From running to playing sports to aerobics --- if you regularly engage in a variety of athletic activities, a shoe designed for circuit training may be for you. Circuit-training shoes serve as an all-purpose shoe; they are lightweight enough to allow activities that require running yet supportive enough to endure a variety of athletic activities. Knowing what type of shoe you need helps you to purchase the right one for you.
Features
Circuit, or cross, training shoes are designed as a multi-purpose shoe that can meet your changing activity needs. The bottom of a cross-training shoe is wide enough to provide support for side-to-side movements --- a benefit if you tend to pronate, or roll, your foot, according to Dick's Sporting Goods. Circuit-training shoes feature protective cushioning at both the heels and pads of the foot. These shoes also tend to have a leather upper that curves around the ankle and a mesh overlay above the feet to allow for breathability.
Pronation
When selecting the right circuit-training shoe, it is important to understand how your foot lands when you walk. You can determine this via a simple test: place a paper grocery bag on the floor, moisten your foot with water and step onto the grocery bag. If your footprint does not show an arch, choose a circuit-training shoe with extra cushioning in the arches. If your footprint is heavier toward the inside of your foot and the footprint appears to be C-shaped, choose a circuit-training shoe that has a "medical post" --- a foam material piece under the arch. If your footprint features a filled-in arch, select a circuit-training shoe touted for its high stability. This will help to prevent your foot from rolling in when you walk.
Benefits
Choosing circuit-training shoes allows you to meet your flexible athletic demands, according to Dick's Sporting Goods. If you engage in a variety of athletic activities, circuit-training shoes provide you with the support you need in terms of comfort, cushioning and stability. They also serve an economical purpose: by purchasing one shoe that meets a variety of your needs, you avoid having to purchase a shoe specifically for running and one for trail hiking.
Contra-Indications
Cross-training shoes are not suitable for you if you are an avid runner, according to Dick's Sporting Goods. This is because runners require a more lightweight shoe than circuit-training shoes tend to be. Runners also may find the shoes are not flexible enough to meet the changing terrain a runner often experiences.
When to Replace
If you work out in your cross-training shoes each day, you should replace your shoes every 6 to 8 months, according to My Lifetime. Keeping your shoes longer may cause you to lose the support necessary to perform circuit training activities. Another way to test if it's time to toss your circuit trainers is by twisting the sneaker at its midpoint. If the sneaker twists easily, it's time for a new pair.
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