Learn how to choose the right running shoes in winter to prevent injury and get the most of your running comfort. Since the weather in winter is significantly different from summer, then running shoes in winter must meet certain requirements. You must admit that running on snow and mud is much more difficult compared to smooth asphalt. If you are not going to stop exercising in cold weather, then you need to choose the right shoes for running in winter.
The differences between running shoes
Let's first define the differences between running shoes and regular running shoes:
- Improved shock absorption reduces the load on the spinal column and the articular-ligamentous apparatus.
- The forefoot of the running shoe is soft and flexible.
- The sole of sports shoes is characterized by increased wear resistance due to the use of special materials.
- Running shoes provide good ventilation and breathe.
- If desired, you can easily replace the removable insoles with orthopedic ones.
- Light weight, usually not exceeding 0.4 kilograms.
How to choose the right running shoes for winter?
When choosing sneakers for running in winter, you should consider not only your financial capabilities, but also your foot size. It is very important that the ankle is securely fixed and protects the muscles with ligaments. In addition, you need to take into account your own weight and your preferred running technique. If your body weight is large enough, then it is necessary to purchase sneakers that can additionally protect the ligaments from injury.
Your running technique is just as important as the cushioning of the shoe depends on it. If you support your heel while running, the cushioning should be in the heel of the shoe. If the main support falls on the middle or forefoot, then the shock absorbers should be located in the toe area. Those who are serious about jogging should purchase winter and summer running shoes separately. Here's what to look out for when choosing a winter running shoe.
Winter running shoe material
The summer running shoe uses a lightweight fabric that allows air to pass through effectively. For winter sports shoes, you also need to use a material that is breathable, but the sneakers must protect your feet from the cold, while remaining reasonably light and comfortable.
Most sportswear manufacturers use a special material - Gore-tex in the production of winter running shoes. Its peculiarity lies in the presence of three layers: external and internal tissues, as well as a membrane. Due to the presence of a membrane, the material is practically impervious to moisture.
At the same time, Gore-tex promotes the release of steam, which allows the feet to breathe. It should be remembered that wet fabric is not able to reliably protect your feet from the cold, and for this reason the waterproofness of the material of winter sneakers is extremely important. Keeping your running shoes dry during the winter keeps your feet warm.
In addition, you can find on sale shoes that have special additional seals that reliably protect the feet from cold and moisture. We strongly advise against purchasing winter running shoes made from leather. This material absorbs moisture well and your feet will get wet very quickly during training.
Sole
The outsole of a running shoe is essential in all weather conditions. For experienced athletes, the quality of a running shoe is determined by the look of its sole. Since there is a high risk of falling in winter, the protector of the shoe should have the deepest corrugation possible. If the tread is made of several types of materials, the grip on the road surface will be even more effective.
As a result, even on snow and ice, it will be easier for you to maintain your balance. If in your region there are always severe frosts in winter, then the tread depth is no longer of decisive importance, but the thickness of the sole is extremely important. This is due to the reliable protection of the feet from frost. Remember, if you live in a harsh winter, then choose those shoes, the sole of which is large in thickness.
Sometimes people continue to use summer studded sneakers during the winter, believing that this will improve stability during training. However, you must remember that such shoes have thin soles and your feet can quickly freeze. Today you can buy special shoes for running in winter, which are equipped with spikes and thick soles.
Useful tips for choosing winter sports shoes
We've covered the basics of choosing a winter running shoe, but here are some other helpful tips:
- Shoes must be closed and sufficiently tight.
- Look for reflective winter sneakers as it gets darker quickly enough this time of year.
- Throughout the day, the size of the foot changes, which must be taken into account when choosing shoes. In the evening, the leg becomes larger due to the strong blood flow.
- To try on your sneakers, bring the socks that you will use during your workout.
- Good sneakers have a small bump on the insole, which allows you to more efficiently distribute body weight and reduce the load on the spinal column.
- The heel should be firmly in place and try to buy sneakers with split heels.
- The best option when doing sports is to use antibacterial insoles.
- Don't forget about the aesthetics of your winter sneakers.
Review of the best winter sneakers
We talked about what kind of running shoes should be in winter, and now we will consider several sneaker models that are definitely worth paying attention to.
- Adidas Climawarm Oscillate. These sneakers are made from a special material that is able to provide a comfortable temperature. However, there is no insulation in the bow, and at low temperatures (from -15 degrees), the legs may freeze. The tread is high enough to provide excellent traction. Note that this model sits perfectly on the leg, which will add additional comfort to your exercises. The laces are secure enough, but you need to tighten the laces tightly. Among the minuses of this model, it is also worth noting the sewn insole.
- Asics Gel-Arctic 4 WR. This manufacturer offers a large selection of winter running shoes. This model has removable spikes, which is very convenient. The fabric of the shoe is almost 100 percent water resistant and it is not easy to get your feet wet in these sneakers.
- Saucony Xodus GTX 6.0. The most successful model in the range of products of this company and now there is already a sixth version of sneakers on the market. In their production, the material that we have already talked about was used - Gore-tex. Shoes perfectly fix the foot and thereby reduce the risk of injury.
Running rules in winter
We talked about the rules for choosing winter sports shoes and considered several of the most interesting models of sneakers. Now we can only remind about the rules of training in the winter.
- Be careful. Often, while jogging, people think about their everyday problems, and do not pay enough attention to the running process itself. While this behavior is still acceptable in summer, it can lead to falls and injury in winter. Pay particular attention to descents and curves. It is on these sections of the track that it is easiest to lose balance.
- Remember the importance of warm up. In winter, warm-up is an even more important element of the training process. Because of the frost, your joints and muscles are in a "cold" state and movement should only be started after they are warmed up. Moreover, many make the mistake of starting to warm up on the street. You should do this while still in a warm room. Only then can you reduce the risk of injury. At the same time, you should not warm up before the first sweat appears, because you still have to go outside.
- How to dress for a winter run. Today we figured out what should be the shoes for running in winter. However, other clothing is also of great importance. Many people try to insulate themselves as much as possible, which may not be the right decision. Since you have to run a certain distance, then you will definitely warm up. If you are wearing a large amount of clothing, you can overheat and make it difficult to move around. We recommend that you use thermal underwear as the first layer of clothing, after which you should put on things that can reliably protect from the cold. A thick, but not very warm jacket will become an excellent outerwear.
- Don't set records. Personal bests should only be set in the summer. Winter is not at all suitable for this. The main task of running in winter is health promotion and nothing more. Don't try to stick to your summer running pace. We also recommend to slightly reduce the frequency of training in winter, since the body is already heavily loaded during this period.
- Breathe correctly. Breathing is important when playing sports and especially during winter. We recognize that it can be very difficult to breathe through your nose, but this is what you should do. Try slowing down your running pace to make it easier. Ideal breathing in winter is to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
In what shoes to run in winter, see more details in this story:
