If all you are wishing to do is buy something trendy and that looks good then the problem isn't so great. However if you need the correct pair of shoes for serious sport then you have to view the whole process differently.

If you are buying shoes for serious purposes then there are certain basic criteria with which it will help if you knew about.

Firstly you have to understand that if you are road running then depending on how your foot strikes the ground this affects your susceptibility to injury. This also determines the shoe type that you should choose. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all. All sorts of different shoes are designed for specific foot strikes.

Having established therefeor that your foot strike is a central part of the right technique and to match it is essential that you get the right shoe. How do you match your foot strike to the right shoe?

Another important aspect of running shoes is understanding exactly what is shoe cushioning.

Lastly you have to decide do you need a performance shoe, racing shoes or a trail shoe and how you correctly match your body frame size in relation to shoe selection.

It's a bit more complicated than just getting big shoes for big feet.

Choosing properly running shoe shoes as they say, starts with a discussion of how your feet move when they are in contact with the ground or what is called the foot strike.

If you choose shoes that encourage your feet to maintain a neutral position from impact through to push off you are likely to increase the risk of running related injuries. It makes sense really to try and allow some sort of footwear that is going to hopefully mimic the natural movement offyour feet in relation to the ground.

Conversely if you happen to have shoes that allow your feet to roll excessively inwardly or outwardly then you are likely to increase the likelihood of injury. This last point is essential in fact it is very easy to keep shoes for longer than you actually should do, because you are fond of them. This is not meant in the sense of falling in love with them for the fact that shoes are old and comfortable and on the surface feel good.

If the side supports of the shoe are too loose and the heel too worn then the end product is that your foot is going to move within the shoe and you are going to injure yourself sooner rather than later.

As has been mentioned before, the goal and the target when you're choosing the correct running shoe for you is to find the right shoe that encourages your feet to maintain a neutral position throughout the entire cycle from touchdown to push off.