Gait analysis at DailyRun
Free, with no obligation to buy, on a real indoor track in both our stores: at the Amsterdamse Bos and in Haarlem.
Duration
30–45 minutes
Cost
Free, no obligation
Locations
Amsterdamse Bos & Haarlem
Track
Indoor — a real track
Good shoe advice starts with a proper analysis
A gait analysis should answer one question: what does your foot actually do when it lands, rolls and pushes off, and which shoe suits that. Everything else is decoration.
Both stores have an indoor running track, and that is where we do the analysis. On a treadmill the belt pulls your foot backwards, so the stride you show is not quite the stride you use outside. (There is a treadmill in both stores too, if you want to compare.) Our track has two surfaces, one soft and one hard, because the way you land on a forest path is not how you land on asphalt — and the shoe that suits one may be wrong for the other.
What to expect
Fixed high-speed cameras, filming from several angles at a frame rate fast enough to freeze the moment of impact. Footage you watch back with us, slowed down and explained in plain language. Shoes you then test on that same track. About 30 to 45 minutes in total, and no cost.
How a gait analysis works
Four steps, plenty of time, no sales pitch.
How far do you run, how often, on what surface, what are you training for, and where does it hurt if anything hurts.
On both surfaces, while the cameras record.
On screen you will see your own landing, how your ankle rolls, how symmetrical your stride is. We explain what we see without jargon.
Only then do the shoes come out, and you run in them on the same track, so you feel the difference rather than take our word for it.
Who is it for?
For anyone buying running shoes, whether it is your first pair or your fifteenth. A good part of what we do is first shoes for people just starting out, and nothing about the session assumes experience.
It is just as useful if you keep picking up the same niggle, if you are moving up in distance, if you are switching to trail, or if a shoe you loved has been replaced by a new model that feels different.
What to bring
Your current running shoes, if you still have them. The wear pattern on the soles often tells us more in ten seconds than ten minutes of questions. Beyond that: clothes you can run a few lengths in. We have everything else.
Appointment or walk in?
Both work. You are welcome during opening hours without an appointment. Booking online guarantees that someone is free the moment you arrive, which is worth it on a busy Saturday.
Why we do not charge for this
Many running stores advertise a free analysis, but free on condition that you buy your shoes there. Ours is not conditional. If you leave without buying, that is a perfectly normal outcome and nobody will make it awkward.
The reason is straightforward: we would rather not sell a shoe before knowing how someone runs. The analysis is not a sales technique, it is the first part of doing the job properly. And because we are independent, with no chain setting purchase targets, we can also tell you that the shoe you had your eye on is the wrong one.
Frequently asked questions
Is the gait analysis really free?
Yes, at both stores, and there is no condition attached. You do not have to buy anything. It is not a promotion or an introductory offer, it is simply how we work: we would rather not sell a shoe without knowing how you run.
How long does a gait analysis take?
About 30 to 45 minutes. That covers a short conversation beforehand, the run itself, watching the footage back together and trying on shoes.
What is the difference between a treadmill and your track?
A treadmill belt pulls your foot backwards and changes your stride. On our track you run as you would outside, and you compare a soft and a hard surface in the same session. That matters, because the shoe that works on forest paths is not always the right one for asphalt.
What should I bring?
Your current running shoes, if you still have them. The wear pattern on the soles often tells us more in ten seconds than ten minutes of questions. Beyond that, clothes you can run a few lengths in. We have everything else.
Do I need an appointment?
No, you can walk in during opening hours. Booking a slot online simply means we keep time free for you, which helps on a busy Saturday.
Is a gait analysis useful if I am just starting out?
Especially then. A good part of what we do is first shoes for new runners, and nothing about the session assumes experience.
Book your gait analysis
Book online or simply walk in, at the Amsterdamse Bos in Amstelveen or at the Houtplein in Haarlem. Both stores have the track, the cameras and stock on the shelves, so you take your shoes home the same day. The team speaks English at both.