Your workout shoes are the most important pieces of exercise apparel you will buy. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine highlighted that the perfect pair workout shoes can affect your performance as well as your risk of injury. In fact, it was revealed that the right shoes have an impact on an athlete’s biomechanics, due to their design and unique features. I can certainly attest to this as I can tell when my shoes are wearing out. The right shoes really help my feet feel better after a workout, too. The design or colors of your apparel can even motivate you to put on your workout gear and exercise.
Given the importance of footwear in your workout, it’s important you need to purchase the right exercise shoes. Consider the following factors.
Workout Program
Though sneakers may look similar, each model is crafted with a purpose in mind. A guide called How to Choose the Best Workout Shoes for Every Exercise informs us that running shoes must have thick soles with a proper cushioning system so that they can absorb the shock from the activity. Meanwhile, group exercise classes involve a lot of forefoot impact. So if you are working out in classes, you need to look for shoes with flat yet flexible support like the Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit. If you’re more into strength training, you need to search for stable and firm shoes like the Reebok Nano X1. These will give you a strong foundation when lifting weights. Finding the correct shoes for your workout is crucial to help prevent injury and maximize the effectiveness of your workout.
Style Preferences
As previously stated in my post 5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Exercise, the style of your apparel can influence your drive to work out. The details in your apparel can motivate you to put on your workout clothes and get going. In fact, world-renowned tennis player Genie Bouchard testifies that the recently released New Balance x Bandier collection makes her feel strong and confident both on and off the court. The athlete stated that the fresh New Balance 327s and the cozy-chic clothing in the collection were designed to empower women. New Balance and Bandier united especially to create sports apparel that provides strength and style. Like Bouchard, you can feel motivated to workout by wearing shoes that make you look and feel good.
Arch Shape and Stride
Aside from looking into your workout program, consider if the shoes can accommodate your arch shape and stride. Having proper arch support is crucial since it can affect your balance and stability, and reduce the risk of injury. As such, those with a high arch would benefit from shoes that are either neutral or cushioned for more support. On the other hand, those with a flat arch type must look for shoes that provide motion control. You also need to examine your foot alignment and stride when looking for shoes.
Those with supination will benefit from cushioned shoes, while those with pronation should go for more motion control. By looking into your arch shape and stride, you can ensure that your shoe perfectly fits your foot, reducing the chance of any injury and increasing your workout output. I realized in high school that I pronate and was able to get inserts specially made for me. It made all the difference and eliminated my shin splints!
Specific Shoe Features
Finally, consider examining the specific features that each shoe model provides. These unique features can provide an added boost to your workout performance. You can select one of their sports-oriented designs that caters to your exercise routine. To illustrate, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT was proven to increase one’s running efficiency by 4-5%. In fact, runner Sifan Hassan wore these shoes when she won gold medals for the 1,500-meter and 10,000-meter events at the 2019 World Championships.
Meanwhile, middle-distance runner Laura Muir was also wearing a Vaporfly prototype when she broke a British indoor mile record. The Vaporfly shoes worn by the athletes contained the ZoomX foam and a carbon fiber plate technology. These combined to help improve their speed. By considering special features like these, you will be able to easily elevate your workout routines with the perfect pair of workout shoes.
Your workout shoes can affect your performance, motivation, and injury risk. Therefore, you need to consider your arch shape, stride, support needs, and style preferences, as well as specific shoe features, to take your workout to the next level.
