How do road runners select their shoes? A systematic review

Running shoes are often considered essential to participate in running. Runners may look for recommendations from friends, specialty running stores, and healthcare professionals when selecting shoes. Despite the existence of shoe prescription guidelines, these not evidence-based or designed with runners’ preferences mind. This review aims synthesize original research that identifies how road runners select Following PROSPERO registration (CRD42021242523), PubMed®, Scopus®, Web Science®, SPORTDiscus™ electronic databases were systematically searched March 2021, monitored until 1 February 2022. Original identified factors influencing selection published English included. Data qualitatively synthesized. Seven studies representing 1947 included, conducted either online, laboratories, via interview. Forty thematically sub-grouped into five categories: subjective, shoe-specific characteristics, market features, peer evaluation, runner characteristics. Comfort, cushioning, fit, price cited most frequently as influential footwear selection. Most reviewed specifically address question this review. Lack consistent definitions varying methods found across studies. There is limited targeting influence Comfort cushioning appear be important selection, although relationship between both variables confound their individual importance. also consider price, several other Shoe choice remains relatively unexplored, no study store.