News: Are high-tech running shoes worth the money?

In trying to choose a new pair of running shoes, I’ve found myself torn between the latest, greatest technology and something a little more frugal that will simply get the job done. I’m on a budget, you see, so dropping 200 of my hard-earned dollars on a new pair of kicks isn’t exactly practical. And according to one Calgary researcher and author, those expensive shoes aren’t worth the money, anyway, reports the CBC.

In his new book Biomechanics of Sport Shoes, Dr. Benno Nigg, co-director and founder of the University of Calgary’s Human Performance Lab in the kinesiology faculty, explains that that comfort is key when it comes to choosing the best runners for your feet. The way you run doesn’t change depending on the shoes you wear, so a pricier pair isn’t necessarily any better for you than something basic with a proper fit.

"The injury statistics speak for themselves. They haven’t changed over the last 30 years, despite all of the technological advances that have been introduced into the running shoe," said Nigg, in an interview on the University of Calgary website. “If the shoe feels comfortable to you then it’s likely the right shoe for you. Comfort is likely the most important variable for sport-shoe selection.’

What do you look for when you’re shopping for a new pair of running shoes? Are you wowed by the bells and whistles new shoes have to offer, or is there a tried-and-true shoe you can’t live without?

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