Sport is all about adrenaline, energy and health. Many of those who begin attending a gym, a swimming pool or devote themselves to a specific discipline, rarely leave it fortunately. In fact, the commitment to make the movement steadily helps us to reduce the impact of the consequences of a sedentary life. Whether you train at home or in a specific gym or studio, we know that the choice of equipment is essential for the success and safety of our training. And it is important not to underestimate any detail, starting from the training shoes that allow us, materially, to keep us in balance, but also to give our best effort.
Let’s look at some useful tips to choose the most suitable footwear for the type of sport we do and what characteristics they should have.
How to choose the most suitable training shoes?
In recent decades, the design and performance of footwear has evolved extremely quickly and significantly. The models, the materials used, the applied technology have changed: today almost all technical shoes are equipped with shock absorbers (air, gel or mesh), placed under the heel and in the front, and with stabilizing inserts.
These elements, especially in men’s sport shoes allow us to obtain better results in our physical activity, while contributing to a reduction in injuries, as long as the choice of the training shoe is made in a conscientious and careful way. In some cases, it is good practice to seek advice from an expert, whether it is the coach or even a specialist.
In any case, there are some elements that we should all always consider:
- the weight of the athlete;
- the type of terrain on which the training takes place;
- individual plantar support (for those wishing to analyze their own, experts recommend baropodometric examination);
- posture;
- the sport you decide to practice.
If the first characteristics are generally subjective, the latter element allows us to distinguish various types of products with similar characteristics. Let’s see, therefore, which are the most suitable footwear for running, fitness and boxing.
Running training shoes
Running is good for the brain, as well as for the body, and the millions who choose running as a sport to keep fit and have fun know it, attracted by the benefits and simplicity of training that does not require specific tools, structures or subscriptions. Choosing the training shoe, however, is not so immediate.
In fact, there are seven main categories of running shoes:
- minimalist
- superlight
- intermediate
- maximum cushioning
- stable
- trail running (specific footwear for rough and steep terrain, they are recommended for those who are dedicated, for example, to mountain running)
- studded – specialist (there are models for cross-country running and others for track racing)
The differences between the models concern the weight of the shoe, the degree of flexibility, the level of cushioning and stabilization.
Gym shoes
Those who, on the other hand, do not miss a fitness trend and are a regular visitor to gyms know that they must choose a training shoe that allows them to move easily and that allows perspiration to perspire. In particular, fitness shoes have the sole divided into two parts to allow us to move the foot freely, and often are equipped with a collar that allows you to protect the ankle. The cushioning system is very important in this case, because it must allow to cushion the blows on the heel, which is often put under stress by this type of training.
Zumba enthusiasts need an even more versatile shoe, while those who do not miss even a crossfit lesson should buy a specific shoe, or rather two. In fact, the activities foreseen by training require a balancing shoe that guarantees stability, and a lighter one for running sessions and other exercises.
