No matter where you are on your fitness journey, there’s one piece of workout gear that will make a far bigger difference than any other piece of clothing: your footwear!
Different types of shoes are built for different functions. It’s common we see beginners start their fitness journey with us wearing running shoes. More and more often, we’re seeing the giant fluffy cloud-like Hokas and other extremely high cushion running shoes.
There’s nothing wrong with running shoes, generally speaking. BUT…they are not well suited for lifting and functional movements!
Think of it this way. If you were signing up for a soccer league, could you play in slippers? Yes.
But would a pair of cleats make you perform better and be a lot more comfortable performing the task at hand? Absolutely.
Functional training shoes like the Reebok Nano and NoBull Trainer are specifically designed for the types of movements and workouts we do in the gym. The soles of these shoes are harder, flatter, and more durable than running shoes. This means your lifts will feel more stable, and it will be easier to find and keep your balance while you’re moving. Stability is vital when it comes to weightlifting!
The upper part of functional training shoes are also much more durable, being built with movements like Rope Climbs and Burpees in mind. Running shoes can get eaten up very quickly in the gym. Conversely, if you use a pair of dedicated functional training shoes just for your workouts in the gym, they can last well over a year even with heavy use. Plus, they’ll help keep the gym clean, since they won’t be frequently worn outside like your regular running shoes.
Every once in a while, you might see a workout that running shoes would be fine for. Running (obviously!), jump rope, box jumps, and some other higher impact movements are generally fine. As soon as weightlifting is involved, you’ll be better off in a training shoe.
The most important features to look for in a gym shoe:
— Stability. The sole is firm, not fluffy.
— Wide toe box. Your foot functions best when your toes have room to spread out when you lift! Look for a shoe that’s actually shaped like a foot.
— Relatively flat. Ideally they don’t have a significant heel-to-toe drop.
In the photo below you’ll see a comparison of a running shoe (The Hoka on top) to a more typical gym shoe (Altra Solstice 2 below). Notice the difference in the sole cushion, and the shape of the toe box.
Here are some of the most popular gym shoes our members and coaches like right now:
— Reebok Nano. Probably the most widely-used functional training shoe.
— NoBull Trainer A little narrower than the Nano but very durable and solid.
— Xero 360. More of a minimalist/barefoot style shoe but still plenty of protection and stability for the gym.
— Altra Solstice 2 If you want a gym shoe you could also do some running in, this is the one for you. It’s a bit of a versatile hybrid between the two types of shoe.
To make things a bit easier, you can take a look at the shoe shelves inside the gym to see what other folks are using, and even see how some of the different models fit your foot before you buy them online.
To be clear, most people are just fine starting their fitness journey in running shoes! We don’t care if you’re wearing work boots or wooden clogs or something in between — we’ll help you move better regardless. BUT…as soon as you’re able to, it’s worth looking into a pair of training shoes. Once you make the switch, you’ll never go back!
If you have any questions about workout shoes, reach out to Coach Chris ([email protected]) and he will happily nerd out on shoes for as long as you like! Any of the other coaches can also help point you in the right direction.
We say this in the least judgmental, loving, safety-focused way possible: It’s probably time to ditch the running shoes in the gym <3
