Did you know that the same pair of shoes (make and model) sold at running stores and low-cost retailers (like Zappos and Amazon) are oftentimes made in entirely different factories? While they might look the same, the materials and quality seldom compare.
So where should you buy your running shoes? That all depends.
Why to Buy from a Brick-and-Mortar Running Shoe Retailer
• A real-life runner helps you select the best-fitting pair of shoe based on how you walk/stand. It's like having your own little personal shopper.
• Many stores (most?) will even let you test drive the shoes. Take them out for a run. Run in them for a month. Don't like them? Return them.
• Sometimes the prices aren't much higher than box stores or online retailers. But sometimes they are. While you might be paying a premium price, you're getting a premium shoe. (And sometimes this makes a HUGE difference.)
Why to Buy from an Online Retailer
• If you don't run that often (and don't really intend on running longer distances), it might not be worth spending more.
• Time - Shopping online is SO convenient.
• Generally speaking, online retailers carry more colors in each shoe. Running stores may only carry one color in a specific style. So if you feel strongly about choosing the color of your shoes, you may want to shop online.
Enter my dilemma. After starting to run again, my heels started hurting and giving me a ton of grief. (Apparently I forgot how to run more towards the front of my foot.) I realized that I haven't purchased new shoes in over two years. It was time. Unfortunately, there isn't a running store nearby. (And the one near work closed.) In order to make my decision of whether to buy online or drive to a store, I decided to look up my trusty shoe—the one I fell in love with years ago. All I have to do is walk into a shoe store tell them the shoe and size, and I'm on my way. I was curious about this year's color. And that's when I saw it. The price stared at me like a blinking red light. $160?! nu uh. no way. not gonna do it. Not even if they spun gold while I ran. (Okay, okay. MAYBE if they spun gold, I'd consider spending $160 on running shoes.) Maybe if I was a marathon runner. But this momma can't even run 2 miles yet. So that was out.
So to Zappos.com I went. I found another pair of Mizuno's for much less money, had great reviews, and were super cute. (Cute shoes make you run faster... in case you didn't know.) Two days later (today), they arrived. Do they feel like they were a little more cheaply made? Yes. Do I care? Not really. They're really comfortable. And I can't wait to take them for a spin.
But until that day comes, I'll be here lying on the couch under a bazillion blankets staring at my new shoes... because I'm sick. as. a. dog.
So where should you buy your running shoes? That all depends.
Why to Buy from a Brick-and-Mortar Running Shoe Retailer
• A real-life runner helps you select the best-fitting pair of shoe based on how you walk/stand. It's like having your own little personal shopper.
• Many stores (most?) will even let you test drive the shoes. Take them out for a run. Run in them for a month. Don't like them? Return them.
• Sometimes the prices aren't much higher than box stores or online retailers. But sometimes they are. While you might be paying a premium price, you're getting a premium shoe. (And sometimes this makes a HUGE difference.)
Why to Buy from an Online Retailer
• If you don't run that often (and don't really intend on running longer distances), it might not be worth spending more.
• Time - Shopping online is SO convenient.
• Generally speaking, online retailers carry more colors in each shoe. Running stores may only carry one color in a specific style. So if you feel strongly about choosing the color of your shoes, you may want to shop online.
Enter my dilemma. After starting to run again, my heels started hurting and giving me a ton of grief. (Apparently I forgot how to run more towards the front of my foot.) I realized that I haven't purchased new shoes in over two years. It was time. Unfortunately, there isn't a running store nearby. (And the one near work closed.) In order to make my decision of whether to buy online or drive to a store, I decided to look up my trusty shoe—the one I fell in love with years ago. All I have to do is walk into a shoe store tell them the shoe and size, and I'm on my way. I was curious about this year's color. And that's when I saw it. The price stared at me like a blinking red light. $160?! nu uh. no way. not gonna do it. Not even if they spun gold while I ran. (Okay, okay. MAYBE if they spun gold, I'd consider spending $160 on running shoes.) Maybe if I was a marathon runner. But this momma can't even run 2 miles yet. So that was out.
So to Zappos.com I went. I found another pair of Mizuno's for much less money, had great reviews, and were super cute. (Cute shoes make you run faster... in case you didn't know.) Two days later (today), they arrived. Do they feel like they were a little more cheaply made? Yes. Do I care? Not really. They're really comfortable. And I can't wait to take them for a spin.
But until that day comes, I'll be here lying on the couch under a bazillion blankets staring at my new shoes... because I'm sick. as. a. dog.
My first good pair of running shoes I purchased at a running store and loved the experience, fit, shoe quality, etc. When I re-purchased, I used the same brand with the new model in the same line and I couldn't even tell a difference in quality. Perhaps I got lucky and bought a shoe manufactured in the same facility as the b&m shoes. I think I'd have had a heart attack seeing $160 for shoes as a casual (and seasonal) runner. I have a hard time paying over $100!
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