Athletic shoes are different than running shoes. They’re suitable for a variety of sports and athletic activities. You can use them for aerobics, to run on the treadmill, or weight training.
Consumer Reports checked out ten pairs each of men’s and women’s latest athletic shoes from Adidas to Nike costing anywhere from $28 to $110.
In addition to a stability test, conducted at an outside lab, a tester also wears reflectors as he runs on a treadmill. A computer then analyzes all the data to determine a shoe’s stability. In another test, a 19-pound weight is dropped on a shoe to see how well it will cushion your feet.
Panelists also exercised in the shoes to size up the fit and flexibility. Fit is by far the most important feature, and a couple of the shoes didn’t perform so well.
For example, the men’s and women’s Reebok SmoothFit Mobile II Trainer. The tongue was attached on one side and detached on the other, which means you can’t lace up the shoe as tightly as you want to.
And many panelists didn’t care for the women’s Champion C9 Rocksie, which uses elastic bands to secure the shoe. One tester’s foot actually slipped out of the sneaker. There’s absolutely no support because there’s no shoelaces.
In the end, the Asics GEL-150-T-R for both men and women came out on top. Both provide excellent fit and cushioning and cost $65.
Consumer Reports says it’s a good idea to go to a store that has knowledgeable salespeople so you can get help fitting a shoe. What’s important—your toes should fit snugly but have enough room to spread during exercise. Your arch needs adequate supported. And you want to be sure that your heel does not slip when you take a step.
