Athletic Shoes

Shoes make a big difference in comfort and performance

The real testament to how hard a woman works out shouldn’t have anything to do with how sore her feet are afterwards. Good athletic shoes can be so comfortable you’d hardly know you just spent an hour pounding the pavement. If you’re going to spend any time looking for workout wear, spend it searching for the best athletic shoes.

What activity are you going to be doing?

If you need a pair of hiking shoes, you’ll require different features than if you’re looking for a shoe that absorbs treadmill shock. Before you even consider buying high-end athletic shoes, ask yourself what you need them for most, whether it’s running, walking, hiking or a variety of different activities.

A woman who participates in many activities, such as running, strength training and sports, might find cross-trainers work best. But a woman who runs and rarely does anything else will do best with shoes built for running.

The top athletic shoe companies, such as Asics, Nike, Saucony and New Balance, have shoes tailored to many different activities and foot types. If you know what you are going to be doing in the shoes, all that’s left is figuring out what type of foot you have.

Common shoe types

• Walking
• Running
• Hiking
• Cross-training
• Treadmill
• Dance
  

Important athletic shoe buying rules

• Never try athletic shoes on at the beginning of the day, wait until later when they have swelled up due to activity, or even better, after a workout (just make sure to shower first). Wear the same type of socks you wear while working out. The shoes should fit snug without being tight across the laces, and your toes should have wiggle room. Most people buy athletic shoes a size bigger than they buy regular shoes.
• You should never have to break in a pair of athletic shoes. If the shoe doesn’t fit right, or is uncomfortable in any way, it’s only going to get worse after you’ve been in them for a few hours.
  

It’s important to try athletic shoes on, walking in them, jumping - making any movements you’ll need to when you own them. If you’ve found a good deal online that you don’t want to pass up, consider going to a local sporting goods store and trying them on there before you buy online. And make sure the vendor has a return policy.