Best Running Shoes – individual considerations (part 1)

Yesterday I posted an article with a little history about running shoes as found in Jeff Galloway’s book on running. Today I continue my review of the material he covers with some definitions that will help you understand your feet better, and hopefully be able to find the best running shoes for you.

First off, it’s important to understand what a last is. A last is a metal or plastic form which is shaped like the human foot and the shoe is shaped around it. Well, there are two types of last; Board Last or Slip Last. In his book Jeff suggests that the board last will typically provide extra support and reduce flexibility. On the other hand, the slip last is more flexible but offers less stability. When deciding which type of last will make the best running shoes for you, you’ll need to first understand whether you need more flexibility or stability.

Keep in mind this is a personal choice and that the shoe companies are constantly revising the last that they use based on research and feedback from a panel of runners that try new shoes. One reason that you might argue that one particular brand makes the best running shoes for you is because their last best accommodates your foot shape and stability vs. flexibility needs. Don’t let a good history with a particular brand prevent you from exploring other brand shoes, since they all make changes periodically.

That’s it for today. I’ll continue on with additional terminology and definitions in my next post: Best Running Shoes – Individual Considerations (part 2).