NBLA Comfort Tips

Wear the right shoe.

The Motion Control Shoe.
If you have low arches or flat feet, or are heavier in terms of weight, or are a moderate to heavy overpronator, try on a pair of New Balance Motion Control shoes.

They'll help keep your heel from sliding out of place, and provide support along the inside of the shoe --key for protecting against overpronation.

(What's overpronation? For "normal" pronators--and most people aren't--the weight of the body remains over the center of your foot as you take a stride, striking first with your heel and then carrying forward at center line. In overpronators, as you walk or run, the weight of your body shifts from the outer side to the inner side of the foot, off the outside of the heel to the inside of your big toe just before the toe protrudes from your foot.)

The Stability Shoe.
If you move with mild to moderate overpronation coupled with low to normal arches, you're going to need a shoe with support and midsole cushioning. Pick out a New Balance Stability model.

The Neutral Shoe.
If you're one of the lucky few who don't overpronate go with a New Balance Neutral shoe.

Comfort for all -- some general advice.

Buy a shoe that fits. Seems obvious doesn't it? But it's critical. To realize the benefits of a shoe, your foot must fit in it correctly. Even a motion control model can't do its thing if you pick a size that's too big for your foot. In a shoe too large your heel could slide, causing friction and possibly blisters.

Wait till the afternoon to try on shoes. Your feet are actually slightly swollen during the later hours of the day, and you'll get a better fit.

When trying on a new show: leave about a ½ inch between the end of your longest toe and the front of the shoe. Like you, your toes need breathing room.

Got socks you normally wear to walk or workout in? Use them when trying on a new shoe.

Re-measure your foot. If you have fallen arches or flat feet, drop by NBLA about once a year, if you can, to let us measure your feet. Guess what--if you have a fallen arch your foot will have a tendency to grow in both length and width.

You don't need to "break in" our shoes. If correctly fitted, your NBLA shoe will be comfortable from the first stride to...

The last stride.

Yep, every shoe has its day. Around the 350 mile mark, you should part company with your trusted friend, and check in with us for a new one. Remember that we said a 150 pound runner absorbs 110 tons of impact per mile. That means eventually, even the most durable cushioning will start to give.

Buy socks. Why socks? They reduce moisture, and that protects against blistering.

Go the softer route. If you're putting in a lot of miles, try not to pound all of it on the pavement. Search out local trails, grass, or an open track.

Lace 'em up! Check out these lacing tips from New Balance. Sometimes the simplest adjustments can alleviate aggravating conditions such as your heel slipping, toe problems and top-of-the-foot pain: http://www.newbalance.com/techcenter/lacing.php

Let us help.

If you're confused by the many types and widths of shoes New Balance makes available, let us do the roadwork. Call or e-mail, and we'll make the pick.