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First, in the store or when your shoes arrive through the mail, hold the shoe at the heel with one hand and the toe with the other hand and start twisting. The forefoot of the shoe should bend with light resistance.
As you look at the shoe, see if it has any laterally positioned straps or staggered lacing systems which will aid in forefoot stability during exercising.
A good pair of athletic shoes used for aerobics should have a sufficiently wide heel and a firm heel counter (a heel counter is material put around the heel to stiffen the heel and give support to the foot.) that will assist with ankle stability.
Portion of shoe which covers the upper surface of the foot is called the "Upper". It can be made of variety of materials like leather, canvas, plastic, coated fabric etc. Determine the composition of the "upper". Firm leather adds a greater support and durability to the shoe along with a greater price tag. Some newer materials are lighter. These materials will often keep your foot cooler and dryer during exercise periods and they allow the shoe to breathe better, but these materials can be equally or more durable than leather.
The sole of an aerobic step shoe consists of an insole and an outsole, The insole is inside the shoe where the foot rests; the outsole is the bottom of the shoe that contacts the ground and helps determine traction. The softer the sole, the greater the shoe's ability to absorb shock. Make sure that the insole of the shoe compresses with pressure. Find out the mid-sole cushioning compostion is made of. EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) is one of the most recommended substances Many manufacturers like Nike use "air", "gels", and other methods to increase the impact-absorption abilities of their shoes. Each of these different methods has its pros and cons.
The sock liner is a cover of leather or synthetic material which is either removable or cemented to the insole after the shoe is made to hide tacks or stitches and present a clean even appearance. The sock liner should feel comfortable, but it generally helps very little to the shoe's ability to absorb impact. In some shoes you can remove the sock liner and replace it with your own orthotic device or another inner sole.
You should keep in mind that the perfect shoe for you may not be the perfect shoe for everyone else in the class. The human foot comes in all sizes, shapes, and toe configurations. Each individual's needs must be taken into consideration. For people with high arches and non-flexible feet, the shoe's cushioning is an especially important factor. At the same time, too much cushioning is not necessarily right for people with flat or flexible feet. A plus size or overweight individual may need a heavier shoe for added support and cushioning. You need to buy the right shoe for your own needs and foot design.
When you are testing or considering your shoe purchase the floor surface where the shoe will be used needs to be considered. A shoe with less tread should be used on low-pile carpeted floors so that your feet don't catch and drag as you twist and turn on the balls of your feet. Shoes with a little more tread for traction will work better on wood or linoleum exercise surfaces.
Once you have thought out your needs, now is the time to shop locally or online for your aerobic shoes. Make sure that either an online representative or a store employee can answer any questions you may have. I have often found that I have gotten better answers from Internet online representatives than I have in a local store environment. When you are testing your shoes out before wearing them to the gym, try to find a surface in the store or in your home that will be similar to the surface that you will using the shoes on. If you are in a store, don't be shy about testing out your shoes. A good pair of aerobic step or jazzercise shoes are not cheap. Do some chasses, jogs, triplets, or whatever it takes to feel comfortable with your shoe purchase. Select the shoe that feels good on and under your foot and not the one that most closely matches your exercise wardrobe.
We cannot give you any help finding a local shoe store for your aerobic exercise needs, but here are some online retailers and brands of aerobic exercise shoes that students and instructors both have reported good success with.
One more note. As your shoes wear, the insides may start to fray while the outsides still look new. More importantly, they will become less comfortable: you may find they are not as supportive as they once were. Your ankles, soles or arches may start to ache after your normal workout. If you wear your aerobics shoes three to five times a week, expect to replace them at a minimum of once a year.
- See the amazing
 for all types of aerobics including water aerobics.
- Read at Zappos shoes.
Read the next workout gear article on
aerobic and exercise music.
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