Training footwear plays a vital role in all of your fitness endeavours.
Not only do you need support, but you also need safety and the right shoe for the right activity.
The terms training footwear, trainers, and tennis shoes are generally all-encompassing terms used to describe shoes that people wear during physical activity.
Some of these include:
Running shoes, which offer built-in shock support for running or jogging and lightweight design for walking.
Aerobic shoes, provide you with shock absorption and extra cushion at the ball of the foot.
Tennis shoes, have flexible soles to allow for quick movement.
Basketball shoes have high tops and thick soles to protect the ankles and feet when jumping.
Cross-trainers are ideal for individuals who participate in a variety of activities.
Running shoes and Training shoes will be the most common you will be coming across within a gym environment.
Trainers are designed to play multiple roles. You can use them in the gym for almost any activity — lifting weights, using the elliptical machine, stretching or any general activities.
Running shoes, on the other hand, are specifically designed for people who pound the pavement, the track or the trail and are not recommended for weight training. (These include general runners such as Nike and Adidas)
We have seen a rise in training shoes designed specifically for the weight room within the past couple of years. These shoes offer good support, comfort and a small heel drop (usually 3-4 mm). The most popular training shoes are the Nike Metcons and the Rebook Nanos.
These shoes not only provide a small heel drop which will help poor ankle dorsiflexion from exercises like squatting but also include the stability and flat sole (not made with air or gel) for the stability and comfort needed for deadlifting. Other FLAT-based shoes such as converse or vans are a cheaper alternative for weight training.
If ankle dorsiflexion is still an issue, weightlifting shoes are up your alley. These shoes are designed with a stiff, non-compressible sole with a distinguished raised heel (usually made of wood or a plastic composite with a rubber bottom to prevent sliding). Most weightlifting shoes will have a raised heel of approximately 2.5cm. Weightlifting shoes are beneficial in a number of ways.
The first thing you’ll notice when you put on a pair of these shoes is the ability to squat deeper while maintaining a more upright chest position causing less harmful forces on the lower back. With so many shoes on the market right now, be sure to invest in the right one for you!
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