Many trainers will suggest occasionally jogging in grass barefoot. This forces normally dormant muscles into action. If barefoot running isn't your thing — or you can't bring yourself to wear those funny-looking five-toe contraptions — Rich suggests New Balance Minimus. The lightweight shoe is flexible, snug as a glove, and allows your feet to feel the ground with each step.
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Best long-distance running shoes
The key features in a long-distance running shoe are neutral cushioning and motion control, says Mark Sheehan, Vice President of Product Development at K-Swiss. "The more tired a runner gets, the worse their form is and the more they need protection and stability each time their foot strikes the ground." Try Mizuno Wave Creation 13, which has two layers of padding so your run goes smoothly.
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Best sprinting shoes
While this sneaker should be lighter than a long-distance style, there should be even more cushioning to absorb the shock of abrupt starting and stopping, explains Sheehan. Rich suggests Asics Gel-DS Trainer 14, which have durable, feather-light gel padding that won't slow or weigh you down while you dart around.
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Best cross-training shoes
When you're lifting weights and quickly completing circuits, you need a sturdy style that doesn't allow your foot to wiggle around inside. Turner says a great choice is the Ryka Enhance Cross Trainers. "Ryka shoes take into account the fact that women's feet are narrower in the heel and wider in the forefoot," she explains.
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Best walking shoes
Walking may be one of the easier exercises, but selecting the best walking shoes still requires some scrutiny. "Your feet may not have as much impact with the road, but you still need to find proper support to keep your entire body in alignment," says Turner. A great walking shoe will have extra cushion in the heel, which hits the ground first. She suggests Orthaheel Women's Action Walker. "This type of shoe is great for ensuring proper alignment."
Fact: Women love shoes.
And, while "Sex and the City's" Carrie Bradshaw may have brought the term "shoe addict" into the '90s lexicon, our obsession with footwear can be traced as far back as a certain glass slipper-wearing scullery maid.
But, while many women obsess over Christian Louboutin's crystal-embellished pumps or Tori Burch's ballet flats, the passion doesn't quite seem to cross over into the workout shoe realm.
Perhaps it's because workout sneakers aren't as sexy as spiked heels or a hot pair of over-the-knee boots. Whatever the reason, it's rare to hear a group of women gushing over Nike's new cross-trainers or New Balance's latest running shoe.
That's too bad. Especially since the right workout shoes can make your legs look better than any Brian Atwood peep-toes could. "The right shoe can dramatically improve your workout results, allowing you to run faster, jump higher, and keep up longer," says fitness expert Kit Rich. "The wrong shoe can cause both short and long-term injury."
Scoring shoes that won't leave you with a limp means ditching the "one size fits all" motto. According to Jessica Turner, Vice President of Channel Merchandising and Footwear Expert for FootSmart, "Different shoe types will feature varying degrees of mid-sole support, arch support, overall shoe weight, flexibility, and treads, all of which can have an impact on your sport of choice."
Are your eyes already glazing over? You're not alone. We know that even basic sneaker jargon can be confusing, which is why we are bringing you this shortcut. We chatted with top fitness footwear experts and found the best workout shoes for each type of sport. So all you need to do is see which kicks pair up best with your preferred routine and be on your way.
