FACTOR 3: SUPPORT The question of support in running shoes polarises the opinions and advice of running shoe manufacturers and bio-mechanists worldwide.
What is support?In very simple terms
D&G Men Shoe, the word 'support' in relation to running shoes, refers to the structural assistance provided by a shoe
Bape Jeans, to help an athlete's foot strike the ground and push off through the toes with minimal lateral movement - rolling or collapsing of the ankle and the arch of the foot.
Support comes in many forms but, typically, there will be a more dense section of foam (referred to as a 'medial post') under the arch of the foot to provide resistance and reduce lateral movement. There are numerous supplemental methods of support and it is important to enquire and find out what these are while trying on different shoes.
I am dedicating this page to the parents who are under constant nagging from their children for children's designer shoes. There are plenty out there and some eventually give in but when I was in school we had a pair of shiny black shoes (started off shiny and lasted 2 days) and we were happy with that. I'm 38 now and in primary school I had the old black daps for PE etc so I know that times have changed but still can't understand why children can't be happy with plain old black shoes.
FACTOR 2: CUSHIONING A training shoe (as opposed to a racing shoe) should feel like it provides sufficient 'shock absorption' (a.k.a. cushioning) to protect your joints and muscles from the constant pounding they will endure during the next few months of run training. Different manufacturers use different cushioning systems but usually there will be an 'EVA' foam mid-sole, supplemented by one or more of air, gel or soft neoprene-like rubber. There have been no unbiased scientific studies to show that one cushioning system is better than another so the key is to try them all and then decide which feels the most natural and comfortable.Much of the 'feel' of a running shoe will come from the cushioning and this is therefore a very personal choice that only you can make.
I know I am from an older generation but it used to be the girls asking for designer clothes or shoes, all the boys cared about was having something on their feet to kick a football around. I can only assume its another way to impress girls or something but it's an expensive way, especially for the parents. I know one thing for definite, if one of mine has designer shoes within a few minutes they will all want them. I also know that within a week of having them they will have scuff marks down the front from school then within two weeks they'll be allowed to use them to play in. One of mine, the youngest will definitely use them as brakes for his bike, same as he does with all shoes and within two months they will all want another pair.
At the moment I am quite lucky, between the wife and I we have five boys and no girls and mostly the boys are happy with Heelies (still not cheap but cheaper than designer shoes) but they are all under twelve and I daresay that will change.
For all you rich parents out there who are buying designer shoes for you children beware, it will just be the start. Prices will go up, their friends will have a more expensive pair than them and then they'll want to keep up with them. I'm not against children looking good
Juicy Bikini, I just think that at that age you get things bought for you and don't learn to be careful with it. I know that with my boys they just think that if they wreck their shoes we will have to get them a new pair. My youngest used his to stop his bike and left some scratches on them and decided he wanted a new pair. I told him no and later that week I caught him ripping the front of them with his hands knowing that I would get him a new pair out of shame. Won't happen next time because I made him pay for them out of his pocket money and these have already lasted longer than most of his other pairs.
It's an expensive hobby, having children, but has now got to the point where they wear better clothes than the parents who are quite happy to go out in a £15 pair of shoes, a shirt and jeans. My brother in law quite happily brags that his shoes cost nearly a hundred pounds but he's still in school so I am assuming it's not quite as new a thing as I thought, just the first I've heard of it.
I would dearly love to see things go back to the way they were ten years ago as far as children's clothes and shoes are concerned. You could buy them shoes for £10 that would last 3 months and wouldn't mind paying it again every 3 months, though 6 would be better. I am not a miser with money but do think there should be spending limits when it comes to children's clothes especially when they don't last.