While cross training shoes are specially designed for cross fit training, can you also walk with them? That is a question people may ask after they spend money on these shoes and find them to be quite comfortable and loaded with extra features.
The simple answer to this question is yes. You can use these types of training shoes for your everyday walking. But are they good for walking or should you instead wear special walking shoes if you want to use the shoes for walking?
Let’s do the obvious thing, investigate and see for ourselves whether cross training shoes are good for walking or not.
What Are Cross Training Shoes
Let’s first ask ourselves this question, what are cross training shoes, and why do we want to use them for walking? Regardless of your goal in cross training, your routine will include many different movements, so you need your shoes to cope with them.
This is where these specially designed shoes will come in handy. They come with a combination of features included in their construction. These features include such things you normally find in tennis, volleyball, and running shoes, and will give you freedom of movement and a comfortable fit.
So, they must be able to comply with many different movements that are standard in various training workouts. You will find many features with cross training shoes that come from other types of shoes.
Features Of Cross Training Shoes
Take a look at the features you will find in cross training shoes that you will not always find in other types of training shoes.
- They come with thick multi-purpose outsoles, which come with a lot of traction to make them safe for different movements.
- Cross training shoes are wider than most other training shoes to provide better stability and lateral support.
- The outsoles are mostly made from a combination of rubber or carbon rubber, making them easy to use for many sports types.
- These shoes also come with low-profile midsoles, which are soft with good cushioning capability.
- You will find that two materials are normally used for the cushioning effect, EVA and Polyurethane.
- Uppers of cross training shoes are made of leather or other durable synthetic materials to increase their durability.
- Leather provides more support for the foot, while the fabric can be more breathable and lightweight.
- You may find that a combination of leather and lightweight breathable materials is used in the construction of cross training shoes.
What Are Walking Shoes
Walking shoes designed for walking come with various built-in features to provide stability and prevent injuries. There are three basic categories when it comes to walking shoes and the purpose they are used for.
- Shoes with better stability for those individuals who have no stability problems but need better motion control while walking.
- Walking shoes with extra cushioning will provide higher comfort levels for those who want to walk long distances.
- Better performance trainers are lightweight walking shoes and are specially designed for walkers who do not need motion control.
As you can see, walking shoes are different from other training shoes, and the focus is more on how people move. Walkers will mostly strike the ground with their heels, with an inward movement through the step, so they will not need extra cushioning.
This type of shoe is great to help prevent pains and injuries while walking over uneven terrain.
Features Of Walking Shoes
The features of walking shoes are somewhat different from those of cross training shoes, so let’s look at them.
- Walking shoes are quite flexible and should be able to twist in the horizontal direction easily.
- They should also be able to easily bend at the ball of your foot to provide more flexibility while walking.
- They should not have a padded heel and the heel should not be high. The difference in height between the sole, the ball, and the heel should be less than an inch.
- Walking shoes must also be a bit more flexible at the toe and should be slightly off the ground when placed on an even surface.
- With the different foot types, you need a different design of walking shoes. Neutral feet have more choices. On the other hand, overpronators need a walking shoe that provides better motion control while their feet roll outwards.
- When shopping for the best walking shoes, you should ask for a gait analysis to make sure you get the right shoes.
- People who mostly walk on treadmills or indoors need a shoe with a smoother outsole.
- Outdoor walkers that go on rougher surfaces need a shoe with a deeper thread to compensate for the rougher surface.
Summing It Up
As you can see, walking and cross training shoes do not have the same features in comfort and balance.
- While walking shoes do not need traction, the padded soles of cross training shoes provide great cushioning for outdoor walkers.
- The wider sole of a cross training shoe provides good balance and is great for those who overpronate while walking.
- The overall durability of cross training shoes makes them a great option for walkers who walk long distances on rough surfaces.
Conclusion
You can see that some of the best features of cross training shoes are also of great benefit for walkers. This means if you have cross training shoes and want to take them for a walk, you may find them quite adeq