Athletic shoes are worn by just about everyone in the world. Whether you are buying them for functional athletic purposes or for fashion, walk into a shoe store or search online and you will see the millions of choices to pick from.
There are some simple aspects to consider to help you choose the best shoe for your need. The first question to ask yourself while shoe shopping is, "What will I be wearing my sneakers for?" Are you going to be running errands in them or wearing them for a night out? Or, are you using the sneakers to play a sport or workout at the gym? The purpose will help direct you to the right section of the shoe store or website.
Functional Purposes
If you are purchasing shoes for an athletic purpose, determine which sport or activity you will be doing. There are shoes for running, walking, cross training, basketball, tennis, and plenty more. The athletic shoes vary in design, style, and comfort to fit each sport or activity.
Running sneakers are built to support a forward motion with support where the balls of your feet hit the pavement. Walking shoes are the most cushioned with added flexibility to support a full heel to toe motion. Cross trainers, for aerobic or weight training activity, add in lateral support for side to side motion. And basketball or tennis shoes combine all aspects to support moving front to back, side to side, and up and down.
No matter which function, the shoes should be made of a breathable, comfortable fabric. Leather and cotton are the most common and do the job well! A rubber sole with the appropriate amount of cushion and support is important as well. And, remember to allow time for your sneakers to break in. After a few days or weeks, the proper shoe will mold to your foot for combined flexibility, comfort, and support.

1.Remove the laces from the shoes. Remove any inserts or loose padding in the bottom of the shoes.
2.Prewash the shoes by scrubbing with the liquid dishwasher soap and a stiff scrub brush. I have also used the white micro cleaner pads that are now available in the cleaning section of discount stores. These work well on the smooth part of the leather, but for fabric shoes and for getting into the tread and seams, the scrub brush works better.
3.Open the shoes as far as they can be opened with the tongue out and place them upside down in the dishwasher rack. You can wash many pair at once. I wash them on a sanitizing cycle without additional soap in the dishwasher.
4.When the shoes are done washing....I dont leave them on the hot drying cycle....I set them outdoors in the shade to dry. I have also set them over the forced air registers of the furnace or air conditioner in damp weather. It will take a while to dry....depending on how much padding inside, fabric vs leather, etc.
5.I wash the laces and inserts, pads, etc which were previously removed from the shoes in the same load of the dishwasher. First scrub them with the dishwasher detergent. You can use a little bleach to brighten and disinfect them, but make sure that you rinse the bleach out before washing the load so that the bleach doesn't get on your colored shoes. Tie the laces to the upper rack or place them in an old nylon stocking tied to the rack so that the laces don't get tangled.

Style…brand…price? What do you shop for i

Style…brand…price? What do you shop for in athletic shoes? Experts say at the 'sole' of many women's aches and pains is bad footwear."We see patients all the time wearing inappropriate shoes for the activity," says Christian Royer, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.Runners wearing tennis shoes, tennis players wearing cross trainers it's one major mistake say experts. Another big problem is buying too small.
"People don't realize that their shoe size changes over time and that their foot can get bigger and wider as time goes on," says Dr. Royer. "And most people haven't had their foot measured in years."
Dr. Royer says that your foot can not only grow through the years, but throughout the day as well. Because of normal swelling, the afternoon is the best time to shop, and don't forget to take a test-run before you buy.
"Don't believe in the myth of breaking the shoe in," advises Dr. Royer. "If the shoe doesn't feel good in the store, no matter how good it looks, you need to get a different shoe."