Everyone needs a good pair of sneakers. Whether you're a highly paid athlete or you just don't want to ruin your loafers while you do yard work, sneakers are handy to have around. But when you have to sift through the zillions of styles and brands, how will you ever know which sneakers to buy? A good four-point program will guide you through an easy selection and purchasing process that will put you in the right footwear.
You can do aerobics or other gym-related fitness activities in running shoes, cross-trainers or any sneaker that provides support and cushioning. Some manufacturers have shoes specifically designed for aerobics (for example, the Reebok Freestyle), but you can do aerobics in something called an "aerobics shoe." If you're just going to the gym to lift weights, you can wear canvas shoes, hiking shoes or just about anything else, but no sandals (stubbing your bare toe is extremely painful).
Molded cleats are ideal for baseball. You can also wear running shoes or cross-trainers. But whatever you get, make sure they provide good traction.
Basketball requires basketball shoes, according to the current recreational etiquette, which dictates that you wear no other sort on the court. You must also replace them no less frequently than every 6 months.
Casual wear, however, is probably the most common use for sneakers. Just about any of the shoes described here can be worn around as casual footwear. Cleats, however, don't belong anywhere but on an athletic field. They ruin your floors and can be slippery on hard surfaces.
Football requires molded cleats. You can slip on wet grass and mud just by walking on it, so imagine the outcome if you're wearing the wrong shoe when a football player smashes into you. Soccer is also best played in molded cleats, but plenty of people adapt running shoes or cross-trainers for soccer as well. Again, traction is the watchword for soccer and all sports that involve running on dodgy surfaces.
Hiking "boots" have evolved from heavy, awkward origins to look more like sneakers. These are the best choice for hiking, because they provide good ankle support and traction without being too heavy. Running shoes and cross-trainers are OK, too, but they're not ideal as they won't protect your ankles from scratchy underbrush or joint-jarring slips on uneven terrain.
Running, logically enough, requires running shoes. Most other shoes are too heavy and/or don't provide enough cushioning, wreaking havoc on your knees and ankles.
Again, it should come as no surprise that tennis shoes are best for tennis. Many people play tennis in running shoes, canvas shoes, or cross trainers, but these shoes are not ideal because they don't provide adequate support for the side-to-side movements required in tennis and other racket sports.
Walking is a pretty low-key activity, so almost any shoe with good cushioning for the soles of your feet will be sufficient. There are, however, walking shoes that are designed for the particular comfort of the walker.
