What are the Best Shoes for Your Type of Workout?

When searching for an athletic shoe for your particular type of workout or exercise, you will find a huge explosion of types of shoes. Choosing the correct type can enhance your performance levels and als0 protect you from injuries.

If you are a beginner in the exercise world or if you are a supreme athlete in a sport, you need to find the correct type of athletic or sport shoes to support your feet, legs and body properly. The wrong type of shoe will not allow you to move as you should and can lead to sports and exercise injuries. After an injury, you will likely have to lay low for a while to allow it to heal and it will set you back on your goals.

The Evolution of the Shoe

In the last 25 years or so, the fitness arena has seen a huge explosion and so have the shoes. In the 1960’s it was easy to find the correct shoes, because there was only one type called the all-purpose sneaker. Today as a consumer, you have a huge amount of choices from which to choose. There are athletic shoes, court sports shoes, field sports shoes, track and field sport shoes, specialty and outdoor sport shoes. Following a few tips can help you to learn which type of shoe is best for you in your exercise and sports routine.

1. Court Sports Shoes

Shoes for court sports include basketball, tennis and volleyball. This type of shoe allows full motion forward, backward and side-to-side and has a thick sole with good traction for a long lasting shoe.

2. Field Sports Shoes

Field sports include baseball, football and soccer shoes. The soles of these shoes have a specialty bottom with studs, spikes or cleats. The stud and spike shoes vary in each field sport but usually are replaceable or detachable with the studs, spikes or cleats on nylon soles.

3. Track and Field Sport Shoes

These types of shoes vary greatly and are customized to your exact track and field sport. They can be sorted from your foot type, training style and gait pattern to fit you the best.

4. Other Sports Shoes

Specialty sports shoes include aerobic dancing, bicycling and golf shoes. While outdoor sporting footwear includes activities such as hunting, fishing and boating.

5. Running Shoes

This type of shoe needs to have a lot of cushioning to absorb the shock that your feet feel as you are running. Some runners prefer a different construction that is made very light with little padding because that is the type they are used to and that work well for them. In a cushioned shoe, look for one with a thick cushion pad throughout the entire inside with an additional area in the heel for control. These qualities help to prevent tendonitis, heel pain, stress fractures and shin splints as well as any overuse symptoms.

Joggers need a lot of cushioning for their impact and heel control. Jogging shoes helps to prevent the same injuries as running shoes.

6. Walking Shoes

If you choose walking as your exercise or sport to gain cardiovascular fitness the best type of shoe is a lightweight shoe. It will contain shock absorption in the heel area and under the ball of your foot as these are the two most stressful areas when walking. This reduces heel pain as well as tenderness or burning in the ball of the foot. Choose a shoe with a slightly rounded or rocker bottom on the sole to help you to shift your weight smoothly from heel to toe and decrease the forces on your entire foot. Walking shoes are more rigid in the front to help you to roll off your toes instead of bending them as in running shoes.

7. Aerobic Shoes

If you participate in aerobics, look for a lightweight shoe with extra padding in the sole under the ball of your foot. This is the area that incurs the most shock while doing aerobic exercises. You can also consider placing a carpet underneath your workout area for extra help in preventing foot fatigue.

8. Tennis Shoes

Tennis shoes require that you be able to move from side to side quickly and weight shifting on a constant basis. The shoe needs to provide stability on the inside and outside of the foot to protect them. The sole area under the ball of the foot should be flexible to allow quick forward movements to get to the net. On a soft court, you will need a softer sole that gives you better traction, while on a hard court you will want a sole with better tread.

9. Basketball Shoes

Basketball shoes should have a very thick and stiff sole for extra stability when running on the court floor. High tops will give you extra stability in your ankles, but won’t help with ankle strains, sprains or injuries.

10. Cross Trainers

Cross training shoes are a hybrid type of shoe that includes many features of other shoes. A good choice has the flexibility in the forefoot for running and the lateral control for tennis or aerobics.

The specific shoe for one person may not work well for another. If you choose a shoe that works well with no injuries for quite some time, then stick with that particular shoe style.

Bonus: Buying Tips

Visit a specialty shoe store to purchase your athletic shoes of any type. The employees can help you to make a choice on the type you need and can help you with fitting them properly. The shoes may cost a bit more in this arena, but it is worthwhile for shoes that you use often.

Try on shoes at the end of the day after a long run or workout. Your feet swell throughout the day and are the largest at the end of the day. Wear the same type of sock you wear for your sport or exercise when you try on shoes.

All of your toes should be able to wiggle freely in a shoe and they should be fully comfortable when you try them on. There is no actual break in period associated with shoes. Walk for a short distance after you put on the new shoes.

Re-lace the shoes from the toe end up to the top of the shoe to fit your foot. Someone may have tried them on before you and the laces may not be the same for you. Make sure the shoe does not go up and down on your heel as you walk to prevent heel blisters.

Always remember to stay hydrated no matter what type of exercises or sports you perform. The best idea to help you succeed in your goals is to enlist the help of a nutritional supplement from a well-known source, such as Nutrition HQ. They have supplements for general health, weight loss and sports nutrition to help you crush the competition.