How To Choose The Right Training Shoes – it is quite important since that’s the foundation of keeping your feet and joints in a good shape and even preventing an early–onset arthritis.
Most commonly the dilemma is between running and cross-trainer shoes.
While both types share some features, they are pretty distinct in their purposes.
How To Choose The Right Training Shoes
Two Types of Workout Shoes
Runners
For regular runners a good running shoe is a must – they are light, adapt well to the foot, and provide enough cushioning and support.
If you are really serious about running though, you might want to go the extra mile and take the following factors into account:
Related read to the How To Choose The Right Training Shoes article:
The myth of the “toned body”
1. Where you are going to run
We all have different preferences about where to run.
Some like the fresh air outside, the wind in your face, and the changing scenery.
Others prefer watching their favorite show while sweating on the gym’s treadmill.
Whether it’s on a forest trail, roads, or a specific running track – all these surfaces require a different type of shoe.
2. Your foot type
Supinator, pronator, or neutral – those are the three categories you can fall into.
Most of the special running equipment stores have the necessary tools to determine your type.
To get an idea yourself, check one of your worn-in pairs of shoes.
Based on the wear pattern, you can see where you put the most pressure on while walking.
- Supinators are characterized by a high arch, and weight distribution is mostly on the outer part of the foot.
- Pronators are on the other end of the spectrum, they have a very low or flat arch and it is most commonly seen in heavier people.
- Neutral foot type, the most common one of all, means that the weight is evenly distributed along the foot.
3. Size of the shoe
Here I include both length, and width.
Obviously, you want a shoe that fits you well in both dimensions but keep in mind that it’s a good idea to have your running shoes a bit larger (in length) than your regular ones.
I usually go half a size up.
Related read to the How To Choose The Right Training Shoes article:
Compound movements: The Squat
Nike Workout Shoes for Running
Cross-trainers
Cross-trainers, on the other hand, are a little bit heavier, have a wider middle sole to give you more stability, and have less cushioning, compared to runners.
They are designed to serve multiple purposes – whether it’s weightlifting, metabolic conditioning workouts (metcons), and even some running in-between (as long as it doesn’t come to long distances).
Unlike runners, which lack lateral stability, cross-trainers are supposed to give you exactly that.
Related read to the How To Choose The Right Training Shoes article:
Compound movement: The Deadlift
There are a lot of good options out there, my personal favorite being the Nike Metcon series.
UPDATE: If you read all that but you are still not convinced what type of shoe to choose, or you just don’t want to buy two different pairs of shoes – I got good news for ya!
The new Nike Metcon DSX Flyknit 2 not only looks SUPER cool but also combines the best of the two worlds! Check out my review of them here!
In conclusion, your shoe can have a huge impact on your performance, the health of your joints, and your posture.
Choose it wisely and your joints will thank you.
Nike Workout Shoes for Training
A few other topics you might be interested in after reading about Workout Motivation:
Related read to the How To Choose The Right Training Shoes article:
20 EMOM workouts to test your strength and conditioning
Happy sweating!