What is the Difference Between Running Shoes and Gym Shoes

The main difference between running shoes and gym shoes is that running shoes have a higher heel drop than gym shoes.

Running shoes and gym shoes are two types of popular athletic shoes in the market. These shoes have certain specific features optimized for specific activities. Wearing the wrong shoes can lead to discomfort, injuries, as well as a lower performance. The main distinguishing feature between running shoes and gym shoes is the heel drop, which is the distance from the heel to the toe. However, you should also know that there can be some crossover of use between these shoes.

Key Areas Covered

1. What are Running Shoes 
     – Definition, Features
2. What are Gym Shoes
     – Definition, Features
3. What is the Difference Between Running Shoes and Gym Shoes
    – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Gym Shoes, Running Shoes

What are Running Shoes

Running shoes are a type of athletic shoes that maximize running performance. These shoes usually have light and breathable designs. They are designed for heel-to-toe movement and have a higher heel drop (elevation of the heel in comparison to the toe). In other words, running shoes are specially designed for forward movement. They also come with extra cushioning and support for smoother landings. They can endure a heavy force acting on the feet while running. This way, running shoes protect the feet, when the fee pound on the ground again and again. They absorb much of the impact between the ground and the ball of the feet.

Running shoes are suitable for running on the pavement or road, as well as trail running, which involves a variety of terrains. In addition to absorbing shock, they also provide comfort to the foot. Moreover, wearing running shoes during running can help to minimize the risk of joint injuries, especially knee injuries.

What are Gym Shoes

Gym shoes are versatile sneakers we use for different types of physical activities. We also call them cross-training shoes. As their name suggests, gym shoes are perfect for the gym, and they suit a variety of physical activities, including kickboxing, aerobics, and weight lifting.

Unlike running shoes, gym shoes are designed for lateral movement or side-to-side movement. They are perfect for multi-directional movement and can support a range of movements, including jumping, stopping, breaking, and quickly changing direction. These shoes have a lower heel drop, in which the distance from the heel to the toe is low. The flat sole makes the shoe makes it very flexible. Moreover, the heel drop or the flatness of the sole is the best way to distinguish between running shoes and gym shoes. You should not substitute gym shoes for regular running shoes since they are heavier in weight and are not great for constant forward movement.

Difference Between Running Shoes and Gym Shoes

Definition

Running shoes are a type of athletic shoes that maximize running performance while gym shoes are versatile sneakers designed for different types of physical activities.

Heel Drop

Running shoes have a higher heel drop (distance from the heel to the toe) than gym shoes.

Movement

Moreover, running shoes support forward movement while gym shoes support lateral or side-to-side movement. In fact, gym shoes are ideal for multi-directional movement.

Activities

Running shoes are for running while gyms shoes are for various physical activities like aerobics, kickboxing, weightlifting, and gymming.

Features

In addition to these differences, running shoes are breathable, light and have extra cushioning, while gym shoes are heavier than running shoes.

Conclusion

In brief, running shoes designed are for running while gym shoes are designed for a range of physical activities like kickboxing, weightlifting, aerobics, and gymming. Structurally, running shoes have a higher heel drop than gym shoes. While running shoes support forward movement, gym shoes support multi-directional movement. Thus, this is the main difference between running shoes and training shoes.

Image Courtesy:

1. “1867700” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “2465478” (CC0) via Pixabay