With the current popularity of sports and sports gear, you would expect the average consumer to be better informed. After all, everyone knows how important good athletic shoes are. No matter what sport you play – be it basketball, baseball, soccer, or track and field – proper footwear is essential. Yet I'm sad to say, many people still make the wrong choices in running shoes all the time.

If you want to take a proper definition, a running shoe is what you wear for running on a track. It has a very specific design. Running shoes have a lot of padding on the bottom, but have lightweight sides and uppers. This allows them to give you cushioning where it is needed while not weighing down the feet excessively. When you are running as fast as you can, even a little bit of extra weight in the shoes can really cripple your performance. Good running shoes keep extra weight to a minimum.

Unfortunately, these running sneakers are not really good for everything. If you are going to be playing something like basketball, are doing a combination of indoor and outdoor sports, you might want what are called cross training shoes. In many ways, they are similar to running shoes, but they have a few important differences. They have heavier padding with more support around the ankles and sides of the foot, a thicker tread pattern, and a little bit more weight. This is crucial if you're going to be ducking and dodging around the court or field. You want shoes that will really bite into the ground and also grip your feet, helping to prevent strains and injuries. Wearing track shoes is excellent when you are going on a track, but not a very good idea if you're going to be playing a team sport.

Of course, there are also outdoor shoes. Outdoor running shoes and soccer shoes are very similar in many ways, but there are some important differences. Running shoes are lighter, and the cleats are designed more for forward motion than for 360° movement. If you want to get serious about outdoor sports, good outdoor athletic shoes are essential. Be sure to talk to someone at the shoe store about picking out the right one, as it can get pretty complicated. Still, even knowing a little bit about the basics can help you make the right decision. Good luck, and have a good game!