When 19-year-old Nicola Gregory visited Fit2Run for the first time, she was already prepared for her exercise film debut. The store tapes its customers running to determine the best shoe for their bodies’ movements.
“They put you on a treadmill and see your running,” said Gregory, a UF advertising freshman and avid runner. “They saw the form that I run in and found a shoe that helped my knees and legs.”
An infographic created for Greatist, a health and fitness website, titled “Choosing the Right Shoe for Any Type of Exercise,” illustrates footwear options for different workouts.
Whether it’s an initiative to stay active in the new year or a preparation for Spring Break, a fitness routine’s success can depend on the type of shoe people slip into.
When looking for a running shoe, the graphic suggests something with stability, a stiffer heel, arch support and a cushion that provides shock absorption.
Dr. Scott Koppel specializes in conditions of the foot and ankle at Gainesville’s Family Podiatry and Vein Care. He said a person needs more support than what the foot can give naturally when running on cement.
“You need a shoe that’s going to hold your foot in place and provide you with more support to cradle the arch,” he said.
Nicholas Lietz, 21, is a manager at the Fit2Run in The Oaks Mall and a UF biology senior. He said the main thing to remember when buying running shoes is your mileage.
For strength and conditioning programs, like CrossFit, Lietz recommends Inov-8’s F-Lite or Bare-XF sneakers, which include guards on the inside of the shoe to prevent ropeburn.
If you enjoy biking or spinning, Greatist recommends a shoe that breathes and has hard soles so that it doesn’t slip off the pedals.
Hikers should choose between sandals, which breathe better and put less pressure on feet, or a variety of ankle-cut boots suitable for different types of hiking excursions.
Deme Panos, a 22-year-old UF wildlife ecology and conservation senior and a leader for TRiP, the Travel and Recreation Program at UF, recommends Vasque boots, because they are durable and give ankle support, or Chaco sandals, because they are easy to walk in.
For weightlifting, being barefoot can strengthen muscles and gives the body stability. Some gyms don’t allow this because of sanitation concerns, so minimalist shoes give benefits similar to going barefoot.
No matter what your physical activity is, enhance your performance and protect yourself from injury with comfortable and appropriate footwear.
