What Is The Construction Difference Between Men's & Women's Gym Shoes?

Men and women differ in width of the pelvis, which directly affects their gait, jumping, and pivoting in sports. While gym shoes for sports like running, basketball, and tennis have obvious differences in how the soles and uppers look, differences between men's and women's sports shoes are more subtle. It is important to have the proper support for your activity to prevent joint injuries, reduce fatigue, and increase performance.

The Last

The "last" of a shoe is also known as the "upper." It is the part of the shoe that wraps around the foot above the sole. Differences between men's feet and women's include the width of the last in relation to the length, commonly referred to as width and shoe size. For example "9B" women's gym shoes are different from "9B" men's shoes. Men generally have wider feet in relation to their length.

The Toe Box

The front part of the shoe, where the toes are located, is generally narrower in a women's gym shoe. Men's shoes have more of a squared off toe box. Women's gym shoe toe boxes are more of an oval shape. Women weigh less than men of comparable height. When women jump off a springy basketball court, Newton's laws suggests that the more they can dig in on the court, the greater there push off force will be.

The Soles

The soles consist of the heel, mid-sole, and forefoot sections. These correspond to parts of the feet that strike the ground when walking and running. Women don't strike the heel on the ground with as much force as men. Women also tend to pronate more, due to increased Q angles so their running shoes need to have added midsole stabilizers to compensate.

Guidance in Choosing Gym Shoes for Men and Women

The best way to get the right shoe for your sex and sport is to go to your local shop and get fitted. Good sports stores will evaluate your gait, measure the feet especially for growing children, and let you wear the shoe in the store to try running, jumping, and standing in them.