If You Only Buy One Pair Of Workout Shoes, It Needs To Be From This List (2024)

The kind of gym shoes you opt for will depend on what kind of workouts you'll be doing. For example, if you're looking for something to wear for studio classes, look for shoes with support and cushioning to balance the impact (jumping, running in place, and side-to-side motion). "It is important that the shoes fit properly and provide comfort and support, and that they also have good lateral counters, are lightweight, and have a good pivot point on the forefoot sole," says Mendeszoon.

Or, if loading up in the weight room is your jam, you need shoes that create a stable base. That means a zero drop or flat sole, according to Mendeszoon. "Many lifting activities require the feet to be intimate with the ground so that stability, support, and dynamic mobility can be provided," he says. "The shoes should be very lightweight and responsive."

Besides these two pro tips, here are a few general things you should also keep in mind when shopping.

Editorial assistant Addison Aloian says the Bondi 8s changed her relationship with running. "Prior to a few months ago, I knew next to nothing about what type of shoes to wear when running," she says. "Then, when I began research, I learned that running shoes should be comfortable, supportive, and still light, so you can run your fastest—all of that describes the Hoka Bondi 8s down to a tee."

Aloian adds that these sneakers are the most comfortable she has ever worn—whether she's running or walking—and that they're her go-tos when she wants to log a few miles in style. "They're light, flexible, and sleek, and give my feet balance and comfort the entire time," Aloian says. "I also feel like they give me a good springy, bounce-back feeling from the ground." One of the best parts of these shoes? They clean easily in the washing machine.

Read more: Best Hoka Running Shoes

These babies are double approved—by both a Women's Health editor and expert trainer. That's right, these are some of Aloian's favorite lifting shoes, and Tatiana Lampa, CPT, a corrective-exercise specialist and the founder of the Training with T app, says the same. Yup, she deems them "one of my forever favorite lifting and plyometric shoes," she says. So, what's so special about these guys? Well, "It has the flat heel to lift heavy and the flexibility toe movement so you can jump," Lampa says. "It also provides flexibility and stability in your workouts—no need to change shoes at the gym for each exercise!" she adds.

Aloian says she wears these sneakers to the gym about four times a week. "I love lifting heavy weights in them because not only are they ultra-comfy and my foot feels super secure in them, but they're also flat," Aloian adds. "So, it's the next best thing to being barefoot so your foot can gain stability through the floor."

These Asics come at the recommendation of Lampa, who legit walked around in them for a week—sans pain, even with high arches. "I personally used my Asics Gel Quantum 360s to walk around Paris for a week and did not once have any issues with my feet," she says. "I highly recommend for long-distance walking, jogging, and running."

Reviewers love these shoes, too, with one writing that they're "one of the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn." They have awesome cushioning, yet they're sturdy. They're clean and sleek, but also durable. Since the heel is stable, multiple reviewers also say that they use them for a variety of workouts—such as weightlifting, using the treadmill, and biking. Plus, they're high-quality, so they've lasted customers a long time.

These shoes are "an excellent selection" for group studio classes thanks to a traction outsole and footprint design made with pivot points, according to Mendeszoon. They're made for dance fitness and low-impact classes, and are legit made for women, with a narrower heel, roomier toe, and all-around softer foot cushioning. The outsole also includes an ergonomically-shaped rubber tole for maximum durability.

Reviewers are totally obsessed with these shoes, especially those that say they struggle with painful feet. "These have just the right amount of support (I find Hokas have too much sole for me); the toe box is roomy and the heel narrow—perfect," one user wrote. Another raved about how she's tried 40-5o different pairs of shoes and these are her first pair in a while that have allowed her to walk around pain-free with plantar fasciitis and MS flare-ups.

"Metcon 8s are my favorite for lifting," says Spencer. It's not hard to see why, as they are made with a comfy base, great grip, stability for lifting, and lightweight mesh for breathability. Note taken!

These are also a WH staffer fave for food producer Tina Martinez, a "diehard Metcon fan for years," she says. In fact, she stopped wearing weightlifting shoes at all when Nike dropped this training sneaker. "It provides the perfect amount of stability to do heavy squats, but also allows the flexibility for a quick run or a metabolic conditioning piece," she says. Well, there you have it.

Read more: Best Cross-training Shoes

Nied is a massive fan of these cycling shoes from Pearl Izumi. Previous rented shoes or older styles usually make her feet cramp up or cause her toes to lose sensation about half an hour into wear. But not this pair: It's a game-changer for her. The nylon sole provides a stiff platform for maximum support and the mesh upper maximizes ventilation to keep your foot breathing even during the sweatiest SoulCycle classes.

But one feature rose above all others to make them worth it for Nied: The multiple velcro straps to adjust how snug her feet are by zone. "My toes can wiggle all they want while my ankle and mid-foot are secure," she says. Yup, these ultra-adjustable babies provide stability and support on every ride.

