Shopping

[mojogirl]

Feb 21, 2022 13:17:13 GMT -4 carrier76 said:

This is a very specific post….

So when I work out at home, which is the majority of what I do, I do mostly cardio kickboxing/HIIT-esque workouts. I do my workouts on the concrete basement floor, which isn’t great for my arthritic ankle or forever “bad” knee, but that’s what I have to work with. Eventually I’m going to get a huge rubber floor mat, but I’m not there yet. Anyway, I need new shoes for this. I have been wearing Reebok HIIT for a year and a half, and I think I need something with more cushion? I do lateral movements and some pivoting, so that’s something to consider. I have done a lot of research and it has led me nowhere. I see Nikes getting high reviews, but they always seem to have a caveat that they are not for wide-footed people, which has been my experience when I’ve tried them on. I myself have wide feet. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have a separate pair of running shoes, and great local running stores that can tailor to your exact needs, but nowhere that seems to employ anyone who knows about cross training shoes.

I belong to a private FB group for a subscription workout website I use, and people’s numerous posts about their anxiety and personal stories seem to get dozens of responses, so I posed this question to them, thinking that people would have insight since we are all doing the same workouts. I got three responses. One said they were hesitant to make a recommendation, and another gleefully told me they work out barefoot. Anybody have any trainers they love?

Do you have a specialty athletic shoe store in your city? Here in Seattle I take my kids to Super Jock and Jill for their running shoes. They ask what activity you will be doing, have several ways of measuring your feet to get the right fit, and while the shoes are full price (and expensive), they will accept returns if you buy them and they aren't working for you.

[carrier76]

Feb 21, 2022 14:16:43 GMT -4 mojogirl said:

Feb 21, 2022 13:17:13 GMT -4 carrier76 said:

This is a very specific post….

So when I work out at home, which is the majority of what I do, I do mostly cardio kickboxing/HIIT-esque workouts. I do my workouts on the concrete basement floor, which isn’t great for my arthritic ankle or forever “bad” knee, but that’s what I have to work with. Eventually I’m going to get a huge rubber floor mat, but I’m not there yet. Anyway, I need new shoes for this. I have been wearing Reebok HIIT for a year and a half, and I think I need something with more cushion? I do lateral movements and some pivoting, so that’s something to consider. I have done a lot of research and it has led me nowhere. I see Nikes getting high reviews, but they always seem to have a caveat that they are not for wide-footed people, which has been my experience when I’ve tried them on. I myself have wide feet. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have a separate pair of running shoes, and great local running stores that can tailor to your exact needs, but nowhere that seems to employ anyone who knows about cross training shoes.

I belong to a private FB group for a subscription workout website I use, and people’s numerous posts about their anxiety and personal stories seem to get dozens of responses, so I posed this question to them, thinking that people would have insight since we are all doing the same workouts. I got three responses. One said they were hesitant to make a recommendation, and another gleefully told me they work out barefoot. Anybody have any trainers they love?

Do you have a specialty athletic shoe store in your city? Here in Seattle I take my kids to Super Jock and Jill for their running shoes. They ask what activity you will be doing, have several ways of measuring your feet to get the right fit, and while the shoes are full price (and expensive), they will accept returns if you buy them and they aren't working for you.

We do, and that’s where I get my running shoes (Big River Running in STL, represent!). I asked them if they carry cross trainers and they don’t.

[oobleck]

Feb 21, 2022 16:44:24 GMT -4 carrier76 said:

Feb 21, 2022 14:16:43 GMT -4 mojogirl said:

Do you have a specialty athletic shoe store in your city? Here in Seattle I take my kids to Super Jock and Jill for their running shoes. They ask what activity you will be doing, have several ways of measuring your feet to get the right fit, and while the shoes are full price (and expensive), they will accept returns if you buy them and they aren't working for you.

We do, and that’s where I get my running shoes (Big River Running in STL, represent!). I asked them if they carry cross trainers and they don’t.

