Sneakers (sports shoes) have been around since the end of the 19th century. However, it was not until the 1940′s (1924 – Adidas) that truly modern running shoes came to the world.
Although various shoe manufacturers claim very different technologies, there are actually some basic shoe characteristics that are common to all companies (brooks, nike, adidas, saucony etc.). Having said that, most serious athletes tend to hone in on one shoe type that suits them the best and in which they feel the most comfortable and safe from injury.
Sneaker structures
Outer shoe sole – is made of blown rubber or carbon rubber or a combination.
Mid-sole – the shoe mid sole is the most important part of the sport shoe. Mid soles are made of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or PU (polyurythene). The midsole also has a stabilizing material, usually on the medial part, usually to prevent over-pronation.
Last – External shoe structure -This is the form around which the shoe is built, and is usually classified as either straight (for flat feet), semicurved (for normal feet), or curved (for a high arch). Curved lasts are also good for sprinters who run on the front of their feet.
Sneaker upper – the upper is the material sewn to the mid-sole (usually a type of nylon). The upper should offer support, comfort and ventilation.
Heal counter – the heal counter is a rigid or semi-rigid structure that supports the heal part. It minimizes excessive supination or pronation. The heal counter needs to be rigid and even more so for people who need more stability.
Toe box – the toe box is the front part of the shoe (technically, the toe box is the front of the upper). The toe box should fit without pressure so that toe injury will be avoided.
Shoe tongue - the tongue of the shoe should be thick enough to protect the foot from the laces, but not too thick as to put pressure on the foot.
Sneaker types
Sneakers are divided to various types that are meant to differ according to activity. Some shoe characteristics pertain to the way the shoe protects the athlete while others are relevant to shoe durability. In other cases the different shoe types are just there to sell more shoes…
- Motion control
- Stability
- Cushioned
- Lightweight training
- Trail
Foot shape and characteristics dictate the type of sneakers that should be used by each athlete from a particular type of sneakers. One very important characteristic to take into account is the foot arch type and rigidness:
According to foot shape, sneakers are also built in various forms. Shoe shape can be generally divided into three types:
- Semi-curved – A normal shoe that is meant for most people, with regularly shaped feet.
- Straight – These shoes provide more medial support and are meant for people with flatter feet.
- Curved – Curved shoes allow more curvature on the medial (i.e. inner) side and are meant for people with higher arched feet. They also provide support for people who tend to run on their tiptoes (e.g. sprinters).
