I’m one of those people who’s always had narrow feet, which can often limit my choice of footwear. When looking for trainers i’ve searched online for which trainers are great for narrow feet but I can never find anything useful. When it comes to running I’ve had the same model of trainers for my last five pairs so i’m going to share why they are always my go to for my narrow feet.
Go to a running shop
Firstly, I just want to mention how important it is to go and try on trainers in a proper running shop. Even though these trainers work for me, they may not work for you as every foot is different. There you can talk to professionals who know about all the different trainers to help you find your perfect pair. By trying lots on you can tell the difference between trainers and what works best for you.
Why the ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 22 is the best trainer for narrow feet.
Having narrow feet is not the average. Therefore, most brands don’t cater for them. This makes it hard for people like us to find the right shoes.
I have tried many different trainers on over the years and the ASICS GEL-CUMULUS are the only ones which even come close to fitting. And luckily for me they fit perfectly.
I always make sure to try on other trainers first to see whether another shoe has come on the market to compete so I have something to compare them to but so far I haven’t found any.
Luckily not all brands have forgotten about us. ASICS has designed the GEL-CUMULUS 22 for us narrow footed people in mind.
Best things about this model
Light – This latest model is much lighter than the older versions I’ve had. You feel like you’re running on air!
Stylish – The streamlined design is elegant and looks fab. They come in a variety of lovely colour options. I went for the bluey grey with florescent yellow soles for that pop of bright colour.
Cushioned – The trainers use FLYTEFOAM technology to make them softer to run on. You can definitely notice this and feel like you’re on pillows as you run. The cushioning gives me a bit more of a spring in my step.
Breathable – They’re designed with an outside mesh to make sure there’s enough circulation as your feet sweat.
New heel design – The redesign isolates more of the impact of running preventing injury. The back of the shoe has also been lowered to prevent rubbing and pressure on the achilles which is especially important to prevent issues such as achilles tendonitis.
Long lasting – They have been designed with a rubber outsole which will last the mileage.
Narrow design – The design is much narrower than other trainers so that they fit snuggly. As they’re for running I would size up to make sure there’s enough room for your toes as you run.
One important thing to note is that this shoe is made for neutral pronation. If you don’t know what type of pronation you have make sure to have a gait analysis done. This can be done at many local running shops or gyms.
Are there any negatives?
For any product along with all the positives there always has to be some negatives. These trainers are not the cheapest and are definitely an investment. They retail at around £120 but in my opinion they are worth every penny. On average they last me about two years and I always get my moneys worth as I wear them pretty much every day. You can’t put money on a good reliable shoe as if your trainers don’t fit you properly they will cause irritation and injury.
These trainers are for every day use. They are great in the gym and also for road running. If you do more trail running these may not be suitable for you. They don’t have the heavier design and support which trail running shoes provide for that type of rough terrain.
Why choose ASICS over Brooks
When you ask someone about suggestions as to which running trainers to get it’s usually between ASICS or Brooks. This is due to the fact that they are two of the biggest running trainer brands out there. If you have narrow feet like myself Brooks trainers just won’t work for you. They have a much wider designer on all of their trainers so when someone like myself with narrow feet tries them on they are just swimming in them. Therefore, don’t even bother looking at Brooks trainers and look at ASICS instead.
Conclusion
If you have narrow feet you should try the ASICS-GEL CUMULUS 22. Most trainers on the market are made for wider feet. ASICS have designed these trainers with narrow feet in mind. They have a beautiful, light and cushioned design to support your feet as you run. For me no other trainers have come close. Yes, they may be a bit expensive and they aren’t necessarily suitable for trail running but they are well worth the investment. I wouldn’t pick any other shoe.
I hope this helps all my fellow runners with narrow feet!
Rebecca xx