10 Best Sports Shoes Reviewed
By JenU
7
As runners and athletes, it’s vital to have the specific gear we need for the sport and athletic activities we partake in. If you are involved in different activities and are looking for a shoe that can easily transition from running, to the gym, and to the trails, then this is the perfect list for you!
A great sports shoe packs the right technology, comfort, and style to accommodate a wide range of athletic pursuits. We know you want to look great too, so we’ve made sure our selection meets both your athletic and aesthetic standards! The following guide will help you find the right sports shoe for your lifestyle.
- Nke Metcon 3
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Our rating - Multi-functional
- Price: See Here
- Puma Tazon 6 Mesh
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Our rating - EcoOrthoLite sockliner
- Price: See Here
- Nike Air Monarch IV
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Our rating - Air-sole cushioning
- Price: See Here
10 Best Sports Shoes
1. Nike Metcon 3
The Metcon 3 shoes a stable, supportive, and comfortable shoe that works great with all activities. They are durable and stable enough for lifting and intense workouts, yet flexible and comfortable enough for light running, sprinting, and trails. They are also available in a variety of colors, so you have a wide selection to choose from if you decide to go with these shoes.
Technologies
This shoe uses flywire technology to ensure you get a glove-like fit when wearing them. They also dual-density foam midsole for additional cushioning, comfort, and support during your workouts. Nike also incorporated the zero drag heel when designing them, to increase their durability and overall longevity.
Cost/Value
These shoes are on the expensive side, but they are well worth the investment. You have several colors to choose from, and their sleek design will not go out of style. They are highly durable, comfortable, and versatile so their benefits far outweigh their high cost.
- Stable
- Durable
- Supportive
- Comfortable
- Flexible
- Multi-functional
- Easily transitions between activities
- Flywire technology for a great fit
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-density foam midsole
- Zero drag heel
- Several color options
- Expensive
- Sizes run small
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2. Puma Tazon 6 Mesh DOTD Cross-Trainer
The Puma Tazon 6 has a midfoot saddle that adds secure fit to a great looking shoe. A 2 layer mesh upper creates optimum ventilation and breathability for a cooler more comfortable work out. The dual-toned color combinations are as striking as the shoe’s silhouette, offered in asphalt and silver, black and asphalt, black and white, and asphalt with high risk red - each, of course with Puma No. 1 logo on the tongue and Puma Cat logo on the medial side. The appearance is hip, casual and athletic. Transition from workout to whatever in absolute style.
Technologies
At 13 ounces, this urban-styled shoe makes a great, lighter weight sports shoe. Engineered with hardcore training in mind, the seasonal 2 layer mesh means more ventilation. A rubber sole provides excellent traction while patented EVA foam creates a dense cushion for shock. An excellent feature is the trademark EcoOrthoLite sockliner for perfect fit and better function. The T-toe construction, TPU shank for enhanced security and the lace closure each mean higher performance.
Cost/Value
Medium priced, major machine.
- EcoOrthoLite sockliner for comfort and fit
- EVA cushioning for absorption
- 2 layer mesh
- Runs small
3. 361 Bio-Speed Training Shoe
These shoes are designed to provide optimal comfort levels in all athletic activities. They have a QUICKFOAM platform, which is on the firmer side, to improve shove dispersion during your workouts and help you perform to the best of your ability--no matter what you are doing. They also come in a variety of colors to choose from, making them aesthetically pleasing as well.
Technologies
Their QUICKFOAM platform helps you improve your overall performance, without sacrificing any comfort. They also incorporated the use of a sticky rubber outsole, which increases the shoes durability and allows it to provide optimal traction. The QU!K Spine carbon fiber plate also increases the shoe's durability, allowing it to withstand more intense workouts as well as outdoor athletic endeavors. Lastly, the shoe's upper is composed of an open weave air mesh, allowing the shoe to be highly breathable.
Cost/Value
These shoes are pricey but well worth the price given how durable and versatile they are.
