Sorry, a bit of a boring one. A question for anyone who works in a gym or for a gym user who does a more diverse type of workout than I do, as in you actually do some cardio!
What trainers(foot ware) would be best for gym work, we need to be able to demonstrate a wide range of free weight movements, machine training, I manage to avoid this most of the time, and use of cardio equipment. I train in Chuck Taylors but can’t run in them, so what would the best options be. At present all the trainers ware whatever they like but the manager wants us all to ware the same shoes, the gym is attached to a really posh spa so expense is not a main consideration but we still have to justify what we spend. Thanks in advance for helping out an old fart who knows nothing of fashion.
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The only cardio machines that require an athletic (running) sole are the treadmills, so you might want to just wear wrestling shoes with an athletic sole insert to help absorb the occasional shock from your demonstrations. I don’t wear Chuck Taylors, so I don’t know how effective they are for squats/deads…they may be just as good as wrestling shoes.
My own experience is that wrestling shoes are the best footwear for the gym…they really let you stretch the calves, and also give good traction for cardio work. I also wear them for mountain biking…
Thanks for the imput Littlejay, one potential problem that I didn’t mention is that the other trainers at this gym are between 22-25 and are very fashion conscious, I don’t think that they’ll go for wrestling shoes, although they sound good. I did get a PM suggesting low cut basketball boots which I think they might go for. Any other thoughts?
It might not be the harcore answer you want to hear, but almost anything will work; maybe some type of cross-trainer shoe. If you are just “demonstrating” the movements, stability and ankle support probably aren’t that important; unless you demonstrate with 85% of your 1RM.
So, I don’t really see it as a big issue, especially if the gym is going to pay for them. If you need to workout for yourself, just bing your Chucks and change into them. Hell, make them buy real expensive and fashionable tennis shoes so all the hot 20 year old chicks think you’re stylin’.
Thanks for your response, I have to admit that I was beggining to think that cross trainers would probably be as good as anything else. The other trainers I work with are so bloody weak that demonstrating a bodyweight squat is probably not far off 85% 1RM, they have more of an aerobics back ground, I think being weak is in the job spec(a bit cruel but sadly true). As for me looking stylish it would take a hell of a lot more than a ?100 pair of trainers. Again, sadly, I’m probably beyond help.