POINTERS

Match shoes with activities. People who walk for exercise should buy running shoes, Wilford advises. Running shoes offer a better match to specific foot types than walking shoes.

People who do most of their walking or running on trails or paths should buy trailrunning shoes.

Those who do a variety of activities, such as aerobics and tennis or treadmill running, should wear a cross-training or performance shoe. It will give support for side-to-side and backward motions all the way around the foot.

Get the right fit. Consider your foot structure, including arch height and heel width, any injuries or physical problems, body type, along with activities.

Get a gait analysis. A good way to find the right type of shoe for running or walking is to have a specialty store analyze how you run or walk. Running Company customers are videotaped on a treadmill, and employees examine their foot strike. In other stores, workers watch customers on a treadmill or in the store.

Know the signs that shoes need to be replaced. Watch for depression creases in the midsole. Replacing shoes at the right time is not as easy as watching for a worn outer sole. The foam midsole breaks down quicker than the carbon outsole, says Lamar.

Monitor mileage. The estimated lifespan of most shoes is 300 to 500 miles.