A healthy lifestyle is slowly but surely gaining popularity. More and more men and women prefer fitness activities to bars and nightclubs. But for successful training you need good equipment, including shoes.
It’s quite difficult for beginners to choose the right sneakers for fitness. And you cannot buy what comes to hand, because it is the shoes that provide reliable protection against injuries. And the convenience here is far from the last place. And if a sports jacket can be discarded, then the entire workout will have to be in the shoes.
From our article you will learn which sneakers are best for fitness, how to choose them and what to pay special attention to. We will give useful tips and analyze the recommendations of professional athletes. All this will help to navigate in the presented assortment and choose the right sneakers for fitness.
What should be sports shoes?
When choosing sports sneakers for fitness, you need to consider that you will use them much more actively than other casual shoes. Therefore, they must securely fix the foot. Fitness shoes, as a rule, are noticeably higher than sneakers for jogging or football, and with a tight back.
This design allows you to minimize the risk of dislocations or sprains, reliably holding the ankle. In addition, before choosing sneakers for fitness, you should pay attention to the ventilation of the shoes. The foot must necessarily breathe and blow both from above and below. Technologists of well-known brands are trying to provide circular ventilation of the foot.
If you suffer from flat feet, then it is better to choose sneakers for fitness with instep support. It is also worth noting that good shoes are always equipped with special shock-absorbing foot pads. For example, Asics fitness sneakers have structural cushioning, which helps protect hyperpronators from shock and injuries. Other well-known brands have similar developments.
Convenience
This is perhaps one of the most important points. No matter how technologically advanced the shoes may be, but if it is inconvenient, then all its advantages are nullified. Separately, it is worth mentioning one common mistake of novice athletes.
Some girls buy men's fitness sneakers, explaining that they are more comfortable for training. In fact, this is a delusion that can seriously affect your foot. The fact is that well-known manufacturers develop shoes taking into account the peculiarities of the legs of both women and men.
Therefore, women's sneakers for fitness can not be worn by men and vice versa. All this can easily provoke leg problems. The so-called “female” insoles in men's shoes or some other tricks will not help here. Yes, on sale you can find universal fitness sneakers - inexpensive and beautiful. But such products from craftsmen from China can easily ruin your legs, especially if you give them a serious load during training.
Tips from professional athletes
Professionals use such shoes every day, so they know a lot about good sneakers. So if you want your purchase to be convenient and practical, you should heed their advice. Of course, if you look at the original Adidas or Nike fitness sneakers, then the problem comes down to choosing a sports direction, because everything else was originally performed at the highest level. In other cases, be sure to pay attention to the following points.
Materials
Good sneakers for fitness should be made of natural materials. It is the latter that allow you to fully “breathe” your legs and feet. The best option in most cases is genuine leather.
As an alternative, you can consider the option with gortex. This material has very good moisture-removing and breathable properties. Some manufacturers use synthetic mesh, which also contributes to good air exchange.
Sole
Be sure to pay special attention to the sole when choosing both men's and women's fitness sneakers. It should be made of several layers, as well as different materials, which adds to its reliability and increases the rate of wear resistance.
The nose of the shoe should be in the shape of a circle. This will allow you to perform rotational exercises with proper comfort. The easiest way to check the soles in a store is through physical exposure. It should bend easily and fit into place without any problems. Naturally, no cracks are welcome.
Insoles
One of the clear benefits of fitness shoes is the removable insoles. The latter can be easily washed and replaced if necessary. Insoles should be fully consistent with the foot. If you have flat feet, then you should immediately look at some orthopedic options.
There should be a slight thickening in the very center of the insole. It supports the arch of the foot during training. Inexpensive options for sneakers sin the presence of cardboard and fabric under the insole. But in good sports shoes such materials should not be mentioned. They contribute to the accumulation of moisture and significantly reduce the performance of running shoes.
Depreciation
Another serious point that you should definitely pay attention to, especially if you are a regular in a fitness club. The shock-absorbing system allows you to reduce the load on the foot and minimizes the risk of injuries and dislocations.
Here we are talking about micropores, airbags or some specialized insoles. Depreciation may have different fillers and locations. For those who have back problems or flat feet, the presence of such systems is mandatory.
Weight
When buying sneakers, you should also consider your weight. If you do not suffer from overweight, then any shoes for the chosen fitness direction will suit you. Otherwise, you need to choose sneakers with special shock-absorbing pillows with an eye on your weight. Similar shoes can be found in the categories of cardio fitness and aerobics. It is also worth considering that severe options are contraindicated for people with overweight. That is, no basketball shoes or weightlifting shoes.
Other points
When buying sports shoes, try clicking on the toe. There should not be any dents in this place. The heel area should be stiff and not give in to bends. The upper part, on the contrary, is inherently soft so that the material does not rub the skin.
Professionals are also advised to choose sneakers only with laces - no Velcro and complex inversions. Only they provide reliable fixation of the feet, which can not be said about other devices. Pay attention to the presence of the tongue and sewn hooks on which the laces are wound. Due to their absence, the shoes will get wet more actively if you plan to train in the street.
The aesthetic component is less important, at least for men. But women are always more pleasant to engage not only in practical and comfortable sneakers, but also beautiful and stylish. Fortunately, popular manufacturers offer a chic assortment of colors and shapes of sports shoes.
Fitness-related choices
General recommendations were voiced above, but a specific area of fitness should also be taken into account. If you spend the lion's share of the time on the treadmill or in the alleys in the parks, then pay attention to the presence of a stabilizer in the sneakers. This is a special rigid insert located just below the arch of the foot. The stabilizer helps to properly distribute the mass and minimizes discomfort while running.
Also, be sure to check the weight of the shoes. Running shoes should not exceed 350 grams. Thus, you will develop the optimal speed for yourself throughout the sprint. Otherwise, you will have a feeling of kettlebell on your feet.
Strength Fitness Exercises
For strength exercises, you need to look for shoes with grooved soles from micropores. This design eliminates slipping on the floor and reliably fixes the foot. This is especially important when you are in the hands of serious sports equipment like a barbell or a pair of heavy dumbbells.
Pay attention to the width of the sole on the heel. It should be noticeably wider than the upper part of the shoe. It also add the sneakers necessary stability. The frame itself must be stiff and strong so that the leg is securely fixed. Tight lacing also obviously will not be superfluous.
Fitness aerobics
Aerobics sneakers differ from other sports shoes with a specific sole. The latter is slightly thinner than that of running shoes, and clearly laid out on the nose and heel. There are no cushioning systems here, because this type of shoe does not imply heavy and shock loads.
The top of the cross is made of thick fabric or leatherette. Such materials fit the ankle well and protect it from physical damage. The treads for fitness aerobics sneakers are rounded and barely protrude. This design makes it easy to turn on the spot.
In addition, shoes for fitness aerobics are lightweight and standard lacing, without rigid fixation of the foot. Insoles in such shoes are also thin and, if necessary, can be orthopedic.
Finally
It is not so important what kind of fitness you do, the main thing is to choose high-quality and comfortable sneakers for you. All of the above positive qualities are possessed by shoes from the premium segment: Adidas, Nike, Puma, Asiks, Reebok and other expensive equipment.
But you can find quite decent options in the mid-price category of sportswear. But here you need to understand that really high-quality shoes are sold only in specialized stores.