9 Best Athletic Shoe Brands for Men
There are lots of high-quality and competing athletic shoe brands for men. While this is a good thing – it gives you plenty of choices – it can lead to confusion. Which has the best features? Which is durable?
Stick with me for a couple of minutes, and you’ll discover some of the trusted brands that have established themselves as leading names in the industry.
Top Athletic Shoe Brands for Men
Here are some of the top athletic shoe brands for men in no particular order.
1. Nike
Founded in 1964 and named after the Greek goddess of victory, Nike is a multinational brand renowned for its high-quality footwear. It is the biggest sportswear company in the world.
Nike is so popular that amateur and elite runners alike tend to consider it as the go-to brand for running shoes. From the Free Run series to the Air Zoom model, Nike manufactures some of the best shoes for racing and training.
2. Puma
Puma is one of the best German footwear brands when it comes to athletic shoes. Founded in 1948 by Rudolf “Rudi” Dassler, the brand produces shoes that are engineered to provide maximum protection during athletic activities. You just can’t go wrong with Puma athletic shoes, whether you want something for the treadmill or something to hit the tracks comfortably.
3. Adidas
The Dassler brothers from Germany seem to have a penchant for sportswear. Either that or they had a feud, and Adolf “Adi” Dassler founded Adidas in 1949. Adidas has since gone on to become the second-largest sportswear manufacture in the world and the largest in the whole of Europe.
If you love outdoor sports, Adidas has got you covered. Besides creating supportive trainers, their shoes come with a beautifully designed finish. Want something with motion capture technology? Try the Ultraboost sneaker.
4. New Balance
Although the name says “new,” the sportswear company has been churning out high-quality footwear as far back as 1906. It began with the Trackster sneaker – the world’s first running shoes – and has since then gone on to produce countless excellent models engineered for different sporting activities.
New Balance’s advanced technology ensures that the arch of your foot is well protected. This brand might as well be your choice if you want to take your fitness journey to the next level. The cutting-edge design of the Fresh Foam model, coupled with its soft cushioning, provides extreme comfort that can keep you motivated to hit your fitness goals.
5. Under Armour
Any serious athlete needs to consider getting a couple of sports shoes from Under Armour, especially running shoes. Founded in 1996, the brand is known for excellence when it comes to designing activewear for athletes.
Under Armour shoes provide athletes with stability and comfort, thanks to the extra cushioning. The shoes are designed to ensure premium energy-returning, making them suitable for serious sporting activities.
6. ASICS
ASICS is a Japanese multinational cooperation founded in 1977 as a footwear and sports equipment company. Interestingly, ASICS is not a Japanese term. Instead, it is a Latin acronym for “anima sana in corpore sano,” meaning “healthy soul in a healthy body.”
And in keeping with that motto, the brand creates superb trainers with high-energy FlyteFoam Propel foam soles that support different types of sporting activities. With these shoes, your body is sure to remain a healthy home for your soul.
7. Skechers
Founded in 1992, Skechers is a US footwear company that is known for making excellent athletic shoes that are lightweight, breathable, and durable. These shoes are great for both long-distance runs and quick jogs. But beyond running shoes, you can find different sneakers for different purposes.
8. Reebok
There’s something to be said for a brand that has consistently dished out high-quality athletic shoes since 1958. Reebok combines superior performance with fashionable designs, making it one of the top athletic shoe brands for men.
With various models designed to give your feet maximum support and comfort, Reebok shoes ensure that every step you take will bring you closer to your fitness goals and farther away from sprains and injury.
9. Altra
The dawn of 2009 saw the rise of Altra Footwear – a company focused on providing the best running shoes. If running is your thing, consider any of its models with a foot-shape toe box that allows your toes to spread evenly.
Altra knows what it means to have maximum stability and balance, which is why it goes all out to provide athletes with shoes that can impact each of their steps.
Type of Athletic Shoes and How to Choose One
It’s time for your exercise. So you gear up, put on your favorite sneakers, and hit the gym or wherever it is you perform your routine.
Question: What type of exercise will you be doing for the next 30 to 45 minutes? Is your shoe the right type for that exercise?
No doubt, athletic shoes are designed for sporting activities and may go by the name sneakers or training shoes, but they come in a variety of designs since not all sporting activities are the same.
Using the wrong type of athletic shoe can lead to discomfort, injuries, and low performance. You can avoid all of these by getting the correct shoe type.
Athletic shoes include the following types.
Walking Shoes
A walking shoe is best for men who prefer a casual shoe for everyday walking or those who walk for fitness purposes.
Although walking seems like a mundane activity, not every shoe is designed for that purpose, especially if you walk for long distances. Using the wrong type of shoe for walking long distances can easily cause your feet to become sore.
Walking shoes are meant for the low impact that comes from walking. So, look for one with enough cushioning for maximum comfort. You want to choose one with flexible soles to allow your easy movement from heel to toe.
Recommended Walking Shoes for Men
Running Shoes
As your feet land on the ground while running, it can generate a force up to three times your body weight. For this reason, running shoes are designed to absorb the force or shock through extra cushioning.
So, if running is your thing, look for shoes that can protect your feet as it pounds over and over on the pavement. The heel should have a higher drop with durable outsoles and good traction. Reputable athletic shoe brands for men ensure that their running shoes allow for enough stability and easy flexing at the ball of the foot.
Recommended Running Shoes for Men
Training Shoes
Okay, this right here might be confusing for some people. What the heck is the difference between a running shoe and a training shoe?
A simple way to put it is this. Training shoes are particularly designed for side-to-side (lateral) movement or multi-directional movements in general. On the flip side, running shoes are designed for easy heel-to-toe movement.
Training shoes are suited for the gym because they have flatter soles, allowing for a more flexible and wider range of feet movements. And running shoes are better suited for track activities because they have higher heel drops due to added cushioning.
So, choose training shoes if you are looking for something designed for weight lifting, strength training, outdoor boot camps, high-intensity gym classes, and agility training.
Recommended Training Shoes for Men
Cross-Training Shoes
Here’s the thing, you don’t need to buy a separate pair of athletic shoes for every single sporting activity. If you engage in more than one sport, you can wear a cross-trainer that offers flexibility and lateral control in addition to several of the other features listed above.
Recommended Cross Trainers
Sports-Specific Shoes
Some sports such as basketball, tennis, and aerobics require specific shoes because they are specialized sports that place a different type of demand on the legs.
If you play a sport more than three times per week, consider getting a sport-specific shoe for it. You can find good-quality products from any of the athletic shoe brands for men mentioned above.
For basketball shoes, you want to choose one with a thick, stiff sole for added stability as you run on the court. High-top basketball shoes are okay too, but they don’t necessarily minimize the risk of injury or ankle sprain.
For tennis shoes, ensure you choose one that supports your feet as you shift your weight while moving quickly from side to side. Pay attention to the flexibility of the sole. Choose a greater soled shoe for playing on hard courts, and softer soled shoes with better traction on softer courts.
And if you want the best aerobic shoes, choose one that is lightweight. This will prevent, or at least, minimize foot fatigue. You also want to select a shoe with soles that have extra shock absorption, particularly under the ball of the foot.
While you’re still here, take a few minutes to read my detail review on Summit and Control Max Boots for men.
