8 Tips to Finding the Best Workout Shoes for Your Feet ...

One of the best tips for finding the best workout shoes is to consider your feet. Figure out whether you have a high arch, neutral arch, or low arch. WebMD suggests wetting your foot and then “stepping on a brown piece of paper and tracing your footsteps”.

With the foot test, “if your footprint shows the entire sole of your foot with little to no curve on the inside” this means you have “low arches or flat feet.” In this case you would want a shoe with a “motion-control feature and maximum support.”

If you find that your heel and forefoot are barely connected then you have high arches. If you have high arches it is recommended you look into shoes which provide you with a “cushioned sole and a soft midsole.”

Those with a neutral arch will find a unique curve in their step and should look for a stability shoe. The stability shoe will have “the right mix of cushioning and support.”

There are a variety of shoe styles available and they are each designed for specific functions.

Oxygen Magazine explains, “There are a few different types of shoes, including shoes for cushioning, stability, and motion control. All shoes have some of these features, but some are more specialized.”

“Some models of running shoes look better suited to a space mission than a run in the park, but some of those groovy-looking features actually serve a purpose,” WebMD says.
It is important to research and understand what is in the shoes you are buying.

Bring the socks you plan to wear when exercising with you to the store as WebMD recommends.

Make sure you have time to try different pairs of shoes on so you do not feel rushed. Check your shoe size in the store and ask the store associate for advice.

Health magazine suggests that you wear different shoes when doing different activities. For example, wear “flat-soled shoes or barefoot-running styles” if you are weight-lifting.

“Cross-trainers that offer arch and ankle support” are suggested for energizing gym classes. If you choose the treadmill, it is advised you pick running shoes.

When trying on your shoes, it is important to make sure you have enough room between your toes and the front of the shoe.

WebMD explains, “There should be about 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch between the front of your big toe and the end of the shoe.”

“Wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause foot, ankle, knee and low back problems,” Huffington Post states.

You can add more comfort to your shoe by placing inserts in them. Livestrong says, “Wearing shoes with a new insole is especially important for athletes, whose feet can take a pounding.”

Make sure you understand how much comfort your feet need, depending on what activity you are doing.

The type of shoe you are looking for can vary depending on your movement and activity.

“If your routine includes an activity like aerobics, weight training, or kickboxing” Real Simple.com suggests choosing cross-trainers because they can help when exercising “on a hard surface that involves side-to-side movement.”

For jogging or walking, choose running shoes, because Real Simple.com states “they’re engineered for heel-to-toe motion.”

The American Podiatric Medical Association states that there are common shoe inserts including insoles, heel liners, foot cushions, and arch support and each provides extra comfort.
Arch supports are designed to “support the foot’s natural arch.”
The association also urges those interested in shoe inserts to consider what activities they want to participate in when wearing shoe inserts, as runners require different support than walkers.