My Favorite Fitness Products: Shoes

It’s a new year, which means fitness is at the top of everyone’s mind. Some of us have fitness routines that are as part of our life as brushing our teeth, and some of us need a little extra motivation. And who doesn’t consider a great pair of shoes as motivation! I love shoes!!

Below are my favorite shoes for various aspects of my fitness routine.

Note: I do actually own and wear all the workout shoes listed below.

Workout Shoes for Strength Training: Nike Metcon

Top of my list of workout shoes are my Nike Metcon 7s in Pure Platinum Gold. They offer incredible stability for strength training workouts, and I absolutely love the color. I only wear these on weight training days, and I don’t wear them anywhere except in the gym. In my opinion, they’re not great for mixed sessions that incorporate cardio or HITT training. They’re pretty stiff, so I reserve these for weights only.

Best Shoes for Walking: Hoka Clifton

I walk 2-3 miles daily with my yellow lab Bentley, so I go through the walking shoes! I used to wear whatever trainer or running shoe I had handy, but my daughter (a med student) introduced me to Hokas. She wears the Hoka Bondi, but I prefer the Clifton. Either way, you’re looking at a seriously comfortable shoe that’s perfect for long walks (or for being on your feet all day).

Running Shoes for Long Distances: Asics Gel Kayano

I don’t run long distances quite as much as I used to, but those longer runs were always supported by Asics’ top of the line Gel Kayano. The Gel Kayano collection is designed for road surfaces and has more cushion than any of Asics’ other models. It’s designed primarily for those with neutral to overpronation and is ideal for those who want to minimize impact on the knees and ankles over long distances. If you’re an underpronator, look for the Asics Gel Nimbus models. Neutral runners can also opt for the Gel Cumulus line.

If you’re uncertain about pronation, Asics has a good pronation guide here. Scroll down to the wear and tear section and grab a pair of your current running shoes. You’ll know pretty quickly by the wear pattern which type of pronator you are.

All of my Asics are pretty old and grungy, so no pics of those (most of the models are outdated anyway). If I were purchasing new Kayano’s, this would be my choice:

Fave Shoes for Daily Runs: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus

A few years ago I bought a pair of Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 37s for my everyday runs. They are much lighter than the Asics series and made me feel much more nimble on my feet. I currently run 3 miles once or twice per week, and these work perfectly for those shorter runs.

Shoe love for daily kicks: New Balance 327

I don’t wear these to work out, but the New Balance 327s have become my absolute favorite casual shoe. Several style bloggers I follow on Instagram sported these last fall, and I scoured the internet to find them. They are typically sold out, but if you can find a pair, grab ’em! I have the 327s in the popular (and hard to find) moonbeam/driftwood color. I wore these every day for 2 weeks on a recent New York work trip, and they felt heavenly. Not to mention they’re so cute and match literally everything. I’ll be snagging the moonbeam/shadow grey version as soon as I can find them!

Fave workout shoes: Your turn!

Weigh in with your favorite workout shoes below. Bonus points for pics!