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The best gym trainers for every type of workout, starting from just £20
Cardio, strength training and HIIT lovers, we've got you covered
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Is your big toe finally poking through your trusted Nikes from the early 2000s? Have your favourite go-to pair of gym trainers from way back when managed to take on a whole new colour? Or are you looking to find a new sporting hobby this spring that means you're looking to upgrade, or invest, in a new pair of gym trainers? Whatever the case, if you're here looking for the best gym trainers on the market, you're in the right place.
While buying gym trainers may seem as simple as spotting a good-looking pair in the footwear section and clicking add to cart, there are a few things worth remembering before you pick out your new exercise buddy.
Best gym trainers
When shopping for the best gym trainers, support and comfort is key. Of course it depends on your activity, any injuries and your feet type, such as if you have overpronation for example, but finding a pair of gym trainers with the necessary support is an unwavering factor.
Some sports, such as weightlifting or spin classes, require a specific pair of shoes, while other gym classes mean your everyday gym trainers are more than sufficient.
There are plenty of gym trainers to shop from the likes of Nike, Adidas, Asics, Hoka and On, but finding the perfect pair can be overwhelming, so we have sifted through to find the best gym trainers for your next workout – and provided some top tips keep in mind when shopping.
What are the best shoes for gym workouts?
There are plenty of places to shop for the best gym trainers, and to suit every sporting activity and workout in the gym, studio or your home gym. According to a footwear insider, you should think about how you move in your workouts to help pinpoint which trainers will suit your sweats. From the explosive way you move in a circuit training session to the joint-impacting steps you take during a treadmill workout, your gym shoes need to cater to your workout.
What's the difference between running trainers and gym trainers?
Unlike running shoes that are designed to propel you forward, gym kicks are designed with side-to-side movement in mind. Often, training shoes also have a flatter base with solid heel support to help you go lower in your squats, lunges and gym work.
Support:
While a running trainer is designed to support the heel-to-toe movement of each stride, women's gym trainers need to support movement in all directions as you're more likely to be moving laterally, jumping and changing direction quickly. Think side lunges, skaters and squat jumps.
Stability:
The 'heel drop' (ie. the distance from heel height to toe height) should be higher for a running shoe to offer adequate shock absorption. However, gym trainers should be flatter to give you stability for lifting weights.
Comfort:
With any type of trainer, comfort is key – look for lightweight, breathable gym trainers that will keep you comfortable throughout your workout.
To steer your shopping choices, we've created an exhaustive edit of the best gym trainers for every type of workout. From the ones you'll want to wear to lift heavy, to styles bouncy enough for a cardio sesh or those badass enough for a brutal HIIT class, you'll find them all here.
Just before we get started – if you're actually looking for the best running shoes or the best cheap and cheerful trainers, we've got you covered there, too. But if you want to know what to look for in a pair of trainers for your gym sessions at the gym or otherwise, read on.
Clementina Jackson is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health UK, covering everything from and catwalk trends to buzzy brands and the cult products you need to know about (and shop before they sell out). She also commissions first-person and long-form fashion features, oversees and tests out the latest industry innovations. Clementina previously worked as Digital Fashion Editor at , during which time she profiled high-end designers, interviewed everyone from Priyanka Chopra to Jane Fonda, and launched the franchise to shine a light on size-inclusive fashion. During this time, she was also named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner. Having worked in journalism for more than six years, Clementina has also written for the likes of , , , and , covering everything from luxury travel, lifestyle and restaurants to photography and interiors.
Sophie Leen is the Bookings Editor for Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK. She specialises in creating fashion and shopping content across both digital and print platforms, as well as producing all of our fashion editorial photoshoots, which have included our digital cover with Olly Alexander and our curve influencer’s letter to the high street story. Sophie also looks after our Try Before You Train franchise where our team have tested and reviewed over 100 gymwear items.
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