When it comes to getting a productive workout, I find that the only way to do so is to go to the best gym in the whole town. My gym. There’s no waiting in line, no guy shouting out inspirational quotes such as ‘no pain, no gain’ and there’s no group of guys standing next to the mirrors and holding up their phones, to see which angle with give them the best ‘ripped’ selfie for their Instagram.
When I work out from home, it’s just me. I don’t have to worry about travelling to the gym from work, all the while calculating time it’s going to take me to get there and asking myself questions such as; Will it be busy? Do I have my gym clothes? Did I bring the right shoes?
Working out from home means there is no rush, no one is queuing behind me to use the bench press, and I can work through my routine without distraction.
Make a Space!
After pushing the dining table to one side, getting rid of the laundry basket and rolling up the mosaic rug, this gives me the space I need to get sweaty, and to hit my workout hard. Next all I need to do is make sure the flat bench is in the right place, and my dumbbells are fit with the right weights. Then I’m ready to go.
When I attack my routine from home, whether it’s starting with some crunches, squats, or simply push-ups, I don’t have to worry about what’s ‘hot’ and what’s not with my gym attire, as any loose-fitting clothes will normally do the trick.
Freedom, right?
However, as great as this freedom is, there is still one rule that I follow religiously wherever I do my CrossFit routine, and that is making sure I have the right shoes.
Although it’s true that the average joe can do fine if they decide to workout in their running trainers, this isn’t what training is really about. In fact the point of muscle building exercises is to completely avoid being average, by applying consistent force through our bodies to ensure that we build strength and feel the burn, which ultimately helps us to achieve our goals.
Running shoes or trainers, in general, aren’t necessarily designed for working out, or more specifically, are not always designed for the type of workouts that you like to do. If they aren’t the right shoes they tend to wear out easily, and I don’t know about you, but I hate getting blisters on my feet.
Will Standard Trainers do the Job?
Trainers which are not specifically designed for CrossFit vary, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you get very lucky. But the common problem with standard trainers lies the base of the back of the shoe. Commonly used to apply a cushion feel, some shoes will be designed with the heel lifted. This is great for running as it provides a nice padding. However, for CrossFit where many, many exercise require your feet to be placed squarely on the ground, this overbalanced posture is far from good.
The best shoes for CrossFit reduce this drop almost entirely so that your feat are more or less flat from heel to toe. These shoes tend to offer great flexibility, while also being extremely firm. For anyone who is serious about having long-term success in their CrossFit routine, without overarching on their squats, the correct shoes are definitely worth investing in.
So let’s take a look at four of the best available, to really get an idea of their potential benefits.
Nike Metcon 4
A perfect weightlifting shoe, the grip is tough, and your feat will remain completely stable, as you perform your overhead squats or push jerks. The shoe doesn’t have much cushioning, so this will allow you to power through your dynamic warm up with flexibility and lightness on your toes.
Reebok CrossFit Nano 8 Flexweave
As the name suggests this shoe is made for CrossFit. This shoe has new Fleaxweave technology, which greatly increases mobility during even the heaviest workouts. The shoe has a rubbery feel, even though it has a unique chain-link fence pattern on its side. This incredible versatile and stable shoe has a minimal drop, and is perfect for squats and deadlifts.
Adidas Performance Men’s Powerlift 3.1
With a tough rubber insole, this shoe is perfect for weight training. The grip offers a sturdy balance and you’ll be able to maintain great posture, while executing those heavy deadlifts. The insoles are removable, giving you the opportunity to try the shoes with them in, or without them depending on your preference.
Asics Conviction X 2
Whether your jumping, running or squatting the perforated sockliner in this shoe makes them incredibly breathable. Also with its flat heel, this second edition Asics shoe offers sturdy support during those heavy lifts, making it an all-around great sneaker for CrossFit.