HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT SHOES FOR YOUR WORKOUT
So, you’ve decided that the new year is a great time to make a change in your life, and your goal is to get more physical activity. With these new goals in mind you start building your plan to attain them. Maybe you googled ‘good workouts to lose weight’ or ‘how to train for a 5 k’ or my personal favorite ‘how do I lose weight and increase muscle mass’.
Now, let’s find a place to work out. Do you use the local sports field? You could, but what if it rains? Better find a gym so you can get a workout in rain or shine. The problem is finding the right gym. Your town has so many gyms: a CrossFit gym, a gymnastics gym, a corporate gym, a boxing gym, a weight training gym… Here’s how you can find the right one in 3 steps:
Start by narrowing down your selection based on the type of workout you will most commonly do.
Next choose the amenities and features you want.
Scout out the remaining gyms on your list and pick the one that best fits you. (Pro Tip- Most gyms will offer a free trial period to make sure you like the atmosphere.)
Ok, great! We have made it pretty far now. It’s the night before your first workout in the new gym, and you’re a little nervous. To calm the nerves, you start packing your gym bag. Headphones, check; water bottle, check; spare clothes, check; deodorant, check; towel, check; toiletries; check. Eye of the Tiger playlist; check.
This helps, but you still have a lingering feeling you’re missing something. You chalk it up to nerves and go to bed.
Ring. Ring. Riiiiiiiiiing. The alarm goes off. It’s 5 AM. What kind of sicko goes to the gym at 5 am? You hit the snooze.
Ring. Ring. Riiiiiiing. It’s 6:30 AM now. That’s better. You get out of bed, grab your gym bag and head to the gym.
At the gym, you get into your workout clothes and realize you forgot to buy ‘gym shoes’. Oh well, you think, ‘these are athletic-based shoes anyways’.
Halfway through your workout you want to die. Your feet are killing you but you tell yourself it’s just because you haven’t been in the gym for a while.
Wrong!
You should’ve listened to your feet. They’ve always got your back…and legs, and torso, and well, you get the picture.
What we’re trying to say is that your feet support you and if you don’t support them, you could be facing a civil war. Feet vs. the rest of your body.
Do you know which side wins? Trick question. No side wins, you just feel more pain.
The point we are trying to make is that even though shoes seem like a tiny footnote (get it) in the whole “working-out-and-being-more-healthy” resolution, they aren’t. The truth is that finding the right pair of shoes could make or break your workout.
So, how do you find the right pair of shoes? Keep reading and you’ll find out.
One Pair of Shoes Will Not Do It All
It may seem like common sense but we want to stress that there is no such thing as a ‘do-it-all’ shoe. Workout shoes are designed for very specific activities. For instance, walking shoes are stiffer than running shoes and weight training shoes are designed for a different use than cross-fit shoes. Much like finding the right gym, start your shoe search by narrowing it down based on primary activity. If you plan on doing different types of workouts, your feet would feel better if you got multiple pairs of shoes.
If the Shoe Fits…
You know the old saying “If the shoe fits, wear it”. Well, we say “if the shoe fits, do a little more research”. You see, not all feet are the same, and just because the shoe fits, it doesn’t mean it is optimized for your specific foot type. Do some research to determine what type of foot arch you have so you can find the best pair of shoes for your foot type. In this article, Runner’s World describes the Wet Test. (Click Here)
Use the Rule of Thumb…Or Should We Say Toe
Once you’ve found the right shoe for your foot, the next step (get it) is to find the right size for your foot. After all, you don’t want a shoe that is so small that it scrunches your toes or too big your feet slide and get blisters. Many experts recommend the optimal shoe size for your foot should allow between 3/8-1/2-inch space between your big toe and the end of the shoe.
Make it a Date: Dinner and Shoe Shopping
Finding the best shoe for your feet not only takes time, it takes shopping at the right time. Since feet swell as the day progresses, experts recommend shoe shopping in the evening. To further find the right fit, make sure you bring along the exact type of socks you plan on wearing when you work out.
The Price is Right
Like many things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to selecting the right shoes. A pair of shoes in the $20-40 range won’t be as good as a pair in a higher price range. That’s not to say the higher the price the better the shoe. Some shoes are overpriced simply because of brand name. We recommend buying the shoe that checks off the most features on your list.
Try Them Out
Remember when you were a kid and you tried on new shoes then ran around the store thinking you were the fastest kid alive? Well, kid you had a great idea. Before you walk out with new shoes you should walk around with the new shoes. You may even want to jog down the aisle to see how they work for you. In addition, you should ask what the store’s return/exchange policy is just in case they don’t work for you.
Invest in Zelus Insoles
Thanks to our legendary SmartCells Cushioning Technology, not only will Zelus Insoles enhance the performance of your shoe, they will enhance your performance as well.
Our insoles are specifically engineered with design elements and materials taken right from a high-class, fully functional orthotic — just like the ones trainers give to their athletes AND doctors give to their patients.
By leveraging the deep orthotic roots of Fastech Labs, we have developed an unmatched off-the-shelf prefab solution to support your feet where they will function best. And when your feet are correctly in place, there is no stopping you from performing at your highest possible level.
Still skeptical about Zelus Insoles? With the Zelus Seal of Zeal Promise, we guarantee you will fall in love with your insoles within 30 days, or we will work with you to make it right.
If you’re ready to feel the zeal, visit Zelus Insoles online at www.zelusinsoles.com, or call us at 1-833-BE-ZELUS (239-3587) to learn more about the Zelus story, compare the options and find the insole solution that matches your lifestyle.