Buying Running Shoes – How Specialized Retailers Can Help

In addition to the retailers’ product expertise, there is another advantage for runners when they choose a new running shoe in the store: they can test it. “It’s incredibly important to try out running shoes before you buy them,” says Andre Kriwet. At home, that only works to a limited extent.

While we usually only order one or at most two different models in different sizes online, specialist retailers select several running shoes suitable for us right away. We can then test the different models either in the store or even outside in front of the door.

Buying a running shoe from a specialty store makes perfect sense. However, it may take a little time. After all, a detailed consultation takes between 20 and 40 minutes. How long we actually end up being in the running store varies from person to person and depends on what we already know about running shoes, what experience we’ve already gained, and what our goals are.

In a good consultation, the retail specialists aim to find out which running shoe might be suitable for us. To this end, they ask the following questions, among others:

Before we slip into new running shoes, a running analysis will be carried out first. Sometimes the retailer uses a treadmill or a running track and a camera for this purpose. However, the most modern technology is not absolutely necessary. An expert can usually recognize from experience what the running analysis is all about, even without a camera or other tools: our running style.

About 95% of all runners touch down with the heel first. However, people who run fast tend to land on their forefoot or midfoot. In such cases, it can therefore be useful to have runners test certain models.

For our personal running shoe test, retailers will then offer models of various brands. Usually, that’s three to a maximum of four pairs of running shoes. There are reasons why we don’t get more shoes for testing. On the one hand, the experts in the running store know the current models well. They know which running shoes are most likely to suit our running style.

On the other hand, with more than three or four different models, our brain will find it difficult to recognize and remember the differences between them. “If we have a good feeling when we test a running shoe, it’s usually the right one,” says Andre Kriwet, explaining the personal comfort filter.

But it’s not just the expert knowledge of the specialist retailer that’s a good reason to buy new running shoes in the store. Going to a running store always involves social interaction – and that has advantages of its own.

1. Make shopping an experience: When we enter a running store, we see running shoes lined up against the wall on almost every side of the room. Not only can we look at them, but we can also touch and test them. The good thing is that once we have found the right running shoe, we can start running right away after buying it.
   
   

2. Exchange ideas about our hobby: Talking to retailers and other customers, we can exchange ideas about running. In this way, we always learn about new running routes or even training methods.
   
   

3. Get tips from experts: In the running store, we meet real experts. Most of the retailers are enthusiastic runners themselves – and have tips on how we can prepare for our first marathon, for example. They know all the technologies and modes of action of the many different running shoe models and can pick out the best pair for everyone individually.
   
   

4. Become part of a running community: Real running communities form at specialty stores. Retailers often organize running events or invite customers to test events. At these events, we can be among the first to test the latest models.

Good retailers are not only recognized by the fact that they respond to the wishes and needs of runners. They also build a community. “A good running store is well-assorted, carries the latest models, takes care of its customers’ concerns, has well-trained staff, and provides a great atmosphere for shopping,” Andre Kriwet says.