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They’re Your Shoes, So Have at Them

Running shoes aren’t Apple products—you’re allowed to alter them to fit your needs. Experiment with different lacing techniques to find the one that best results in a snug but comfortable fit. For some people, that’s going to mean extra looping at the top eyelets to better hold the heel in place. For others it might mean skipping some of the middle eyelets to better accommodate a high instep or wide forefoot.

: Alison Wade

Sometimes you’ll be inspired to personalize other parts of the shoe, like cutting off the top of the heel counter to lessen irritation on your Achilles tendon. Five years ago, when it seemed all shoes were being made with rigid plastic bridges under the arch, I spent a lot of time hacking away with an X-ACTO knife to remove the plastic and get a more flexible shoe. (Fortunately, for the sake of both my feet and my oft-cut hands, that trend in shoe making has abated.)