And so on and so on. No wonder most people wear there trainers until they fall apart, most of us haven't got the patience or inclination to stand in front of a wall at the sports store, surrounded by spotty youths checking out the latest styles only to spot a pair of must have trainers but to be told by the assistant that they are in fact for ladies and not a six foot plus behemoth. Daunting, I think you'd agree.
So where do you start?
First you need to think about what you'll be using you trainers for. If you're working out in the gym you'll probably need a different pair of trainers if all you do is lift weights than if you're going to spend an hour a day on the treadmill or stair-master, it's all in the soles you see.
Cross trainers offer a little bit of everything for the gym user, not totally flexible but they offer enough flexibility and support to be used over a variety of disciplines.
Without even getting into the speciality sport trainer market such as basketball, soccer, football or endurance running there is still a million and one varieties to choose from.
Road runners and joggers would generally have very lightweight and flexible trainers to minimize fatigue on legs and joints but these need to offer more flexibility in the sole to counteract the impact of the foot on hard terrain such as pavements as well as offering rigidity in the sides to stop the foot from twisting on un-even surfaces.
How do you know when it's time to change your trainers? The easiest way to see if your trainers are past there use by date is to check out the heels. If the heels look in a bad way and worn down then they probably need replacing.
How long your trainers last? Of course, is up to you, your training plan and how often you re training. If you wear your trainers to the gym to lift weights they are going to last significantly longer than if you are wearing them to run on a treadmill.
When buying a new pair of trainers take your old pair to the shop with you. If the sports store is any good the trained staff there should be able to diagnose any specific problems and help you chose the right pair.
While there is no guarantee that a new pair of trainers will enhance performance, they can certainly help prevent injury and discomfort so always be honest with yourself. If your trainers look worn out then they probably are.
And if in doubt always plum for blue and white trainers, they cover most situations!
