girls' running shoes advice

since it seems like many of you have families, i thought i'd post up this thread asking for advice. i'm looking for a pair of girls' running shoes, but dont know which one to buy. so many out there(on websites, cuz stores dont carry much), and i want to get a decent pair that will be good to use for running 3-5 days a week. i need a size 1, if that info matters.

thank you in advance for any good advices out there

My advice (from choosing walking boots) is to go with whatever is the most comfortable with minimal movement in the shoe to avoid blisters.

Go into a sports shop and try on lots of different makes and see which you feel comfortable in.

Gosh I could have sworn I saw Verbie say the stores nearby don't carry very many choices :thinking:

About.com:Running shoes

Outside online

Zappos

Don't ever buy shoes that you haven't tried on.

Anyway, my wife bought a really nice pair of Asics running shoes a while back, so you might want to look into those.

Asics are really nice, and last for awhile. Kayano or Nimbus are great choices they are just different breed. Try all brands to see which one you like better and feel most confortable. Asics just happens to fit my needs. Mizuno are a great choice too.

UncleFester said:

Gosh I could have sworn I saw Verbie say the stores nearby don't carry very many choices :thinking:

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the stores don't carry many choices for girls' running shoes. i saw only a few, but they were ugly. since i wasnt planning on buying ugly shoes, i didnt try them on :green:

i'm resorting to buying the running shoes online, which means i won't be able to try them on. that is why i'm asking advice on brand names now

hmm....when i say "girls' running shoes," i mean shoes for children, not women. and thank you for all the suggestions so far

Gel Kinsei, Kayano, Nimbus GT2120 are great stuff chose according to your budget.

verbie said:

the stores don't carry many choices for girls' running shoes. i saw only a few, but they were ugly. since i wasnt planning on buying ugly shoes, i didnt try them on :green:

i'm resorting to buying the running shoes online, which means i won't be able to try them on. that is why i'm asking advice on brand names now

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My wife runs with Asics too. She gets hers at Road Runner Sports which we're both very happy with. They'll guarantee the right fit, etc, but also have a very good fit analysis program online so you have a great shot at getting the right size in the first place. My wife's feet are an entire size difference apart, and she's been able to come to a good compromize (though I'm trying to convince her just to buy 2 different sizes now that she's putting in more regular miles).

Companies tend to have their own last styles. Check the Road Runner site. In their catalog they used to have a full comparison among the brands. I imagine the site probably still has that. I've settled into one brand myself now, so I haven't looked for the comparo in a long time.

Not a girl, but I run about 16 miles a week. I have been wearing the same pair of Asics for many years, after going through a bunch of crummy Nikes that gave me blisters. The Asics are starting to come apart, so I'll probably have to break down and get another pair. My Asics are blue and white, not gaudy or lame looking.

Thats what happens to me i upgrade them before they break down, every year, i do run 10 miles a week or try to

Lightraven said:

Not a girl, but I run about 16 miles a week. I have been wearing the same pair of Asics for many years, after going through a bunch of crummy Nikes that gave me blisters. The Asics are starting to come apart, so I'll probably have to break down and get another pair. My Asics are blue and white, not gaudy or lame looking.

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I'm a distance runner and I go with Asics GT-21xx's. If there's one available, go to a running specialty store, not a superstore like Sports Authority or ****'s. There you can be custom fit based on foot type and stride pattern. You may have to drive to a larger city, but Google running stores in your area. It's completely worth the extra effort.

I have read everywhere Olympic runners and champion marathoners like Galloway recommend buying new shoes every so many miles, washing them, alternating pairs every day, etc.

But for me (having run many miles in combat boots), once you get a really good pair of running shoes that is comfortable, durable and decent looking, like my Asics Gel, you are reluctant to spend more money for something that may not be as good.

I am sensitive to any knee pain, and I occasionally check the midsole for excessive compression of the polyurethane. My outsoles have worn through to the midsole in places, the uppers are ragged with huge holes in the heel counter and dirty and smelly. The lace ends are ragged. But these things do what I need--pound out the miles.

I was buying Nikes of varying quality and comfort since I started running at the usual Foot Locker. Many years later, I got fitted at Road Runner Sports with the Asics and never had a problem again. I'm sure Road Runner and Asics is sorry they gave me such great service that I haven't bought another pair of runners since!

MayCooper said:

Don't ever buy shoes that you haven't tried on.

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Valpo Hawkeye said:

You may have to drive to a larger city, but Google running stores in your area. It's completely worth the extra effort.

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Best advice thus far. I used to run a lot - marathons, races, etc. (I prefer bicycling now), and have gone through a bunch of different brands of shoes to find "the one...". Even with children, the shape of their feet and arch, and how they run, varies a lot from one child to another.

