Types of Sports Shoes: “What to Wear” Guide

Have you heard the following saying: “Fine feathers make fine birds”? Well in the fitness industry they have a similar one: “Fine shoes make fine workouts” If that doesn’t tell you anything, this “What to Wear” guide will!

Do you remember the PE classes in high school? The teacher demanded certain clothing, right? Tracksuit, T-shirt, sport shorts, etc. But what about the shoes? There wasn’t a specific type of shoes. Just trainers. The only requirements were that they were comfortable and the right size. Times have changed.

Now there are different types of shoes for every sport. Proper footwear is responsible for preventing injuries. It helps us move around properly  and can even improve your game! Here’s a guide on how to choose the right sports shoes.

What makes you sweat?

The activity you will be doing the most determines in what shoes you will be moving. Will you be iron man/women? Maybe a Tabata monster or yoga master? Is running in your blood?

After you figure out what makes you sweat, you can start choosing the right footwear.

I’m a combination and I only have one pair of legs.

No worries! If you have a combination of vocations and you want a universal product that will do them all, then cross wear is your best choice. It is designed to play several roles. They are wide and provide stability.

Strength Training

Stability and heel lift. These are the two main points when choosing sports shoes for strength workouts. Cross-training shoes are here again. As we said before they are suitable for almost every activity in the gym. Wide, stable and comfortable. Even though they have little to no heel lift moderate weights won’t be a problem .

On the other hand if you are powerlifting competitor or lift heavy often you should look for something more specific. Weightlifting shoes are a must for professionals. They have incredible stability ( like cross-training shoes but five times more). These shoes are heavy and the heel lift is around .75-1”. The raised heel allows better ankle mobility. This will help you go deeper in your squat.

Deadlifts require flat shoe with thin sole. Stability (I wonder how many times I’ll repeat this word) is back in the game again.

Briefly for weight lifting you need big support, stability and comfort. Make sure the shoes fit perfectly.

Running

You should follow three steps to choose the right shoe for running:

1. Determine the type of running you do and your style
2. Pick the right category that matches your needs
3. Try the sport shoes. Buy the perfect fit.

Road-running shoes are the most common type. Many injuries occur when you run on hard terrain. Therefore you need high protection shoes. Road-running shoes are light and flexible. They also provide great stability.

Trail-running shoes are made for off-road routes. Are there rocks, mud or other obstacles when you run? Then this type of footwear is for you.

Running Styles

Pronation is the rolling of the foot from heel to toe. With normal pronation the foot rolls inwards. It makes full contact with the earth and can support your body weight effortlessly.

Overpronation is when you roll too much to the inside of your foot during the foot strike cycle. This occurs when you have low arch or flat foot.

Underpronation (supination) is when you roll your foot too much to the outside. Contrary to the overpronation this happens when you have high arch.

Types of running shoes

• Neutral shoes: Best for neutral runners and people with Underpronation. They have the most curved shape out of the three types. These shoes provide medium shock absorption and some arch-side support.
• Stability shoes: Good choice for runners with mild to moderate overpronation. These shoes have a semi-curved shape. They offer good balance and support.
• Motion control shoes: With their wide, straight shape these shoes are the perfect fit for runners who exhibit overpronation. This type will prevent you from rolling your foot too far.

Go to the Shop

The last step is to try the shoes on. Are they comfortable enough?  Do they fit perfectly? If the answer is yes, go to check out. Congratulation for the amazing pair of running shoes! Take them out for a circle.

Yoga, Pilates and Martial Arts

Last but not least are the bare-feet sports. It is very nice to feel the mat/tatami under your feet. In our opinion it helps to create a better connection between the body and the ground (especially for martial arts).

However if hate you having cold feet don’t hesitate to grab a pair of socks. What makes you sweat? Share your favorite sports shoes in the comments below.