While the act of running may look simple, how to choose running shoes can actually seem pretty complicated. And that’s even more the case when you scroll through an online retailer’s site or page through a magazine, only to be met with confusing terms like neutral, zero-drop, and carbon-plate (all of which we’ll explain shortly, BTW).
This terminology can make you feel like you need a physics degree to simply buy a pair of running shoes. That leaves many people who are looking to run right now confused about what exactly they should be wearing on their feet.
Motion control or stability shoes prevent your foot from pronating, a natural movement that occurs when you move forward and your ankle rolls inward and the arch of your foot flattens. Everyone pronates, but in some people, the effect is more pronounced, and earlier evidence suggested this overpronation could be linked to running injuries like shin splints and a runner’s knee.
Cushy foam in the midsole of your shoe (the part between the fabric uppers and the rubber sole) cradles your foot and absorbs the force of the impact generated each time it hits the ground. Different brands and models use different types of foam and also vary their positioning. This is one of the most critical factors when it comes to how shoes feel
