Overview

• A BMJ Open Sports & Exercise Medicine paper led by Simon Fraser University calls for abandoning the “shrink it and pink it” approach in favor of sex- and gender-specific lasts and models.
• Decades of footwear R&D and testing have centered on men, with many product ranges built on a single last based on male anatomy.
• Interviews with 21 women runners in Vancouver identified priorities of comfort, injury prevention and performance, with frequent requests for wider toe boxes, narrower heels and more cushioning.
• Participants reported needs that shift across pregnancy, postpartum and ageing, including changes in size, width, stability and support requirements.
• Researchers say many women currently adapt through trial and error without targeted guidance, and they urge brands to address these gaps, with no broad manufacturer changes reported so far.