How to Choose Perfect Fitness Sneakers: Key Features and Model Review

Selection Criteria
General Recommendations
By Sport Type
Gender Differences
Top-Rated

Fitness is considered something like a dance aerobics for women. However, in fact, it is a more extensive concept that includes any type of exercise in a specially equipped hall. For maximum effectiveness (calorie consumption without harm to health), it is necessary to choose the right shoes for training.

As it turned out, your favorite pair for jogging in the morning is not suitable because it is too heavy. And the branded basketball sneakers that you like to wear with jeans are also not suitable. What are good, high-quality fitness sneakers? It turns out that there is a whole science behind it.

Selection Criteria

When you come to a sports store for the long-awaited purchase, you must have a clear understanding of what you are going to look for. What are the selection criteria for sneakers that are right for you? They must have the following properties:

Foot Fixation

Fitness classes involve active movements. You must feel as comfortable as possible and not be afraid of injury with active footwork. That is why comfortable sneakers are those that will fix your foot in the correct position. They should be higher than street models and have a rigid back. Only then will they properly fix the ankle joint and minimize the risk of various kinds of injuries in the gym – sprains, dislocations.

Lace-up

Continuing the theme of fixing the foot, give preference to lace-up models, they are considered the most reliable in this regard. Velcro and other types of fasteners will create a lot of inconvenience. Flat laces hold the knot well. Make sure that they do not squeeze your foot, since this will impair blood circulation.

Breathability

The foot should breathe in fitness sneakers, so pay attention to whether air can flow to it during exercise. For example, many brands offer shoes with circular ventilation of the foot – this is an expensive but ideal option. The material is of great importance – it should be natural and not create a greenhouse effect. It can be leather, Gore-Tex (an innovative development of recent years), or a synthetic mesh.

Cushioning

The cushioning system in sneakers reduces stress on the feet and minimizes the risk of injury. It can be either micropores, air cushions, or a midsole. Be especially careful with the latter. It is made of either polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate. The first is durable, but very heavy for fitness in the gym. The second, on the contrary, is too light and not durable. You need to train in such shoes carefully.

Sole

The outsole must be durable and consist of several layers of different materials. This design makes it wear-resistant. For the convenience of rotational movements, the toe is rolled up. Try to bend the outsole of your favorite model: you should be able to do it easily, and when it returns to its original position, there should be no dents or cracks on it.

Insoles

The insoles should be removable so that you can replace them with a new pair while the old ones are washed and dried. They should completely match the shape of the foot. There is a thickening in the middle that supports the arch of the foot. Make sure that there is no fabric or cardboard backing under the insole – it accumulates moisture, from which the legs sweat. Give preference to flat seams that will ensure the comfort of training.

Knowing in advance which fitness sneakers to choose in the store, you will feel more confident among the variety of models offered. Using these criteria, you can immediately discard unsuitable options, and evaluate the rest from the point of view of your physical characteristics (size, shape of the foot) and personal preferences (color, brand, style).

Gore-Tex. Recently, Gore-Tex has been increasingly used in the production of sneakers – a double or triple-layer fabric: external and internal fabric with a Teflon membrane as a lining between them. Its main quality is wear resistance.

General Recommendations

In addition to the selection criteria, there are a number of important recommendations to keep in mind.

If you have flat feet, it is better to train in sneakers with a supinator and orthopedic insoles.
If you are overweight, get shoes with maximum cushioning.
Before going to the store, familiarize yourself with the rating of the best and most comfortable fitness sneakers. Choose a few of them, read reviews, find out what their distinctive features are. This will help to form a more accurate picture of the future purchase.
It is recommended to buy shoes in the evening when the legs are slightly swollen.
When trying on sneakers, they should fit in size – not rub, squeeze or hang out.
Ideally, you should immediately purchase two or three pairs for fitness in the gym. You need to change them depending on the exercises during the workout. For example, it is recommended to perform weightlifting exercises in weightlifting shoes, and WOD (“Workout of the Day”) in shoes for cross-training.

Micropores. This is a rubber that is used for the production of outsoles of many sneakers. Its advantage is high elasticity.

By Sport Type

In addition to general considerations and recommendations, you can always go deeper into the essence of the issue. It is believed that different models are required for practicing fitness in certain areas. Indeed, those in which it will be convenient, for example, to jump rope, are not very suitable for CrossFit or squats in the simulator. So, if you want to get the most out of your workouts and avoid injuries, you need to consider this aspect as well.

For a treadmill:

micropore sole – elastic and bendable;
gel inserts in the sole are possible;
must have a supinator;
flat tread;
with overweight and flat feet, you need a stabilizer – a rigid insert on the outer sole that correctly distributes body weight;
mesh top that allows air to pass through;
minimum number of seams (they will only rub calluses);
light weight (up to 350 grams).

Read also: “How to Choose Running Shoes for a Treadmill”.

For strength exercises:

corrugated microporous sole that prevents slipping and firmly fixes the foot on the floor;
the width of the heel on the sole is greater than the width of the toe – for maximum stability;
strong and rigid frame in the heel area;
tight lacing, tightly wrapping the foot;
the back of the sole is slightly raised – for better cushioning;
maximum density of the sole, correctly distributing the load on the musculoskeletal system.

Recommended types:

weightlifting shoes – Adidas AdiPower with a polymer sole, heavy Nike Romaleos or flexible Inov-8 Fastlift 335;
minimalist – with separate toes Vibram Five Fingers, narrow Nike Free Hyperfeel, wide Altra Samson;
sneakers.