Two podiatrists we spoke with would go to bat for these shoes. Mendeszoon likes them for workouts that include weightlifting, like Crossfit. What stands out for him is the caged upper that offers added support for lateral movements and the balanced cushioning platform for stability. However, podiatrist Chanel Perkins, DPM, is also a fan since they're lightweight and made from seamless mesh material. "The spacious foot-shaped toe box offers wiggle room for the toes, which is important since the feet expand when we run," she says.

So, these shoes can basically do it all, nbd. Reviewers love this shoe for their comfort, whether they're walking or lifting weights. One user even wrote that they spend hours on their feet all day as a personal trainer and these shoes are great for their cushioning and supportive feel. If you like a barefoot feeling, these are the do-it-all shoes for you, another customer wrote.

Read more: Best Crossfit Shoes

The Gel-Kayano is a go-to for runners dealing with issues like flat feet and overpronation. "This shoe has firm foam support throughout the arch," says Perkins. "In addition to being lightweight, it’s also very soft, highly-cushioned, and largely breathable." The sneaker offers gel pods under the heel and forefoot for extra cushion and shock support, plus firm foam on the medial side for pronation issues.

WH executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos is also a fan. She's been wearing them since her foot doctor recommended them to her back in high school when she was recovering from an injury. "I *always* come back to them," she says. "They are sturdy and supportive and allow me to run and jump without any pain."

Read more: Best Arch Support Running Shoes

Perkins recommends the Brooks Glycerin Running Shoe. "This style comes with a built-in OrthoLite sock liner which really grips into the arch and mimics the support of athletic taping of the arch," she says. The shoe also comes with a soft underfoot base that helps its durability, even if you're running on the roughest roads.

The Glycerin 20's thick-but-well-cushioned sole also makes it ideal for runners with plantar fasciitis, since that padding can help absorb impact from each stride, taking away the stress from your arches and their surrounding areas.

Read more: Best Brooks Running Shoes

Meet the experts

• Mark Mendeszoon, DPM, is a board-certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon.
• Tatiana Lampa, CPT, is a corrective-exercise specialist and the founder of the Training with T app.
• Brittany Spencer, CPT, is an Atlanta-based trainer.
• Chanel Perkins, DPM, is a podiatrist based in Galveston, TX.

What else to consider

Flexibility

Quality gym shoes should be more flexible in the arch, but also have a good amount of firmness, Perkins adds.

Support

Support and cushioning can both impact your form with weightlifting and running, says Atlanta-based trainer Brittany Spencer, CPT, so make sure to grab workout shoes that have enough support and comfort for your foot.

Activity

It's crucial to wear the right type of shoes for your specific workout, says Nied. If you're doing several different exercises at the gym, bring multiple sneakers to match each one.

Durability

You'll want a shoe that'll last through many workouts, so make sure to read reviews and buy the shoe that reviewers say lasts more than a few weeks, Nied adds.

Shape

In addition to wanting the proper shoe size, you'll also want gym shoes that match your foot shape, Nied says, whether they're narrow or wide. "If your foot has too much wiggle room, that can cause chafing, blisters, and discomfort," she says.

Design

It's all in the details. Make sure the laces are secure and customizable to your foot, and that they have seams in the upper. "I like a gym shoe with some lacing options (extra holes at the top to really lock them down), as well as laces that won’t come untied constantly," Nied says.

Workout shoes for lifting vs cardio

Lifting shoes just need to be flat, says Perkins, and ideally, they offer support, stability, and zero drop, adds Nied.

"When you lift, your driving force is coming through the heels, so the heel drop in a lifting shoe should be negative or close to it," Perkins says. (Nied says she's worked with trainers who lift barefoot so their foot muscles can engage with the ground, so you can also look for shoes that mimic the feel.)

A good cardio shoe, on the other hand, offers more cushioning and ankle support for higher-impact activities, they say. "These features allow safe, quick movement in all directions," Nied adds. "An upper with breathable material and/or sweat-wicking properties is also a plus for the extra sweaty sessions."

Gym shoes vs. sneakers

Sneakers and gym shoes are terms that have long been used interchangeably—but they do not mean the same thing, says Perkins.

Sneakers are for specific activities like running or walking. "They tend to be more padded and supportive for higher impact movements," she explains.

On the flip side, gym shoes are more versatile for a variety of general physical activities. "Gym shoes are flatter and have equal cushioning throughout the sole," she says. "They have a lower heel drop (heel-to-toe drop), since there are less heel-to-toe movements needed in gym."

Can I use running shoes for the gym?

Yup, but you'll want to be careful, since the wrong foot gear can sometimes cause injuries, says Perkins. "It’s best to stick to shoes designed to meet the needs and demands of your activity level," she adds.

For instance, if you want to run and lift at the gym, Spencer recommends going with a cross-training shoe.

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