Running shoes: fit and questions to ask

This guide doesn't tell you which running shoe to buy, because that depends on you. It gives you questions to ask, things to check when you try a pair on, and your rights if something goes wrong.

1. Know what you'll use them for

Before you go in, have a rough idea of how you'll use the shoes. Think about road, track, trail or treadmill, how often you'll run, and whether you'll also wear them for walking or the gym. Telling the shop this matters. Under the Australian Consumer Law, if you tell a business what you want a product for and you buy it on their advice, the ACCC says the product must be fit for that purpose.

2. Questions to ask the shop

• What is this shoe designed for, and is that a match for how I'll use it?
• What sizes and widths does it come in?
• Can I try both shoes on, and walk or jog in them in the store?
• What is your return or exchange policy if they don't suit me after I get home?
• Does the brand offer any warranty on top of my consumer rights, and what does it cover?

Write down what you're told, or ask for it in writing. The ACCC says any description a business gives you, written or spoken, must be accurate, and any extra promises about quality or performance must be met.

3. Trying them on

A few practical habits help: - Bring the socks you'll actually run in. - Try both shoes on, not just one, and lace them up fully. - Walk around, and jog if the store allows it. - Check that nothing rubs, pinches or slips, and that your toes aren't pressed against the front.

4. Foot pain or injury worries

If you have foot pain, a past injury, or a question about how your feet or legs work when you run, a shop isn't the right place for that advice. See a podiatrist or a physiotherapist, or talk to your GP. This guide doesn't give health advice and can't tell you whether a shoe will help or prevent any problem.

5. Your rights if something goes wrong

Consumer guarantees apply automatically when you buy from a business, and the ACCC says no sign or policy can take them away. That includes a "no refunds" sign. Products must be of acceptable quality: safe, durable and free from defects. The ACCC even uses shoes as its example. A shoe that loses its heel the first time it's worn doesn't meet the guarantee of acceptable quality.

A warranty is extra. The ACCC says warranties are promises a business can choose to make on top of the consumer guarantees, so you don't need one to have rights.

If there's a problem, contact the business you bought from first. The ACCC says the business can't refuse to help by telling you to contact the manufacturer.

The short version

• Tell the shop how you'll use the shoes, and ask what each pair is designed for.
• Ask about sizes, returns and any warranty, and note the answers.
• Try both shoes on with your running socks and walk or jog in them.
• For pain or injury, see a podiatrist, physio or GP, not a shop.
• Consumer guarantees apply automatically. If a pair is faulty, contact the seller first.

We don't list prices here, because they change depending on where you are. Check the retailer's own site for current prices and range.

Sources

• https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-services/consumer-rights-and-guarantees