Shoes: We love them, we all have a favorite pair—but when it comes to knowing which workout shoes to wear for obé classes, most of us have questions.
When should I keep them on, and when should I throw them off? Are running shoes game for HIIT, too? And are grippy socks a must for Barre?
Your shoe choices signify more than your style—they can also make or break your workout. To get answers about best practices, we turned to our footwear-fluent director of programming Melody D., barefoot expert Adam D., and the obé instructors for their top recommendations.
When to Wear Workout Shoes
For any of your high-impact classes (looking at you, HIIT, Dance, and Cardio Boxing), workout shoes are a must-have, not a nice-to-have. Getting some shock absorption under your feet is critical, especially if you know jumping will be on the agenda, says Melody.
“If you see the instructor wearing shoes in class, you should probably also wear your shoes,” says Melody. “You’ll be set up for success.”
The floor you’re working out on should also be a consideration, says Adam. “If you’re on a cement or a hard floor, as opposed to something more flexible like wood or turf, shoes are great for protection.”
The reason? More protection means you’ll be able to go all in, full out for those high-impact movements much longer. “As we work out and strain our bodies, we’ll eventually deplete the stuff that protects our joints if we’re not providing support,” Melody added.
For Bounce, shoes are especially important for preventing slippage and staying injury-free. Melody recommends lightweight cross trainers to support all of those lateral motions on and off the trampoline.
Try Shoes-Off for Strength
An unexpected time to experiment with going barefoot? Any of your Strength classes—and yes, even if you’re using weights. Not only does going shoeless provide added stability between you and the floor (shaky deadlifts be gone), but it also strengthens the stabilizer muscles in your feet to support your lifts and flexes.
Outside the studio, it’s one of Melody’s favorite level-ups. “If I’m at home doing an obé Strength class, I love taking my sneakers off. My balance and stability is so much better when I train barefoot because I’m forced to ground myself.”
Running Shoes vs. Cross Trainers Workout Shoes
Not sure which to wear for class? When in doubt, choose cross-trainers. Unlike running shoes, which are optimized for frontwards and backward motions (aka running and walking), cross trainers are truly universal for all kinds of movement patterns, giving you more freedom to obé every which way. (Pro tip: Melody says Asics and Nike cross trainers are the most popular shoes with trainers, but keep reading for individual recommendations.)
Coss trainers a perfect fit for Dance Cardio, Dance HIIT, Power, or anything that gets you moving in a few different directions. For more forward-facing classes like Cardio Boxing or HIIT sequences without lateral movements, running shoes can work as well, but shouldn’t be your first choice.
Either way, having two pairs is always better than one. A dedicated set of (indoor) workout shoes is key to lengthening their shelf life (and keeping them looking cute). But a little hack? Investing in two sets and keeping them on a rotation can make it feel like they last longer, Melody says.
When Going Barefoot Maximizes Benefits
For all your favorite low-impact classes—Pilates, Barre, Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga Sculpt—you can keep your shoes off.
“Traditional gym shoes often squeeze our toes together,” explains Adam, who recommends going barefoot to boost balance and stability. “It will also contribute to injury prevention by strengthening the chain of muscles that connect through joints like ankles, knees, and hips.”
If your floor or mat gets slippery, grippy socks can save the day. “We need a strong connection to the floor because gripping it activates all the little muscles we normally don’t feel in our legs,” adds Adam. He often rocks a colorful pair of grippy socks in class and also loves ‘barefoot’ style shoes.
“This is SUCH a yoga teacher answer,” Ilana confesses, “but I say go for barefoot as much as you can. Not relying on outer armor only makes your feel stronger.”
For Sculpt, it really depends on the class and instructor. If you’re gearing up for a Spencer J. sequence, which tends to lean a little more spicy, a lightweight shoe can give you an extra support boost—especially for those mountain climber moments.
obé Instructor Recommendations
Looking for specific suggestions? We turned to the obé pros to dish out their top recommendations.
Most versatile
- Katherine M. loves the ASICS Gel-1130. “They’re so supportive and comfortable, my feet don’t slip in them, and they’re easy to clean,” she says.
- Makena D.—who loves switching between Sculpt, HIIT, and Dance Cardio—swears by the New Balance 1080s.
- “If I have to wear sneakers, I’ll always go for a wider toe box,” says yogi Ilana L. “New Balance 530s are a great compromise between style and proper toe room!”
Best workout shoes for Dance Cardio
- Kat B. recommends Nike Air Zoom Pegasus because of all the extra cushioning in the toe. “Perfect for when you’re jumping on the ball of your foot for 30 minutes straight!” Spencer J. also loves the Nike Zoom line because they’re lightweight and offer great arch support.
- Sam G. is a fan of the ASICS Gel-Excite. “I find they fully support my foot for Dance Cardio and offer great cushion for high-impact while supporting my ankles.”
Best workout shoes for Strength Training
- Before defaulting to shoes, challenge yourself to go barefoot to build up the supportive muscles in your feet! It’s a perfect option when you’re working out from home.
- Alex M. has 3 options in her rotation: Nike Metcons, Vivo Barefoot, or NoBull training shoes. David P. seconds the Nike Metcons, thanks to their Vibram soles.
- Strength pro Olivia T. gives a +1 to Vivo Barefoot shoes. “Like training barefoot, flat shoes are great for stability in any balancing movements, foot strengthening, and helping you achieve proper lifting mechanics,” she explains.
- Have a pair of Vans or Chuck Taylors? David P. says they’re worth a try. “They provide the flattest surface area for the food and give me ultimate stability when lifting. I never use running shoes to lift!”
Best workout shoes for Running
- Go for the New Balance 1080s (seems to be an instructor fave!) or BROOKS Hyperion Max, says Alex M. As a 9-time marathon runner, she’s truly tried them all.
Best workout shoes for HIIT
- Alex M. gravitates towards Lululemon Blissfeels or APL Techloom, a solid cross-training option.
- Olivia T. loves the Adidas Ultraboost (bonus points: they’re a great cross-trainer shoe). “They’re flat enough for strength training and yet cushioned enough to absorb impact from any powerful cardio movements like jump squats,” she says.
Have a favorite workout shoe? Let us know in the comments below!
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