- Comfortable
- Versatile
- Sleek Design
- Lots of color options
- QUICKFOAM platform
- Great shock dispersion
- Rubber outsole and QU!K Spine carbon fiber plate to increase the shoe’s durability
- Breathable
- High price point
- Sizes run a little small
4. Asics Conviction Cross-trainer Shoe
These cross training shoes are highly breathable, flexible and comfortable. They come equipped with a perforated sock liner, which improves the breathability of the shoe as well as improves its moisture drainage. They also have a low drop, which also makes them a pretty good lifting shoe.
Technologies
These shoes have an upper that is composed of synthetic RhynoSkin and mesh. This increases their durability and further protects the shoe from tears, abrasions, and other elements that can damage the shoe over time.
Cost/Value
Higher end.
- RhynoSkin for increased durability
- Low drop
- Breathable
- Flexible
- Comfortable
- Perforated sock liner
- Sleek design
- Several color options
- Price
- Sizes run small
- Narrow toe box
5. Adidas Aleki X Training Shoes
These lightweight and breathable shoes are a comfortable option for cross training athletes. They offer a secure and glove like fit that prevent your foot from moving around within the shoe. Their cushioned underfoot also provides you with additional support and comfort throughout your workout.
These shoes also come in a variety of colors. This, combined with their unique design, makes them aesthetically pleasing and gives you a lot of options to choose from.
Technologies
Elements within the Tesla Lightweight runner include an artificial skin suede for increased durability, and a flex groove sole with patented Hydro-Grip outsole for major traction no matter what the terrain. We love how the unique mesh system not only creates a barefoot, natural feel, but also works to increase the foot’s strength by working tendons and muscles. Feel a better range of motion, and the power of your own foot within this well-crafted design meant to increase the best that your body has to provide!
Cost/Value
Extremely good price point for the technology.
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Comfortable
- Several color options
- Rubber sole
- Ghillie lacing for a more secure fit
- Cushioned underfoot
- Narrow fit
- Expensive
6. Adidas Performance Speed Trainer 2
Not only does this shoe perform like a machine, it does so with a personalized style. Choose from endless hues - even match it to your favorite sports team. This sports shoe is available with “mix and match” options to make an already awesome shoe more...well, awesome! This includes adding a lace jewel with your country’s flag or your name and number to the heel. If you’re looking for a great team shoe, add a personal logo to the tongue. Selecting a personalized version of the Adidas Performance Speed Trainer 2 begins your journey toward satisfying, optimum athletics. Love the cushioned and secure fit built into this sleek shoe. Precise engineering has you performing your very best.
Technologies
The Trainer 2 brings your best performance to the court, field, track or your ride. An air mesh upper containing a synthetic overlay for durability and stability, a grid underlayer for enhanced breathability and a full length ventilated mesh lining create an unparalleled cool, dry condition. Targeted flex zones and EVA midsole and trademarked SprintWeb cage for ultimate support combine for your new level of athleticism. Add the high grip outsole and go anywhere and do anything with perfect traction. The adventures are limitless!
Cost/Value
Higher priced, but with so many mix and match options and ultimate technologies, it’s a great investment.
- Mix and Match options
- Endless colors to select from
- Targeted flex zones
- SprintWeb cage for support and structure
- Excellent mesh system
- Expensive
7. Nike Free Tr & Ampp Cross Training Shoes
These shoes are extraordinary lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. They have an injected midsole, for optimal comfort during your training sessions. Their removable insoles let you choose your cushioning levels and their flex groove, combined with their free foam sole, allow the shoe to have maximum flexibility--which lets them adjust to your activities. This is one of the few sports shoes that also make decent running shoes. Typically they are never too functional for longer distances, but--depending on your foot--these may be comfortable enough to do that as well!
Technologies
These shoes utilize Nike's trademarked Flywire cables, for the best secured fit during your workouts. Their bootie construction, mesh upper, and lightly padded collar make these shoes a durable shoe with a sleek design.
