Choosing the Best Shoes For Your Workout

One of the most important fitness tips / pieces of advice you’ll get has nothing to do with what type of exercise you favor or the type of equipment you use at your favorite gym. This all important exercise suggestion doesn’t concern itself with the number of repetitions you need or the heart rate you should achieve for maximum effect.

It’s all about the shoes that you wear when you’re exercising  and how to pick out the ones that are right for your overall exercise and fitness goals. First off, it’s important to get one thing out of the way. Your favorite pair of run-around-town shoes don’t qualify as the same pair you should be wearing on the treadmill, the track or the court.  Keep in mind that it’s critical to pick the shoe that fits the workout because the model that’s made specifically for a sport like basketball or tennis is very different than one made for running.

Hit The Heels

For example, experts say that runners land more on the fronts of their feet while walkers hit the heels with more force. That means it makes more sense to look for a shoe that has a rubber heel for walking and one with more cushion on the front of the foot if you’re a runner. Of course there are those people who research different shoes for different sports and come to the conclusion that a cross trainer might be their best bet. After all, they reason, these offer some lateral stability for occasional sports activities for those folks who aren’t really too serious about becoming experts in any one area.

That’s not always the best way to look at getting the right shoe for the right activity although these cross trainers are good for some of the lighter exercise activities like the occasional treadmill workout and light jogging. However, if you are heavily into fitness you should be looking for the right kind of exercise shoe that fits more strenuous activities.

Here’s just a few of the characteristics for the best shoes for your workout

• Light weight. You don’t want to add pounds to your feet while exercising and that’s why lighter is better.
• You want a firm shoe that doesn’t bend too easily. This is about support and strength.
• A firm heel. It doesn’t matter what type of fitness you’re into, you want the shoe to support that important part of your foot.

Any fitness tip on workout shoes wouldn’t be complete without letting you know that, even when you buy a good pair of workout shoes, you need to keep them specifically for their namesake. In other words, those exercise shoes shouldn’t be slipped on when you’re going out to the beach. You should have a separate pair for that. Also remember that you need to replace your shoes based on wear.   A general rule is every 4-6 months.   This rule applies even when the shoes still “looks” good.

Guest Writer,

Rob