Training Shoes
Do your shoes help or hurt your training? There are many different styles of training and each type has a shoe that compliments the demands of the activity.
General Tips
Training shoes should be worn specifically for training. These are not your everyday, grocery shopping, household chores, or work shoes.
Toes should be able to spread out within the shoe.
Replace your shoes often.
Running Shoes
Running is high-impact and can lead to injury if proper shoes are not worn. Runner's need to be wearing shoes that provide support and protection. The ideal running shoe depends on your foot, if you supinate, pronate, or have a heavy body weight will help determine the perfect shoe. It is best to go to a shoe store and have a professional view your running form to determine your ideal shoe type. For distance runners it is recommended to go up 1/2 a size to a full size larger because feet swell during running. To determine when you should replace your running shoe, take 75,000 and divide that by your body weight to get mileage before needing a new pair of shoes.
Cross Training Shoes
Cross Training shoes are a good option for people who do some cardio and also resistance training. Cross training shoes should not be worn if you are running more than 4-5 miles / day. They provide support and stability to the foot and should have good traction. You should replace these shoes every 80 - 100 workouts.
Weight Lifting Shoes
Weight lifting shoes should be worn by people who are serious about improving their strength. These shoes provide excellent stability but little cushion. They have an elevated heel to enhance the squat. They don't need to be changed quite as often since they should only be worn during squats and deadlifts.
Resources:
“Athletic Shoes - Orthoinfo - Aaos.” OrthoInfo, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/staying-healthy/athletic-shoes/.
Fox, Jennifer. “How to Pick the Right Shoe for Any Activity.” ACTIVE.com, Active.com, 20 July 2017, https://www.active.com/running/articles/how-to-pick-the-right-shoe-for-any-activity.
Porter, Evan. “The 8 Different Types of Gym & Workout Shoes Explained (with Pictures).” Trusty Spotter, 14 Jan. 2022, https://trustyspotter.com/blog/types-of-gym-shoes/.
