Shop For Shoes the Way You Do A Mattress
Do you like a soft or firm mattress? Which one feels better right when you lie down in a store? If you like a firm mattress but purchase a soft one because it's what felt good when you lied down, it's likely that after a week or two you aren't going to be so happy with your decision.
While your first impressions of a shoe matter, don't let that be the deciding factor on what shoe to purchase. Memory foam, a common component of running shoes, can make a pair of shoes feel like you are running on clouds. If you aren't the cloud type and prefer to feel the road a bit more, you are going to dislike this shoe long-term.
Consider your own long-term personal preferences when picking a shoe, not just how they feel in the first 20 seconds of wearing them.
Return Policy
You followed these tips, purchased a pair of shoes you were excited about, ran in them a week and now you hate them. They’re rubbing you in all the wrong places, and that nifty new cushioning system the sales associate convinced you was a must-have? Well, now it feels like a must-not.
Don’t fret.
If you are the type of runner who needs a bit more time than an hour in the store, consider purchasing your running shoes from a retailer that lets you buy and try. Some stores offer a VIP program where you get 90 days to try out your shoes. If you don't like them at any point during that time, return them for another pair.
A good return policy isn't just limited to big box running stores; You can find similar programs at your local Fleet Feet, where you have up to 60 days to return an item if you don't like the way it performs, looks, or fits.
Shop risk-free for shoes. ACTIVE Advantage members get a discount with RoadRunner Sports, which offers a 90-day trial period on shoes.