5 Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Running Shoes & Clothing Online
With online retail rising in popularity, more and more of us have experienced the benefits of shopping from home. Whether it’s to avoid the hustle and bustle of busy shopping centres or to enjoy the self-care ritual of shopping in your PJs now and then, online retail is here to stay.
Online shopping puts a huge variety of the best running shoes and running clothing just a click away – and even better when you can bundle it all into a single shipping price or even enjoy free shipping.
In an active lifestyle, the convenience of online shopping can’t be overlooked but there are some common mistakes that can dampen the experience. Here’s what they are and how to overcome them.
1. Guessing or assuming your size
Thinking close enough and guessing your size rather than taking the time to pull out a measuring tape before clicking and purchasing can be risky.
Even when you’ve purchased from a particular brand before, sizing can vary from product to product within a brand, when what’s in season changes and even more so when we compare that to competing brands.
Your body (feet included) may change in shape and size overtime – as you age and your hormone levels shift, as you modify your diet or fitness routine, or go through big milestones like pregnancy and childbirth.
Solution: Measure up
Size charts should not be underestimated. A few minutes of your time to measure your hips, waist and chest, or length of your feet in the case of shoe purchases is time well spent.
In fact, it’ll save you time in the long run by avoiding the exchange process. Exchanging your size isn’t the end of the road, but it moves the moment you can put your new sports gear to good use a little further in the future.
Remember not only do we feel more comfortable when we are wearing the correct size, but we feel more confident and confidence is something you can’t put a price on – not even if that price is time.
Contact our Sportitude sportswear and shoe experts for advice on finding your ideal fit.
2. Getting sucked into the sales spiral
Biologically, shopping feels good – boosting dopamine levels in your brain as your anticipation increases and you get caught up in the excitement of snapping up a bargain.
You may love a good sale, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of getting the right clothing fit or shoe type (e.g. neutral or stability) for you. Less common sizes are likely to go on sale due to reduced demand – but you can’t wrestle your body or feet into an ill-fitting size or style and make it work.
Going ‘cheap’ doesn’t pay off. Don’t jeopardise your comfort because in the long run it will be lost money if you don’t find yourself wanting to wear your new gear.
Solution: Shop for sales but shop smart
Shop for sales, but don’t do it impulsively. Purchasing a pile of bargains which potentially won’t see the light of day after one or two wears is a sure ticket for shopper’s remorse.
If you’ve had an eye on a particular running shoe and it does go on sale in your size, that’s the time you should pounce. Subscribing to a mailing list keeps you in the loop with what’s new and what’s on sale so you can get goodies with a discounted price tag – but be aware it may also tempt you to spend more frequently.
When it comes to running shoes, consider purchasing last season’s model which tend to be dramatically discounted as the brand makes way for the updated version. If you don’t mind not having the freshest styles off the shelf, this is an easy way to save without overly compromising.
End-of-season sales are another factor to consider. Yes, some gear is trans-seasonal like cropped tights but others will hide away in your wardrobe until the weather changes. That’s OK as long as you’re happy for this gear to hibernate until its moment to shine in the season it was made for.
3. Shopping for quantity over quality
You may buy several no-name products that barely make a dent in your budget, but are they really going to satisfy you - either emotionally or when you put them to work on your sweat sessions?
Cheap and poor quality means a shorter lifespan so even if you are using the product regularly, you’ll have to toss and replace it several times over compared to if you stuck with a high-quality product that’s made to go the distance.
In terms of sportswear comfort should be your priority. Cheap materials mean sacrificing on performance features such as light, sweat-wicking fabrics in apparel or cushioning technologies in running shoes.
Comfort is really what it’s all about when it comes to giving you an edge on your workouts. If you’re not comfortable, the motivation to gear up won’t come anywhere near as easily.
Solution: Shop for trustworthy brands from specialty stores
There’s a reason why running shoes from top brands like Asics, Brooks, New Balance and Mizuno have a higher price point than generic shoe brands from giant, non-specialty stores in the retail space.
Running is what they do. They’re literally the experts in their fields. Rigorous testing both in the lab and real-world and years of research goes behind giving you that perfect experience on the pavement.
