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Wet Foot Test

The right shoe for you will depend on a number of different factors. There is no single â€˜best shoe' as everyone has different needs. Your running gait, biomechanics, your weight, the surfaces you run on and the shape of your feet will all determine what shoe is right for you. The Everyday Trainer We have divided our shoes into three main categories: cushioned, stability and motion control. These should determine your everyday training shoe categorised essentially by your biomechanical needs. Specialist Shoes We also have three secondary categories: performance trainers, racers and off-road shoes. These are more specialised shoes and you would often only consider them as second shoes. Your first step in finding the shoe for you needs to be our 'Wet Test'. The Wet Test works on the basis that the shape of your wet footprint on a dry floor or piece of paper roughly correlates with the amount of stability you might need in your shoe.
	The Normal Foot Normal feet have a normal-sized arch and will leave a wet footprint similar to the one shown. It will show the forefoot and heel connected by a broad band. A normal foot lands on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards slightly to absorb shock. This is called â€˜pronation' and is the natural movement of the foot. The â€˜normal foot' runner is biomechanically efficient and therefore doesn't need a motion control shoe. FT Recommends: Cushioned shoes or Stability shoes with moderate control features.
	The Flat Foot This has a low arch and leaves a print which looks like the whole sole of the foot. It usually indicates that the foot has over-pronated foot â€“ one that strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards excessively. Over time, this can cause many different types of overuse injuries. The low-arched foot is flexible and requires support. FT Recommends: Motion control shoes, or high stability shoes with firm midsoles and control features that will reduce the degree of pronation. Avoid highly cushioned, highly curved shoes, which lack stability features.
	The High-Arched Foot This leaves a print showing a very narrow band or no band at all between the forefoot and the heel. A curved, highly arched foot is generally â€˜supinated' or â€˜under-pronated'. This foot can be inflexible; it doesn't pronate enough and, therefore, it is not usually an effective shock absorber. FT Recommends: Cushioned (or 'neutral') shoes with plenty of flexibility to encourage foot motion. Avoid motion control or stability shoes, which reduce foot mobility.
The Everyday Trainer Stability shoes offer a good blend of cushioning, medial support and durability. They provide stability and often have a medial post or dual-density midsole, features that provide a firmer density under the inner edge of your foot. This limits the excessive inward rolling of the foot, which can cause injury. These shoes are usually built on a semicurved last. Buy these shoes if: you're a mid-weight runner who doesn't have any severe motion control