It was not all that long ago when sneakers were quite similar for every sport. Some may have a little more cushioning, different coloring, and higher quality depending on its use, but they were mostly the same. Today, there is seemingly an infinite number of shoes. Which means that identifying the best shoes for every sport means understand what they are designed to do.
What follows are the basic shoe types for major sports and activities that everyday people just like you participate. Be sure to go for quality along with style so that the shoes you select will last.
Basketball Shoes
In some ways, basketball shoes are like running shoes in terms of cushioning. The difference between them is in how the support is featured. The focus is the middle of the foot while the heel is locked in tight for maximum flexibility in terms of movement. Because in basketball quick turns and changes of direction are commonplace. The shoes must not only support it, but also be durable and long-lasting.
The most advanced sports shoes tend to come from basketball. Which means that new shoes designed for sport tend to be rather advanced compared to just a few years ago.
Basketball Shoes
Soccer Shoes
This footwear designed to provide traction on the field and grip the ground in order to avoid slipping and sliding. Football boots can be made from many different materials such as rubber, synthetic such as nylon and polyurethane, or leather.
For hard pitches, participants would wear a turf football boot (TF) or a plastic-stud boot. For indoor football, companies developed indoor court (IC) boots. These come with rubber soles, meant to maximize grip on the floor and are specifically designed for the indoor game. For football on turf or artificial grass, players wear regular firm ground (FG) football boots.
Soccer Shoes
Biking Shoes
It may seem odd that biking has a particular type of shoe given that the feet never touch the ground. But biking shoes tend to be lightweight with most of the cushion and support on the sole of the feet. The midsole in particular gets lots of emphasis in terms of cushioning and support.
CrossFit Shoes
The CrossFit shoe may look like a basketball shoe in most ways, but the emphasis on support is different. Because CrossFit tends to cover several different types of exercises and activities, the focus is on more structure around the ankles. The result is that CrossFit shoes tend to be better at providing lateral movement.
In addition, there is more traction associated with this type of shoe. You can think of a CrossFit shoe much like a running shoe that is more robust, but does not have the emphasis on stability as basketball or tennis shoes.
CrossFit Shoes
Running/Jogging Shoes
The standard running or jogging shoe is designed to cushion the impact on your feet while being as lightweight and flexible as possible. This tends to mean a thicker sole with plenty of cushioning for the bottom of your feet. However, the rest of the shoe is thin, lightweight, and made of tough, durable fabric.
There are running shoes that offer greater support if you need more stability, but the overall emphasis is on being comfortable, lightweight, and cushioning the impact for every step you take.
Tennis Shoes
Tennis shoes are superficially like basketball shoes. They both have similar support and design for the cushioning of the feet. The sudden change in direction is also emphasized as well. The difference is that tennis shoes tend to emphasize durability which means that they can be even heavier. New technology is changing that with more lightweight, yet durable materials being used.
The best shoes for every sport means product that are designed to withstand challenges while emphasizing your overall performance.