CommunityTraining & Muscle

What's your favorite workout/running shoes?

42 replies34 peopleJul 19, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

What shoes work best for gym workouts versus running?

Participants stress using separate shoes for different activities, with flat-soled options preferred for lifting and cushioned supportive models for running. Many share personal favorites based on foot shape, arch height, or pronation issues, and several note that minimalist or wide-toe-box designs feel more natural. A few mention going barefoot for deadlifts or avoiding running altogether.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Some enjoy running and seek cushioned shoes while others avoid it entirely or prefer barefoot lifting.

Still open

Which single brand or model works universally across foot types and activities

Nothing here is advice.

42 replies · 34 people
RustAnchor35archiveopening postJul 19

What shoes do you like best for the gym or running? I'm aiming to start using different pairs for exercise versus daily wear.

KeenPebble33archiveJul 19

Some companies make really nice sneakers. Right now I'm trying their latest style and enjoy them quite a bit.

KeenPebble33archiveJul 19

I've given other options a shot and they worked out fine too.

GreenMeadow54archiveJul 19

I bet those amount to distinct footwear options. A flatter design works better when lifting weights in the training area, though it would suck during jogs yet provides solid base for weight training moves such as squats and deadlifts. People who enjoy jogging can handle their own suggestions for running footwear.

AmberBeacon78archiveJul 19

I stopped by a specialty shop for athletic footwear. Staff checked my stride and movement patterns there, showed several fitting choices, and let me test them out on a treadmill. I picked a pair from one of the lines. Broadly speaking those two makers turn out solid shoes.

PatientFenwick91archiveJul 19

I pick separate footwear depending on the workout and go barefoot when deadlifting so don't criticize me for it.

SteadySparrow75archiveJul 19

For a while now I've grabbed trail runners during discounts from the usual spots. Adding some aftermarket footbeds turns them into what works for my runs. Those footbeds actually end up costing more than the shoes themselves.

CopperTimber28archiveJul 19

My feet have a pronounced arch, so I require both stability and padding. Lately I've used a particular pair for jogging and found them excellent. Just recently I neglected to change out of them before heading to a game of pickleball, which I definitely won't repeat. It turns out the footwear choice hinges on the activity at hand.

RustAnchor35archiveJul 19
↳ replying to @PatientFenwick91

I take it you plan to cover your feet before stepping across that surface?

PatientFenwick91archiveJul 19
↳ replying to @RustAnchor35

I see no point in hiding such pretty feet from the world at large.

WrySparrow92archiveJul 19

die hard Asics... for years

SteadySparrow49archiveJul 19

Nike Lunarglide 5. Never forget 🙁

CopperPebble51archiveJul 19

These are my favorite footwear ever. Being very particular I researched every option for jogging. Their training model is also something I like using. The fit follows the actual contours of feet. I'd rate them highest possible. More than six years of daily use with them.

RustLedger92archiveJul 19

I also have high arches so I picked up running shoes. They give solid support and now it feels like floating on air during my runs haha

CopperTimber28archiveJul 19
↳ replying to @RustLedger92

They feel great enough that continuing my run sounds appealing 🏃‍♀️👟 Just clarifying I was talking about the footwear along with the NAD pin earlier!

RustLedger92archiveJul 19
↳ replying to @CopperTimber28

Yeah, spot on! Laughing. I skipped trying NAD myself, even though I checked it out beforehand. Sounds like it gave you solid benefits? Mind sharing your dosage and how often you use it? Also, do you combine anything to improve NAC absorption, like glycine?

RustTimber85archiveJul 19

I switched over not long ago and find them really enjoyable now.

SteadyMarble26archiveJul 19

At the weight room my pick is level mountain bike footwear. These give an even bottom plus a bit of stiffness that keeps my feet stable when I lift. The taller cut adds ankle stability as well. Besides that they handle their main job when I ride trails. As for jogging I skip it because I hate the activity.

GreyCinder78archiveJul 20
↳ replying to @AmberBeacon78

I'm really fond of these supportive trainers I have. They cost a bit but with my overpronation issue it's essential to pick appropriate footwear. A specialty running shop suggested them because they provide good stability. There are other options like certain gel models that work well too.

PatientCompass47archiveJul 20

I use a certain pair of supportive trainers every single day. They handle sessions on the running machine along with occasional weight work. These give solid control for overpronation. When doing squats or deadlifts I switch to my flat-soled cycling shoes that match my foot shape nicely.

RustBramble76archiveJul 20

I was once completely devoted to another brand's footwear however these have become my top choice because nothing else has felt as good on my feet

ClearBeacon38archiveJul 20

Going without footwear comes out on top then toe spreaders then trail style shoes and finally the stiffer models. I heard an interview with the head of a minimal shoe company that covers thoroughly the tie between our physical structure and our soles plus why that matters for motion lasting health and output. That slow movement practice feels good and improved things for me quite a bit.

CopperTimber28archiveJul 20
↳ replying to @RustLedger92

About thirty minutes ahead of my jog I administer one hundred milligrams and this delivers a slight lift in stamina. After covering around sixty minutes on the track I shift into resistance training. The difference stands out clearly on days I skip the dose. This pattern has continued for at least six months and I plan to keep a supply ready. In general the effects are excellent. Just to clarify this only occurs before my exercise periods.

