Your footwear should match the activity you're actually doing.
When you plan to purchase the proper footwear for your fitness activities, you must first understand what differentiates walking shoes from running shoes. Shoes are an important investment for a walker or runner, since they absorb the shock of impact and support the kind of motion that is typical of your activity. Both types of shoes are designed for the forward motion that is characteristic of the biomechanics of walking and running, but there is a difference in the force applied to the shoes depending on the walker's or runner's speed.
Cushioning
Running shoes are designed for forward motion at a rapid pace. One critical element of the running shoe is its midsole. The midsole is the foam-like material sandwiched between the sole of the shoe, which hits the ground, and the upper, which surrounds your foot. According to Runner's World, the midsole "provides protection from impact forces." Many running shoes have a dual density midsole, meaning that the section on the inner side of the shoe is firmer, thereby reducing excessive pronation (turning inwards) in the gait of a runner and making her running motion more efficient. Walking shoes, by contrast, often have a "roll bar" that supports the arch of a walker's foot while also preventing excessive pronation. However, walking shoes generally have a midsole that is less thick.
Toe Box
Walking shoes emphasize a roomy toe-box to prevent callouses from forming on your toes, while running shoes often have a narrowing shape to the toe-box to permit a runner's foot to have a smooth and unencumbered push-off.
Upper
Running shoes can often be distinguished from walking shoes by examining the shoe's "upper," the portion that wraps around the top of the foot. Because of the heat and sweat typically generated by running, the upper of a running shoe tends to have breathable, mesh-like fabric in the portion of the upper above the toes in front of and surrounding the laces. By contrast, many walking shoes emphasize padding, to provide stability over breathability. In addition, running shoes are often made in brighter colors, while walking shoes have more muted colors such as white or beige.
Price
A good pair of running shoes generally costs between $70 and $130, or more, in 2010. This is mainly because running shoes have advanced technical features such as gel or air pockets engineered to help absorb shock and ensure comfort. Also, runners put a premium on the weight of a running shoe that has led to significant research and development in creating lightweight, high-performance shoe materials. The construction of walking shoes, on the other hand, is an area of less innovation, because walking tends to be less performance-oriented and more focused on comfort. A good pair of walking shoes can be purchased for $60 to $110 at 2010 prices.
Considerations
If you are just starting up a new training regimen or making significant changes to the type of activity you will do on a daily basis, it will pay off to make a visit to your local athletics store to explain to them what activities you plan so that you can be sure to start out with the right equipment for your new workout regimen.
Tags: running shoes, walking shoes, running shoe, shoes have, shoes often, walking shoes