I worked for a podiatrist clinic for a few years. Nikes we’re a big no. We saw more people with issues who wore Nike and being in Portland, Nike is huge. The shoes they recommended for working out were Brooks, New Balance, ASICS and another brand that seems to have disappeared and I can’t remember. Look for a shoe specific for HIIT, you need different support and more flexibility than running shoes have. There are new players in the market that might work like Hoka.

[carrier76]

Feb 22, 2022 11:53:52 GMT -4 oobleck said:

Feb 21, 2022 16:44:24 GMT -4 carrier76 said:

We do, and that’s where I get my running shoes (Big River Running in STL, represent!). I asked them if they carry cross trainers and they don’t.

I worked for a podiatrist clinic for a few years. Nikes we’re a big no. We saw more people with issues who wore Nike and being in Portland, Nike is huge. The shoes they recommended for working out were Brooks, New Balance, ASICS and another brand that seems to have disappeared and I can’t remember. Look for a shoe specific for HIIT, you need different support and more flexibility than running shoes have. There are new players in the market that might work like Hoka.

That is really interesting! What is the deal with Nikes that bothered people’s feet so much? You’d think they were the best, considering the way they flood the market. I have tried on so many pairs of Nikes through the years, and they always pinch my (wide) feet.

I have had great results with ASICS for running. My current running shoes are Mizuno, and they feel like a dream.

[prisma]

I follow the Postural Restoration Institute because some of the fitness people I follow use some of their practice. They just came up with their annual list of best shoes, which I found posted here (look at the second jpg). I don't know if this would be helpful because it's not broken down by activity. But I do think it's interesting that Brooks, Asics, and Hoka dominate the list. So maybe those are brands you could focus on?

I have been into barefoot and minimalist footwear for a while, but not exclusively. Right now I have a pair of New Balance Minimus that are my favorite ever, and of course they have discontinued them. That said, I tried a HIIT workout recently completely barefoot and it was punishing. I think that kind of intense activity requires some cushioning. If I do it again I'll definitely wear something with cushioning.

[boxofrocks]

Speaking only for myself, I've had success using my running shoes for cardio kickboxing and HIIT. (I got them at a running shoes store where they analyzed my gait too.) IME traditional cross trainers are heavier, which my joints don't like, and the stabilization in the running shoes are sufficiently supportive when I land from a jump.

[carrier76]

Thanks for all of your suggestions! I went to Big River Running today and picked up a pair of Hokas that I found after following a lot of your suggestions. I got on the wood floor and did some of the moves that come up in my workout, and even did a (lame) hitch kick and it felt good! So I’m excited to try these! My current Reebok HIIT shoes just feel so flat and hard.

[mojogirl]

I needed to go to the bougie supermarket today to get some Spanish chorizo (Town and Country, formerly Ballard Market for you Seattlites) and every time I go in there I think about how it would be to be wealthy enough for it to be my everyday supermarket.

[chiqui]

Mojogirl, I feel the same way about Central Market, up in Shoreline. Do you remember the glory days of the early 1990s and the pioneering, World's Fair of Food ambiance of Larry's Market? And how suddenly and tragically the chain disappeared? There will NEVER be another Larry's!

[mojogirl]

Aug 22, 2022 12:45:49 GMT -4 chiqui said:

Mojogirl, I feel the same way about Central Market, up in Shoreline. Do you remember the glory days of the early 1990s and the pioneering, World's Fair of Food ambiance of Larry's Market? And how suddenly and tragically the chain disappeared? There will NEVER be another Larry's!

Alas, I didn't live in Seattle back then, although I did visit in the early 90's and LOVED it.

Yep, Shoreline Central Market is a.maz.ing. Same company (Town & Country) but Ballard Market is only a few blocks from me so I only venture up to the Shoreline one when I need something truly arcane.

Related to Seattle bougie supermarkets, after Ken Jennings tweeted this last year I had my son ask which one he was talking about (Ballard Market is mentioned in the thread) and apparently it's Ken's on Greenwood but I haven't gone in to investigate myself.