What Athletic Shoes Can You Reccomend?

Go to either a Fleet Feet or a New Blanace store, and they will fit you for the correct type of shoe based on usage, pronation and gait.

The sign hanging above the wall in Fleet Feet stores says "you cannot buy running shoes based on color". :)
An actual store for shoes will fit you right. Other options, Nike or Adidas.

I've never found anyone at a Sports Authority or the like that has a clue about shoes. But that's just me.

My feet are too wide to wear Nikes, I don't need "Wide" shoes, they are just not a good fit for me, I have a pair of New Balance and a pair of Asics, I love them both. They are so comfortable.

I started out buying shoes from Big 5 but I kept getting injured. So now I buy my shoes from running stores and I do spend a lot of money on them. I figure if I'm going to ask a lot of my feet and pound on them, then I'm going to spend the money to find oout what the best fit for my feet and body. I do have feet issues as well. I have a high arch and my right foot pronates, (turns in,) so I do need more support then the average shoe gives me. Where I do they have a treadmill to watch me run, and then a machine that measures my arch, how I step, and all kinds of other stuff. If you're able, what I would recommend is buying your first pair of shoes from an expert, and then when you have the name of the show that fits you, you can buy your next shoes on line, or from Famous footweat or those kinds of places.

Good luck and happy working out!!

Try Academy. They have a pretty big selection and prices are reasonable. If you want one pair for all of those activities I would try something like a crosstrainer. If you can spare the extra $$, I would get a good pair of walking/running shoes for the treadmill and then a cross trainer type shoe for the exercise classes. In an exercise class - generally you want something that supports lateral movement. When you run or walk your movement is different and therefore the type of shoe best suited for walking or running is different. Try them on and make sure you have lots of toe room and you feel comfortable and supported when moving in them. My foot is fairly narrow and I usually find myself in Nike, for running I have also used Saucony and they were great. A lot of people swear by New Balance too.

I recommend going to a running store.

I know you're said you're looking for shoes that will accommodate walking, elliptical, stair climber, etc. and NOT running but...

The people who work at a running store have WAY more knowledge about shoes, feet, strike patterns, etc. than the typical teenager working at a mall or big box store.

They tend to know which shoes work best for which activity. They can also put you on a treadmill and do a quick gait analysis to see if you are an over-pronator, heel striker, toe'r, and check stride length/pattern, among other things. Based upon YOUR unique movement they can recommend the shoes that would be best for you. What works for one does not work for another.

Personally, I love Asics. They have a variety of models at many different price points. Their website is also exceptionally helpful. A lot of people have success with New Balance and New Balance also has their own stores (I've never bought shoes there but get my inserts and their staff are among the most knowledgeable I've met). Like many others have said Nikes tend to run small.

Yes, you've learned your lesson with the WalMart cheapies but hey, the good thing is that you're actually working out - awesome! One more tip - avoid ShapeUp style shoes because they're a scam. Get a real pair of athletic shoes that will support your needs and your movement.

My son is a competitive athlete, so I know something about shoes! Feet are extremely individual - what I need is not what you need.

What I would do is go to a local running store, one that is independently owned. If you go to a chain (like Olympia Sports or Sports Authority), the clerks are not necessarily trained - they push the shoes with the highest profit margins, or what's in overstock, sometimes.

A store geared to athletes will have trained people. They should watch you walk (in just your socks) to see if you pronate and to examine your stride. They might do this outside, or they will probably have a treadmill there that you can walk on. Explain exactly what type of exercise you will be doing, as you have here. They will make sure the shoes have the right structure, support and cushioning. Our local store caters to runners but they extend that knowledge to people who need cross-trainers, tennis shoes, basketball shoes, etc.

The shoes should be guaranteed for a certain period of time, so that if you experience any problem, you can bring them back for exchange.

Spend the money on the first pair. You could spend $100 on 5 pairs of Walmart shoes and have pain & problems. Then, for future shoes, you can either stick with that store (they should be able to examine the shoes for you to see if they still have life in them, from cushioning to the right flexibility) - or, you can try to find them elsewhere or on line for less money.

I tend to give the little store my business, and shop for discounts on my other exercise gear that doesn't matter so much. But a good pair of shoes (and a good sports bra!) are worth it.

FYI they may tell you that shoes with a great tread are not the best for zumba - I'm not sure. I find that I can't spin around in my regular shoes, and I don't think the class forces my feet to take as much pounding as the treadmill does. But you should ask. A lot of it is based on your particular feet.

Our store also extends a 10% discount to athletes on the local teams, and they give me the same discount as my son. Nice deal - you could ask about such programs.

Good luck!

Feet are so different that you need to find what is most comfortable for you. Different brands are made differently and the styles within them can be different too. You really can't take someone else's advice. You need to go try them on. Some sporting good stores have an indoor track where you can see how the shoes feel in action. You could also try the replacement inserts, gel inserts, or the heel inserts to see if those help matters.

Well, I don't use workout machines anymore, but I used to - and once I got my first pair of newbalance shoes about 10 years ago, I have never gone back! I've had both running shoes and cross trainers, and either way they are SO comfortable! No blisters, no sore spots, no breaking in time - they are just the best shoes, and thank goodness they have updated the style. My dad ALWAYS wore newbalance when I was growing up and he was a marathoner and half marathoner, but from a kids perspective, boy were they ugly!haha Good luck in your quest!

