From your gait to your stride length, your choice of shoes affects all aspects of athletic performance. So, it stands to reason that you should wear different shoes for different activities.
While on the surface it seems that all athletic shoes are the same, the truth is that subtle differences will impact your activities. In this guide, we break down the differences between basketball shoes vs. running shoes so you can make the best decision for your performance today.
What Are Basketball Shoes?
While basketball shoes have become popular collector’s items in recent years, they aren’t all about the aesthetic.
In fact, the design of basketball shoes is specific to the game. They must withstand the intensity of basketball and promote agile movement in players. This basketball shoes buying guide highlights the key design factors that make this possible.
Ankle Support
Basketball players often start and stop their sprints suddenly and change direction as quickly as every 2 seconds. These motions make the ankle vulnerable to injury.
So, basketball shoe designers seek to create the best ankle support. In the past, the popular form of ankle support was the high top basketball shoe. However, now only around half of NBA players continue to wear high-top shoes.
That is because recent studies show that the support doesn’t need to come from the height of the top. When comparing basketball shoes with high tops to those with low tops, most studies find the differences are negligible.
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In fact, experts say that ankle injuries don’t occur based on differences in the type of basketball shoe, rather based on misstepping during the game. For example, a lot of professional ankle injuries occur when one player steps on another player’s foot.
Instead, durable fabrics with proper support are as good at preventing ankle injury as high top basketball shoes.
Durable Soles
Durable soles in basketball shoes offer a few key performance measures. First, they provide a stable platform for the players. This helps the players with their footing.
The soles also provide much-needed traction. With all the stopping and starting in basketball, low traction shoes would cause a lot of injuries. To prevent slipping and sliding, durable soles are a must.
Finally, the soles provide room for cushion elements.
Cushioning
Basketball shoes have more cushioning than most other forms of athletic shoes. Again, this design choice is specific to enhancing the athlete’s performance and preventing injury.
As the athlete runs and jumps, their joints endure a great deal of impact. This impact can mean slower reaction times in-game. It can also cause more problems down the road including chronic pain and joint problems.
Cushioning features in basketball shoes aim to protect the player and help their in-game performance by absorbing the shock caused by jumping and sprinting.
If you’re in the market for basketball shoes that keep you safe and increase your game, shop here today.
What Are Running Shoes?
Running shoes come in a few varieties. The differences in the varieties of running shoes depend on the kind of running you will do in them. The main categories that all running shoes fall into are road running and trail running shoes.
Learn more about how types of running shoes affect performance in this running shoes buying guide.
Road Running Shoes
As the name suggests, road running shoes are for runners who run on pavement or indoors- anywhere with flat, even terrain. They have a light design that is durable for long-distance running.
Road running shoes come in a variety of styles with different arch supports and cushioning. For years, the myth that cushioning in running shoes reduces impact and injury prevailed. Then, the barefoot running shoes began trending.
Both sides of this spectrum claimed their shoes prevented injury and maintained muscle and joint health better. Both sides were correct, in a way.
Current studies suggest that the relationship between runners and their shoes is more specific to the runner. With such new evidence, running enthusiasts should base arch and cushioning decisions on their individual needs rather than blanket myths.
Trail Running Shoes
The light design of road running shoes is no match for rough, mountainous terrain. Instead, trail runners opt for the durability of trail running shoes.
Designed to withstand varying turfs, trail running shoes have thicker soles with more traction. These help runners navigate trails while preventing injuries caused by slipping.
Like road running shoes, these will last. You can, if you prefer, use trail running shoes on the road. But, we don’t recommend using road running shoes on a trail.
Basketball Shoes vs. Running Shoes
Most people don’t want to purchase and wear multiple pairs of athletic shoes. We get it – shoes can get expensive. But before you buy a single shoe for all your activities, you should know about the benefits and risks.
Weight
Basketball shes are much heavier than their running counterparts. This is due to their heavier soles and higher tops. While these features are great for basketball and short sprints, they take a toll when distance running.
If you select a basketball shoe as your all-around athletic shoe, you should be aware that running in them may cause premature fatigue.
Support
The game of basketball requires quick sprints, jumps, and split-second direction changes. As such, basketball shoes incorporate higher tops to help with ankle stability.
If you select a running shoe as your all-around athletic shoe, you open yourself up to ankle injuries when wearing them to play basketball.
Shock Absorption
While some running shoes have shock-absorbing properties, runners rely more on their form than their shoes to control impact while they train.
Basketball players, who face abrupt stops and starts between sprints and jump a lot, need more shock absorption. Not only does this feature in basketball shoes help decrease joint impact, but it actually makes the game easier to play.
Using a running shoe with lower shock absorption to play basketball can lead to reduced performance in the game.
More Sports Performance Tips
Now that you know the differences between basketball shoes vs. running shoes, you can step onto the court or trails with confidence.
While shoes are an important part of stepping up your athletic prowess, they aren’t the only part. If you want to learn more about optimizing your sports performance in basketball, running, or anything else, check out our other blog posts today.
