kind of terrain you’ll be running on and how often you intend to train and race, he adds. “This will ultimately dictate what kind of shoe you’ll need to buy. For example, if you’re a beginner runner or someone who runs infrequently, it doesn’t make sense to spend a fortune on your first pair of shoes or buy the latest and most expensive carbon-plated super shoes which are designed for elite competition. Instead, choose a style that best suits both your needs and budget, for daily use, all-around performance and capable of handling a range of different surfaces.”
Which brand is best for running?
The best running shoe brand is constantly up for debate. Why? Because what you rank as ‘the best’ might be the world’s most uncomfortable shoe brand for others. That said, the most searched-for running shoes in the UK last year were Nike’s Vaporfly’s – the controversial shoe almost banned from the Tokyo Olympics due to its advanced technology. Of course, the Vaporfly isn’t for everyone (not everyone is an elite athlete and needs a carbon-plated go-faster shoe). So while the ‘best’ is pretty much down to personal opinion, these are some of the most popular shoes we’ve tested – and seriously rate. You can thank us later.