Decide on Running Shoes, Court Shoes, and Cycling Shoes

Joggers and runners need running shoes with extra shock absorption. Running shoes should also allow you to maintain your natural gait. Light and flexible running shoes — like those in the Nike Shox series — provide extra cushioning as well as heel stability and traction control. Popular types of running shoes include performance training shoes, racing shoes, adn off-road running shoes.

• Performance training shoes: Performance training shoes are lightweight and highly responsive, making them ideal for quick, efficient, and experienced runners. You’ll give up cushioning in order to get a pure, light running shoe.
• Racing shoes: Racing shoes are ultra-lightweight and are meant for very fast runners, especially those who are accustomed to running with little or no cushioning or stability features.
• Off-road running shoes: Off-road running shoes (also called trail shoes) are ideal for running on trails and uneven, bumpy surfaces. Equipped with toe bumpers and reinforced stitching, these running shoes provide higher durability.
• Off-road running shoes: Off-road running shoes (also called trail shoes) are ideal for running on trails and uneven, bumpy surfaces. Equipped with toe bumpers and reinforced stitching, these running shoes provide higher durability.

Traditional athletic shoes: Like running shoes, traditional athletic shoes have a rubber sole made of leather, canvas, or a synthetic material.

• Cross-trainers: Cross-trainers, suitable for limited amounts of running and use in court sports, have lightweight construction and a lightly-colored rubber sole.
• Walking shoes: Walking shoes from brands such as Ecco, Etonics, Rockport, and New Balance have less cushioning than most running shoes and feature a sole with an upturned, curved toe that allows you to roll through your gait.
• Aerobic shoes: Most aerobic shoes are designed to be lightweight to prevent foot fatigue and have extra shock absorption in the sole beneath the ball of the foot where the most stress occurs.

Court Shoes: They are light-colored soles that won't leave marks on the court. They are worn in sports:basketball, tennis, and volleyball.

• Basketball shoes: Basketball players need shoes that offer stability and are made of breathable materials. Look for basketball shoes offering mid-foot, heel, and ankle support, a good-quality lacing system, and uppers made of leather, nylon, mesh, or other breathable material. Nike makes a large number of popular basketball shoes, including the Nike Air Jordan, Nike Dunk, and Nike Zoom product lines.
• Tennis shoes: Tennis requires a lot of side-to-side motion and tennis shoes give you the type of support and cushioning you need to move around the tennis court. Tennis shoes typically provide enhanced stability in the sides and have cushioning that allows for quick lateral movements. Buy tennis shoes in your regular shoe size; your foot will slip in the shoe if it's too big. Popular brands include Nike tennis shoes, Wilson tennis shoes, and Adidas tennis shoes.
• Racquetball shoes & squash shoes: Light- to medium-weight racquetball shoes and squash shoes from brands such as Wilson and Adidas provide good traction for quick starts and stops. Their soles, made of a gummy, rubbery material are strong, yet breathable, and will not leave marks on the court floor.

Cycling Shoes: Cycling shoes have stiff soles and little cushioning in the heel to ensure that you don’t lose energy when transferring power to the pedals. Cycling shoes have a snug fit so that your feet don't slip around while you pedal. Some models use special fixing points for cleats, which engage the pedals.

• Road biking shoes: Road biking shoes have strong, stiff, and lightweight soles and Velcro or ratchet closings that allow you to quickly make adjustments to the shoe's fit. Uppers are usually made of breathable nylon mesh.
• Mountain biking shoes: Mountain biking shoes, worn by mountain bikers and other off-road cyclists, have fairly stiff soles to transfer power to the pedals. They should also have recessed cleats and a good tread pattern that will come in handy if you need to push your bike.

Choose Athletic Shoes for Field Sports

Sports such as football, soccer, and baseball require fleet footwork and players require shoes with cleats, studs, or spikes to get a better grip on the field. Buy the right footwear to get the job done. Companies such as Nike, Adidas, and Reebok produce cleats in different types, styles, and materials, including leather and various synthetics.

• Leather cleats: Durable, flexible, and comfortable leather cleats breathe easily and offer a better feel for the ball.
• Synthetic cleats:Inexpensive synthetic cleats have easy maintenance and make good choice for kids and student athletes who will regularly outgrow their cleats.
• Molded cleats: Molded cleats, made with molded plastic, have studs in various patterns, making them useful on many field types and in different weather conditions.

Get a Great Fit for Your Athletic Shoes

You'll want to buy athletic shoes that fit snuggly and do not constrict or press against your toes. If you don't already know your athletic shoe size, measure your feet before you shop for athletic shoes online. Your feet expand throughout the day; to get the most accurate results, measure your feet in the afternoon or early evening, after you've walked on them for a few hours.

• Trace your foot: Place a piece of paper on a hard floor. While standing and wearing socks of normal thickness, place one foot on the paper. Bend your leg slightly forward so that your shin is in front of your ankle. Using a pencil, trace the outline of your foot.
• Mark length and width: Use your pencil to draw straight lines touching the outermost points at the top and bottom of the outline, then both sides of the outline. You should have a box-like diagram.
• Measure length and width: Measure the distances between the horizontal points that show your foot’s length using a tape measure or ruler. Write down this number. Repeat this step for the vertical points that show your foot’s width. Again, write down this number. Repeat these steps for your other foot, and use the larger measurement of the two.
• Find your shoe size: Subtract two-tenths of an inch from each of your numbers to account for the space between your foot and the pencil line. These final numbers are your foot measurements.