If you are a fitness enthusiast you must already know how important it is to have specific shoes for each exercise to yield you the best possible results.
If you’re not, wait till you find out how effortless each workout gets once you get your hands on the best weight training and cardio shoes on the market.
Athletic footwear has, indeed the power to make and break your gym experience. Therefore, it’s never a bad idea to opt for the best shoes to make your weight training and cardio more enjoyable each day.
However, among the thousands of footwear companies that claim to solve all of your fitness problems, it can be daunting to find the right one.
The right shoe will not only make it easier for you to do your cardio and help you do High-Intensity Interval Training – HIIT but will also prevent the risks of getting injuries to a great extent.
So here we have listed the top 10 best shoes that will allow you to do just that一go through the comparison, understand what is needed to buy the perfect shoes, and put an end to the terribly bad gym days.
Best Shoes for Weight Training and Cardio Reviewed
1. Nike Men’s Metcon 5 Training Shoe – BEST FOR WEIGHTLIFTING
2. Brooks Ghost 12 – BEST FOR RUNNING IN TREADMILL
3. York Athletics The Henry – BEST FOR BOXING CARDIO
4. Adidas Powerlift 4 – BEST FOR HIIT
5. Asics Gel Kayano – BEST FOR RUNNING
6. Wantdo Women’s Trail Running Shoes – BEST FOR WOMEN TRAIL RUNNING
7. Nike Joyride Run Flyknit Running Shoe – BEST FOR FLEXIBILITY INDOORS
8. Hoka One One Clifton 7 – BEST FOR DURABILITY
9. Nike Metcon 4 – BEST FOR BATTLE ROPE WORKOUTS
10. Mizuno Wave Inspire 16 WaveKnit – BEST FOR BEGINNERS
Best Shoes for Weight Training and Cardio Compared
Don’t know the best one among these 10?
Here’s a brutally honest comparison that is based on rigorous customer experience and brand research.
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1. Nike Men’s Metcon 5 Training Shoe – BEST FOR WEIGHTLIFTING
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What makes a good weight training shoe is its heavyweight and sturdy outer sole. And the Nike Metcon 5 is specifically made for gym aficionados to lift weights. The flat and sticky bottom provides the ever-needed stability and sturdiness while lifting chunky iron in the gym. It comes with a 4mm heel offset and is revered by customers for its incredible ankle support that makes sure your feet stay pain-free throughout the lifting.
Pros
- High stable which makes it easier to do heavy squats
- Breathable near the toe area
- Dubber upper and inner sole
- Comfortable
Cons
- Apparently not durable
- Need to be careful with size since they are not quite true to size
2. Brooks Ghost 12 – BEST FOR RUNNING IN TREADMILL
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With extreme durability and comfort, these Brooks Ghost 12 running shoes are perfect for wide feet fitness enthusiasts. To help make your cardio smooth, this footwear offers high solid arch support and cushioning. In fact, this specific model is better than the entire Brooks collection of athletic footwear. With high mileage features and flexibility, they make exceptional running shoes for people like you.
Pros
- Flexible upper sole for maximum movement of the foot
- Highly durable and can easily withstand 400+ miles
- Sturdy grip
Cons
- Uncomfortable if you have narrow feet
3. York Athletics The Henry – BEST FOR BOXING CARDIO
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If you are someone who does mild cardio like boxing, squats and reverses lunges, These unisex sneakers offer exactly the support and flexibility you need. With its breathable mesh, this footwear weighs 8.3 ounces and has a drop of 9mm. Since Henrys doesn’t support underfoot much, it is only suitable for mild cardio. Other than that, the high heel pull tab will make sure you are comfortable during squats and mountain climbing.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Ideal for road work
- Responsive bottom
Cons
- It is tight across toes
4. Adidas Powerlift 4 – BEST FOR HIIT
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These sporty Powerlift 4 not only are ideal ironing moving shoes but never fail to make you look stylish while you’re sweating in the gym. Thanks to their laces and velcro strap, the shoes offer a looked-up feel to help you to only focus on your workout. The lightweight canvas and body are extremely light and tough which can inevitably provide a stable base during deadlifts.
Pros
- Comes with a rubber sole to plant your foot sturdily on the ground
- Features a midsole wedge and velcro tap for a complete lockdown feel
Cons
- It does give enough stretch unlike many other weight lifting shoes
- There are customer complaints about poor product packing boxes arriving smashed and broken.
5. Asics Gel Kayano – BEST FOR RUNNING
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The Asics Kayano comes in numerous styles and colors for female and male fitness aficionados. The high ankle feature offers maximum support for people with muscle imbalances and helps relieve knee and ankle pain. That said, the footwear also has the ability to avoid the risk of a sprained ankle while running or strength training一how amazing is that!
Pros
- Lightweight
- Offers platform support
- Features DuoMax which enhances high stability
- FlyteFoam technology aids excellent bounce back and responsiveness.