WarmPebble45archiveJul 20
↳ replying to @RustAnchor35 (opening post)

I've spent the past couple of years wearing shoes with a broad front area and no heel lift, plus stretchy ties, for casual walking, dress occasions, and workouts. These fit the natural shape of feet. Nothing else feels as good on my feet, and I can slip them off or put them back on almost instantly. Big name companies and regular footwear shops don't carry this style, yet there are tons of unfamiliar labels offering them.

RustAnchor35archiveJul 20

Appreciate the replies from everyone. It seems my shoe requirements include everyday use, activities like walking or running, and workouts. Had no idea that flat designs are superior for gym sessions.

LevelKettle39archiveJul 20

I feel those particular running shoes rank as the top pick when covering different lengths or whatever unless it's the supportive model from the other maker.

ClearWillow37archiveJul 20

That particular running shoe model isn't around these days, which feels disappointing. Footwear choice really comes down to the specific activity involved. Are you focused on longer efforts or quicker bursts? Do you emphasize heavy weights or bodyweight moves? Would you rather have stability, padding, lighter weight for pace, or more bend? Those factors guide which options fit across makers. I lean toward minimal and flexible styles. The thinnest possible with zero height and maximum surface connection works for me. I want full impact felt, even if it jars everything. The spring from those bulky padded versions, which I skip and never use, can seem playful at times. For daily jumping drills inside the gym I'd find them enjoyable, yet I truly dislike them during a jog. Separate tasks call for their own footwear.

LevelMarble91archiveJul 20

These running shoes have me hooked lately with their springy feel underfoot. My lifting pair stands out as really solid and looks like it will hold up for years.

BlueAlder28archiveJul 20

I was talked into trying shoes from a neighborhood running store. They eased my heel pain condition. After dropping enough weight to drop a full size in footwear I moved to the updated model in the line. These feel great when standing for long stretches during work. They won't seat properly in the heel supports on my rowing setup though. The back section sits too wide for those supports on the base plate. That's why I held on to my earlier pair for rowing sessions.

GreenSparrow41archiveJul 21

They feel reliable underfoot with solid arch support.

WarmSparrow33archiveJul 21

I wear brooks glycerin 22 and 23

CopperSignal27archiveJul 21

I mainly walked to improve my fitness level, and that approach succeeded for me. At my starting weight of 115 kilograms, even brief strolls caused intense discomfort in my feet. This prompted me to investigate various footwear options and supports thoroughly. I chose spacious outdoor shoes combined with cushioning inserts, ideal for traversing rough paths in wooded regions. These choices made a big difference initially. As I continued to shed pounds, eventually my feet no longer experienced pain irrespective of the footwear selected. At that stage the whole thing felt rather pointless. Nevertheless, the shoes are still quite comfortable and sturdy, offering good traction on uneven surfaces such as boulders, earth, gravel, or damp trails, and they should endure for quite some time.

BlueThistle84archiveJul 21

My feet got scanned the other day and I normally lace up my standard running pair along with the personalized padding supports.

CopperBeacon24archiveJul 21

There's just one company whose shoes match how my feet are shaped, oddly enough. I also drop down half a European size from what I normally take in most other pairs. When I'm at the gym I wear a different model but strolling or jogging isn't possible in them since the bottoms sit completely level.

RustAnchor35archiveJul 24

Curious if people have tried footwear purchased there.

ClearHarbour45archiveJul 24

I prefer cross training shoes that feel substantial with a solid thick bottom because my weight exceeds two hundred pounds and they hold up nicely for me. Light running styles start to feel like nothing on my feet within weeks and end up bothering my joints along with my spine. There are probably nicer options available but I avoid spending extra on them since replacements come around every few months anyway.

RustAnchor35archiveJul 24
↳ replying to @ClearHarbour45

Sounds good, I'll take a look at them during my visit to the shop later. I tend to head over there for footwear regardless.

BlueHarbour89archiveJul 25

Hoka, Brooks, Altra. Much more comfortable with actual wide feet shoes.

NorthCompass62archiveJul 25

I wonder if the person who started this thread would be fine with me shifting topics slightly, yet I'm curious if folks have any thoughts or personal encounters with lifting shoes that offer plenty of room up front along with a substantial heel lift close to two centimeters without running too expensive. I checked one option but they were being discontinued so nothing fit my larger size and the follow up version costs more than I want to spend. Another set of lifters seems promising since they come in my size and feel more reasonable. Around the gym I usually wear my cross trainers but end up buying them bigger due to how tight they feel across the toes. I've also liked my most recent pairs for spending long stretches on my feet during weekend trips to entertainment spots.

RustAlder36archiveJul 25

My lifting shoes fit perfectly and seem built to last forever. Still I skip them whenever a session includes lots of running. Back then I favored one running model but now I prefer the current pair since they give more space up front. Older versions of another brand feel off these days and two other brands never clicked for me.

CopperTimber53archiveJul 27

I always went with another kind before but tried these out not long ago and enjoy them way more now.

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