Leslie Garcia - Dallas News

We will refrain from saying Bill Reynolds has sole. Or that he is a shoe-in for telling us how to buy athletic shoes. We will simply say he has been in the sporting business 32 years, that he owns New Balance DFW, which has five stores in the area, and he has made many shoe-related observations. He shares five of them with us:

 1 If the shoe fits: Wear a shoe designed for a specific activity. Need a cross-trainer? Then don't buy a running shoe. Cross-training shoes have more support on the sides of the shoes for all those side-to-side moves cross-training athletes make. Runners need shoes more cushioned for forward motion.

 2 If the shoe fits, part 2: "Seventy percent of people who come in here are wearing shoes too short," Mr. Reynolds says. "Many aren't having their feet professionally measured and evaluated. That's the biggest barrier we deal with."

Also, your toes aren't as important to the shoe length as another part of your foot: "Try to fit the ball of the foot where the shoe flexes. The widest part of the foot needs to fit right at the flex point of the shoe."

 3 For good measure: Have your foot measured every time you buy a pair of shoes. Best time to shop? Late afternoon. Your feet will be a bit swollen then, mimicking how they'll feel while you're working out.

 4 Don't forget to bring: Your old shoes so the salesperson can see how they're wearing down. And bring the socks you plan to wear.

 5 Out with the old: Runners need new shoes every 400 to 600 miles, usually four or five months, Mr. Reynolds says. "Walking shoes don't have the same impact, so they'll last six to eight months."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/healthyliving/fitness/stories/DN-nh_brief3_1016liv.State.Edition1.4272868.html