Running shoe companies must abandon the practice of designing women’s footwear by simply modifying men’s shoes into smaller sizes and brighter colors, according to new research published in the journal BMJ Open Sports & Exercise Medicine.
The study found that most current designs fail to reflect women’s distinct anatomical, biomechanical and life stage-specific needs.
"Overall, our findings highlight a critical gap in the design of running footwear, which has been traditionally based on male anatomy and biomechanics," the researchers said in a statement.
"We strongly recommend that the footwear industry should move beyond simply scaling down men’s shoes to fit women’s feet.
"Instead, there is a need for sex and gender specific designs that accommodate the distinct foot morphology of women and their social constructs and preferences, all of which evolve across the lifespan."
Over the last five decades, manufacturers have spent billions developing shoes intended to prevent injuries, enhance comfort and improve athletic performance.
Yet much of that research and development has focused solely on male athletes' needs, the researchers noted, leading to widespread reliance on a design approach dubbed "shrink it and pink it" when producing footwear for women.
Running shoes are typically developed from a three-dimensional foot-shaped mold, known as a “last,” which is most often based on male foot anatomy. Most brands use the same last for their entire range and make only minimal changes—usually size reduction and color changes—when producing women’s models.
The researchers set out to explore how this affects female runners by recruiting from running stores in Vancouver, Canada, 21 women across a range of ages, running experience,and training intensity.
Participants included 11 recreational runners averaging around 19 miles per week and 10 competitive runners averaging around 28 miles per week. The women ranged in age from 20 to 70, with running experience spanning from 6 to 58 years. Nine of the participants had run during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth.
The women were asked to rank the factors they considered most important when choosing running shoes. Comfort and feel were the top priority, followed by injury prevention and performance.
In terms of comfort, most participants wanted a wider toe box, a narrower heel and additional cushioning. Competitive runners emphasized the value of performance-enhancing features—such as carbon plates—but stressed that these should not come at the expense of comfort.
The participants reported actively seeking out footwear they believed would help prevent injuries. Trusted retailers and knowledgeable personnel played a key role in their purchasing decisions. They also expressed the need for shoes tailored to specific running contexts, such as training, racing, or recovering from injury.
Those who were mothers highlighted the need for larger sizes, wider fits and more support during and after pregnancy. Competitive runners reported requiring increased cushioning and support as they aged.
The study’s authors acknowledged that the sample size was small and limited to a specific geographic area, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
However, they concluded that their findings underscore the need for more inclusive and responsive shoe design.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about sports science? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Napier, C., Dhillon, G., Wilhelm, A.-C., & Ezzat, A. M. (2025). “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. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 11. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002597
