How to Choose Fitness Sneakers: Key Parameters and the Best Models

• Selection criteria
• General recommendations
• By sport
• Gender-based recommendations
• Top brands

For many, fitness is primarily associated with women’s dance aerobics. In fact, this is a more general concept that includes all types of gym exercise in specially equipped gyms. Achieving maximum efficiency (burning the maximum number of calories and avoiding injuries) requires selecting the correct footwear.

As it turns out, your morning run shoes are unsuitable as they are too heavy. And stylish basketball trainers, which you can wear casually with jeans, are not the best choice either. So how do you choose fitness shoes that are both comfortable and functional? This is an art in itself.

Selection criteria

Before you head off to your eagerly awaited sports shop, you need to have a clear idea of what you are looking for. How can you choose the right trainers? They must meet the following criteria.

• Foot support

During fitness training, you will have to move a lot. When performing active foot movements, it is important to feel as comfortable as possible and to not worry about injuries. Therefore, good trainers are ones that provide appropriate foot support. They should extend higher than street models and have a rigid back. This is the only way they can provide proper ankle support and minimise the risk of any kind of injury in the gym, such as sprains or dislocations.

• Lacing

Continuing with the theme of foot support, choose models with laces, which are considered to be the most reliable. Velcro fastenings and other types of fastenings are not as good. Flat laces hold knots better. Make sure they do not cut off blood circulation by tightening them too much.

• Ventilation

Your feet in fitness trainers need to breathe, so pay attention to whether they provide air access during training. For example, many brands offer models with total foot ventilation – this is an expensive but ideal option. The material is also important here: it should be natural and not create a vacuum effect. It could be leather, Gore-Tex (an innovative development of recent years) or synthetic mesh.

• Cushioning

Trainers with cushioning systems reduce the load on the foot and minimise the risk of injury. They can have micropores, air cushions or a midsole. Be very careful when choosing this last option. It can be made from either polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate. The first is durable but too heavy for indoor fitness. The second is, on the contrary, too light and not very durable. You need to be careful when exercising in these trainers.

• Sole

The sole should be durable, multi-layered and made from different materials. This design increases wear resistance. The toe section of the shoes has a rim for easy rotation. Try to bend the sole of your chosen model: you should be able to do this easily, and there should be no creases or cracks when it returns to its original state.

• Insoles

Insoles should be removable, so that you can replace them with another pair while they are being washed and dried. They should fit your foot perfectly. The centre should be thicker to support the arch of the foot. Make sure that there is no fabric or cardboard lining under the insole, as this collects moisture and causes sweating. Instead, look for even seams in this area, which will provide comfort during training.

If you know which fitness trainers to choose in advance, you will feel more confident in the store when faced with the wide range of models on offer. Using these criteria, you can discard any unsuitable options immediately and assess the remaining ones based on your physical characteristics (size, foot structure) and individual preferences (colour, brand, fit).

Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex fabric with a double or triple layer is increasingly used in the production of trainers – fabric on the outside and inside, and with a Teflon membrane as a lining between them. Its main feature is durability.

General recommendations

In addition to the selection criteria, it is worth taking into account a few other important recommendations.

1. If you have flat feet, it is better to exercise in trainers with supinators and orthopaedic insoles.
2. If you are overweight, buy shoes with maximum cushioning.
3. Before you go to the store, read relevant reviews of the best and most comfortable fitness trainers. Consider buying a few models, read reviews about them, and find out their distinguishing features. This will help you get a clearer picture of your future purchase.
4. It is advisable to buy shoes in the evening when your feet are slightly swollen.
5. When trying on trainers, they should fit snugly, and not rub, press or slip.
6. Ideally, you should buy 2-3 pairs for indoor fitness. You should change them depending on your training activity. For example, weightlifting exercises are best done in powerlifting shoes, while WOD (“Workout of the Day”) is better in cross-training shoes.

Micropores. This is a special rubber used in the manufacture of the soles of many trainers. It is good because it is very flexible.

By sport

In addition to general points and recommendations, you can always delve into the essence of the issue in more detail. Different types of fitness are believed to require different models. The trainers in which it is convenient to jump rope are not suitable for cross-fit or squats on the machine. Therefore, if you want to get the maximum benefit from training and avoid injuries, consider this point as well.

For a treadmill:

• Micropore outsole – solid and flexible
• Possible gel inserts in the sole
• Supinators are a must
• Shallow tread
• For overweight and flat feet, a stabiliser is needed – a rigid insert on the outer sole, which distributes body weight correctly
• Mesh upper that allows air to pass through easily
• Minimum seams (they only cause blisters)
• Light weight (up to 350 g).

See also: “How to choose trainers for a treadmill”.

For strength exercises:

• Ribbed micropore outsole that prevents slipping and provides a secure grip on the floor
• The width of the heel on the sole is wider than the width of the toe for maximum stability
• The frame in the heel area is durable and rigid
• Tight lacing, snug against the foot
• Small elevation in the back of the sole for better cushioning
• Maximum sole density, distributing the load on the musculoskeletal system correctly.

Recommended types:

• Powerlifting shoes – Adidas AdiPower with polymer soles, heavy Nike Romaleos or flexible Inov-8 Fastlift 335
• Minimalist – Vibram Five Fingers with split toes, narrow Nike Free Hyperfeel, wide Altra Samson
• Trainers.
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