Walking Shoes vs Trainers

At first blush you may think walking shoes are no different than running shoes. But that is definitely not the case once you look at them more carefully

Just how are they different?

They differ because the action of walking and the movement of running put totally different demands on your feet. This means you have to pick and choose your footwear carefully in each case.

Design and Styling

The more apparent differences are in the look and styling of the shoe depending on whether it is going to be used for walking or running.

This is because the mechanics of walking are different from the mechanics of running.

Each activity puts different demands on body motion and muscle activity so that the shoe for that activity requires features to deal with those differing demands.

Walking

Walking is a movement that distributes your body weight more evenly through the body with a more fluid foot motion.

In walking you roll your foot from heel to toe through the ball of the foot and your body weight and compression are more evenly propagated over a longer period of time than in running.

There is certainly less intensity of compression and a smoother distribution of your weight during the entire cycle.

This calls for a shoe with different heel and sole design for walking than that of a running shoe where the heel, arch and ball need to take more compression and pressure from the full weight of the running motion.

In walking, the rocking movement of the walking cycle means your feet absorb the shock of only one to two times your body weight with each step.

Also in walking, you split you weight load since both your feet are on the ground during the walking cycle.

This means your weight is more evenly distributed and the compression on the feet is less intense as it is when running.

Running

Running is a different story altogether. With running you are putting pressure equals to two to three times the body weight on one foot.

Also in running neither foot is solidly planted on the ground so the compression on feet and joints is much more intense than walking.

Your outer heel has to absorb the full compression of the landing before it distributes the weight through your foot in an S motion through the ball to the toes.

This difference in motion and impact distribution between walking and running calls for a distinct design and manufacture of the shoe.

Walking Shoes

The design of the walking shoe calls for a flat heel to absorb the initial contact.

The angle of the heel is lower in walking than running so compression isn't as high and it is distributed evenly in the roll through to the ball and in the natural motion of moving heel to toe.

This means that walking shoes need to be more flexible from the ball of the foot to offer more range of motion for the roll to the forefoot.

The heel must be flat without any flair compared to the running heel. This produces a better strike and compression distribution for the walker than he or she would get from a running shoe.

The heel on the running shoe is higher and has more support and cushioning to absorb the heavier impact of a more violent and rapid landing of the running action.

Running shoes have less protection through the ball of the foot since the rapid roll through places less pressure than the more measured walking movement does on the ball and toes.

Conclusion

Walking shoes as you can see have distinct demands to meet to ensure foot support and comfort than their running counter parts.

You need to realize what those differences are when picking footwear for walking or running.