How to Choose the Right Running Shoes (According to a Podiatrist)
How to Choose the Right Running Shoes (According to a Podiatrist)
Walk into any running shop and you’ll be met with a wall of shoes promising to be “the one”. But the pair that works wonders for your training buddy can be a fast track to shin splints for you — and that’s why finding the best running shoes is something a Perth podiatrist approaches very differently to a shop assistant.
My answer to “which shoe should I buy?” is never a brand name. It’s the pair that fits your feet and matches how you actually move — a decision behind a huge share of the niggles I see in clinic. Here’s how to choose without the guesswork.
Why Fit Matters More Than the Brand
Nobody ever got injured because their shoes were the wrong colour. Most running complaints — blisters, black toenails, sore arches, shin pain — come down to one thing: a shoe that doesn’t match the shape and movement of the foot inside it.
Every brand builds on a different “last” (the mould a shoe is shaped around). A shoe can be technically excellent and still be wrong for you because it’s too narrow in the toe, too firm in the heel, or cut too low across the arch. Get the fit right and the shoe disappears.
The thumb-width rule
The simplest check you can do at home: stand with your shoes laced and leave about a thumb’s width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Your feet swell as you run, and that room stops your toes jamming into the front on a long run.
Your feet change, so should your size
Feet aren’t a fixed size for life. They widen and flatten a little as we age, and pregnancy, weight changes and hours on your feet can all shift things. The size you wore five years ago isn’t necessarily your size today — one more reason online shoe shopping is a gamble.
Foot Type and Pronation: The Myth You’ve Been Sold
For years, runners were sorted into boxes — “overpronator”, “neutral”, “supinator” — and sold a matching shoe with a wedge of support built in. It sounded scientific, but the evidence never really backed it up.
What pronation actually is
Pronation is simply the natural inward roll of the foot as it lands. It isn’t a flaw; it’s your foot’s built-in shock absorber, and for most runners it causes no trouble.
What the research really says
A well-known 2014 study followed nearly a thousand novice runners and found that moderate foot pronation was not linked to a higher injury risk, even in a neutral shoe. In other words, strapping a motion-control shoe onto every “pronator” isn’t the injury-proofing move it was once sold as — comfort is a far more reliable guide than any label on a box.
Shoe Rotation: Give Your Shoes a Day Off
If you run most days, consider owning two pairs rather than grinding one into the ground. Rotating between two models spreads the load, lets the midsole foam recover between runs, and gently varies the forces on your feet and legs.
When to Replace Your Running Shoes
Running shoes don’t wear out the way you’d expect. The outsole can still look fine while the midsole — the part doing the actual shock-absorbing — has quietly gone flat. Once that cushioning dies, the impact you were avoiding travels up into your ankles, knees and hips.
Most podiatrists suggest replacing running shoes every 500 to 800 kilometres (roughly 300 to 500 miles), or every six months if you run regularly. Heavier runners may hit that limit sooner.
Signs it’s time
- New aches are creeping in — sore knees, shins or arches — with no change in your training.
- The midsole looks creased or compressed, even though the tread is still fine.
- The shoe feels “flat” or dead compared with a newer pair.
- The upper is worn through, or the heel no longer holds your foot snugly.
How a Perth Podiatrist Finds Your Best Running Shoes
This is where a clinic visit genuinely beats a fitting in a busy store. Instead of eyeballing a worn tread pattern and guessing, a podiatrist measures how your feet actually move when you run.
At The Wellness Place in Bassendean, we use a Zebris pressure-plate gait analysis to see, in real time, exactly where pressure loads up under your feet — which part of your heel strikes first, how weight transfers across the midfoot, and whether you’re pushing off evenly. That data, combined with a proper assessment, means any shoe we recommend is based on your mechanics, not a best-seller list.
It’s particularly worthwhile if you’ve had repeated injuries, you’re returning to running after a break, or you’re training for an event. And if your feet need extra support, we can talk through whether custom orthotics are worth it — or whether the right shoe on its own does the job.
Five Common Running Shoe Mistakes
- Buying the same model forever. Brands quietly update their lasts and cushioning, so today’s version of “your” shoe may fit differently.
- Buying too small. If your toes touch the end, you’re inviting black toenails and blisters.
- Replacing based on looks alone. Tread can outlast dead cushioning by months.
- Racing in brand-new shoes. A fresh pair needs a few easy runs before any big effort.
- Ignoring pain. A shoe should never hurt from day one. Discomfort that doesn’t settle is a sign the fit is off.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Fit?
The best running shoes in Perth aren’t the most expensive ones — they’re the pair that matches how you move. If you’re in or around Bassendean and tired of guessing, come and see us. Book a podiatry appointment and gait analysis at The Wellness Place, and we’ll help you find shoes that keep you running comfortably.
Call us on (08) 9379 3838 or visit us at 9 Old Perth Road, Bassendean.
References
- Nielsen, R. O., et al. (2014). “Foot pronation is not associated with increased injury risk in novice runners wearing a neutral shoe: a 1-year prospective cohort study.” British Journal of Sports Medicine. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23766439
- Achilles Foot and Ankle Center. “When to Replace Running Shoes: Mileage, Wear Signs and Tips.” achillesfootandankle.com
- REI Co-op Expert Advice. “How Should Running Shoes Fit?” rei.com