Have you ever wondered are basketball shoes good for working out? While basketball shoes can be very useful in the gym, they do have some significant limitations that you should be aware of before making your purchase.
In this article, we’ll cover all the important information you need to know about basketball shoes and whether or not they’re suitable for working out. You may be surprised by what you learn!
Are Basketball Shoes Good For Working Out?
I get asked almost daily whether basketball shoes are good for working out, and my response is usually no. But that’s a broad answer, so let me explain why basketball shoes aren’t designed to be worn while exercising and how they might actually be hurting your foot health.
The short answer is: no, most basketball shoe brands won’t do your feet any favors if you wear them during workouts. We have reviewed the best Plyometrics workout shoes in detail here.
7 Reasons Why Basketball Shoes Are Not Good For Working Out
Here are 7 reasons why you should avoid wearing basketball shoes while working out:
- The Cushioned Heel Reduces Your Ability To Move Naturally
Basketball shoes were built for lateral movement and quick cuts, so when you wear them to work out, you’re less flexible.
No one needs extra cushioning on a treadmill; that extra padding can throw off your rhythm and balance. If you like how they feel, buy a new pair of cross-training sneakers instead.
- The Stiff Soles Limit How You Can Move
When your feet can’t articulate and flex, it’s harder to do things like sprint or lunge. And when you can’t sprint or lunge, you don’t get a great workout. Go with running shoes instead; they provide more mobility and will help you build lean muscle in your lower body.
- The Thicker Soles Make Balancing More Difficult
Wearing them can make it harder to balance in exercises that require you to go from standing on one leg, such as squats and lunges. They provide no extra support: As mentioned above, they don’t do anything but take up space in your closet.
Many of us think that wearing these kinds of shoes will actually give us a better workout or cause less strain when we work out—but it just isn’t true. They might even be bad for our knees!
- Wearing Them While Doing Squats Reduces Flexibility And Range Of Motion
Wearing big, bulky workout gear is really limiting. That’s because a lot of it doesn’t have any give or flexibility. The last thing you want to do when doing squats is to be overly restricted by your attire.
Wearing basketball shoes could make it a little more difficult to fully bend your knees when you squat down and return back up, especially if you’re an inexperienced exerciser who has trouble making your lower body move fluidly during exercise.
- Basketball Shoes Cause Ankle Injuries Due To Excessive Pronation
Overpronation, or rolling inward with each step, is a common cause of ankle sprains. Footwear, such as basketball shoes and other types of high-top sneakers, can exacerbate overpronation.
These shoes typically feature heels that provide extra support for athletes who tend to roll their ankles. The higher heel leads to more force being exerted on these joints during activity. Excessive pronation is especially likely when an athlete wears high-top footwear without first modifying his or her running style.
- The High-Top Cut Can Cause Discomfort
High-top shoes offer a lot of ankle support, but in some cases, they can actually be restricted to certain foot types. If you have low arches or pronate, high-tops may not be your best choice.
The additional padding around your ankles can cause a painful amount of pressure on your foot. Instead, opt for low-cut trainers with plenty of air circulation and all-day comfortability.
- Basketball Shoes Lack Any Sort Of Impact Absorption
The biggest problem with wearing basketball shoes for a workout is that they lack any sort of impact absorption. When you’re running, jumping, and lifting in your normal workout clothes, you’re likely to move in a very natural gait. But when you wear basketball shoes, your foot makes contact with the ground in a very different way.
The hard rubber sole will absorb some of your impact on every step and cushion it at times, which can lead to fatigue—and possible injury—over time.
If you need more info check out Can you wear basketball shoes on concrete?
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Basketball Shoes Good For Everyday Use?
Basketball shoes aren’t particularly well-suited to everyday use. This is partly because they’re specialized, but mostly because they’re heavy and bulky—definitely not what you want on your feet for any distance longer than it takes to grab a snack from your kitchen.
If you have standard athletic sneakers or high-tops lying around, stick with those; if you don’t, buy a pair designed to support walking or hiking.
Is Basketball Shoes Good For Gym?
Basketball shoes aren’t meant to be worn outside of an actual game. They aren’t built with flexibility or support, and they don’t offer any kind of traction in gyms where you’re likely to sweat. This can increase your risk of injury when wearing them to exercise.
Are Basketball Shoes Good For Cross-Training?
No, they’re bad! Never wear basketball shoes for any sort of athletic activity. Here’s why: Unlike running or walking, your body weight doesn’t support you when you play basketball. Instead, a lot of stress gets put on your ankles and knees from jumping, cutting, and landing.
Basketball shoes also have very hard soles that don’t bend or compress under pressure as a normal sneaker sole would.
Are Basketball Shoes Good For Running?
Basketball is a sport that requires explosive movements and sharp, quick turns. Running isn’t just different; it’s pretty much its opposite in terms of physical exertion. While wearing running shoes, your foot will strike with each step.
On a court, however, your foot won’t be hitting hard surfaces; you’ll be jumping—or trying to get away from someone who is trying to block your shot.
What Shoes Are Good For Working Out?
Make sure your shoes aren’t worn out and that they provide you with enough support. As a rule of thumb, you should replace your athletic shoes every 300 to 500 miles.
For example, if you walk or run five miles three times a week, you should replace your athletic shoe after about nine months. If possible, go to a running specialty store to get fitted for new athletic sneakers.
Can Basketball Shoes Be Used For Lifting?
The short answer is no. Basketball shoes are designed to be worn on a basketball court, and therefore may have features that make them less than ideal for other activities. For example, many basketball sneakers have very thin rubber soles and will wear down quickly if used in weightlifting.
Final Thought
In this article, we have discussed why basketball shoes aren’t really a good idea if you want to go running or work out. Basketball is different from other sports because it involves a lot of jumping and there is high-intensity movement involved in it, so choosing just any shoe may work well for you.
However, when it comes to regular gym workouts or even running, a basketball shoe may not be comfortable for your feet and joints. Hope you enjoyed reading about are basketball shoes good for working out. If you need more information on the same topic, feel free to read more of our articles regarding basketball sneakers working out. Stay fit!
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