- Need Them?
- Main Characteristics
- Helpful Tips
- Top Brands and Models
Fortunate owners of home exercise machines sometimes don’t even think about purchasing special athletic shoes for them. Although for full-fledged workouts, it is one of the most important things to avoid injuries. It is time to talk about how to choose sneakers for a treadmill to keep your feet and joints healthy and make your workouts as efficient as possible.
Need Them?
Many people wonder why they should buy expensive sneakers for a treadmill and why they can’t use regular sneakers or even work out barefoot – in socks. It is all because of the powerful stress on joints that this exercise machine exerts. Even the most innovative shock absorption system is not able to reduce it and lower the injury risk. Using special athletic shoes softens this stress, makes a workout more comfortable, and dampens impact at the moment of landing on the foot. At that moment, the weight of a runner increases by up to 5 times.
- Why is it impossible barefoot?
If you run barefoot, you can injure or rub your skin, because a treadmill canvas for better grip is covered with an abrasive material. As a result of the impact stress, you can damage the arch of the foot. Cartilage of joints will gradually deteriorate, and there will be regular traumatic friction between bones. All this will lead to painful sensations, and eventually – to arthritis. Even the instructions to the exercise machines indicate that workouts must take place exclusively in footwear.
Read also: Overview of Top Exercise Machines for Weight Loss
- Is it possible to work out in sneakers?
It is possible to work out in regular sneakers in two cases. Firstly, if the training time is limited to 15 minutes. Secondly, if the exercise machine is used only as a warm-up.
Any fitness trainer and orthopedist will definitely tell you that running on a treadmill requires special sneakers. They reduce the risk of injury during workouts and make them more comfortable. Especially in cases when the weight exceeds 80 kg, during running speed exceeds 13 km/h and the training duration is more than 15 minutes.
Read how to correctly choose a treadmill in our article.
Main Characteristics
It is very difficult to purchase truly high-quality running shoes. To do this, you need to know what main characteristics sneakers should have to protect your feet from powerful stress. When choosing, you will have to meet more than one requirement – they will be different for each parameter.
Size
- Try on sneakers in the evening when your feet are enlarged after a day.
- Put on shoes and rock from heel to toe and back to feel contact points and determine if they will press on your foot.
- It is recommended to choose a model that is half a size larger than the original one. During jogging, blood rushes to the feet, and they increase.
- Try on in socks.
Weight
Compared to models for outdoor running, sneakers for a treadmill should be light. Ideal men’s sneakers weight no more than 250 g, women’s – 200 g. With more weight, the stress on the feet increases.
Sole
The sole should have increased shock absorption properties. Some even recommend choosing asphalt models, since they have maximum shock absorption. Look for the following markings on the soles:
- Air – with an air cushion;
- Gel – with a helium layer;
- Wave – with a convex plate that provides quick cushioning.
Before purchasing, try to correctly determine the type of pronation. This is an indicator of how you place your foot while running. In principle, it is easy to do this on your own, but if you have any doubts, it is better to seek help from specialists – an orthopedist, trainer or consultant in a store. Sneakers are made for the following pronation options:
- for neutral, when the feet are parallel;
- for hypopunation, when the socks are close together;
- for hyperpronation, when the socks, on the contrary, are spread apart.
If the pronation is neutral or hypo, you need sneakers marked “Neutral”. If you have hyperpronation, look for shoes marked “Stability”.
In general, they should have a strong, very flexible sole that can even be folded in half. It should be non-slip, with a rubberized and corrugated coating.
Material
- Do not wear sneakers designed for a treadmill on city streets, because they are usually made of a very delicate and soft material. It quickly gets dirty and rubbed.
- Shoes with the “Grid” mark can be recommended, which indicates a breathable fabric with the use of a grid. It can have different weaving density, provides high breathability, and prevents feet from sweating.
- Good models have comfortable, tightly fitting pads in the center.
- It will be better if a soft tongue is sewn to the top on both sides, forming a single structure with it – this will increase comfort.
- There should be no protruding threads, all seams should be even, without drops of glue.
- Choose models made of natural materials – cotton, leather, mesh textiles.
- The insole should be removable, made of breathable material.
If you manage to take into account all these characteristics that sneakers for treadmills should have, you will be able to enjoy workouts and get the most out of them in terms of results and comfort. A few more helpful tips will help you make the right decision.
Helpful Tips
To make your sneakers as comfortable as possible for exercising on a treadmill, the following secrets will come in handy when purchasing.
- Try them on special sports socks with seals.
- If you have flat feet, fitting should be done immediately with orthopedic insoles.
- High-quality athletic shoes are guaranteed. After purchase, try it out. Do a half-hour workout that same evening. This will allow you to identify defects that you did not find in the store.
- There should be free space inside between the wall and the big toe. The heel should fit snugly and be in one place, but the shoe itself should not hinder movement.
- Do not get carried away by fashion trends in the form of various inserts, fillers, locks, key chains, etc. They do not perform any functions.
- Do not skimp on the purchase. If the price is less than $20, it makes sense to think about the quality of the purchased product.
American surgeons have found that, on average, running shoes can withstand 300-400 km of training. It is impossible to track this parameter quantitatively, but their wear is easily determined by the condition of the pair. Purchase a replacement for them in a timely manner.
Top Brands and Models
If you want to choose sneakers for home workouts in advance, see the rating of the most suitable models for this purpose.
Rating in the Table
Overview
The best sneakers for a treadmill are presented in the review below.
- Nike
The best treadmill model from the famous American brand is Air Zoom Pegasus. Material – mesh with seamless overlays that provide comfort and lightness. Due to the low fit, rubbing is excluded. Tight lacing fixes the foot well. Side projections on the sole are needed for optimal landing and
