Why You Should Tailor Your Workout Shoes To Your Workout Type

You pick out your clothes for working out based on what type of exercise you're planning, so it shouldn't be a surprise that you should be choosing your shoes based on that workout as well. You should know how to tell if you're wearing the wrong shoes for your workout and how to choose the correct shoes. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, your feet and ankles require different types of support for different activities. 

If you're choosing a shoe for general sports practice, then you might want to look for a shoe that's specifically made for cross-training, but if you want a shoe specifically for running, walking, weightlifting, or other types of fitness classes, you'll want to look for specific types of foot support. For example, walking shoes often have rounded heels because that supports heel striking, according to experts at Ace Fitness. When you head to the store to find a new pair of shoes for your workout, there are a couple of things to keep in mind, including types of material, support, and flexibility of the shoes. 

According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, you should purchase your athletic shoes from a specialty store rather than from a superstore, and you should keep in mind that the types of activities you're purchasing the shoes for require differences in things like the material and the weight of the footwear.

For running, then, think about looking for a shoe with a lot of cushioning to absorb the shock of your feet hitting the ground while running. On the other hand, lightweight options may make you feel faster. Consider switching up your running shoes depending on the type of run you're going on, having one pair for easy runs while saving another for your speed workouts. There are some brands that specifically make running shoes for women, which would be a great place to start your search. You can always change out the inserts for more or less support if you find that your shoes are wearing out.

You might need multiple pairs of shoes, depending on which types of workouts you're doing. For hiking, running, and indoor cardio workouts, you'll likely want shoes that support forward motion. For an outdoor boot camp or HIIT workout, reach for shoes that are flat with medium tread. Director of trainer development at Fitness Quest 10 Jesse Dietrick tells Real Simple, "Most cross-training shoes have support and don't collapse when performing a lateral motion. For example, an agility exercise that requires you to change direction."

If you really want to only have one pair of shoes for every workout, you can look into getting cross-training shoes, which combine features in order to deliver shoes that are supportive for multiple sports. Many of these shoes are made of flexible materials that will allow you to move both forward and laterally with minimal issues, according to FootCareMD. The most important thing is to choose shoes that are comfortable, supportive, and that empower you to complete your workout and leave it feeling great.