Apr
16
If you’re a long time reader of 60 in 3, you’ll notice that I usually try to save money while improving health. I believe that health and wealth can easily go hand in hand. There’s no need to spend a lot of money on expensive gear, gym memberships or supplements. Most healthy choices end up being quite affordable. In fact, being healthy might save you money when you do things like walk instead of drive, eat at home instead of out at a restaurant or ride your bike to work. However, today, I’m going to change that a bit and tell you about the one place where you shouldn’t skimp, your feet.
Oh The Humanity!
Think about the the kind of life that feet lead when they belong to a person who’s interested in fitness. They walk between 2 to 3 miles a day! They go to the gym where they get pounded on for hours and hours. They go running and have to withstand 100 to 200lbs of impact EVERY SECOND. They go hiking and need to climb hills over rocky uneven terrain. Sometimes they even go dancing and spend an evening shuffling around and getting stepped on. In short, it’s a rough life, and while the rest of your body may appreciate it, your feet can easily get worn out.
Good Shoes Are A Must
Beyond giving your feet an occasional bit of rest, your most important means of protecting these valuable assets is shoes. Which is why I’m going to tell you that shoes are the one area you shouldn’t try to save money on and instead go for the best quality possible. That said, there’s no reason to go out there and buy a $300 pair of LED lit, computerized, pumped, Air Jordans, Racing striped, springs in the heels, Blu Tooth equipped sneakers from Nike. Those aren’t quality, they’re just silly. What I’m talking about is reasonably priced shoes that are also comfortable and quality.
At Work
Yes, good shoes begin at work, not at the gym. Think about it, you spend an hour a day at the gym, but you spend 8 hours a day at work. So the shoes you wear at work are a lot more important than your gym shoes. Contrary to popular belief, you can actually get comfortable work shoes that don’t actually look like those old rubber shoes that nurses used to wear. Just look for something with rubberized soles as opposed to hard leather. For women, this is going to be a bit more difficult and I’m not going to pretend like I understand women’s fashions enough to give specific advice. However, you really need something that combines looks and comfort if you intend to wear it for multiple hours. The more padding on the bottom, the better, and the more natural of a position your foot is in, the better.
At The Gym
If you’re an avid gym goer, and especially if you’re a runner, you need a new pair of shoes every six months. No, this is not my way of helping the American economy recover by encouraging more spending. Your shoes wear out. The padding on the bottom becomes more compressed and less springy the more you use it. At the six month mark, your shoes no longer provide you with a cushion to exercise on. That’s why you need to replace them with something that will protect your feet from the constant impact of working out and running. Keep in mind, good shoes don’t need to cost a lot. My running shoes cost around $100 and I occasionally find a good deal as low as $60. So keep an eye out for deals.
If possible, you should also go to a store where they can help you get the right fit by looking at how you run and walk. Different people use different strides and shoes that are comfortable for one person can be painful for someone else.
Personal Recommendation
I’m not going to recommend a specific shoe model because I know it’s not going to be a good recommendation for all people. However, in general, I’ve usually bought New Balance shoes. I’ve found them to be very comfortable, durable and reasonably priced. If you’re in the Bay Area, I recommend a store called Sports Basement. They have a great selection and I’ve always found their sales people to be knowledgeable and helpful.
NOTE - as usual, I am not connected in any way with Sports Basement or New Balance nor am I making these recommendations at their request.
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Your feet bear a lot of strain when you’re active. Make sure you protect them with a good pair of shoes.
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Comments
2 Responses to “The Best Fitness Investment You Can Make”
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In the past, I have regularly purchased New Balance. But I have found that I wear them out in such a way that the plastic cup in the heel pokes out the inner lining and irritates my achillies area. Since then, I’ve purchased Asics and have had great success. I have other friends who don’t wear NBs in such a way, so it’s definitely personal preference.
Definitely agree that shoes is very important, especially shoes at work. Usually, I choose shoes with low hills, and elastic material so these comfort to be used the whole day.