Guide for Choosing the Best Workout Shoes

If you’re new to working out, chances are you’re a bit lost about which gym shoes will be the best workout shoes to support you and your feet as the right shoe choice for your new workout. And you don’t want just any pair of gym shoes or to pick the wrong shoe choice for your needs, especially if you’re going to be investing a lot of time (and potentially money) into your new training routine.

Whenever you start a new workout or training program, one of the first things you should do is figure out the best workout shoes to wear. The right type of workout shoe can be crucial to your workout (and your feet, from heel to midsole to toe), even if you plan on weight lifting, cycling, or you need walking shoes.

Making the right choice with footwear like sneakers is even more critical if you want to run and need the right running shoe. Or if you do CrossFit workouts or a HIIT workout, you need breathable gym shoes, offer comfort, and support your weight and joints.

Do you need a breathable mesh, anti-slip rubber, or a rubber outsole for your workout shoe? Do you need women’s workout shoes or men’s workout sneakers? Or do you go for the big brands like Nike, Reebok, and Adidas when selecting your perfect shoe? The options are endless.

Sneakers can ultimately be a personal preference.  So, no matter if you’re running, boxing, dancing, doing high-intensity interval training, or lifting weights and weight training — this guide to sneakers has you (and your feet) covered.

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Workout Shoes
Salomon XA Pro 3D V8 GTX

Salomon XA Pro 3D V8 GTX

Men’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Women’s: For a great deal on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Best for trail running or hiking

For trails, I prefer Salomon XA Pro 3D V8 GTX.  These are Gore-tex to keep your feet dry and have firm soles for added stability on the trails. They also have a reinforced toe to keep you from stubbing your toe.

As these shoes are sturdier, they are suitable for indoor cycling and some indoor exercise classes.  With a firm sole, some activities (such as calf raises) might be challenging in these shoes.

Asics Gel Kayano 27

Asics Gel Kayano 27

Men’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Women’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Best for running and strength training

The Asics Gel Kayano 27 provides additional ankle stability for people with muscle imbalances, which we all have. Once the ankle and knees are supported correctly, the proper shoe can relieve pain in the knees and ankles and help correct over-pronation, which is when your foot rolls inward, causing shin splints and causing knee pain swelling.

The right stability shoe will help minimize the rolling inward and help the heel-to-toe transition slowly, correcting your running form over time.

I like how light this model has become over the years. The shoe has transformed into fashionable and light footwear while helping correct the running form. Hence, relieving the pressure on our joints while we run with added cushioning. They also can be worn for strength training as well.

Workout Shoes
NoBull Trainers

NoBull Trainers

Men’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Women’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Best for CrossFit

There are two main things you look for in a CrossFit shoe: durability and versatility. The right CrossFit shoe takes you from squats to rope climbs to burpee box jumps all in one workout. A good pair of CrossFit shoes feel just as comfortable during an 800-meter run as it does during a couple of deadlifts and push-ups — and NoBull surpasses standards for all of the above.

NoBull shoes have a reputation for being heavy-duty yet comfortable, supportive, yet flexible. Plus, they’re sleek and simple, and you can choose from high-top, mid-rise and regular to find your perfect fit.

Asics Gel Nimbus 22

Asics Gel Nimbus 22

Men’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Women’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Best for high impact workouts (like dance cardio, plyometrics, or HIIT)

My favorite sneaker for HIIT training is the Asics Gel Nimbus 22. I’ve tried many different brands and models, but I always come back to the Gel Nimbus. They have fantastic shock absorption for high-impact movements but are light enough to don’t feel like clunky moon shoes, the perfect balance for dance cardio.

Workout Shoes
Otomix Warrior Bodybuilding Boxing Weightlifting MMA Shoes

Otomix Warrior Bodybuilding Boxing Weightlifting MMA Shoes

Men’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Women’s: For a great price on these shoes, merely go here on Amazon

Best for Boxing

For boxing workouts, these are super-comfortable and feel like you’re walking on clouds! I also like that they can be slip-on and not tied with laces. Whenever I do boxing workouts, drills, or high-impact training, the Otomix Men’s/Women’s Warrior Bodybuilding Boxing Weightlifting MMA Shoes are my go-to shoes.

Summary

The best workout shoes for you are the ones that take both your sport and your feet into consideration. Please do your homework, be mindful of how your current training shoes make your feet feel, and notice how they affect performance.

I hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have anything you would like to share or any opinions about my website, please speak up. I look forward to your comments, questions, and the sharing of ideas.

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3 thoughts on “Guide for Choosing the Best Workout Shoes”

  1. Hello,
    I am happy I stumbled on your site. This lockdown has forced me to begin exercising. Previously I was quite active and never really needed extra time for exercise since I was on my feet most of the day. However, with COVID, I find myself unable to adopt to being off my feet so much; instead, it has begun to affect my health, so I have had to develop an exercise routine.

    However, I have no idea what type of shoes is right for me. I do da azonto dancing in the morning and walk in the afternoons. I have no idea what kind of shoes I ought to buy. What would you suggest for me? Do I need special shoes for dancing? Do I need a different shoe for walking, or will the same shoe do for both? 

    According to your description, the NoBull Trainers look like something I could use for walking and this dancing as well. What do you think?

    On the other hand, the Asics Gel Nimbus 22 sounds like just what I need for my dance routine. What do you suggest? Do I need both? Or something different?

    Regards,
    Candy Benn

    Reply
    • Hi Candy, I hope you are well. Sorry, but I’m not sure what type of dancing da azonto is. Is it like hip hop or Zumba dancing? If so, I would suggest a shoe with a flat sole so that it’s easy to glide across the floor. Something like the  Adidas Originals Women’s Superstar Sneaker would be a good choice. These shoes are available in many different colors, so you’ll have to shop around to find what you like. Limited supplies may be due to COVID. I would suggest a second shoe for walking because wearing your dance shoes outside will get them dirty and sticky on the bottoms. A good shoe for walking outside would be something like the IPETSUN Women’s Athletic Walking Shoes. This would also be a good shoe for hip hop dancing and other activities. If you decide on these, I would suggest one for dancing and one for walking.

      Mind you; these are my suggestions to point you in the right direction and give you some different options. I hope that this helps you.

      Warmest regards,

      Robert

      Reply
  2. Wow! How would I have ever known that there are a lot of differences between shoes and what they are for, specifically? This is good to see, and I value the information provided here. Well, such an enlightening one, and I have gained a couple more thoughts from this review.

    Reply

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