Like favorite courses or training partners, runners often remain loyal to shoe brands. But the running shoe industry has changed so drastically in recent years, it’s wise to consider new brands and styles to help avoid injuries.
“There has been a major shift in brand loyalty," J.D. Denton, a Northern California retailer and journalist who has been writing shoe reviews for more than a decade. “Part of it is that there are a lot of newer runners and runners coming back to the sport after years away. They’re more open to trying new brands and not as locked into old habits."
Another major reason to consider a new brand is the frequency of style changes. When once manufacturers kept styles in circulation for many years, it’s rare to find styles today that remain on store shelves or available via mail orders or in the internet for more than one year.
“If you find a shoe you like, it might not be available the next time you look for the same pair," said Denton, owner of the Davis location of the national Fleet Feet chain. “There’s also a lot of fashion involved in the shoe industry these days. A lot of running shoes are being purchased by people who don’t run."
Two of the most popular shoe brand names - Nike and Asics - provide two good examples of how the industry is changing. Nike once sold more than 50 percent of all running shoes, but its market share has substantially dropped.
According to Denton,
Nike running shoes sales are leaning toward the fashion end of the industry, with styles sometimes changing within a one-year time frame. Asics, however, maintains many of its most popular shoe characteristics in new styles.
“Every time a company introduces a new style, it’s going to alienate some long-time wearers and it’s going to win over a few new customers," said Denton. “But in the case of Asics, it’s one of the companies that has had success keeping its styles consistent over the years. But if it changes one characteristic, the shoe might no longer be the proper shoe for you."
Additionally, experienced runners should consider that their feet change in width and in other ways as they age. As such, one brand of shoe that may have fit perfectly for years, may no longer be the proper shoe.
Another factor in the changes in the running shoe industry is an increased public awareness in the importance of proper footwear.
As stated in a recent issue of Running & FitNews, As runners we know our first line of defense against overuse injuries is a good-quality, low-mileage running shoes."
The lead article in the monthly newsletter of the American Running Association (ARA) in Bethesda, Md., continues, “But it is not only our job to buy the right pair but also to replace them regularly and to check shoes for defects."
The article, written by Bruce Wilk, director of Orthopedic Rehabilitation Specialists in Miami, Fla., reiterates the basic but often overlooked function of running shoes.
“The main purpose behind a running shoe is to hold your foot stable and to provide shock absorption," writes Wilk. “Defective running shoes that don’t hold your feet in a neutral position may accentuate preexisting biomechanical problems."
Finally, because of increased sales and changes styles, runners need to be more aware of the possibility of shoe defects.
One simple test is to place a new pair of shoes on a flat surface and hold the top of the shoe while rocking in it and out. Shoe should remain even and not roll.
The ARA recommends checking shoes throughout their entire “life," which should last 300-500 miles.
