Running shoes are a runner’s most important piece of equipment. They are vital for comfort and safety. Although men and women’s running shoes are almost similar, women’s running shoes are specially designed for females. That is because most women have more slender and dainty feet than men.

The correct pair of women’s running shoes for a female depends upon her foot type. The biggest factor would be her feet’s pronation. But what is pronation? Pronation is the rolling motion of the foot from the heel to toe while the feet are in motion.

A neutral or normal pronation means that the foot hits the ground, the impact of the heel and the ball of the foot is spread evenly across the foot.

Underpronation happens when the shock and weight of the impact is absorbed by the outside of the foot, rather than evenly.

Overpronation happens when too much roll is evident on the inside of the foot once the foot hits the ground. This mainly distributes weight and shock on the inside of the foot, rather than throughout the foot.

Pronation can be determined by checking the rubber sole of the shoe. If the inside is more worn than the other parts of the shoe, then it can be said that the woman overpronates. If the outer side of the shoe shows a lot of wear than the inside, then the woman underpronates. Of course, if the wear is equal, then the woman has neurally pronated.

With the endless brands and varieties of women’s running shoes in the market today, choosing the right pair could be a difficult and challenging task. If the woman is an underpronator and runs more than 25 miles a week, then the best shoes for her are Brooks Glycerin, Mizuno Wave Rider and Asics Nimbus.

The Brooks Glycerin has great support and is durable. This brand of women’s running shoe has a removable gel footbed for extra cushioning. The Mizuno Wave Rider and the Asics Nimbus are well cushioned shoes that are designed for runners with a wide foot. However, both shoes can have problems with durability if the woman weighs over 140 lbs. Purchase these shoes at a half size larger than your normal street shoes.

For female overpronators who run more than 25 miles a week, the best would be the Mizuno Alchemy, Brooks Ariel, and New Balance 856. The Mizuno Alchemy has a modern control, has maximum support and is well cushioned. For small and medium sized female runners, these are very good shoes. The Brooks Ariel is durable and has excellent arch support. For moderate to severe overpronators, the New Balance 856 is the best.

For a female to buy the correct women’s running shoe for her, she needs to know her pronation.

(All Pronation Videos are brought to you by Runner’s World TV)