Cost/Value
These shoes are pricey, but if you don't mind splurging they are a great investment and will prove to work for all of your workouts.
- Comfortable
- Several color options
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Injected midsole
- Removable insoles
- Flex grooves and free foam sole for optimal flexibility
- Flywire cables for a secure fit
- Durable
- Expensive
- Sizing runs small
8. Reebok Yourflex Train 8.0 L MT
Support your athletics in style and with advanced technologies that will enhance your performance and strength. The Yourflex Train is incredibly on-trend. We love the side-detailing and choice of dual tones like reflective orange with black. The contrasts are each stylish and sleek. With the patented Reebok Memory tech sock liner and IMEVA 48d foam midsole, feel great no matter how hard you train.
Technologies
The foot feels one with this sports shoe thanks to the remarkable Memory tech sock liner. Meet muscles and tendons you never knew with a shoe that both supports your own natural ability and introduces you to new body strength and capability. At a mere 7.2 ounces, this lightweight phenomena is packed-full of engineering to enhance your ride - or any other athletic pursuit. The Micro-Web lacing system is an integrated design meant to lock in the fit and security of your foot. A Tri-zone mesh upper creates substantial breathability with its remarkable ventilation system and with a 10mm drop, the foot feels cushioned and comfortable. Add targeted carbon rubber outsole and take this shoe (and the rest of you) anywhere, on any terrain, and in any condition!
Cost/Value
Medium price point for higher end features and style.
- Lightweight
- Micro-Web lacing for locked-in fit
- Tri-zone mesh upper
- Sizing issues
- Some colors may appear different than actual.
9. No Bull Black Ivy Trainer
These shoes are flat and stable and provide adequate comfort and stability for your workouts. They have a wide toe box for athletes with wider feet, as well as to provide room for those intense workouts that end up causing your feet to swell a bit. Their excellent arch support make these shoe a great option for athletes with flat feet. Unfortunately, these shoes are only available in black, but their sleek design makes them aesthetically pleasing and allows them to look great with all of your outfits.
Technologies
These lightweight and breathable shoes use SuperFabric for optimal durability. This material makes these shoes abrasion resistant and allows them to withstand a lot more than traditional shoes. This, combined with the SuperFabric Guard plates, make these shoes virtually indestructible. The outside lug pattern on these shoes makes them perfectly adaptable to both indoor and outdoor environments, while there high carbon medial and lateral guards further increase their durability.
Cost/Value
Expensive, but well worth their price.
- Flat and stable
- Comfortable
- Wide toe box
- Sleek design
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- SuprFabric Guard plates
- SuperFabric
- Outside lug patterns make them great for indoor and outdoor use
- So durable they are pretty much indestructible
- High Carbon medial and lateral guards
- Expensive
- Only one color option
10. Reebok Crossfit Nano 8.0 Cross Trainer
The Nano 8.0 came out this year and they have already to be a favorite among many athletes. They are more comfortable than their predecessors and fixed the issues users found in the previous versions. While the style remains very similar, they are much more comfortable than ever before. The 8.0 has optimal padding for adequate cushioning and support during your workouts. They their dual density midsole maintains your comfort levels during your workouts. These shoes are also wider than their previous models, making them more comfortable and addressing the sizing issue may users dealt with before.
Technologies
These Nano's enlist a lot of the technologies that previous models have introduced. They also have a heel bootie and sock liner construction, to increase their overall flexibility and provide additional padding. They use a thick insole, padded tongue, and softer sole to increase the overall comfort, stability, and shock absorption of the shoe.
Cost/Value
Expensive, but they will last you a long time!
- Comfortable
- Highly durable
- Flexible
- Several color options
- Dual Density Midsole
- Heel bootie construction
- Sock liner
- Thick insole
- Padded tongue
- Expensive
We know by now you’ve selected your perfect sports shoes. With these stylish and high tech contenders, we’re certain you’ve found the perfect sneaker. Each shoe boasts high performance athleticism and top of the line technologies. Our picks offer the best of the best in sports shoes packaging both capacity and style.
