Using a treadmill is not only convenient but it also provides less impact than running and walking outdoors as the treadmill has some give to it. Even with the lower impact, it’s still important to select shoes that are made for walking or running and that feel comfortable. Most avid runners have specific shoes they prefer because of fit and feel, so it is important to not stray too far from these preferences when using a treadmill versus the road. This article will share some treadmill shoe tips and suggest a few brand options.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Shoe:
Considering all these factors, finding the appropriate running shoe for treadmill workouts is crucial for ensuring the safety of your feet. Even on a cushioned, flat surface, there’s still impact as you pound the ground with each stride, posing a risk of injury.
Wearing a shoe specifically designed for running provides essential protection for your feet, enhancing your ability to maintain a consistent running routine. With the proper footwear, you can confidently continue logging miles on the treadmill, enjoying invigorating runs tailored to your physical demands.
Comparing Walking and Running on the Treadmill
For individuals who use the treadmill for walking and running, wearing running shoes for walking sessions is acceptable. However, exploring shoes might be beneficial if walking is your primary activity. Treadmill walking offers unique advantages, allowing you to adjust incline and speed to suit your preferences. Transitioning to running is seamless – increase the pace with a simple button press.
Utilizing the treadmill’s tracking capabilities for distance, heart rate, and calorie burn facilitates customized workouts combining running and walking for optimal results.
While treadmills absorb a significant portion of shock, and walking is gentler on the feet than running, selecting the appropriate shoe promotes healthier joints and proper foot alignment during treadmill walks.
The right treadmill shoe enhances workout versatility, enabling you to experiment with different speeds and variations confidently. Whether engaging in treadmill walking or long-distance running, choosing between walking or running shoes is essential for a comfortable and effective workout.
Running in the Right Shoes
Choosing the proper footwear is crucial for any activity, including treadmill running. Primarily, focus on cushioning and design. Outdoor running demands cushioned shoes to support feet across diverse terrain, while sports require footwear that accommodates specific movements.
Treadmill running introduces the considerations that necessitate suitable footwear. Although treadmills offer some cushioning compared to outdoor surfaces, appropriate running shoes remain indispensable. Even during walking intervals on the treadmill, opting for running shoes is advisable for optimal workout support.
Consider Your Arch
The primary consideration in finding the perfect treadmill running shoe is understanding your foot arch. Foot arches typically fall into three categories: low, average, and high.
Individuals with low arches, often called flat feet, have a foot shape where more of the foot touches the ground than usual. This can result in excessive outward turning during running. The ideal treadmill running shoe for this arch type provides motion control to support the arch adequately.
Those with normal arches have a straightforward time finding suitable running shoes, as most individuals fall into this category. Look for shoes offering good fit, moderate arch support, and stability.
Identifying a high arch is often discernible by examining one’s footprint, where there is significant separation between the toes and the heel. High arches make achieving proper foot rotation and stride challenging during running. The right running shoe can address this issue effectively.
Understanding your foot arch type enables you to select a running shoe with the appropriate support and motion control, ensuring a strong and comfortable performance from heel to toe.
The primary consideration in finding the perfect treadmill running shoe is understanding your foot arch. Foot arches typically fall into three categories: low, average, and high.
Individuals with low arches, often called flat feet, have a foot shape where more of the foot touches the ground than usual. This can result in excessive outward turning during running. The ideal treadmill running shoe for this arch type provides motion control to support the arch adequately.
Those with normal arches have a straightforward time finding suitable running shoes, as most individuals fall into this category. Look for shoes offering good fit, moderate arch support, and stability.
Identifying a high arch is often discernible by examining one’s footprint, where there is significant separation between the toes and the heel. High arches make achieving proper foot rotation and stride challenging during running. The right running shoe can address this issue effectively.
Understanding your foot arch type enables you to select a running shoe with the appropriate support and motion control, ensuring a strong and comfortable performance from heel to toe.
Prevent Foot Odor
Sweating isn’t exclusive to outdoor activities; a vigorous treadmill run can induce perspiration. The undesirable outcome of sweaty feet causing unpleasant odours in your running shoes can be exceptionally bothersome, especially if the smell lingers in your closet.
Even during indoor workouts, breathable running shoes can significantly impact foot odour. Seek out footwear with proper ventilation, often found in lightweight materials or designs incorporating mesh.
Tailor Durability to Your Run
When it comes to treadmill running, opting for shoes with less cushioning is often acceptable for many runners. Considering the treadmill’s inherent cushioned surface, selecting running shoes should be based on personal cushioning requirements, which may differ from outdoor running preferences.
Similarly, durability considerations align with the consistent terrain of treadmill running. Unlike outdoor conditions with varied surfaces and potential obstacles like puddles, treadmill running presents a smoother environment. As a result, there’s no necessity for rugged trail running shoes or similarly robust options.
While treadmill running still incurs wear on shoes over time, the overall experience is gentler on your feet compared to outdoor runs, where rougher conditions are commonplace.
Ensure a Secure Fit
A runner’s nightmare is contending with an ill-fitting shoe. Any slippage or discomfort can lead to blisters, disrupting your workout. When running on a treadmill, a proper fit entails a secure heel, complemented by a snug ankle collar to stabilize the back of your foot.
Your treadmill shoe should also offer side-arch support to bolster your foot against the running motion. Equally important is superior traction to prevent any slipping on the moving treadmill. Feeling unsteady or off-balance due to inadequate traction is highly undesirable.
