Why female rugby boots matter
In a recent podcast, I chatted to CEO of IDA Sports Laura Youngson. Here's an extract on the differences between male and female boots.
A European Club Association study found that 82% of female footballers from the professional leagues across Europe have pain in their feet when they play.
Yet no one talks about this. We replicated this study in our rugby project and found that the number is higher.
We’re hopefully going to be able to publish this research later in the year. The pain is one of the things that people either haven’t thought about, talked about or they think they have to put up with it.
All of this is in the public domain, but there are general differences between male and female feet.
Women tend to have narrower heels and a wider toe box.
That means that when we’re trying to fit into boots that are made for men you can have problems such as your little toe hurting. This is because the outsole isn’t built for female biomechanics.
The heel of your foot might also move around because the boot isn’t holding you in the right place. Women tend to have higher arches and this means there needs to be more support in the midfoot.
When I was looking for boots, I used to have to wear children’s shoes. I hated it. They didn’t fit properly and they hurt. Now, when I put on boots they actually fit me. I’m seeking that experience for everyone that we encounter.
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