We know the more you love your sports shoes, the more you will love your sport!
The Criteria We Used For Our Evaluation Of The Best Sports Shoes.
Our picks offer the best of the best in sport’s shoes packaging both capacity and style, we want you to get the best in the market using the metrics below as the guide we used to pick the best sport shoes for you. We know the more you love your sports shoes, the more you will love your sport!
We will break down and explain all of the factors that played a roll in our selection and how they affected our selection.
1. How well do they fit?
I know this sounds almost basic like who would want a small fit that would be uncomfortable? So fit happens to be among the top features that are always considered when looking for a good trainer. A good fit is important to avoid the sliding of the runner’s foot in the shoes when running (the common case with big shoes) or to avoid leg injuries and pain ( a very frequent result of wearing shoes that are smaller in size. Make sure your trainer offers the snug fit when the laces are tied and you can comfortably run in them or walk in them without any pinch.
2.Durability. How durable are they?
Talk of no-brainer. This one goes through every runner’s mind, no one would want to go to the store and purchase a shoe that has a short lifespan, what is the use if you need to waste money having the same results? We all want something that can last the test of time, I bet we all have that in mind while visiting the store and at this point, we do not concentrate on the price much but on the quality. We tend to look for a material that will not disappoint and can serve us well. You will consider leather upper for support and durability in most cases.
3. How flexible are they?
When we talk of flexibility we have a lot in mind, this includes a flex groove sole and a flexible wrap around your foot. This is a must for any athlete as a flexible show will allow you to perform freely and comfortably, which will translate into a more enjoyable sports time for you.
4. What is your Shoe profile/heel height?
You do not want a high raised shoe for running. You’ll want to find something lower profile, with a “closer to the ground” design. This will allow better and more natural balance when running and climbing, which adventure runners do often. Super thick and high profile soles are something that you will probably want to stay away from. Aside from making it more difficult to find balance in them, it can also result in injuries that would have been avoided in the first place, the lower the heel the more stability it offers.
5. Are they well Ventilated?
You know how uncomfortable sweaty palms feel like, now imagine yourself having sweaty legs and to make matters worse you have them in a shoe that does not provide a breathable space or mesh to help keep them dry and cool, that is the reason as to why you need to consider having a well-ventilated running shoe when buying sport shoes.
You will need a shoe that has a grid under layer for enhanced breathability and a full length ventilated mesh lining to create an unparalleled cool, dry condition.
Other Important Factors To Consider When Shopping Around
Sometimes the little things can get overlooked when we are not actually trying on, or buying the shoes for ourselves. But, it really doesn’t need to be said that we want to make sure that any footwear we put on should be the best possible fit and function for us.
For that reason, we want to take a little extra time to offer a few things to keep in mind when shopping around. There are plenty of good options out there, but in the end, the function should be one of the most important aspects to consider.
How much cushioning and support do you get from the trainer? Is it enough?
However many people think it is a minor reason to consider when picking a running shoe, well think twice. An ideal running shoe ought to be designed with abundant cushioning features hence be able to offer support and absorb the shock. There are some folks who dispute favoring the basic running sneakers which have very little cushioning sometimes even no cushioning at all. Nevertheless, if you prefer a trainer that is cushioned, go for something that offers the foot with maximum shock absorption. Well, we cannot all be the same right? So think about yourself and not what they say.you want to cushion honey? We say go for it.
The Trainer’s Outsole
It is important to look at the type of your running terrain then compare it with the outsole of your running shoes. Do they fit perfectly?? Many runners are not aware of the fact that not all outsole is built the same, in fact, they are designed with consideration to the runner’s feet and the type of running surface in mind. consider the type of surface you run on and the compatibility of the outsole. Wrong running surface with right running shoe can cause injuries to the feet of the runner so does correct terrain and wrong trainers.
