Shoes are one of the most important tools in your running arsenal. Yet, they are notoriously hard to shop for. Unlike other fitness gear that you can order solely based on good reviews, with running shoes, you really have to understand if an athletic shoe option will work for you personally, which depends on a lot of factors.

If you’re planning to gift the runner in your life with some new shoes, they’ll be forever grateful since they’re certainly not cheap. Because running shoes are so personal, there are several questions you want to ask the runner in your life first like: What type of runner are you? Have you ever been evaluated by a running specialist? What kind of feel do you like when you run (i.e., more support vs. a “bare” feel?). With all of this in mind, I talked to running coach Holly Roser to gather all of the basic information you should know before shopping for the right shoe. Check out that info below our list of the best running shoes for women.