Introduction: The End of the “Best Running Shoe” Myth
For years, brands and media have tried to crown the best running shoe. Lighter, more responsive, more cushioned... Yet science is clear: there is no single perfect shoe for everyone.
Every runner has a unique running posture, training habits, goals, and sensory preferences.
According to Nigg et al. (2015), two key paradigms explain this reality:
- The “Preferred Movement Path”, meaning the natural movement trajectory the body seeks to maintain.
- The “Comfort Filter”, suggesting that comfort is a crucial indicator of how well a shoe aligns with a runner’s biomechanics.
In other words, the best shoe isn’t the newest or most popular — it’s the one that adapts to your way of moving.
.png)
Why Individualize the Shoe Selection Process?
Choosing the right running shoe goes far beyond style or brand preference. It’s a process that must consider several key dimensions:
1. Running Posture
Every runner has a unique running posture — knee flexion angle, foot strike pattern, asymmetries, cadence… These factors directly influence how the shoe interacts with the body.
With running analysis tools like Ochy, it’s now possible to measure these parameters in under 60 seconds using just a smartphone video. The resulting data helps recommend the shoe best suited to a runner’s real movement mechanics.
2. Type of Training
The choice of shoe also depends on terrain and discipline:
- Track: focus on reactivity and lightness.
- Road: balanced cushioning and stability.
- Trail: grip, protection, and durability.
Runners who train on multiple surfaces may even need different pairs for different contexts.
3. Frequency and Intensity
A runner training five times a week doesn’t have the same needs as a casual jogger. Midsole durability, cushioning quality, and fatigue management become essential criteria.
Training load and intensity are just as important: someone running 70 km per week at a steady pace places far more stress on their body than someone running 25 km weekly at an easy pace.
The higher the intensity and mileage, the more the shoe choice should balance performance, protection, and recovery. More cushioning or added stability can help prevent overload, while lighter, more responsive models are better suited to speed or race efforts.
.png)
4. Running Goals
Performance and pleasure don’t always require the same shoes.
An elite athlete develops, over years, a muscular and skeletal structure capable of absorbing intense mechanical stress — repeated impacts, high velocities, rapid transitions.
For an amateur runner, applying the same level of stress without sufficient preparation can instead increase the risk of injury (tendinitis, shin splints, joint overload…).
That’s why it’s crucial to adapt shoe selection not only to performance goals but also to the runner’s training level and load tolerance.
A Real Example: When Science Meets Practice
During the Berlin Marathon, Khaldon Evans, CEO and co-founder of Ochy, performed his own gait analysis using the app.
The results revealed excessive adduction in both legs — meaning a tendency for the knees to move slightly outward with each stride instead of staying properly aligned with the leg. This subtle deviation, often invisible to the naked eye, can lead to lateral instability and greater stress on the knees and hips over time.
Thanks to Ochy’s automatic shoe recommendation, Khaldon was able to discover a model with a sole that offered improved lateral control and a structure perfectly suited to his specific running dynamics.
By aligning his shoe choice with his actual gait data, he enhanced his stability, comfort, and running posture throughout the performance.
This is a concrete example of how biomechanics applied to retail can transform subjective advice into objective, data-driven recommendations.
Analysis link: https://app.ochy.io/analysis/4e0a9b05-5e97-4db4-b9f3-d047f78f2a2d
Conclusion: A New Era for In-Store Expertise
The era of “one size fits all” is over. Runners today don’t just want to buy shoes — they want to understand what fits them and why.
For running stores, this creates a unique opportunity:
- To deliver a differentiated experience, grounded in science and personalization.
- To build trust and loyalty with customers.
- And to turn every gait analysis into a sale, using fast, intuitive tools like Ochy.
With Ochy, every runner finds the shoe that truly fits them.
References
Nigg, B. M., Baltich, J., Hoerzer, S., & Enders, H. (2015). Running Shoes and Running Injuries: Mythbusting and a Proposal for Two New Paradigms: “Preferred Movement Path” and “Comfort Filter.” British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(20), 1290–1294.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095054