Many styles of footwear are designed for a certain purpose and would not be appropriate for any other. Golf shoes, for example, are perfect for playing holes 1 through 18. If you try to wear them elsewhere, you’ll find that they’re not only inappropriate but even prohibited, like in the case of the clubhouse bar.
This leads us to a different sort of athletic footwear, known as running shoes. It’s a very reasonable inquiry to wonder if they’re appropriate for everyday wear. However, since there are several types of running shoes, this becomes more difficult since there may be more than one solution to this question. Let’s look at the various types of running shoes before we get to the solutions to this query.
Can You Wear Running Shoes For Everyday Use?
The topic of whether you can wear running shoes everyday is a tricky one to answer. This is because numerous types of running shoes exist for various purposes and requirements. Below are five different types of running shoes, each with a brief description:
Lightweight shoes
These shoes, also known as Cross Country Spikes or Racing Flats, are great for speed exercises such as competitions, fartleks, intervals, and sprints. They have less foam and padding under the foot, letting the feet move more naturally and dynamically.
However, there is a disadvantage to wearing lightweight shoes. These shoes, generally, do not provide the same level of shock absorption and cushioning as regular road shoes classified as stability or neutral. As a result, they are not suitable for general training.
Trail Shoes
Trail runners must navigate rocks, dirt, mud, and other off-road challenges, necessitating the best protection, stability, and support available. Trail shoes, as the name implies, are designed for running on trails. These shoes are made for a wide range of terrain, including mud to grass, hard-packed pathways, and roads.
Trail shoes can be seen as a combination of running sneakers and hiking boots. They provide sufficient protection around the ankle and tongue to safeguard your feet from the pebbles and roots prevalent on tough and rocky terrains. Not only that, but they also offer superior grip for improved traction and control on softer, frequently uneven, slippery surfaces, which is normally achieved with the use of aggressive soles and sticky rubbers.
Stability Shoes
Runners with a neutral foot or a normal arch should choose stable footwear. These athletes demand shoes with a nice blend of cushioning and support in the midsole, and the stability shoes offer that.
Motion Control Shoes
Even though pronation is a natural element of the body’s movement, not all runners pronate equally. Some of them go overboard. That is why they may require a pair of shoes to assist them in limiting or perhaps preventing this.
Motion control shoes are suitable for runners with low arches and mild to severe over-pronation (exaggerated inward rolling of the foot after a foot strike). These shoes are typically stiffer than regular sneakers and have a wide sole that reduces the excessive motion throughout the gait cycle. They are also great for anyone who needs a lot of stability and longevity in their shoes.
Cushioned Running Shoes
These shoes are made for people who have little or no pronation, as you may have guessed. The increased cushioning in the heel area functions as a shock absorber.
Running Shoes That Shouldn’t be Worn Every Day?
Lightweight Running Shoes
The lightweight running shoes are one of the five running shoes we’ve just discussed that isn’t ideal for everyday use. Despite the lack of spikes compared to regular track shoes, these are still mainly intended for track running and racing. Because speed is their primary characteristic, they are typically lighter than other running shoes. This is accomplished by lowering the quantity of padding and cushioning used in the manufacturing process. While this accomplishes their goal of making them weightless, it comes at the cost of safety and comfort. Any footwear that lacks these two essential characteristics will not be suitable for daily use.
Trail Running Shoes
Trail running shoes are the second type of running shoe that is not recommended for daily use. However, unlike the lightweight running shoes, this is for an entirely different reason.
Trail running shoes are built with improved grips to ensure that you have a secure footing when running on wet, slick ground, which can be dangerous at times, especially if you’re on an incline. If your underfoot grip is impaired in any way, trail running will be significantly less pleasurable because you will be slipping all of the time. This can be dangerous in some situations. Wearing your trail running shoes every day is one of the ways you can easily impair their underfoot. The lugs and other grip components will gradually be worn down, reducing the traction they provide.
Running Shoes That Can Be Worn Every Day
There’s no reason why the 3 other types of running shoes (motion control, stability, and cushion) can’t be worn every day if they fit correctly and are comfortable. This, however, comes with the condition that the more they are worn, the faster they will wear out, particularly in areas like the grip and insoles. As a result, they will need to be replaced more frequently. Given that ordinary trainers are cheaper than running shoes, you might want to consider purchasing a pair of these and using your running shoes for their intended purpose.
Why is it Important To Use Specific Shoes For Different Sports?
To Prevent Injury
Would you go on a run in Jordans? Definitely not. If that’s the case, why would you wear your running shoes to a basketball game?
Various athletic shoes are developed and manufactured with a focus on injury prevention. The structure of these shoes is determined by the sport for which they were designed. Running shoes are designed to reduce the likelihood of injury when running. It’s not a good idea to utilize them for anything else.
Forming Healthy Habits
When you put on your running shoes, you are signaling to your mind that you are likely to go for a run. When you wear your gym shoes, you understand that you must first complete some exercise before engaging in any other activity.
To Save Money
In most cases, your running shoes will propel you for more than 500 miles. If you walk or do other forms of exercise for the majority of these miles, you will not have fully utilized the potential of your running shoes. Furthermore, the more you use them, the sooner they will need to be replaced. A good pair of running shoes isn’t inexpensive. By only wearing shoes for their intended use, you will avoid the expense of having to replace expensive shoes.