Cons
- Not true to size
6. Wantdo Women’s Trail Running Shoes – BEST FOR WOMEN TRAIL RUNNING
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During hiking, the worst concern for many hikers is feet sweat which makes it difficult to trail each minute. But, guess what? With Wantdo Women’s Trail Running Shoes that’s not even a question. The shoes boost ventilation and its breathable mesh keeps your feet cool and dry throughout the entire hike. Wantdo’s Trail Shoes are ergonomically designed to fit your feet in the most comfortable and secure way possible.
Pros
- Non-slip
- Highly durable
- Mega traction for rough mountain surface
Cons
- Need to buy a size bigger since it can be quite narrow for some feet
7. Nike Men’s Epic React Flyknit Running Shoe – BEST FOR FLEXIBILITY INDOORS
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If you are looking for shoes that make you feel you’re bouncing all the time, my friend, this one is exactly what you’ve been looking for. Unlike the ones mentioned above which are specifically made to endure rough surfaces, Nike sneakers are made with new cushioning technology to give you the most needed support while doing cardio at the gym. Many runners have raved about its outstanding ability to act like a “beanbag” when you’re running on the treadmill.
Pros
- Great absorption and stability
- Hugs your foot comfortably
Cons
- Many customers complain about its small and tight size, which can cause blisters if not changed immediately
8. Hoka One One Clifton 7 – BEST FOR DURABILITY
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The Hoka One One Clifton 7 is an excellent choice for people who run fast for long hours and are prone to knee pain. Why, you may ask? The undying versatility and durability prove the footwear can certainly last for thousands of miles and thanks to its substantial cushioning, they make just the right fit for people suffering from knee swelling.
Pros
- Comes with a vertical pull for easy entry
- Features an early stage Meta-rocker to aid smooth running
- Super lightweight mesh gussets limits from tongue migration
Cons
- None
9. Nike Metcon 4 – BEST FOR BATTLE ROPE WORKOUTS
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The gritty mesh uppers allow sturdy grip, which makes Nike Metcon4 the epitome for battle rope workouts. The flat soles and high heel aids support and flex during cardio like squats and sprints. Other than that, it comes with cool elegant colors to enhance its aesthetically appealing appearance.
Pros
- True to size
- Comfortable
- Highly breathable
- Features a high arc to extra support
Cons
- Overpriced
- Some customers experienced poor service
10. Mizuno Wave Inspire 16 WaveKnit – BEST FOR BEGINNERS
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The Mizuno Wave Inspire 16 WaveKnit has every baseline feature that is needed for a beginner to start his/her fitness journey. What distinguishes this pair of sneakers from the rest, is its famous structured design and solid colors that not only provide functional advantages but are rugged enough to be taken to a marathon too. Yup, you read that right.
Pros
- Breathable fit
- Heel collar for better feel and look
- Robust outer sole for increased durability
Cons
- Not true to size
- Offers Zero arch support
Best Shoes for Weight Training and Cardio Buyers Guide
Now that you are fully aware of the best weight training and cardio so you could find it in the market, it’s high time you make up your mind and go for the best one. Once you have come up with a budget and the type of shoes you are precisely looking for, here are some of the things that differentiate good cardio/weightlifting shoes from the bad ones.
1. Heel height
When we talk about weightlifting, the most ideal high height for your shoes must be around 0.75”. Whereas for cardio, go for 1 inch high or wedge heel rather than something that is completely flat. This is because flat heels add more tension to your Achilles tendon, i.e the back of your heels, and these, are less comfortable.
2. The Exterior Material
Since weightlifting and cardio require extensive use of footwear, go for shoes that are made of a material with high durability and can easily be washed with a soft cloth and water. Getting shoes that are gorgeous to look at but rips apart within a few weeks of exercise is differently not what you’re going for here.
3. Soles
Where cardio shoes must have added gel or high cushioning to improve flexibility and movement, shoes made for weight training should only have half high heels but no cushioning whatsoever. After all, you would want to do deadlifting on a mattress, right?!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Does Drop Mean?
A shoe drop, also known as an offset, is the difference between the distance from your to your heel. the deeper the drop, the more the difference between the high of your heel and forefoot. A higher drop can take most of the strain away from your lower but adds pressure on the knee.
What’s the difference between training shoes and running shoes?
Running shoes are made specifically for forward movement, and have added pads for improved height. Whereas training shoes are built mainly for side to side movement. In a nutshell, running shoes are used to promote speed, and training shoes allow flexibility. However, you can’t wear running shoes for training, nor training shoes for running., unless, of course, you desperately want to injure yourself.
What are minimalist running shoes?
A minimalist running shoe is a mixture between running shoes and barefoot. It is made for people who prefer to ditch advanced shoe features that provide ease only to pursue running that uses most of their natural strength and speed.
Conclusion
All in all, going for shoes that are specifically built for weight training and cardio has the potential to not only get the best out of your exercises, but you can expect to have fewer complaints after every gym session as well. Whether it is durability, arch, or cushioning一weigh all the possible choices out there and look for a pair that perfectly meet your workout requirements and budget to make a sensible investment.
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