Hi. I used to do the same thing and bought whatever felt good and was cheap. But I realized over time that if I spent the money on a good pair of shoes, they would last me a while and my feet wouldn't hurt. My husband recommended I go to one of those shoe stores where they watch to see what kind of stride you have, pronater, overpronater, etc and they hooked me up with a pair of shoes I would have never chosen and an insert and I absolutely love them and don't know how I'd be able to run without them. Even if you go to a shoe store like this, figure out what type you are, try on a couple pairs and then do some research online to see if you can find it cheaper somwhere else. Good luck and congrats on starting a program to take care of yourself! It's hard for moms to do!

It's not the brand, but the size and fit. I went to a runner's shoe store and had the owner fit me. He was also a coach of women's running. He said that it doesn't matter what kind of arches you have, etc. Don't buy shoes for their arch support. Buy shoes one to two sizes bigger than you normally wear. Before you buy, put them on in the store and see if you can spread your toes all the way out, including flexing them out, without the shoes being in the way. Then run outside of the store on the side walk - do a sprint or two. Pick the shoes that feel like you are running barefoot, but that it doesn't hurt.

Also, when you are on the treadmill or eliptical, look at your body's alignment. Most people turn their feet out. Make sure yours are straight ahead, and make sure your hips are in the middle- your butt shouldn't be sticking out too far, but your hip bones shouldn't be too far forward. Your shoulders should be relaxed down, too. Your head should be up, not looking down.

this works GREAT for me. BTW, I have super low arches and don't wear arch supports. My body feels great!

If you try somewhere like Sports Authority they can point you in the right direction based on your body type and the activities you'll use the shoes for My husband is a big guy so they were able to recommend particular brands that are better suited for him and running. Different shoes are needed for different activities and what you'll find at wal-mart is def not going to cut it. We never pay $100 for his or my shoes since they have sales running pretty often. I think the most we've paid for his has been $65 or $75 but usually we can hit a sale and find something around $50.

Also, once you know brands that work for you places like Famous Footwear and Rack Room shoes also have good prices on basic work out footwear which is what you need. You aren't training for a marathon so you don't need crazy expensive shoes.

Since you are in Grand Prairie, you should try going to Fort Worth Running Company. They have a great selection and will put you on a treadmill and record your stride on camera to see what kind of support you need. Good shoes are worth the investment, I've learned my lesson running in bad shoes!

The only shoes I like are the Nike Shox. I've spent as little as $60 on them. If you get them when they are revamping the styles, therefore clearing out the old styles, you can get good deals on them.

you need to go to a store that specializes in running shoes, one where they will look at your feet and see what kind of feet you have, whether you pronate, in toe, have a weird stride, etc

In my opinion, it really is trial and error. And trust me, I spent and wasted hundreds of dollars getting opinions from people and then they didn't work for me. Yes an employee at an athletic store may be able to point you in the right direction, but bottom line-you just have to figure it out.

At one point in my life as a floor nurse working 12 hours on my feet, I was a pretty faithful Avia buyer. Now, I always buy Asics. Nike are cut pretty narrow, at least in my experience. My husband loves his New Balance, I didn't like them at all.

I usually shoe shop at Kohls and Designer Shoe Warehouse.

You should go get fitted like many of the posters recommended and if you find out what you need you can go to finishline .com and maybe find them for a lower price.

You need to go to a sporting goods store, or some place where they really know what they are doing!

The best kind of shoes do not only depend on what you use them for, but your body. Do you have flat feet? Normal arches? High arches? Wide feet? narrow feet? The kind of shoe that is perfect for you will depend on the answers to these questions.

That being said. I have normal arches, and average width feet. I love wearing new balance shoes. I do many of the same activities you do 3-5x/week. No pain, or I would have gotten new ones by now!

I am glad you are looking to fix this problem! Good shoes are so important when working out. Not only for your feet but also to avoid hurting your knees, your hips and your lower back. If you don't have good support from the bottom up, none of the other equipment, support or bracing matters!

I like Nike's the best. I have small, wide feet so I wear women's or kid's shoes. Some brands aren't comfortable at all for me and as many people as I know who love New Balance, they don't last long at all when I have them and after about two months they are either not comfortable or falling apart. I'm the only one I know who seems to have this problem though, guess I may just be h*** o* them.

I would say try several different brands and types on and see what feels good to you, since some of it will depend on your foot. It will at least help with some brands, since some may fit weird on you, that other people love. I buy mine from Kohl's a lot of the time, mainly keeping an eye out on their clearance section for when there is a pair of running or just good tennis shoes on sale. I live in my tennis shoes, mainly just a lot of walking right now, but I run around the yard with our dog a lot too. If you are just exercising in them I would be willing to pay for a good pair, I used to do that when I did more in them. A running store can really help you find a great pair.

Im not sure what kind of shoes to get, I have had several pairs, but it always seems like I have to break them in no matter what. First couple times is quite painful, but after that they feel fine to me.