The thickness or thinness of a sole
Is it too thick, too thin or just the right one? Avoid a sole, which is too thick with the notion that it will have a good grip of the ground, go for thin but supportive this will build confidence and helps with support.
History of injuries
Some questions you need to ask yourself before buying shoes: have you ever had an injury? Or are you at this point injured? Well, they might seem like a very normal question but they can greatly influence your pick of shoes. Because your current or previous injury might be as a result of your shoes, Yes those stylish shoes that you love and adore might be your killer.
We recommend something that will provide more support if at all you have a history of injury or have on now, do no ignore however minor it may look. Go for something with more cushioning in and well structured to help you heal in the process.
Buying for looks
Some runners are too concerned with fashion, and we try and push people away from this. many times when they get a shoe that is stylish they forget about fitting and after a couple of months they come and cry of how the feet don’t fit anymore or it hurts, remember we are not buying style but a number of functions that the shoe can provide.
Motion control
Go for the shoes that are well structured to reduce force impact on your feet,this can result to your enhanced running,some people say its about your pronation, just go for one that goes well with your foot position .since this can be factor of how the force is distributed in the foot.put in mind we do not want to cause any sort of injury or anything worse to those pretty feet of yours and we cannot put you in dangers way.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions that may get you thinking about which type of running shoe you need to have the perfect feel the desired outcome.
Q: How do I ensure that I buy a more durable shoe?.
A: When going to purchase a shoe everyone wants a durable shoe to help manage costs. Having a leather shoe is always good for durability. But can sometimes become dry and crack. To prevent this happening the best thing to do is to use a leather conditioner regularly. This will keep the leather clean sand soft and prevent any cracking or wearing sports. Mesh is predominantly used for your running shoes. Mesh shoes are generally put through a lot and wear quickly so to help prolong the life of your shoes use a water resistant spray to protect it from water as well as dirt.
Q:I am a marathon runner, I train anywhere to be familiar with all terrain, what should I consider when getting a sport shoe?
A: well a comfortable shoe is a consideration, the amount of cushioning is a balance between how much you want to feel the trail and how much protection and softness you want under your foot. Look for a rubber sole it provides excellent traction also look for a patented EVA foam which creates a dense cushion for shock Effective cushioning reduces the impact on the body, but it’s always a great idea to have trail shoes with a variety of cushioning levels, just as we do in training on the road or track.
Q: How do i know my shoes will fit?
A: I can assure you that this is a common challenge anyone buying shoes faces, the advice we would offer here is to try and get a size that is half bigger than the normal shoe size that fits you, this is to allow your feet to move freely in the shoes.
Q: How can I clean my shoes to avoid wear and tear?
A: Most people want a clean and spotless shoe, we agree with you but just until that very point. When it comes to cleaning your sports shoe consider the fabric first, not all fabrics are treated the same, we tend to ignore that very basic element and just dip shoes in water take a scrub and wow the shoe is clean. Consider cleaning your shoes by using a soft bristle brush to scrap of dirt first before you embark on having warm water and some detergent to do the trick while using a soft sponge.
Q: How do I know which running shoe to buy?
A: This is a commonly asked question among everyone who wants to purchase running shoes, you first need to know which kind of runner you are. You need to check the heel, the instep, the width, the length, feel and flex to avoid common shoe buying mistakes. Having all this in consideration you will be able to pick the right shoe for yourself.
Here are some sources we used while conducting our research:
Sources
- , 10 Tips for Choosing Athletic Shoes, Online Health Information,
- , What Is the Best Running Shoe for Your Foot?, Health & Fitness publication, Aug 02, 2016
- , How to Select the Right Athletic Shoes, Orthopaedic Clinical Information,
- , How to Buy Running Shoes: Tips to Treat Your Feet Right, Online Health Information,
- , Find the Perfect Workout Shoe for You, Health & Fitness publication,
- , Finding The Right Running Shoes, Online Informational Publication,
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