The Three Asics Running Shoe Categories
Buying running shoes can be a confusing task as you try to work out the difference between the vast ranges of shoes sitting on the wall in the running store. To help solve the confusion Asics running shoes have been divided into three categories to explain the different problems the shoes have been designed to avoid.
The three categories in the Asics range are Structured Cushioning, Cushioning and Maximum Support and they each provide a different type of feature for your feet. Some people require much more cushioning while others need more motion control and stability. The shoes in each of these ranges have been designed to incorporate protective features for the feet and legs with lightweight high-performance material.
For versatile training shoes that can also be used quite comfortably in races you can’t go past the shoes from the Structured Cushioning category. These shoes provide you with plenty of support and cushioning while remaining light in weight. They are a durable shoe that makes use of the GEL cushioning system and have been designed for the biomechanically efficient runner who may have a slight over-pronation issue.
Pronation is the way the body works to absorb shock by rotating the bones of the foot so that the weight is borne mainly on the inside of the foot. This is a natural process but for people with high arches the foot tends to hit without pronating resulting in the shock of impact being transferred directly to the foot and leg. Shoes in the Cushioning category have added padding in the midsole to provide cushioned running shoes to compensate for this.
The opposite is over-pronation and is often found in people with flat feet. In this case the motion control is not developed enough to control the level of pronation that occurs and the foot can roll significantly too far. This is where shoes in the Maximum Support category are required and they assist in minimizing the pronation process.
No matter whether you are an efficient runner or a runner who requires extra cushioning or support there will be a shoe that meets your needs. That shoe might come from the Asics range or it could come from one of the other top brands. Make sure you try on a range of shoes so that you come up with a shoe that suits you best.
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