Brave News World Spring 2005: cover accessories faces fashion food health humor movies music shoes sports tech

About BNW BNW Cover Accessories Faces Fashion Food Health Movies Music Production Shoes Sports Tech

Shoes... Finding the best athletic shoe for you Story and photo by Kelly Griffith Are you running on pins and needles? Buying and wearing athletic shoes strictly for style could cause harm to your feet. By using some shoe tips, you can find the right pair of athletic shoes for any recreation. Before using the shoe tips, decide what activity you want the shoes for (tennis, running, walking, aerobics, etc.) and how often you will participate in the activity. The Champs footwear store in New York City is filled with athletic shoes of all kinds. If you decide you want the shoes for several activities, you might consider a cross-trainer. However, if you participate in the recreation three or more times each week, you should look for shoes specifically for your activity. Be careful - buying the wrong type of shoe may cause injuries such as shin splints or ankle troubles. After buying athletic shoes, they will need to be broken in and don't forget to buy new ones when needed. A good idea is to look for new cross-trainers after a year and after 500 miles for runners. Shoe tips: Know your foot size, or at least ask someone to measure you to be sure. Wear socks. Not wearing socks can make a big difference in the fit. Try on both shoes. Most people have different-sized feet. Arches: To find out if you have high, medium or low arches, make a footprint on a hard surface with your bare foot. Low arch: the print looks like the basic shape of your foot. High arch: the ball and heel of your foot are joined by a thin line. Medium arch: the footprint is in the middle. Width: Your feet are narrow, regular or wide. Women who have wide feet can also try to wear men's sizes. Shop in the afternoon, when your feet will be the most swollen during the day. Check flexibility. Make sure the shoe flexes easily through the ball of the foot, but not at the arch. If you have a trainer or coach, ask for advice. Ask a sales representative for help if you have a history of foot problems, which can affect the shape you need. In the store: Fit: Check front of the shoe for toe room - move around to make sure the shoes don't pinch your feet. Also, make sure the shoes are snug in the back. You feet should not slip out of the shoes. Don't forget to check to see if the width of the shoes fit your feet. Nike »          Adidas » Support: Runners and persons doing aerobics will need a large amount of cushioning in the bottom of the shoes. If you play sports such as tennis or basketball, you should look for a shoe that keeps your ankles stable for side-to-side movement. Walking shoes should offer shock absorption in the back. People with high arches should look for shoes that are cushioned, while low arches should be complemented with motion control shoes. Stability shoes should be used for people with medium arches. New Balance »          Puma » Material: Make sure the material allows your feet to breathe. Also, it should be flexible to allow your feet to move around. Reebok »          Sketchers » Related links: Where to shop for the best shoes Summer trends New designs for the season Sports Health and beauty

Brave News World is a general-interest magazine produced online by students in the course Online Journalism JRN 410 led by Professor Anthony Curtis, Department of Mass Communications, University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The cover, sections and pages were designed by students in the course and article topics were chosen and reported by the individual students who wrote them. We are eternally grateful to those agencies and institutions that have graciously provided images for this edition. Views expressed by individual writers in this magazine are not endorsed by the professor, the department, the university, or possibly anyone else. Your comments are welcomed by the professor who may be contacted at (910) 521-6616. Or you may e-mail the professor at acurtis@uncp.edu.