The basketball shoe has a leather or synthetic upper, a mid to high top, a rubber sole and lots of support for the ankles. This support can come from bizarre innovations like air pumps and helium pockets. Basketball shoes are as much about form as they are about function, and many pro basketball players have lent their names to a particular brand of shoe. These superstar shoes are expensive but fashionable, and it's up to you to decide how flashy you want your shoes to be. A shoe without the bells and whistles or a star's name attached to it is perfectly fine for playing basketball, as long as it is well-constructed. You can get a good pair for $60 to $90, but if you want to spend more, there are limitless opportunities to do so.
The canvas shoe is of simple construction, with a canvas upper and a rubber sole. They can come in high or low tops, and a wide range of colors. The kings of the canvas shoes--and, to some, of all sneakerdom--are Converse All Stars. These are also known as "Chucks" to their fans, because they bear the signature of 1920s Converse salesman and endorser Chuck Taylor. Both Converse and Keds have been making canvas shoes since 1917, so you'll be joining a proud tradition if you choose these. You'll also be choosing not to take advantage of over 80 years of sneaker innovation, and that might not be such a great idea. Canvas shoes are cool and casual, but they don't provide much support or cushioning, so they're not very good for any athletic activities. In fact, they're downright awful for your arches. But one of the best things about them is that they're cheap. You can pick up a good pair for $20 to $30.
Cleats are the small spikes on the bottoms of shoes used for baseball, soccer, football and other sports that are played on grassy or muddy terrain. The shoes that bear these cleats are also called cleats, and they come in a variety of styles. Metal cleats are great for traction, but they can make a lot of noise if you have to wear them on hard surfaces. They chew up a car's floor mats and they can do a lot of damage if they go astray and hit an opponent or a teammate. Instead, molded cleats made from hardened rubber or plastic are just as good for traction. You can get a decent pair for $40 to $70, but a lot of the soccer shoes are really ornate, and they get expensive quickly.
Cross-trainers are usually made with leather or synthetic uppers, rubber soles, and low or mid tops. They are intended to be useful for a wide variety of activities, such as running, aerobics or weightlifting. Their detractors say they're actually not useful for anything, because they're too heavy for running and don't provide sufficient support for other sports. If you're hardcore into running, tennis or activities of that ilk, you should probably buy the shoes designed specifically for the activity. If, however, you like to dabble in a lot of things, cross-trainers will see you through all of them well enough. A decent pair of cross-trainers will run you anywhere from $40 to $70, and there are some high-end ones that go for up to around $130.
Hiking shoes, also known as trail shoes or hiking boots, are characterized by sturdy construction, high tops and darker colors than most other athletic shoes (that way, they won't show dirt as much). These are designed to give you good traction on uneven surfaces, to protect you from scrapes and twists on uneven surfaces, and to look rugged. A good pair will usually cost around $60 to $80. But you can, of course, find them cheaper and more expensive.
Running shoes are usually made with a leather or synthetic upper, low tops and cushioned rubber soles. The main things you want from a running shoe are good padding between you and the cold hard ground, light weight construction and front-to-back support. Every athletic-shoe store or online shoe source will have a section devoted to running shoes, and these will all be designed with the runner's needs in mind. You don't want to skimp on running shoes, and you should replace them every three months if you use them a lot, because you need good cushioning between you and the ground to avoid running-related traumas. You can get a good pair for $60 to $90.
Tennis shoes can look a bit odd, because they often have extensive molding on the sides. They must provide side-to-side support, due to the tendency to move laterally in tennis and other racket sports. They have leather or synthetic uppers, low tops and rubber soles. The lower-end models tend to look a bit like running shoes or walking shoes, and they provide less support. As with running shoes, you should probably spend upwards of $60 if you want to get a good pair, and you can spend a lot more if you want all of the bells and whistles.
Walking shoes are designed for comfort and overall support, and you can get a variety of features to suit your needs. Motion-control shoes have rigid construction, and they keep you from pronating (bending in at the ankle when you walk). Stability shoes are more flexible, but still provide good support. Race-walking shoes are lighter and more flexible. If, however, you're looking for something for casual wear and the occasional romantic stroll, just pick the one that looks good to you--and, most importantly, feels the most comfortable. A good standard walking shoe can be had for $40 to $70, while motion-control, stability or race-walking shoes tend to be more in the $80 to $100 range.
