- Criteria of choice
- General recommendations
- Depending on the sports
- Differences by gender
- Ranking of the Best
Most people understand fitness as dance aerobics for women. As a matter of fact, it is a wider notion that includes any sports exercise in specially equipped gyms. In order to make those as efficient as possible (burn a maximum of calories and be non-traumatic), it is necessary to choose proper footwear for exercising.
It turns out that the shoes you run with in the morning are not suitable for this purpose as they are too heavy. Same as the trendy basketball shoes you wear with jeans in the city. Therefore, how do you choose shoes for fitness so that it is both comfortable and functional? It turns out that it’s a whole art.
Criteria of choice
When you go to a sports store to make a long-awaited purchase, you need to imagine in advance what exactly you are going to look for. What criteria of choice should you use to buy suitable sneakers? They must meet the following characteristics.
- Foot fastening
During fitness exercises you need to move a lot. While actively working with legs, you must feel utmost comfort and do not be afraid of any injuries. That is why comfortable sneakers are those which will keep your foot securely in place. They should be higher than street-style sneakers and have a stiffened back. Only in this case they will be able to properly keep the ankle and minimize the risk of any injury in the gym – a sprain or a dislocation.
- Laces
Continuing the topic of foot fastening, you need to choose models with laces as they are considered to be the most reliable in this respect. Velcro and other types of fasteners will cause a lot of inconvenience. Flat laces hold the knot better. Make sure that they do not overtighten your legs because it will impede the blood circulation.
- Ventilation
The foot in fitness sneakers should breathe, so pay attention to whether air will get to it during training. For example, many brands offer shoes with circular foot ventilation – this is an expensive, but an ideal option. Material plays a huge role in this matter: it must be natural and not create a vacuum effect. This can be leather, gore-tex (an innovative development of recent years) or synthetic mesh.
- Cushioning
Sneakers’ cushioning system reduces stress for your legs and minimizes the risk of injuries. These may be micropores, air cushions or an intermediate sole. Be extremely careful with the latter. It is made of polyurethane or ethylene-vinyl acetate. The first one is notable for its durability, but it is too heavy for gym exercises. The latter, on the contrary, is too light and short-lived. You need to be careful exercising in such shoes.
- Sole
The sole should be durable, made of several layers of different materials. This structure increases the wear resistance. The toe part is equipped with edging for easy rotation. Try to bend the sole of a sneaker you like: you should do that easily, and when it returns to its original shape, there must be no creases or cracks.
- Insoles
Insoles should be removable so that you could change them for another pair while this one is being washed or dried. They must fully correspond to the shape of your foot. In the center there should be a bulge that supports the arch of the foot. See to it that there are no fabric or cardboard inserts under the insole as this accumulates moisture and leads to sweating. Instead, there should be seamless stitching which will ensure comfort during exercise.
Knowing in advance what kind of fitness sneakers to choose, you will feel more confident in the store among a wide range of models on offer. Based on these criteria, you can immediately put away unsuitable options, but evaluate the rest according to your physical characteristics (size, feet structure) and your own preferences (color, brands, style).
Gore-tex. Lately, gore-tex fabric has been increasingly used for sneakers’ manufacturing – two- or three-layered: the outer and inner fabrics, and between them a lining made of Teflon membrane. Its main quality is durability.
General recommendations
Apart from the criteria of choice, there are a few more important recommendations to consider.
- If you have flat feet, it is better to exercise in sneakers with a supinator and orthopedic insoles.
- If you have problems with excess weight, buy shoes with the maximum level of cushioning.
- Before you go to the store, consult the relevant rating of the best and the most comfortable fitness sneakers. Choose a few options for yourself, study the reviews about them, find out what distinguishes them from others. This will help you visualize your future purchase better.
- It is recommended to buy shoes in the evening as your legs swell a little by that time.
- When trying on, sneakers must fit your size – not rub, not press, not dangle down.
- Ideally, you need to buy 2-3 pairs of shoes for fitness in the gym. You need to change them depending on what exercises you do during your workout. For example, it is advisable to do power lifting in weightlifting shoes, WOD (“Workout of the Day”) – in cross-training shoes.
Micropore. This is a kind of rubber which is used for the soles of many sneakers. It is good because of its high elasticity.
Depending on the sports
In addition to general provisions and recommendations, you can always go deeper into the essence of fitness and recreation. It is believed that different models are needed for exercising in a certain fitness area. Indeed, the one that is comfortable for rope skipping will not work well for crossfit or squats in a machine. Therefore, if you want to get the most out of your workouts and avoid injuries, consider this as well.
For a treadmill:
- The sole is made of micropore – solid and flexible;
- gel inserts in the sole are possible;
- supinators are a must;
- the tread grooves are not deep;
- for excess weight and flat feet you need a stabilizer – a rigid insert on the outer sole which distributes body weight properly;
- the top part is mesh, which allows for good air circulation;
- minimum of seams (they only lead to blisters);
- lightness (up to 350 gr).
Related article: “How to choose sneakers for a treadmill”.
For power sports:
- ribbed micropore sole which prevents slipping and keeps the foot firmly fixed to the floor;
- the heel is wider than the toe part of the sole for the utmost stability;
- the heel frame is strong and rigid;
- tight lacing which keeps the shoes snugly fit to the foot;
- the heel part of the sole has a slight elevation for better cushioning;
- the maximum sole density correctly distributes the stress for the musculoskeletal system.
Recommended types:
- weightlifting shoes – Adidas AdiPower with polymer sole, heavy Nike Romaleos or flexible Inov-8 Fastlift 335;
- minimalist shoes – with Vibram Five Fingers divided toes, narrow Nike Free Hyperfeel, wide Altra Samson;
- sneakers.
For cardio fitness, aerobics:
- the sole is thin;
- distinct separation into the toe and heel parts;
- cushioning inserts are optional because of the absence of shock loads;
- as for materials, it is better to choose natural
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