Shoe models from high-end brands are targeted for a specific runner to give you personalised levels of stability or cushioning for your foot type – boosting your performance and reducing your risk of injury. These running shoes are backed with engineering and technologies that make them a specialist rather than a run-of-the-mill product.
Top footwear brands aren’t trying to whip out a one-size-fits-all solution. They know the role your personal running biomechanics plays in your performance and comfort and how to make your shoes work best for your specific foot type. Many offer their most popular models in a variety of widths to cater more precisely to a wider spectrum of runners.
The benefits of a top-end product that caters to your individual needs can not be emphasised enough and you’ll feel the difference on the road and be more motivated for it.
Of course, have a budget but use it wisely and keep in mind that you generally get what you pay for.
4. Putting looks before function
A running shoe may tick all the boxes for style and attract your eye like aurora borealis, but will it meet your personal needs when it comes to putting foot to pavement? The last thing you want is a shoe that’s all glam and no guts.
Lifestyle shoes give you a sport-inspired look for everyday wear but aren’t designed to protect your feet from the repetitive impacts and stresses of running.
When it comes to running shoes, some are versatile for your daily training but others may be targeted to a specific type of running workout – high mileage, tempo or race day – so it’s important to wear the right shoe for the right job or risk it breaking down early or not living up to your expectations.
Solution: Read the description and reviews
Don’t judge sportswear for its looks or assume that if something looks sporty, that you can put it through its paces and expect the same performance from sneakers as you do a running shoe. We could say the same thing of a bra – everyday bras simply aren’t made to move, even if they look the part. When you’re doing a high impact sport like running, you need a high support sports bra.
Particularly when looking through your phone or laptop screen, it may be hard to tell from first glance the designated purpose and functionality of a product. A picture may say 1000 words but when you’re shopping online information is even more valuable.
Customer reviews give you a greater understanding of how a product functions in the real world. However, remember that no two feet or body are the same and reviews are subjective, so nothing beats your own experience.
However, reviews certainly give you insight, particularly if the trend of a product is to have dominantly positive or negative review or a particular feature has been pointed out several times as a problem or asset by different customers.
You can even truly embrace 'retail therapy' by setting yourself up with a cup of tea as you coast over a website and read the product descriptions. If you’re short on time and just want a gist of the product, scan the bullet points at the end of the description.
For sports clothing, look for key phrases like sweat-wicking and breathable and if available, take note of the fabric content. Cotton is soft for everyday wear but absorbs sweat like a sponge, whereas synthetic materials like polyester breathe well.
5. Overspending
It happens to the best of us – we have a particular item in mind when we go on a website or in store and end up filling the cart with things we never knew we wanted. ‘Retail therapy’ releases dopamine – making us feel good and gratified instantly. This can impede or rush your decision-making process of weighing up the price tag with the perceived benefits.
Soon enough, your budget is either long forgotten or there’s a rain cloud over your head of guilt for not having stuck to it.
Solution: Plan ahead
Plan ahead and keep your budget in mind. Doing the daunting task of emptying out your wardrobe and taking note off what fitness staples you have, and what you need to replace due to wear and tear is a good start.
If you’re refreshing your wardrobe after a fitness slump to boost your motivation, think about what you want versus what you need to kick-start your training and prioritise. It’s OK to have a list of ‘wants’ in mind and whittle it down without compromising on any favourites.
A time-saving tip is to use the filters on a website to fine-tune the search to match your criteria. Searching by product type can keep you on track and prevent the temptation of buying unnecessary extras, and using price filters may avoid overspending by showing you only what you’ve budgeted for.
Signing up to an online store lets you to save your cart and come back to it – allowing you to sleep on it and your dopamine levels to settle down so you don’t make any rash decisions.
Consider what’s in your shopping cart and how each product will fit into your fitness routine. If you can’t imagine getting much use out of it, it probably isn’t worth paying for. On the other hand, running shoes and clothing that tick all your boxes are absolutely worth it to run confidently and stay on track of your training.
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Happy shopping and we’ll see you down the road. Take care.