Before hitting the treadmill, allow a thorough break-in period at home. This period should be sufficient to assess the fit and feel of the shoe, covering aspects like the midsole, outsole, forefoot, and toe box.
These combined factors work harmoniously to maintain foot comfort and ward off blisters during treadmill sessions
Elevate Your Stride
Opting for a running shoe with additional foam or specialized cushioning can enhance your running experience. This extra cushioning injects a lively bounce into your step, ensuring you breeze through your treadmill workout regardless of your pace.
Despite the added cushioning, the shoe should maintain a lightweight feel. Your preferred choice should glide effortlessly and comfortably on the treadmill, providing the perfect balance of bounce without adding unnecessary weight.
Strike Analysis
Before selecting shoes for treadmill running, it’s important to be self-aware of the type of foot strike used while running. This is different for each person and has an important impact on the type of shoe that will best suit an individual treadmill user.
Note that while fitness and running experts have no one agreement as to the best strike for every runner, it’s vital to acknowledge your stride before deciding upon a shoe. To find your strike, simply hop on a treadmill and start running at a natural pace. The part of your foot that lands first reveals your strike.
Heel-Toe
A heel-toe strike is very common among treadmill runners, as the movement of the belt encourages this motion. People with this strike should look for shoes offering ample support in the heel, as this area will wear most quickly with this type of strike.
Forefoot Strike
Less common among treadmill runners is the forefoot strike – also known as toe running. This strike calls for shoes with more padding or support on the ball of the foot.
Sprinters commonly run in a forefoot strike when doing speed work, even if their natural strike is a heel-toe strike. For this reason, treadmill users who utilize the treadmill largely for speed work will want to find shoes appropriate for this strike.
Treadmill Shoe Tips: Choosing the Optimal Running Shoes for Treadmill Workouts
Running or walking on a treadmill presents a unique experience compared to outdoor exercise. However, selecting the perfect running shoe that aligns with your foot, activity, and environment—regardless of where you’re running—will enhance your overall treadmill workout.
Ensuring your shoe fits comfortably from midsole to forefoot and outsole is crucial for a satisfying run. The best treadmill running shoes are the ones that feel most comfortable and supportive, whether you’re tackling long-distance runs or shorter sessions. Please pay attention to the cushioning to ensure it meets your needs.
Now, it’s time to fire up that treadmill and hit the ground running in the shoes you love the most.
Best Treadmill Running Shoes:
Trying on shoes before putting mileage on them will help you select shoes that are comfortable and offer the support you need. Start with shoes designed to support your stride. Treadmill runners can utilize shoes that are lighter and less padded since the treadmill absorbs some of the impact from running.
Brooks Ghost 9: Long Distance For Women
Runner Click counts this shoe among the best for women running on treadmills. Zappos shoppers agree, describing the shoes as a good choice for women who want supportive shoes. Made from earth-friendly materials, these shoes are a product of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. These shoes are specifically designed for longer runs and cost around $100.
Asics Gel-DS Trainer 20: Minimal For Men
Treadmill runners who want minimal support should consider this shoe style, according to Men’s Health. Available for around $120 from Amazon, reviewers say these shoes are perfect for runners who dislike cushioning. A review on Running Shoes Guru says these shoes manage to provide both a minimalism running experience and “bountiful” support at the same time
HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 3: Support for Women
These shoes strike a balance between being lightweight while still managing to offer ample support. Many runners who choose shoes from HOKA ONE ONE enjoy the extra cushioning in the heel to support my heel-toe strike on the treadmill. Reviewers on Roadrunner Sports report less pain while running while wearing these shoes, with long distance runners and marathoners in particular praising the comfort after a lone run. Buy a pair for around $130.
Best Treadmill Walking Shoes:
Treadmill walking shoes should be flexible and comfortable. Look for extra padding in the heel, as this is the part that will likely wear the fastest while walking on a treadmill.
Ryka Sportwalker: Inexpensive Support for Women
Described by Livestrong as both breathable and lightweight, these shoes made the website’s list of the best treadmill walking shoes. Available for around $40 on Amazon, where reviewers applaud the shoe’s breathability, these shoes are the best option for women who want comfortable, supportive treadmill walking shoes at a low cost.
Reebok Cloudride DMX: Lightweight for Men
Minimalist and comfortable, these shoes receive positive feedback on the Reebok website for their comfort. This shoe is designed to allow air transfer within the sole to adapt to the wearer’s stride. Available for around $80, these shoes are a good fit for male treadmill walkers most concerned with comfort and minimal padding.
New Balance WW1065V1: Long Distance for Women
Designed specifically for walking long distances and awarded a Top Three Pick by Runner Click, these shoes are lightweight and breathable. L. L. Bean reviewers say they were surprised by how comfortable these shoes are with multiple reviewers commenting that there was no “breaking-in” period with these shoes as they were immediately comfortable; buy a pair for around $80.
Asics GEL-Tech Walker Neo 4: Supportive for Men
Another award winner from Runner Click, this Amazon bestseller is an excellent option for men who want a breathable shoe design offering additional support while walking on a treadmill. Starting at around $75 from Foot Locker, reviewers of these shoes applaud their comfort and support.
Conclusion:
Which shoes are best for each individual depends not only on the shape of the foot and the stride of the individual, but also the fit of the shoe. While some people enjoy snug, minimalist shoes, others want to feel as though they’re walking on clouds. That’s why it’s important to actually try on a wide variety of shoes before deciding upon a purchase – especially if you intend on putting many miles on the shoes. Incorrect fit can cause injury, even on a treadmill.
