What Is The Difference Between Running And Training Shoes? Running and training shoes may look similar, but the key differences are in sole flexibility and heel drop. Running shoes are built for heel-to-toe movement and the higher heel drop in running shoes comes from added support and cushioning. Take these shoes on tracks and runs.
Footwear made for walking and running promotes forward strides and repetitive heel-toe motions.1 Additionally, they’re both usually are a lightweight shoe with durable outsoles that last up to 500 miles. So, what exactly is the difference between running and walking shoes?
Different workouts require your body to move in different ways. When it comes to walking exercises, are sneakers good for walking? Cross-training shoes and basketball shoes are designed to support side-to-side and up-and-down motions, whereas walking and running shoes support forward movements.
Cross training shoes are more economical than buying designated shoes for each sport, but you need sport-specific shoes if you’re doing a particular activity, such as walking, more than two times a week. Walking shoes are designed specifically for walking and should be used for that purpose alone, not any other sport.
Where should walking shoes fit?
In terms of fit, walking shoes should fit securely around the heel and instep — the middle area of the shoe, near the laces — to hold your foot in place. They’ll often feel more comfortable if they’re looser around the balls of your foot and have some wiggle room around your toes, Gray says.
The best way to find the right shoe for your workout is to visit a speciality athletic shoe retailer and get expert advice, Gray suggests. Go in the afternoon or evening, when your feet are a little bit swollen, since the same thing will happen mid-workout.
A flexible shoe means that it can move with your foot, allowing you to execute your workout with better form and posture, Marlin says. Another key difference between walking and cross-training shoes is lateral support, which keeps your ankle from rolling during side-to-side motions.
That’s because your foot isn’t pounding into the ground with the same amount of force as a run, says doctor of physical therapy Geoffrey Gray, founder and director of research at footwear consulting company Heeluxe. Still, walking sneakers will have some cushioning around the balls of the feet and the heel to cradle your heel bone …
For these people, running shoes can often make good choices for slow striding, as they’re built with more cushion. Walking shoes can also have a variety of levels of traction — the tread or grip on the bottom of the shoe — Gray says. To choose the right level for you, consider where you’ll do most of your striding.
In contrast to walking shoes, cross-training shoes should fit a bit more snugly around the ball of your foot. However, you still want a little bit of space at the end of your toes so your feet don’t squish or strike the front of your shoe with every squat and lunge, Gray says.
Still, walking sneakers will have some cushioning around the balls of the feet and the heel to cradle your heel bone so that your foot stays properly aligned. Walking shoes also offer some support through the arch — not to prop it up completely, but to match its shape.
Which is better, walking shoes or cross training shoes?
Walking shoes are usually more flexible than cross training shoes because a walker’s foot hits the ground with the heel, rolls forward and pushes off with the toe. Cross training shoes are stiffer to accommodate sports, such as running, where the foot lands flat on the ground.
A walking shoe has a simpler construction and lacks many of the features of a cross training shoe since it is made just for walking.
The soles for cross training shoes are thicker in order to absorb the shock from the hard hits that runners, volleyball players, tennis players and basketball players take. Cross training shoes’ soles are also wider to provide the side-to-side support that basketball, tennis and volleyball players need. Some cross training shoes have traction on their soles for hiking.
Many cross training shoes have high and cushioned ankle supports to reduce the chances of sprains. Walking shoes have less ankle support because walkers are not moving side to side.
A cross training shoe is made to be worn for a wide variety of sports, such as walking, running, tennis and basketball. A good cross training shoe combines the features of different footwear types to accommodate these different activities. A walking shoe has a simpler construction and lacks many of the features of a cross training shoe …
To cover wearers landing on different foot strikes across all sports, cross training shoes have adequate padding under the entire shoe. In contrast, walking shoes have the most cushioning in the heel area since walkers land with their heels.
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