How To Buy The Right Gym Shoes For You
Everyone knows the struggle of finding those perfect gym shoes. The comfortable ones that fit your feet as if they were made for you, making walking seem effortless. It turns out that finding the right sneakers for you is somewhat of an art form, and there are steps to it. Walking into any fitness store and simply buying sneakers in your size won’t do. You need to ask yourself some questions, narrow down your options according to several criteria, and then begin the hunt for those dream shoes you’ve always wanted. You must be thinking that this makes no sense – shoes are sold according to size! Yes, they are, but gym shoes are a lot more important than just any ordinary shoe. Here are some tips and pointers to find the correct shoes for you.
Self-Reflect
First thing’s first, what do you need the shoes for exactly? What type of exercise do you do most often? Running? Weight training? Cycling? Sneakers have plenty of options for a reason: no two are the same. Their purposes are vastly different as a result. For instance, when you’re running, it’s important that the shoe has good support for the foot and be flexible enough to endure the leaps that a runner takes. For weight lifting, on the other hand, you need shoes with a firm, flat grip on the ground. So before you even go to the store, think about what you need your sneakers most for and work from there.
Know Your Foot
Just like most things, people have very different kinds of feet. Whether you have more of a flat foot or tend to roll your ankles outwards without noticing it while exercising, these things matter when buying new shoes for the gym. If you’re not sure, you can do the wet test. Just get a big piece of brown paper, wet the bottom of your foot, and step on the paper. That way, you’ll be able to see exactly where you put the most pressure on your foot. Depending on how you balance, you might need different types of sneakers. It’s best to do the test and then research which type of shoe would work best for you.
Shop In The Evening
Now that we’ve gotten all the prep out of the way, it’s time to shop. Our feet tend to swell throughout the day. Which is why it’s best to do shoe shopping more towards the end of the day, this will allow the shoe to fit even when your foot is at its largest.
Bring Socks
Be sure to bring the socks you normally wear while working out to try on with the sneakers. Some gym socks can be thicker, so it’s best to make sure the shoes fit with them.
Rule of Thumb
To make sure the shoe fits your properly, measure about 3/8-1/2 inch from the front of your big toe to the end of the shoe, and thumb’s width. The heel, on the other hand, should fit rather tightly. It shouldn’t be slipping out when you walk around. Finally, the top of the shoe should fit securely, but not too tight or too loose. You should be able to wiggle your toes freely when the shoes are on.
Know When To Buy New Ones
On average, running shoes should be replaced after being used for 350-400 miles according to medical professionals. Once the back of the shoe gets worn out, or the shoe feels uncomfortable or less supportive, it’s time to shop for new ones.