Imagine you are about to buy a new car. You go to the car lot, start browsing, and with a well-rehearsed casualness, the car salesperson is almost instantly beside you asking if you are a buyer. If you even suggest yes, you will receive, “Have I got a deal for you!” Perhaps not so overt these days, but the message is the same.
No matter how hard the sales pitch is, you are unlikely to buy a bright pink Fiat Bambina or a vivid lime green motor home. In your mind, you have considerable knowledge of what you wish to buy. The vehicle will be petrol, diesel, electric, hybrid, four, six, eight, or even twelve cylinders, two-seater, four, six, eight, or above, make: Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Honda, Nissan, Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes, Bentley. If having served on The Bench for a few years, you may even know if you want turbo, fuel injection, AWD, run-flat tyres, and Bose Sound System. A template is in your mind. Whatever you buy you know you will not win the competition against the sales representative. Just hopefully a good battle will have ensued, and the financial result will be in proximity to your initial budget.
Just as we have that template, we also use the plan when we purchase our house, clothes, weekly groceries, pay school fees, and most other buying we do. The exception is the shoes we wear — especially our trainers. What template do you have when buying shoes for fitness? We think we know the size — more on that soon —and a $100 pair of sports shoes is three and a half times worse than the $350 pair. Well, that’s what we believe in our ignorance as we try to rationalise why so much money was spent on the dream that is going to propel us over many footfalls to the Elixir of Life that is only a rainbow distance away.
You have at least eight criteria when buying your car, but how many of the following eight values do you deploy in ensuring you buy trainers that are of value?
SIZE
Most shoes are built on three-sized lasts.
The last is a roughly foot-shaped form made of moulded plastic, carved wood, cast aluminium, or 3D-printed plastic. Why is the last called the last? The word ‘last’ comes from the old English word ‘laest,’ which means ‘footprint.’ The first shoe lasts were used by the Greeks and Romans back to 400 BCE!
These days, orders of shoe size from manufacturers are in thousands. Say size 8 is required — the order goes through and then if part way through actual sales are for size 10, the order changes and the shoe is stitched a little bigger, but the last remains the same size. The label does not always coincide with the actual fitting size. My shoe size ranges from 9.5 to 13. Harder surface material tends to make a shoe tighter. Pliable shoe material makes the shoe looser, yet the labelled size may be consistent even though the fit varies. There is one rule to find the right size: try the shoe on and be prepared for a wide range of sizes!
BRAND
A few years back, one of my cars was built and regarded as a classic. Just a couple of years later, the same brand and model was “a dog”. Buying the brand does not always align with a good shoe for you. Be adaptable in considering a different brand.
WEIGHT
Lightweight can compromise the strength and functionality. Does a slightly heavier shoe affect the result of your exercise programme?
INFLARE
The average New Zealand foot is different from the average European or USA foot. An inflare sole is almost critical for our foot health.
The sole of the shoe should look banana-shaped when looked at from the tip of the toe to the heel. The straight sole is more likely produced for the European market. Straining against the formation can lead to overuse and foot pain.
FOREFOOT FLEXIBILITY
Take the shoe lengthwise between both hands and bend the shoe. It should bend most at the base of the big toe. As one levers off the foot in walking, and more in running, flexibility at this point is essential. Make certain the shoe bend can meet your needs.
PRONATION/SUPINATION
Sometimes you will need a podiatrist to help you decide if your feet tend to roll in or out. Once assessed, you will have that information forever. Manufacturers and marketers tend to boast the anti-pronation/supination inserts in the latest shoe. One of the biggest faults is the prevention wedge to stay intact runs too far forward and back in the shoe. This alters the consistency of the cushion between the sole and the shoe covering. Ensure any wedges are brief and don’t overwhelm the heel mechanics.
HEEL CONSISTENCY
Consistency of material in the heel reduces foot pain and Achilles Tendonitus in particular. A softer, springy material should not be interrupted at the heel. Often, multiple layers that look technical are counterproductive to foot health.
COLOUR
Shoe colour is irrelevant and puffery. The only person who notices colour is you, and if you are training correctly, shoe colour becomes irrelevant to puffing.
Not every shoe purchase will have a tick in every box.
Today’s new athletic sports shoe is outstanding at $350. Six months later when in the bargain bin at $100, the same shoe is still outstanding! Buy three pairs of bargain bin shoes, not one pair at a premium price. Then hang onto them when they pass their “used by” date. This sometimes means buying in advance of training, not impulse purchasing.
In my experience shoe salespeople know less about their product — even if they have a foot video machine — than anyone loaded with the above information.,
When you leave the car yard, the car salesperson always smiles, but at least you feel you are driving a vehicle fit for purpose. Feel the same about your next pair of shoes.