I'm not sure where in Texas you are, but it'd be worth the trip to a running shoe store - the good ones have specialists who give you a few pairs of shoes to try on, and they examine how you run in them. Based on that, they'll ask you which is most comfortable, and recommend one for your running style (how you land on your feet), and you're good to go!

As far as brands go, that's not as important as how they feel. Nike may work awesome for one person, New Balance for another, Asics for one, and Mizuno for the last (that's what I run in) - it's all about how they fit to the foot shape and running style. :thumbsup:

Good luck - I hope you find a pair of shoes for her that fit, feel, and look great! (although the last point should be the smallest factor in deciding! )

john

thank you everyone for the great advices. i live in houston and just googled running shoe stores. there are 2 available here and i'll make time in the near future to check them out. i really do prefer to try the shoes on before purchasing them. i was trying to be subtle, but i'm sure most of you understood it. i'm buying shoes for myself i'm a very petite person with even smaller feet. i wear size 3 women or size 1 children. that is why i'm asking advice for girls' running shoes. seems like everyone likes asics so far, so i'll keep that in mind.

again, thanks for the advices. if anyone has more advices, i dont mind reading them

I think John and others are saying that while Asics is one good brand, each company's shoe fits the foot in many different ways than just length. The heel cup, toe "box", tongue & laces etc all vary a lot. For example, when I was running years ago Saucony was a top brand that a lot of my teammates swore by, and maybe they're still great, but they sure didn't fit my feet regardless of the length.

A good running store will help you to find the right one for your feet.

By the way, New Balance specializes in making top quality shoes for nearly any size. Your shoe store can also help you to find a lacing pattern that works for you. (I have long narrow feet and the first thing I do with a new pair of shoes is relace from the standard X pattern)

binky said:

I think John and others are saying that while Asics is one good brand, each company's shoe fits the foot in many different ways than just length. The heel cup, toe "box", tongue & laces etc all vary a lot. For example, when I was running years ago Saucony was a top brand that a lot of my teammates swore by, and maybe they're still great, but they sure didn't fit my feet regardless of the length.

A good running store will help you to find the right one for your feet.

By the way, New Balance specializes in making top quality shoes for nearly any size. Your shoe store can also help you to find a lacing pattern that works for you. (I have long narrow feet and the first thing I do with a new pair of shoes is relace from the standard X pattern)

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gotcha, thanks! btw, what lacing pattern is used for narrow feet? i didnt know there's a difference in lacing pattern. oh yeah, just a litto comment. a friend of mine has wide feet, and she said saucony seems to fit her wide feet better than other brands. perhaps that's why saucony didnt fit your narrow feet too well. anyhoo, thanks for comments

I gotta echo again the advice of trying on running shoes before you buy. It's far from being the same as say buying a shirt online and then exchanging it if the size or fit isn't right. Your feet are very individual. I have tricky feet (low arches) and my then current pair of running shoes were causing me discomfort despite being a well known brand and not cheap. I did some heavy duty research and found a good store and when I went there found a knowledgeable salesperson and tried on several pair before settling on a pair of Brooks. My feet have thus been much more comfortable when running. I don't believe Brooks are any better/worse then more well known brands such as Nike and New Balance it's just that this particular model suited my feet better and you may find a particular model suits your feet better.

P.S. About running shoes, I have read stories of people buying several pairs when they find a shoe that's comfortable and they really like. Reason being is that manufacturers often change models and sometimes make changes to a particular model without renaming it so that when you go to buy that model again in the future it might be different from the previous pair you purchased.

verbie said:

gotcha, thanks! btw, what lacing pattern is used for narrow feet? i didnt know there's a difference in lacing pattern. oh yeah, just a litto comment. a friend of mine has wide feet, and she said saucony seems to fit her wide feet better than other brands. perhaps that's why saucony didnt fit your narrow feet too well. anyhoo, thanks for comments

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I had some huge long thing written and thought I was logged in, then when I pressed "submit" I got a login request and all was lost from there on (backing up in the browser didn't bring it back)

Suffice it to say that the lacing is a personal thing. I have a sensitive bony part of my foot above the arches. For that I skip a hole so I don't pressure it. I also never lace all the holes at the top. I think those last holes (off to the side) at the top must be optional because for me if I use those the laces feel like they're cutting into the crease at the bottom of my leg no matter how I arrange the lacing.

Anyway, do what works since nothing's written in stone that you need to use the standard X all the way up. There are also neat ways to lace so you can tug on the top laces that go straight across and that tightens the X below. That makes the tightening easier on leather dress shoes or boots, and you can run one of the laces from the very bottom hole directly to the top across the foot in a comfortable direction, but I don't find it any more useful on running shoes. I'd post a pic but I have to go try saving a crashed hard drive & I've probably avoided it enough already. (Sorry!)

Speaking of lacing I find Speed Laces to be right handy.