You do not wear shoes to only make you look good. They also protect your feet, ankles, knees, hips, lower back, and heel. A good pair of shoes is a necessity for most activities like hiking, running, training, lifting, and walking.
This gives rise to terms like training shoes, running shoes, walking shoes, and working shoes. Are all these shoes the same? Can you use them interchangeably? Let us consider if you can use training shoes for walking.
Difference Between Training and Walking Shoes
Walking Shoes
Walking is an excellent way of keeping fit. You can walk anywhere without any equipment. However, you require shoes that can support your arch and heel better.
As you walk, you press down on your shoes with all your weight. The shoe needs sufficient padding to absorb and distribute the weight evenly so that it does not harm your knees, ankles, heel, lower back, and hips.
The shoes should also be designed to help you maintain a healthy erect posture. It should enable you to bounce off naturally and receive your foot safely when you land on the ground. Lightweight shoes will help you walk for long without experiencing foot fatigue.
It should be flexible and breathable to keep your feet cool and hygienic. At the same time, the outsole should protect you from slipping and falling. Rubber soles are superb for skid-proof shoes, but if they have treads they increase your stability.
Training Shoes
Training involves a bunch of activities like weight lifting, running, jumping, and stretching. Your training shoes should support you well during any of these activities. They ought to have proper heel and arch support and be non-slip.
Since these are high-impact activities, you will mostly be landing forcefully on your feet. The shoes should keep you safe from shock-related injuries. They should therefore have a good insole and outsole to absorb your weight and distribute it so that it does not damage any particular part of your legs.
Sometimes you will be training for long hours. You require shoes that will reduce foot fatigue. The padding on the inside and the insole of the shoes can help you out with this.
Besides, you will be sweating, needing a fabric that will absorb the sweat so that your feet do not soak in it. Training shoes will serve you better if they are ventilated so that they can reduce the heat on your feet and keep your feet odorless.
How Are Training Shoes Different from Walking Shoes?
- Training shoes are multi-purpose, but walking shoes are made specifically for walking.
Training shoes are made to endure more pressure as they are used more heavily than walking shoes. As such, running shoes are sturdier.
- Training shoes have a thicker insole and outsole. This helps to absorb pressure from all the high-impact activities you engage in when training. Running shoes do not need thick soles since you exert minimum pressure when walking.
- Walking shoes are designed to power your bounce and receive your heel when you take your steps. They are, therefore, more flexible than training shoes.
- You need more arch support when walking. That is why walking shoes have an arch support feature. This is unlike training shoes that should give you more ankle support due to all the lifting, jumping, and bending you may undertake.
This tells you that you cannot use your training shoes for walking. Even though training shoes are perfect for many other activities, they lack the flexibility and arch support that you need while walking.
If you use them for walking, you may experience arch aches and foot fatigue. This is because they are not flexible, and they do not return enough energy to power your strides.
Training shoes may not be lightweight. When walking, you need light shoes that you can easily lift and put forward. Using training shoes will cause you foot fatigue and discourage you from walking for long.
If you are involved in walking and training, consider having separate pairs of shoes for these two activities. That way, you will protect your feet better and perform better when engaged in these activities.
What to Consider When Selecting Walking Shoes
Upper Cover
This contributes to the longevity, weight, and look of your walking shoes. Some may feature leather, fabric, or synthetic material. Ensure it is breathable.
Footbed and Insole
You will rest your foot here as you take your steps. Check that it has arch support, cushioning to prevent blistering and absorb shock. It should keep your feet dry.
Outsole
The base of most walking shoes is wide so that they can provide stability. An anti-skid outsole is perfect for protecting you from falls.
Midsole
This will provide arch support to your feet. Know your arch type so that you can select the shoe that matches your foot structure.
What to Consider When Selecting Training Shoes
Cushioning
This is significant since you need to protect your foot when lifting, jumping, running, or moving rapidly. All these activities impact different parts of the foot. The shoe should be fully cushioned to protect you regardless of where you are placing more weight.
Tread
You will be training on different surfaces. Choose shoes with treads to keep you from skidding and falling.
Ankle Support
Your training shoes will have more ankle support. This is because you are likely to exert more pressure on your ankles when training than when walking.
Conclusion
Shoes affect how you look, but they also protect your feet. Training shoes and walking shoes are different. They offer different kinds of support and protection as they are designed for wearing for different activities.
While training shoes can suit many activities like running, jumping, and weight lifting, walking shoes are designed for walking only. You may not, therefore, use training shoes for walking.
Doing so may cause injuries to your feet and cause premature foot fatigue. Carefully consider the features that each of these shoes needs so that you can select the best pair for training and walking.