Choose the best footwear for your fitness journey
SO you’ve decided to seriously make this year the one you’ll get fit. You’ve bought the seamless sports bra, bike shorts and Lululemon leggings so you’ll look fab while you get fit, and now it’s on to the shoes.
Workout shoes aren’t just your regular trainers or sneakers, to get fit comfortably, there are some things that you should be looking for before making that purchase, says workout developer Mesha-Gaye Wright. And it’s not as simple as visiting the shoe store and picking out shoes in your favourite colour.
These include fit, material used to make the shoes, ability to stretch and withstand pressure, and most of all, comfort for the wearer.
“Your shoes are probably the most important piece of gear in your entire outfit, because if the shoes don’t fit properly, you’ll struggle to complete your routine,” Wright says. “Think about it, if your shoes are contributing to, or exacerbating problems like bunions, corns or blisters, you will struggle.”
She gives these tips for choosing the right footwear — and advises that this is not the time to pinch pennies.
1) If your shoes are ill fitting, for example, this can affect other areas of your body apart from your feet — like your knees, hips, and posture, leading to pain and discomfort. Ever wondered why you were having pain in strange places after a fitness session? Your shoes could be to blame!
2) Choose shoes based on the workout you’ll be concentrating on majority of the time, since it’s not really practical for everyone to own multiple pairs of sneakers. For example, there are special shoes for running and dancing, as against whether you’re hiking or riding a bicycle, or just staying in the gym for your sessions.
3) The right shoes will improve your comfort and performance, and reduce the likelihood of injury. Your shoes should minimise shocks to your feet from the exercise — in other words, you should not have any discomfort to your feet, toes or nails after your exercise.
4) The shoes should offer you both foot support and cushioning from the elements, as well as ankle support. Don’t choose a flimsy tennis shoes for going hiking on rocky terrain, for example.
5) Note where the shock absorbing material is placed by the manufacturer for the shoes you’re purchasing. Example, running shoes will have thicker soles, while shoes for cardio in a gym setting don’t have to.
6) Choose the right socks too — even the best shoes can get uncomfortable if you’re pairing them with the wrong type of socks. So seek guidance on what’s the best pairing for your particular exercise.
7) Don’t buy shoes true to size for running, for example. These shoes will need extra room for your toes to splay. On the other hand, you’d want the opposite in gym shoes — a snug fit for better balance, so your feet aren’t moving around when you’re power lifting, for example.
