{"id":1107,"date":"2021-04-14T12:00:27","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T12:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/craftofmanhood.com\/\/?p=1107"},"modified":"2021-05-29T01:10:20","modified_gmt":"2021-05-29T01:10:20","slug":"are-tennis-shoes-good-for-running-and-walking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craftofmanhood.com\/are-tennis-shoes-good-for-running-and-walking\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Tennis Shoes Good for Running and Walking?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
I am a tennis player and an avid runner. I had to do some research to find out if tennis shoes are good for running and walking. I can only afford one sports shoe at a time. My research and putting this theory to practice have led me to the following: Tennis shoes are perfect for running and walking, whereas running and walking shoes are dangerous when playing tennis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tennis shoes are designed with stability in mind. It needs to allow the foot to perform forward, sideways, stop-start, walking, sliding, and running movements. Seeing that running and walking movements are already incorporated in the design, tennis shoes are definitely perfect for running and walking. That is due to the added support found in the shoe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The big difference between a tennis shoe compared to a running and walking shoe is the design of the midsole. The role of the midsole is to absorb shock, enhance support, and cushion your foot landing. Tennis shoes are designed with less cushioning. Tennis players like to feel connected to the court, so the midsole is not as prominent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tennis, running, and walking shoes are all designed to offer optimal cushioning to the athlete\u2019s foot. The tennis shoe generally gives the wearer more protection than a running\/walking shoe. This is because tennis players need more lateral support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Normally tennis shoes have less cushioning in the midsole area as it\u2019s geared to provide more lateral support to the wearer. This design element is to allow the player to feel more connected to the court. Due to the frequent amount of sideway movements, direction changes, and sliding, the foot needs to be more horizontal than elevated when performing these acts, as it could lead to injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A very important factor to consider when buying a tennis shoe is the quality of the midsole. If the shoe lacks a quality midsole, it could lead to an uncomfortable experience on the court. This could lead to discomfort in the feet as well as the knees and other body parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same outcome occurs when using the tennis shoe to run and walk. Below are some of the better midsole manufacturers and the technologies that they use;<\/p>\n\n\n\n When using your tennis shoe to do running and walking exercises, my viewpoint is that the shoe will provide enough cushioning and stability to your feet (if bought from a reputable manufacturer). Your goal should always be to ensure that the shoe has a midsole made of high-quality material and that the shoe fits comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tennis shoes require a stiffer upper when compared to running and walking shoes. High on a tennis player\u2019s wish list is an upper that offers lots of durabilities, stability to the foot, and the whole foot’s protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is more or less what a running shoe also requires, maybe with a little less focus on durability and designed with more breathable material. Let\u2019s look at what some of the leading manufacturers have incorporated in their shoe designs to make their shoes lighter and more breathable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, the materials used are geared to always strengthen the shoe and focus on making the shoe lighter and more breathable (Getting closer to the running shoe design with the added support and durability always present).<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most important parts of the tennis shoe is the outsole. Most tennis players play on hard courts (gritty cement surface). This is not so different from a surface as what runners run on, and most manufacturers offer a six-month durability guarantee on their outsoles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sole will sometimes curl up a bit to protect the shoe when sliding and dragging the foot on the court. This is also incorporated into some running shoe designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The consensus is that it takes about 45-60 hours<\/strong> before the midsole starts to wear out. If you play an hour a week,<\/strong> you should replace <\/strong>them yearly, 6 months <\/strong>if you play 2 hours <\/strong>a week. Add 20 miles <\/strong>of running per week. You are then most likely to replace your shoes from anywhere between 4-6 months<\/strong> (300-500 miles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the amount of your activity, the shoe will last anything from 3-6 months <\/strong>(very active) and 6-9 months<\/strong> (moderately active).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have money to waste and are looking for an injury to get off from work, yes. I have tried it once (luckily, no injury). However, the shoe did not support my feet at all when lateral movement was required. Also, wear and tear followed suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had to chuck it in the bin after 3 sessions. The running shoe offered no improved ankle support, not enough heel cushioning, and lack of a toe guard made it a very unpleasant experience. Running in walking shoes is also not advised as the walking shoe design is too stiff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Design Makes For A Good Running \/Walking Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How A Tennis Shoe Cushions The Foot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Upper Of The Tennis Shoe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ASICS GEL RESOLUTION<\/a><\/strong><\/td> Synthetic materials with mesh
Base layer mesh wraps around foot
Lightweight comfort & breathability
Reinforced TPU rubber, wraps around forefoot
Extra support & stability, when making aggressive cuts<\/td><\/tr>ADIDAS UBERSONIC 2<\/a><\/strong><\/td> Knitted Uppers
Sock light feel (resembles the feel of a running shoe)
Molds over the foot
Reinforced TPU<\/td><\/tr>NIKE VAPOUR LINE<\/a><\/strong><\/td> Fly knit design
Lighter, more breathable material
More cushioned upper<\/td><\/tr>BABOLAT JET SHOE<\/a><\/strong><\/td> Matrix Kevlar based knit upper
Unique fit and feel, narrow fitted shoe
Upper stretches out
Kevlar build into weave, tons of support & stability<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Sole Of The Shoe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Long Will A Tennis Shoe Last Normally?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are Running\/Walking Shoes Good For Playing Tennis?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n