Another Shoe Question . . .

Aquajock

Aquajock

Cathlete
Hi, all! Wanted to get your advice:

I desperately need to change out my shoes that I use for home stepping; they're worn out AND loaded with sweat, so my feet are starting to slide.

Please give recommendations for excellent shoes for step aerobics, AND for hi-impact stuff; I have La Cathe's I-Max, Body Max, Circuit Max, MIC, and (tah-dah!) Rhythmic Step; my long-term plans are to bring in a bit more hi-impact working out and perhaps get Cardio Kicks as well (I'm not much of a kickboxing fan, but I do want just a taste of it).

Are there different shoes for step and hi-impact? I should know this but I don't; the only athletic shoes I really worry about are aqua shoes.

THANKS!

Annette
 
Hi Annette, I needed new aerobic shoes a while back and tried ryka because Cathe uses them and everyone on this site seem to love them. I bought two pairs, one was cross training and the other aerobic. I was disgusted when I started using them, they killed my feet, came up too high around my ankles (and they weren't high tops) but I perservered (how the hell do you spell that??) and once they broke in, they were pretty good. I guess my point is that shoes are such a personal thing. What one person loves, another hates. I just saw an ad in a magazine for reebok with a 30 day money back guarantee, now thats a great idea! because you reaaly do need to use them for a few weeks before you can decide.
 
I agree that each person is different. I personally would suggest that you try out shoes specifically labeled an aerobic shoe: they have very specific design with lateral support and heel-to-toe shock transfer, as well as added shock absorption in the heel and toe.
Some folks with large or wide feet report that the only shoes that work for them are cross-trainers. I personally, though, don't get enough support from them: I do very high impact and twisty-dancy stuff (I go to a live gym as well as doing Cathe stuff).
If you are going to buy off the internet, I would go to a shoe store and try on the shoe you are going to buy (don't feel guilty about it... if you must, buy some socks or shock-absorption inserts!)
My experience is that people with little feet love Rykas...mine are fat and they don't work for me. I have had great luck with the Reebox aerobic line. :)
 
Hi, Annette,
I ordered Avia 657's which were described as instructor level shoes and I love them! My feet are long and narrow with a high arch and I usually have trouble with heel slippage. Often during hi-impact aerobics my feet would hurt. I have experienced no pain with these shoes! And they have a really cool website!:)(http://www.avia.com)

Bobbi
 
My personal story: I wear cross-trainers, and have worn Reebok's and New Balance. They both worked out fine, and I use them for Kickbox tapes, stepping and HiLo. I never felt the need to look for Aerobic shoes.
 
I also bought the Ryka aerobic shoes and felt at first they were a bit too high around the ankle. My feet and Achilles were mildly sore the first few times I wore them, but they're now broken in just fine and I love them, even more than the running shoes I used to do Cathe tapes in. I just did Step Works in my Ryka's and they felt great!

:) Stacy
 
Because my feet are wide and large (women's 10 1/2 or 11) I buy men's ASICS gel running shoes. They work great. I just wanted to post for anyone who has wide shoes. Just go ahead and get men's shoes, they are so much more comfortable! I buy a men's 8 1/2 or 9. These are also much easier to find than large women's shoes.
 
I agree, I have big feet also (I'm not that tall, however! I thought I was going to be 6' tall when I grew up! I only made it to 5'5-1/2"!) I have a son who is 5'11" and wears a 12, down from a 13. It is genetic! I wear a 10.
 
Honeybunch, I had to chuckle when you said you thought you'd be six feet tall. My daughter is twelve with size nines and that's what we keep telling her! I also tell her if her feet keep growing we'll have to enroll her in clown school!

Regarding shoes, I also bought Rykas Re-Evolution. I didn't like them at all. As for "breaking in" shoes, you really shouldn't have to. Good shoes fit from the start. Of course, when you've paid top dollar for them and worn them, it's really awful to dislike them. You might be wise to visit the shoes store, try on different brands of shoes to see which fits you best. And I DO like thoses Avias!
:)
Bobbi
 
Shoes are such a personal thing, you just gotta go to the shoe store and keep on trying them on 'til you find the most comfortable/supportive shoe! I think athletic shoes shouldn't
require any breaking in time. If you have to break 'em in, they're the wrong shoe for you.

Oh, and one thing that helps a lot, a non-pushy but knowledgeable and helpful sales person. Counts for a lot in the athletic shoe area, IMHO.

Good luck shopping!!

;-)

Kathy W
 
I was in the market for new race walking shoes the other day, and went into a D!ck's (at Chapel Hill, Deb H) Sporting goods. They never heard of race walking, and tried to tell me there was no difference between walking and running shoes! I said, "Yes, there is a difference," and started to explain what it was, but then just quickly left.

I got a good deal finally at http://www.walkingshop.com/

Got some Saucony's for $54.99! Grid Accelerates, to be exact. Even with the shipping, it was cheaper than I could have gotten locally. I love a good deal that stretches my meager bucks till they snap!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top