No matter what category of exercise persona you fall into—the gym junkee, the pilates princess or the hot girl walker—there’s nothing more important to your fitness regime than finding the right workout shoes.
It’s far more than a matter of adding to your overall aesthetic or matching your workout shoes to your new activewear set, the right pair can set you up for success (or failure).
Not all workout shoes are created equal, in that some are designed for certain styles of exercise. So, what should you be looking for in a workout shoe, and can you settle for an all-rounder?
“For a novice athlete, the safest and best option would be to begin with a running shoe which can initially be used for all activities including boot camp, walking, cardio, spin, running, HIIT and weights,” Emily Smith, Sports Podiatrist and Emily Braidwood Founder, tells marie claire Australia.
“As you progress your exercise and wish to specialise and/or compete in a specific type of exercise, buying sport-specific footwear, i.e lifting shoes, cleats, crossfit trainers, trail running shoes etc, becomes more important.”
Once you’ve found your right shoe, proper fit is equally important and Emily says, when in doubt, you can follow one simple rule.
“The rule of ‘thumb’ is to have a half-a-thumb width of gap between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. If you are running on trails or your feet swell significantly, a full thumbs width may be better to prevent toe trauma.”
“Because shoe sizes can significantly vary and change between seasons, it is best to visit a specialist shoe store to try the shoes on with your socks, ideally after a run or workout.”
If you’re looking for suggestions for a great pair of workout shoes, scroll on for our picks…
For All Round, Mixed Training and Cardio
Free Metcon 4, $120 at JD Sports
Nano X3, $200 at Reebok
Nike Air Zoom Bella 6, $129.99 at The Iconic
UA Charged Breathe Lace TR, $90 at Under Armour
For Running
FuelCell Propel v4, $180 at New Balance
Galaxy 6, $100 at Adidas
For Weightlifting
Adipower Weightlifting 3, $330 at Adidas
Romaleos 4 SE, $270 at Nike
For Walking
Ecco Women’s Low Multi-vent Low GTX Sneakers, $399.95 at ECCO
Looking to save money on workout shoes? Check out our coupon codes for Nike, Adidas and more.
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