By: Linda McNary
These days, conversations about exercise gear and equipment tend to revolve around technology. We focus on new-age home workout machines with electronic weight, for instance, or talk about the best wearable tech for tracking health stats and fitness milestones. And recently, a TechRadar feature on the future of wearables even suggested that concepts like smart fabric and advanced AI may come into the picture.
These are all exciting topics and developments, but they can also stop us from thinking about the basics, so to speak. To that point, your athletic shoes are still some of the most important pieces of gear you can invest in when starting or renewing an exercise program. They have enormous bearing on your comfort and physical wellbeing, and it’s not a stretch to say that the wrong shoe can ruin a whole routine. The only trouble is that it can be hard to determine what is the “right” or “wrong” shoe for your body and routine!
We hope it won’t come as a huge surprise to say so, but more often than not the sales associate at your local apparel or sporting goods store has little specific insight about shoe fits or training styles. This is not a criticism, and certainly there are exceptions. Generally though, it’s unwise to blindly trust the input of a sales associate who may tell you that a given shoe is “popular with runners” or “great for training.” There just usually isn’t much substance behind these comments.
That, of course, raises the question of who you should listen to when buying shoes to train in. And fortunately, there are a few good options to explore….
A (Good) Personal Trainer
Back in July, our post titled ‘Why a More Expensive Personal Trainer is Usually Better’ made the point that high-end trainers tend to be more educated. To be clear, this specifically refers to education in fitness and/or nutrition, and genuine know-how regarding how to help you get fit. However, through their experience in training (as well as above-average understanding of human bodies), some trainers will also have useful perspective on shoes. It may not be a primary of expertise, so you shouldn’t blindly trust this advice either. But there’s certainly no harm in consulting with someone who knows your body, routine, and goals when selecting new athletic shoes.
Others Like You
It also makes perfect sense to talk to friends, or others in any workout groups you may be part of! They may not be experts on athletic shoes, but they will be honest and direct in a way most sales associates won’t be. With a friend, you can talk freely about what you want in a shoe, what concerns you have, and what may or may not have worked for you in the past. You never know who might have similar thoughts and a recommendation that suits you.
Online Shoe Communities
When you hear “online shoe community” you probably envision a forum full of people who are merely enthusiastic about sneakers. Rest assured, plenty such forums exist! But what we’re talking about instead is tapping into a community of truly informed participants with passion for all things relating to shoes, and enjoying unique insight and advice. Right now, the SoleSavy community online is setting the tone for what this kind of environment can look like, propping up perks like exclusive video courses and podcasts, “sneaker karma” from members helping each other out, and members-only meetups. Much of this activity revolves around the culture of shoes, but environments like this also tend to have very in-the-know members who can answer detailed questions and make recommendations based on your athletic shoe needs.
Running YouTube Channels
Your program might not revolve around running, and for that matter the top YouTube running channels sometimes focus more on motivation and lifestyle than product and gear reviews. However, if you do take the time to explore some top channels in this space, you’ll wind up finding some extremely intelligent and detailed shoe reviews. Serious runners and trainers learn what to look for in athletic shoes, and are often able to provide insight for different kinds of needs and workouts. We’d recommend starting with Runner’s World, as well as seeking out similar channels run by specific shoe brands.
Specialty Shop Associates
As a brief final point, we’ll note that sales associates at specialty training and running shots can also be worth consulting. While it’s true that people in the same positions at bigger or more generic stores often have little to offer, people who work at more niche, training- or running-oriented stores are often there because of personal experience or passion. If you’re looking for your next training shoes in a place that fits this description, by all means pick the brains of the people working!
Hopefully this little guide will be helpful the next time you’re looking for shoes for your exercise routine. It often seems easy enough to stick with what you’ve had in the past, or to grab the latest athletic sneakers from Nike or Adidas without much thought. Sometimes those may even be the right decisions! But if you take the time to educate yourself, look into numerous options, and consult people who can offer genuine insight, you’ll be more likely to wind up with shoes that keep you healthy and comfortable while working out.
