without going to a shop -only for 10km type runs on varied road surfaces (surprise for my partner)

I’d say it’s next to impossible to buy the right shoes for someone else without them being there, unless you know specifically what they want.

Not to mention sizing is a bit of a nightmare…

can you look at some of your partners existing shoes and look at the heel area, are they worn on the inside or the outside??

maybe best to get a voucher and let them choose in all fairness

Not really. I bought a pair of support running shoes because they were cheap thinking “What’s the worst that can happen?”. Well, they gave me recurring injuries if that counts but I never worked it out until I changed them for a properly fitted pair. It’s worth doing once.

But if you insist, just buy neutral cushioned shoes. sportsshoes.com have many bargains if you’re not worried about this years colours.

valley daddy – probably the best bet

When I started running last year I went to a recommended running shop (Up and Running in Hudds – brilliant!) nearby. I was videoed for my running gait/style (whatever they call it) and again with each shoe I tried on. Ended up with some shoes I was really happy with. When they said they were £95 I explained I didn’t want to pay quite that much, was there anything cheaper that would work as well – they gave me 10% off “to make sure I got the right ones”.

I have been back since for a bit of advice on my running which they were really happy to give. They have been very helpful and not tried to sell stuff to me at all (I worked in retail for 12 years so always know when that’s happening). I have since recommended them to 2 other people who have had the same great service and advice.

Great example of the LBS (should be LRS – local running shop!) I reckon. They did say if I wasn’t buying shoes from them they would charge £10 for the videoing and show advice as they get loads of people coming in for it they buying off the internet.

Considering the huge amount of problems you can get if youdon’t wear the right footwear I reckon a visit to a proper shop is a must. Just not worth saving a few quid and risk injury IMHO.

Last time I bought ‘normal’ running shoes I tried on about a dozen pairs and ran in them before finding the one that was spot on. Why do you think shops carry so many pairs?

Never been convinced by the “expertise” offered in specialist running shops but you have to at least try shoes on given that many of the manufacturers sizes vary, sometimes significantly.
I have a Nike outlet nearby which is quite cheap and fortunately Nike are my preferred brand and I have been running in them for the last 30+ years!
If the cheap outlet wasnt nearby I would order all of my shoes off the net.

For what its worth I would buy a lower price neutral shoe and start your running gradually. Over time you will find what is right for you I am skeptical of a machine or an under qualified person in a running shop to predict your running style or your bodies ability to adapt as you up your mileage and speed.

nope, give her a voucher and send her to the shop to get properly gait analysed

get properly gait analysed

Why pray tell?

You could read This and see if you think an untrained (probably young person) who is distracted by other customers and has an interest in making a sale can understand the complexities involved. and then can diagnose and recommend a shoe (of course only the ones that they sell and have in stock in your size!)
Do you think that process has value? I dont

Check and make sure you have left and right feet.

If thats successful buy a pair of shoes.

If you fail the first test by sayi maybe only having a single foot or two right feet then seek specialist advice.

You can make a reasnoble judgement of over/under protonation just by the height of your arches, which you can tell by walking accross a floor with wet feet.

Sizing however would require you to actualy try them on.

I’d get at least some basic fitting done even if it’s just getting the height of the arch right as I did the “just buy a pair that fits” thing and gave up running very quickly as it just hurt everywhere. Went back a few years later and just bought some from sprots direct (they had a dedicated running section with an arch measuring machine) to use at the gym rather than my 5.10’s and they were a world of differance, I went from being convinced I actualy couldn’t run to doing 5k without any pain whatsoever.

I’m with Surfer on this one, any gains that you may get from this gait analysis will only be achievable on a perfectly flat, uniform track.

Nike Pegasus is a good bet.

Check and make sure you have left and right feet.

If thats successful buy a pair of shoes.

If you fail the first test by sayi maybe only having a single foot or two right feet then seek specialist advice.

Do not let daft comments put you off procuring the finest shoes, when your partner is asleep make a mould of their feet, ensure the medium for the mould is warm to ensure you do not wake them, good luck and keep us all posted on how it pans out !

Nike Pegasus is a good bet.

For whom? Terrible ‘cushioning’ that provides no support when some may prefer / require it. Used them a long time ago, advised not to, had much better since.

You could read This and see if you think an untrained (probably young person) who is distracted by other customers and has an interest in making a sale can understand the complexities involved. and then can diagnose and recommend a shoe (of course only the ones that they sell and have in stock in your size!)
Do you think that process has value? I dont

Then you should go to the decent running shops. The sort of place you can make an appointment and have someone trained and experienced (and a runner themselves) provide a service. The sort of place that carries at least 6 good brands, lots of sizes and tries many of them. They are out there and do a good job.

For whom? Terrible ‘cushioning’ that provides no support when some may prefer / require it. Used them a long time ago, advised not to, had much better since.

Really? I remember running a 54 minute 10 miler straight out of the box a number of years ago. My ears were bleeding but my feet were fine! I think its the newer ones that seem to lack heel support they do seem a little less stable than the older ones, more like a racing shoe than a trainer.

The sort of place that carries at least 6 good brands, lots of sizes and tries many of them

Did you read my link which shoes how futile this is?

i’m with gait analysis, but only if its from someone who knows what they are about. once i read some stuff oin the www and thought i had bought the right shoes, got it totally wrong and nailed my knees very quickly.

and yes sizing varies hugely. tried on some bargain adidas kanadia a few weeks back and i could’nt get my feet in.

Did you read my link which shoes how futile this is?

Yes, but as it was just some unverified stuff on a web page that didn’t appear to hold any more value than this, I didn’t reference it back.

From your own posts you appear to have little experience of decent running shops and their service – so why do them down so much?

From your own posts you appear to have little experience of decent running shops and their service – so why do them down so much?

On the contrary I have lots of experience, and most likely since I have been running for over 30 years, more experience than many. I also worked in a specialist running shop for 3 years when I was at Uni. I would use them to purchase items and not expect their often minimal wage staff to provide expert advice.
I’m certainly not doing them or their staff down I just dont think you can place much trust in this type of analysis, conducted by relatively untrained people in such an environment. Its aimed at selling stuff at the end of the day.
The link actually highlights a great deal of important information about gait analysis.
Dont want to get into a long debate but its an interesting subject and a bit of a bugbear of mine so here is one quote which I think is relevant.

In isolation of other factors, however, video gait analysis has limited value. An abnormal irregular gait pattern is most often the end result of some imbalance in the body or wearing improper shoes, and rarely due to just bad running posture. The ideal use of video analysis of gait combines it with a complete assessment including a health and fitness history, a thorough physical examination, and others such as blood and urine tests or x-rays that may be necessary to uncover a problem that influences gait, for a comprehensive evaluation of an individual.

It also goes on to say how the data really needs to be interpreted by somebody who knows what they are looking at. It is also a symptom so the choice of shoe may then be simply to reinforce poor biomechanics.
Hence my point that it would be wiser to buy a neutral shoe then build up slowly and monitoring the changes that take place as your body becomes fitter and more efficient.