[Buffalobob]

Shoes are designed for feet and people. Stability shoes for the pronators. Heavy cushioned shoes for the 190+ pound muscle guys, light flimsy shoes for the 90 pound weaklings. Slip lasted or board lasted. Once we get through the type of shoe then you have to deal with fit. With narrow heel and splayed toes you might not actually need a wide shoe but just need a round toe box. Lots of Nike's have narrow heels and toe boxes but slip lasted shoes often have more room in the toes for some reason. A wide shoe that has a wide heel that you don't need will flop around and make you run like Ronald McDonald.

You have problems coming and going. A shoe is good for about 6 months use or 500 miles which ever come first and then needs to be replaced as a running shoe ( still good for going to the Safeway). A new shoe needs to be used carefully and moderately until your body adjusts to it - about two weeks of running every other day in it. You can tear all of your tendons to spaghetti with a new shoe.

Once you find a shoe that really suits you then buy three or four pairs because they will discontinue any shoe that they discover is really a good shoe for running.

You can look at the wear on the soles of your current shoes and tell lots of things about what kind of shoe you actually need.