I’m often asked what are the best shoes for my workouts. I’m a firm believer in minimalist training shoes. They provide the necessary support for my workouts without being bulky or cumbersome. While not having the proper footwear is not the end of the world nor should it stop you from working out, it can definitely help. Here’s why:

Stability

Minimalist shoes provide the most stability among athletic footwear. Stability is crucial for the rapid pace of my HIIT routines. Minimalist shoes have very neutral, flat soles that are not hindered by excessive cushioning. In fact, many minimalist shoes have no cushioning at all and simply conform to the natural contours of your feet.

Often standard athletic footwear – think standard running shoes, cross-trainers, hi-tops, etc. – have so much padding in the soles that they offer very little stability especially for movements that require pivoting and directional changes. Sure they may be comfortable for walking and running errands (one could even make the argument that certain running shoes geared toward long-distance runners need the extra support), but it’s not necessary for my workouts and can actually be a hindrance.

Even my old shoes from Diesel with flat soles are better for my workouts than any fancy padded sneakers.

Heel Drive

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of proper heel drive when performing squats – a cornerstone exercise of the Zgym. When shoes are burdened with a lot of padding in the soles it’s difficult to sit back on our heels and drive up. The padding of typical athletic shoes can get in the way and not allow us to properly execute the movement. Our feet end up floating on all that cushioning. One way to think about it is imagine performing squats on a pair of pillows – sure it may be comfortable, but it’s definitely not optimal for executing the movement with proper form. Minimalist shoes allow us to firmly plant our heels when squatting due their flat, neutral soles.

Staying on Your Toes

Minimalist training shoes are not only better for proper heel placement, they also keep us on our toes when jumping rope, sprinting, running, etc. Again it’s the flat, neutral sole that allows our feet to function in a more natural manner. Unlike squats, these movements require that we stay on the front of our feet not our heels. Try running with bare feet for a moment. Notice how you naturally stay on your toes? Kind of like when we were kids and would run around the house? This is a more natural movement and much better for your posture and overall body alignment. Shoes with excessive padding get in the way of our natural movement patterns. Often they encourage bad form such as an unnatural heel strike when running or jumping rope.

What kind of shoe are you wearing at the Zgym? Tell me about them!