14 Pairs of Shoes for Your Most Versatile Workouts

MUCH LIKE any menswear staple, finding the right pair of workout shoes depends on the occasion. Sure, you can get by wearing whatever’s allowed on the gym floor for general strength training, interval workouts, and studio classes. But if you want to make the most of your workouts, you’ll use trainers that are designed for the type of exercise you’re doing.

If you’re training for a half marathon, then consider investing in running shoes featuring plenty of cushions that can handle lots of mileage. A group HIIT class calls for a cross trainer with a larger base and secure fit to get you through a variety of workouts. Meanwhile, for weightlifting, you’ll probably need athletic sneakers with a restrictive material and a harder sole to help maintain proper form and reduce lower back strain, especially for squats and deadlifts.

Ready to shop for a new pair of cross-trainers to be your go-to workout shoes? We reached out to fitness experts to help us curate the 14 best workout shoes for all types of activity.

Best Walking Shoes | Most Cushioned Running Shoes |Best Compression Boots | Best Fitness Smartwatches | Best Bluetooth Speakers | Best Trail Running Shoes | Best Workout Clothes for Men | Best Workout Shirts | Best Gym Shorts

---

Best for Most Workouts: Mizuno TC-11

If you need a do-it-all pair of trainers, go for Mizuno’s marquee trainers. The TC 11 is designed with Mizuno’s C.O.B. technology, a patent-pending design featuring sensor pod clusters that enable enhanced feedback from the feet to aid in balance and, ultimately, allow you to pursue improved athletic performance. Their low design allows the foot to sit more naturally with the ground, which makes it ideal for any type of activity with weights involved. However, the downside to the low design is the shoe caters to individuals with low arches rather than high. So if you have high arches, it might be worth examining what type of inserts you can add or find a more cushioned trainer on this list with ample support to keep a proper balance.

Overall, we found the TC 11 to be incredibly well-balanced and worthy of our top pick. You can wear these for cross-training, weightlifting, cardio and body weight training classes, and more.

---

Also Versatile: Altra Solstice XT 2

The beauty of Altra’s remodeled Solstice is its goldilocks design, which strikes the perfect balance between stability and cushion, so you can wear this for quick runs and cross-training. Just like its OG model, these Altras have a reinforced cage and toe box, plus a full rubber outsole for added durability. While we didn’t have any problems with the durability of the Solstice XT 2, it’s worth mentioning some reviewers had qualms about the shoe breaking down quicker than expected. Most of these instances seemed to come with high-intensity training and lifting, where scuffing and abrasion can occur. Nevertheless, the Solstice XT2 is a solid workout shoe pick, especially if you lean towards a wider foot than a narrow one.

---

Best for HIIT Training: Nike Air Zoom SuperRep 3