Become a Zoot InsiderSpecial Promotions and Giveaways. I am interested in Triathlons - I enjoy all three! View our Privacy Policy.You wouldn’t catch Tim Lincecum on the mound in bulky basketball shoes. Nor would you expect to see Reggie Bush cutting through defenses in golf cleats. Yet every weekend, thousands of runners go out and hit the pavement in shoes that aren’t designed for running. If you go running in tennis shoes, more than likely, you’ll be fine – at least for a while. But the truth is simple: Equipment matters. And having the proper footwear may be the difference between you finishing strong or being hobbled by aches and pains. “Years of anecdotal evidence suggest that the right shoe can reduce your risk on injury,” says J.D. Denton, owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Davis, California, and a 30-plus-year shoe-fitting veteran. It can also increase your enjoyment of the sport –and your longevity in it, he says. To reap those benefits and find your shoe match, your first move is to find a specialty running store.

Employees at these stores are typically more focused on running, and understand proper fit better than the staff at most big box sporting goods chains. nike basketball shoes release dates 2013Any running store worth its weight in energy gels has trained its employees to evaluate your needs from the ground up. latest nike shoes for toddlersOnce you’re inside the store, here’s what you should be looking for.buy shoes puma “Years of anecdotal evidence suggest that the right shoe can reduce your risk on injury.”best shoes running shoes flat feet J.D. Denton, owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Davis, Calif.knitted running shoes

If it’s your first time, expect to spend 30 minutes to an hour for your fitting. “Tell the person that greets you that you’re new to running and you want to get a pair of shoes,” says Denton. best running shoes neutral female runnersThe staff will take it from there, starting with a visual evaluation. Some stores will just watch you run. Others may opt to videotape you as you run, and review your form in slow-motion playback. Either way, the staff is looking to gain a sense of how much your foot pronates, or rolls inward, when you land. Don’t read too much into this – everyone pronates. It’s your body’s natural shock-absorption system. But some of the variations in the way your foot moves may help determine what type of shoe is best suited for you. Throughout the assessment, the staff should be asking you questions: How much do you run? Have you had any injuries?

Do you feel any pain when you run? What are your running goals? Be as candid as possible, because the answers help match you to a shoe. And if the staff isn’t asking questions, or conducting this type of assessment, go to a different store, says Denton. There are four main categories of running shoes: neutral, stability, motion control, and minimal. In general, neutral shoes –which are designed to not influence your gait, but rather just to provide cushioning and shock absorption underfoot –are best for runners with little pronation. Stability shoes are designed for moderate pronators, while motion control shoes are meant for overpronators, or people whose feet roll quite a bit while running. In recent years a growing number of runners have opted for “minimalist” footwear, shoes that are lighter in weight and have only a small amount of cushioning between the runner’s foot and the ground. More experienced runners tend to do better in minimal shoes than new runners do, though newbies can be successful wearing them.

But for most, it’s necessary to transition into minimal footwear over time. The goal of the sales staff is to get you into a shoe that complements your pronation and your individual biomechanics (how you move). But it’s an imperfect formula. Some “neutral” pronators may fare better in stability shoes and some heavier pronators may find success in neutral shoes, says Denton. So your best bet: try on multiple pairs. Take them for a test run outside or on a treadmill. “If it feels like something it pressing into your arch, the shoe has too much support,” says Jeff Moreno, a runner and orthopedic physical therapist who treats many runners in Santa Cruz, California. “You want a glove-like feel, but gloves that give your fingers room to move,” he says. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, Denton says you should examine four factors to determine your best fit: 1. Is the heel snug? If you feel like you’re slipping around in the back of the shoe, keep looking.

2. Can you wiggle your toes? If not, the shoe is too tight. 3. Is there about a thumb’s-width length between your big toes and the tips of the shoe? You’ll need the extra room to allow for the natural swelling of the feet that occurs when you exercise. 4. Do they feel good? When you find a shoe that fits those four criteria, put your credit card down—even if it doesn’t come in your preferred color. Rest assured you’ll be in good company –most runners, at some point, have had to choose fit over style. Additional reporting by John Gugala Enko gives you unique shock absorption that no other shoe can. Impact is deadened, your stride is smooth and the sensation is like never before. To optimise this revolutionary system of shock absorption, your shoe is delivered to you with shock absorbers that are adapted to your weight, guaranteeing you record-beating comfort that is far superior to that of any other shoe. Your joints will thank you. Enko is a revolutionary running shoe which, with its two shock absorbers, conserves all the energy stored in each stride.

With a normal shoe, when your foot touches the ground, the energy is dissipated and completely lost. By contrast, ENKO stores up the energy and gives it back when you lift your heel off the ground again. Your running becomes extremely efficient. With 2 cm of shock absorption, it’s simply the best. The shock absorber is at rest, pressure is zero, stability perfect. The energy is freed progressively when you lift your heel. Technical Specs WHY IS ENKO UNIQUE? Enko running shoe protects your body with a unique cushioning system. The shoe stores and returns energy like no other shoe can do today. It is the only shoe in the world that adapt to the weight of the runner: the springs are interchangeable. It optimizes your stride and reduce fatigue. The objective of Enko is to protect the health of runners: the shoes have been designed to prevent injury. The patented sole fits all types of strides: neutral, pronator and supinator. With one click you can go from the walking to running position.

The walk position allows you to wear the shoes for all your usual activities. In the run position, your Enko shoes provide exceptional performance for running. The studs are interchangeable, which extends the life of your shoes. The springs have a life guarantee of more than one million cycles. The cushioning never degrades, unlike with traditional shoes. In summary, they give pleasure while preserving your health. OBSERVEUR DU DESIGN 2016 The Enko running shoes received the Label "L'Observeur du design 2016". L'observeur du design is an international design award that identifies and rewards each year the most innovative achievements in terms of design and innovation. CES Innovation Awards 2016 The CES Innovation Awards distinguished this shoe «which gives you wings» on November 10th in New York amongst 3000 candidates, allowing Enko to enter the worlds top 30 best Start-ups. ENKO will be present at the CES in Las Vegas, from January 6th to 9th 2016. Learn more > Press The press has been talking about Enko, see below for a selection of articles: