Long gone are the days when women's shoes were replicas of the men shoes except for a smaller size and more pinkish colors. Shoe manufacturers have long understood that women runners are just as important a segment to cater to as men runners. An increase in women runners in marathons and other such meets is probably the reason behind such an increase. However, the latest research into bio-mechanics suggests that women run differently from men and this is exactly why many brands have started producing gender specific shoes. Here are a few such differences highlighted to understand how shoe manufacturers differentiate shoes based on gender.

Q Angle

Women owing to their larger hip region have a wider Q angle. This is the angle made by the quadriceps muscles with the hip bone or patella. Women therefore are prone to overpronation and hence their shoes need to support this tendency to depend on inner arches of the foot. Therefore, women shoes generally have different midsoles and insoles.

Body Mass

Women weigh at least 15% less compared to men of the same foot size. This means that shoes meant for men are designed to handle a certain weight range and if women wore them, then the comfort factor would not suit them as they would be too bouncy for their feet. What women need is a shoe with less bouncy foam so as to suit their body mass.

Feet Structure

This is the most important consideration that shoe designers have to take into context. As it turns out women differ in their feet structure from men. Men tend to be broader at the foot and have larger toes while women of the same foot size have narrower toes and rounder heels. This governs the way the upper region is designed. While sole difference alone cannot help one tell a women shoe from a men's shoe, the structure will. The upper tend to be narrower and the heel collar shorter.

With these three considerations in mind shoe designers differentiate the women shoes from men shoes. Some of the well respected women running shoes are Mizuno Wave Rider 13, Nike Zoom Vomero+5, Asics Gel Nimbus 12 in the cushioning shoe segment while in the stability shoe segment, Nike Zoom Triax 13, Mizuno Wave Inspire 6, Asics GT 2150 are just a few. All above shoes have got good running shoes review.