“If a shoe had been designed from a woman’s foot, would I be running without getting the injuries?”: running footwear needs and preferences of recreational and competitive women runners across the lifespan

Abstract

Despite known sex and gender differences between males/men and females/women, most current running footwear is designed for and tested on males/men. This qualitative study aimed to explore the running footwear needs and preferences of recreational and competitive women runners and how these change across the lifespan. We conducted two semi-structured focus groups with women runners in Vancouver, Canada. Participants were purposively sampled for variation in age, running experience and running volume. Data analysis used an inductive reflective thematic approach. Twenty-one women runners (11 recreational, 10 competitive) of median (IQR) age 43 (20–70) years and median (IQR) running experience of 15 (6–58) years participated. Nine (43%) women had experience running during pregnancy or postpartum. Three main themes emerged regarding women’s running shoe needs and preferences: prioritising comfort and feel; the perceived contribution of the shoes to injury prevention; and the need for different shoes for different running contexts. Additionally, three main themes described how runners’ needs evolve across the lifespan: a shift from prioritising shoe style to comfort; increased shoe size and width during pregnancy/postpartum; and a growing preference for greater shoe stability and cushioning with age. Our results suggest that current running footwear does not fully meet the needs of women runners. Many women desired a wider toe box, a narrower heel cup and more cushioning, while competitive runners sought performance-enhancing features that did not compromise comfort. Women also strongly believed that footwear plays a critical role in injury prevention, highlighting the need for evidence-based education on this topic. These insights provide a foundation for the co-design of women-specific running shoes that better align with their unique biomechanical and performance needs. Future research should investigate whether sex-, gender- and life stage-specific shoe designs could enhance running performance, comfort and injury prevention for women across all levels of participation.