Choosing a Racwalking Shoe
In general, there are 7 steps in choosing a good race walking shoe. [This generally follows what Martin Rudow says in his book which I am indebted to. He wants to stress that his guidelines have been developed mainly for injury prevention]1. Go to a quality running shop. The clerks there should be more knowledgeable about shoes and what type you will need than the clerks in a chain-brand mall store.
2. Flex the shoe. It should bend at its widest point, the ball of the foot. It should not bend at the middle of the foot. If a shoe is too stiff, the back of the shoe may rub on the heel bone and cause irritation.
3. Look for a shoe with a wide toe box built on a semi-curved last. The midsole thickness should be fairly even from the heel to the toe with the heel being a little thicker. Push on the heel of the shoe. Ideally the inner side should be a little stiffer than the outer side. This helps with pronation and guides the foot to the outside.
4. The sole of the shoe should be flat, without any waffles, lugs, or knobs. The outer sole should be constructed of carbon rubber or something similar for durability. Shoes with a blown rubber outsole tend to wear down quickly.
