I need a shoe with lots of cushioning!

I hear that a lot and certainly having a "soft" shoe gives us a feeling of having more comfortable feet. This is especially true if we're on our feet all day.

But in the running world the cushioning factor can be a bit misleading. There are several factors governing shoe cushion for runners some of which include:

Running terrain- running in rocky, hilly, uneven terrain usually isn't suitable for shoes lacking foot support and cushioning. If you've ever stepped in that unforeseen hole or misplaced rock you know what I mean.

Level of training- individuals just starting a running program probably are going to want a shoe type that softens the blow on the feet and lower legs so shoes with a little more cushion may be applicable. At least until your body adapts a little to the demands of running. And those demands are substantially greater than walking.

Body weight- I can't tell you the number of lower extremity injuries I see that are related, in part, to body weight. For large people (over 180 pounds is big for a runner in my opinion) the demands of propelling their body weight over various terrains are significantly greater than for a 130-140 pound person. That's not an absolute but is true in most cases anyway. You don't see many 200 plus pound runners that are serious about it. Yes, they are out there but not like the fit 140 pounders.

Foot type- This may be the most important factor of all. If you have been genetically given a foot that is high arched, inflexible, and rigid then you definitely need a shoe with more cushion particularly at heel strike. This cushioning will help reduce stresses that an inflexible foot isn't capable of dispersing efficiently.

Nike Shox NZ   Mens Nike Shox   Fashion jewelry  Silver Earrings    Womens Nike Shox NZ White