Athletic shoe makers are being urged to ditch the “shrink and pink” approach when it comes to women's running shoes.
Over the past five decades, brands have invested billions of dollars to develop exercise equipment that prevents injuries, provides maximum comfort and improves performance.
But experts say this research was overwhelmingly designed for and tested on men.
Running shoes are typically designed using a three-dimensional foot shape called a last, which is usually based on the anatomy of the male foot.
Most athletic shoe retailers use the same last for their entire range, and aside from shrinking shoes and changing colors (a process known as “shrink and pink”), only minimal modifications are made when creating women's shoes, experts say.
Thus, brands fail to differentiate between women's anatomical and biomechanical needs throughout their lives, says a small study. published in an open access journal concluded.
Designs that target women rather than men will likely improve women's comfort, improve injury prevention and improve their productivity, experts say.
For the study, researchers led by Simon Fraser University in Canada surveyed women in Vancouver to find out if they had experienced any problems with their running shoes.
They recruited 21 study participants to include a wide range of ages, running experience, and weekly running volume and frequency.
Eleven recreational runners averaged 19 miles (30 km) per week; 10 of them were competitive runners, averaging 28 miles. Nine women ran during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth.
The women ranged in age from 20 to 70; their running experience ranged from six to 58 years.
All of them were asked to rank in order of importance the factors influencing their choice of running shoes. Responses indicated that their top considerations were shoe comfort and feel, injury prevention, and performance.
In terms of comfort, most said they wanted a wider toe box, narrower heel and more cushioning; Competing runners also wanted shoes with performance-enhancing features, such as a carbon plate, as long as they didn't compromise comfort.
The women said they actively searched for running shoes that they believed would help prevent running injuries. With this in mind, both groups emphasized that they place great importance on purchasing shoes from reliable sources.
They also emphasized the need to use different shoe designs or components for different running conditions—such as racing, training, speed training, or running with injuries.
And those who were mothers reported that they needed larger shoes with a wider fit, as well as additional support and cushioning during pregnancy and after childbirth. Competitive runners also stated that as they get older, they need more cushioning and support features in their shoes.
“Overall, our results highlight a major gap in running shoe design, which has traditionally been based on male anatomy and biomechanics,” the researchers wrote.
“Although participants did not always report being unable to find shoes, their stories reflected a trial-and-error process of adaptation, often without guidance or tailored solutions. This suggests that their needs are not being actively addressed through current shoe design or communication.”
They concluded: “We strongly encourage the footwear industry to move beyond simply downsizing men's shoes to fit women's feet. Instead, there is a need for sex- and gender-inclusive designs that take into account women's different foot morphologies, as well as their social constructs and preferences that change throughout life.”