Running shoes come in a huge assortment of styles, colors and celebrity brands. You know what? To your feet, none of that matters. Your feet want a pair of shoes that feels good and fits right.

One way to get the right size and the right shoe is to bring your old shoes to a store that specializes in running equipment, and let an expert look at them.

"They can look at the bottom of the shoe and determine if you're an under or over pronator, whether or not you have a high or low arch and then they can select a shoes that kind of accommodates the way your foot goes when you are running," said Gayle Williams, with Consumer Reports.

But most important, you really need to take a test run.

"Walking in a store is fine, even if you take a little jog in the store that's OK, but if you can take it with you can actually take it and run in it then you'll know this is the shoe for me or not."

Williams says some stores have a treadmill, some will let you run around the block, and some will even let you take them home for a run.

For its August issue, Consumer Reports tested two dozen different running shoes. The Nike Air Zoom Vomero+2 ($120) was the winner for both men and women.

"It did very well in terms of fit and cushioning. It also did well in terms of flexibility and breath-ability and stability," Williams says. The flexibility is how much it bends, the stability is how much support it gives and the breath-ability is how well it does with sweaty feet."

The men's and women's Brooks Glycerin 6 were judged "Very Good" overall, but the men's ($120) version scored better than the women's ($120) due to better stability ratings.

Other top performing men's shoes include Adidas Supernova Cushion 7 ($90), Mizuno Wave Rider 11 ($95), and the Asics Gel-Cumulus 9 ($80). For women, other top performers include Nike Air Pegasus+2007 ($85), Puma Complete Infinitus ($85), Reebok Premier Hatana ($85), and Adidas Supernova Cushion 7 ($90).

For adequate performance at a rock bottom price, CR's Quick Picks include the men's Champion Helium (Target, $30) and the women's Champion Wonder C9 (Target, $28).

For people who like to run after dark, CR suggests giving special consideration to the men's Nike Air Zoom Vomero+2 and the Avia Tuned Trainer II ($80) and women's Avia Tuned Trainer II ($80) and Reebok Premier Hatana ($85), which have the most effective reflector strips. Sporting goods stores also offer various aftermarket reflectors and reflective clothing.