When it comes to choosing a good workout shoe, there are many important factors to consider. As a certified personal trainer, here are my picks for the best HIIT shoes for women.
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Injury Prevention
Making a good choice when buying workout shoes is very important. You can help prevent injury during high-intensity workouts or when heavy lifting at the gym by choosing a good shoe. The right shoes will provide great support, the right amount of cushion, and have a supportive feel to help protect your feet and ankles. Good shoes help evenly distribute your weight throughout the foot to reduce stress on the joints and minimize your chances of injury. Choosing a shoe with enough support for your chosen activity is important, as well as making sure it has the proper fit. Here are my top picks for HIIT shoes for women:
Reebok Nanos
In my opinion, the best cross training shoes are the Reebok Nanos. The current model is the Reebok Nano X, though my favorite so far has been the Reebok Nano 2.0. This was the first shoe I converted to when I started doing Cross Fit and needed a hybrid shoe for doing both weight training AND metabolic conditioning or cardio. It has been my favorite shoe for 4 years now. What I love is that it has flat soles which is important for weight lifting- you don't want to be in a running shoe that's lifting your heels up. The Reebok Nanos helped with my movements, particularly squats and lunges. In addition, there's still some cushioning in there for times when running or jumping are part of the workout. That extra support serves as some shock absorption in there. These are the most comfortable and best cross-training shoes that I've found.
Toe Box
They used to have a wide toe box so your feet didn't feel cramped. Over the years, the shoe has gotten more narrow with each new version. So, that's something to look out for. I did hear that they've done a throwback to the Nano 2.0 which has a wider toe box, and if this is true I'd go back to this! I have a narrow foot but I want more room for my toes to have that wider distribution for the foot and not have that cramping of the toes that we've learned is not good for them.
Research
In one study, they found "that the shape of the toe box in footwear can significantly influence the amount of pressure applied to the forefoot." The findings of this study confirm that that when you look for a more rounded toed shoe you’re going to get less pressure on the toes. That gives you the ability to spread your toes out. That’s ideally what we are looking for in a HIIT shoe. Both the Nano and TYR have a more rounded toe box and that’s one of the reason I find them to be so comfortable. (PMID: 23886242)
In addition to strength training and high-impact activities, Reebok Nano is my shoe of choice to throw on to go for a walk 1-2 x a week, too. They have such a comfortable fit that I have worn them to Disney and walked all day in them. I love the fun colors and if I don't like this round's colors, the next round will typically have fun colors again. I have the all-teal ones right now that I just love and get tons of compliments on. The shoe life is about 6 months if you wear them a lot, which I typically wear many days a week. So, I find that I need to buy them twice a year for the amount I wear them. Anytime my ankles or knees start to hurt a little bit I know it's time to get new shoes and that fixes the problem.
Cons
The Reebok Nano does stretch out. It gets harder and harder to get your laces tight enough with lots of wear especially during high-intensity interval training. They are also a little pricey, but they also go on sale quite a bit. If you wait for a sale, you can usually get them for around $90. In my many years of experience with these shoes, I'd say they're worth it.
NOBULL Trainers
The original NOBULL was a flat shoe with only a slight raised heel. It was just not very comfortable. They've now come out with this nice training hybrid shoe which still has flat soles, a decent amount of room in the toes, and has extra cushion.
Different than Reebok Nano, this material is stiff. It doesn't stretch out so they don't lose their shape. That structure is very nice for a lot of the cardio movements in HIIT workouts like burpees or jump rope, and for lateral movements like side shuffles because they provide better stability. They're also nice for biking because you get a stiff foot that serves as a stable base for the pedal. Overall, they're a great shoe, very stylish, and I always get compliments on them. I'll definitely add these to my rotation of shoes. Also, I signed up with my email address to score $50 off of my first purchase, so make sure you look for that discount option on their website!
Cons
When I first tried the NOBULL shoes, I didn't like them. I think I'm in between sizes where a 9.5 is too roomy but a size 9 is a little snug. However, the more I wear them, the more I like them. If you're looking for a pair of the best running shoes, these aren't it. But running errands all day is very comfortable in them! When it comes to the toe box, the NOBULL Impact trainers have a wide toe box lower where the toe bones are, but the tip is more pointed like what you’d typically see in a running shoe. So it’s more rounded, but not as round as the other two.
TYR
(These shoes were gifted to me for the purpose of this review.)The TYR shoe was new to me, but it's a very trusted shoe brand. From the moment I put them on my feet I loved them. They're super comfortable and the toe box is a great width- super roomy. It's in between the NOBULL and Rebook Nano structure wise. There is some structure to them, but they're not as stiff as the NOBULL trainers. It's a nice in between. They're great for everyday wear. I've worn these all day for running errands and they're super comfortable. For working out, they’re also great! They’re breathable and very light, making them a great option for cool shoes in the summertime.
Cons
I went for a fitness walk in them and they weren't my favorite for that because their soles are fairly stiff.
Overall, I’ve barbell lifted in all of these shoes and they’re all great for this. For instance, all of these shoes have the structure for rope climbs, but the NOBULL trainers are probably the strongest with the best material for the rope. The Reebok Nano and TYR shoes passed the Disney test and my feet were happy after an entire day of walking. What are your favorite HIIT shoes for women? Find me on Instagram and let me know!
