Running shoes are most often the first โremedyโ cited when you look for ways to minimize your chances of getting hurt while running. Even though multiple studies have proven that a good pair of running shoes is not all you need to curtail the negative impact of excessive running, it certainly helps reduce the chances of injury.
So, can you afford to be cost-conscious about something so important?
Best vs. Affordable vs. Cheap Shoes
From the most updated lists of running shoes in the UK, we have created three price categories:
Best โยฃ100 or more (mostly around ยฃ125)
Affordable โ Between ยฃ60 and ยฃ100
Cheap โ Less than ยฃ60ย
A good pair of affordable running shoes can cost you about ยฃ70 to ยฃ80 on average, slightly lower if you can catch a good deal or compromise on the colour, making them a financially smart choice, especially if they can last as long as a costlier alternative. Thatโs because even if the best shoes offer more comfort and design benefits (for injury prevention), the rate of wear and tear is likely to be the same as that of the most affordable running shoes.
Are Affordable Running Shoes A Health Hazard?
Itโs important to understand that more than the cost and quality of your affordable running shoes, the factors that impact the probability of you hurting yourself from running include: Your running style (which determines what injury you are more susceptible to) and the shoe type (design/not quality).
For example, lateral stiffness reduces the probability of lower extremity injuries, and adequate midsole flexibility is good for runners with problems/pain in their MTP joints.
So to answer the question โ No. ย Affordable running shoes do not necessarily pose a health hazard. Even if itโs not top of the line, the right shoe for your feet can help reduce the likelihood of injuries. On the contrary, wearing the wrong type of shoe, no matter how expensive and high-quality it may be, can increase the probability of injury. So do some research on your running style and what type of shoe will suit you, and you can search for โdiscount running shoes UKโ with relative peace of mind.
Final Words
Remember that affordable means no bells and whistles but decent quality. If you buy affordable running shoes that you need to change twice a year instead of high-end shoes that could easily last a year (based on how much you run), itโs neither financially savvy nor a healthy decision. Thatโs because you will end up spending more money due to the deteriorating condition of the shoes, which can increase the probability of injury.