Your feet are an important part of your body, taking on the force of hundreds of tons of weight during an average day of walking. Selecting the right work, casual, and running shoes should be a high priority to help take care of the health of your feet. Here are some tips to remember when you are shopping for a new pair of running shoes.

Buy New Shoes Regularly

It is a good idea to keep track of how many miles you put on your running shoes. Calculate how many miles you wear your running shoes while running, so you can buy new ones when it is needed, as you should plan to replace your shoes every 300 to 500 miles. If you are running a three-mile run, five times per week, you can expect to replace your running shoes every five to six months.

The reason for this strict replacement schedule is because as your running shoes get used, their foam or rubber sole becomes worn out and does not absorb the shock as well when you run. Wearing old shoes for longer than recommended can cause you to have running injuries, such as shin splints and tendinitis. 

If you have not kept track of the miles you put on your running shoes, you can test their sole. To do this, press into the center of your shoe,in its midsole, with your thumb. If the sole feels tough and unyielding, your shoe is ready for replacement. You will know if your shoe still has some miles in it, as the sole will feel cushy with a little give in the material when you press it with your thumb.

Take Your Old Running Shoes Shopping

When you go shopping for new running shoes, take your old pair of shoes with you. You can use these to help the shoe salesperson guide you to an appropriate replacement pair. Also, the bottom of the shoe will show a wear pattern, indicating how your feet angle while you run. For example, if you run primarily on the balls of your feet as a forefront runner, the front end of your sole will be more worn than the back. If you're this type of runner, it is a good idea to select a shoe that has a lot of padding in the front and not necessarily a great deal of heel cushion. Then, if you run planting your foot from its heel to its toe, you will need a shoe with more cushion in the heel.

Make sure you also bring any shoe insoles, orthotics, or arch support, and a pair of running socks you regularly wear, so you can try on any new shoes to see how they fit. It will not be helpful to try on a pair of running shoes wearing your dress socks or no socks at all.

Shop Late in the Day

For your foot to fit best in a new pair of shoes, make sure you try on new running shoes while your foot is its largest. Your feet will be slightly larger at the end of the day, and will help you best gauge a good running shoe fit for your feet. Your feet will usually swell during a run, so they will need as much extra space in your shoes to provide the most comfortable and roomy support.

Try New Shoes Before Buying Them

Another tip is to try the shoes out before you buy them. After narrowing your choices down to three or four shoes, run in them to see how they feel. Be sure you wear any shoe orthotics or insoles and your running socks while you test them out. Many specialty running stores are now providing a treadmill in the store for you to try out your shoes. 

If there is no treadmill, ask if you can walk or run around the store to see how they feel on your feet. Notice how the bottoms of your feet feel as they hit the ground in the shoes, and if they rub the sides of your feet or toes at all. Just as you would test drive a new car, you should do the same for shoes that will provide the most direct support to your feet while you run. 

Use these tips to help you select shoes through companies like Testosterone Shoes.