There are two kinds of people in the world—the ones who like neon yellow shoes and the ones who don’t. I’m of the collective that doesn’t. Finding the perfect pair of shoes for sports can be a stressful experience for anyone; there are so many shoes for different purposes, and you may not understand their particular purpose.
First of all, choose a pair of shoes that comfortably fit your feet; if the shoes are too tight or too large, you can come across debilitating foot injuries or blisters.
There are three different categories of shoes: running, training, and walking. For walking shoes or running shoes, you want to choose a comfortable soft upper, shock-absorbent shoe that encourages the natural roll of the foot. Track and field sports shoes are the easiest to determine for most people because they’re studded at the bottom to increase traction on turf and grass. The sizes of the spikes vary depending on the conditions of the outdoor surface; if it’s a muddy field, the spikes are sharper and longer, but wider and shorter spikes are designed for short cut grass. Longer spikes are better for soccer, football, and rugby because of the field surface used in these sports. Shorter spikes are better for golf, baseball, and track and field.
If you’re interested in extensive exercise while maintaining good health for the joints and bones in the feet, shoes that are lightweight prevent foot fatigue. Shoes that mould to the natural outline of your foot are also incredibly important.
For basketball and tennis, you need a shoe that supports the foot during side-to-side movements. A shoe that provides stability on the inside and outside of the foot is key. Choose a thick, stiff sole. Make sure you have ankle stability and tie up your shoes comfortably.
There are aids for your foot when problems and injuries occur. A heel cup provides an efficient way to alleviate pain beneath the heel, known as plantar fasciitis. An orthosis, or arch support, can relieve pain in the arch of the foot.
Shoes like Asics are highly recommended walking and running shoes; their support and shock absorbency protects the foot from injuries and fatigue. If you’re someone who likes to go and lift heavy weights, you’ll be recommended to slide on some training shoes, such as Adidas and Under Armour shoes. The benefit of a cross-training shoe is that the shoe is versatile enough to be used for a variety of activities. Its sole is typically flat, allowing you to balance heavy weight evenly without rolling your ankle.
