The most important thing to consider when buying boxing shoes is comfort.
Think of the footwork and jumping around that they will need to put up with. If
past shoes have hurt your feet, figure out why- Were they lacking padding or
were they too rigid? Everyone's a little bit different in what they prefer so do
your research but in the end, go with your instinct. Don't second guess
yourself. So what should you research? Aside from comfort, you should consider
safety, breathability, and traction. Shock Absorption and Support Straps: When
evaluating a boxing shoe for safety, the major things to look for are shock
absorption, and support straps. Many shoes have a shock absorbing mid-sole to
take some of the shock away from your joints and to provide some added comfort.
Some of the more advanced boxing shoes will have support straps near the arch of
your foot to help the shoe conform the shape of your foot. This creates more
cushion and less slippage. Breathability and Venting: Many shoes have breathable
air vents, sometimes on all sides, to avoid excessive sweat buildup. If you
finish your workout and your shoes are very wet, you're most likely suffocating
your feet. You lose more than half your body heat between your feet and your
head and when your boxing heavily, effective cooling is an important thing to
consider so you don't overheat. Many brush over breathability but for this
reason, it's a good idea to consider it. Traction: Last but not least is
traction. Think of all the crazy footwork you put the shoes through- You really
should look for boxing shoes that have a rubber sole and have some type of
anti-slip pattern so you can ensure you won't slip during quick cuts and rapid
footwork. High vs. Low Top Shoes: Many ask whether they should get high top or
low top shoes. If you're not a kick boxer, this is really just preference. Kick
boxers, definitely get a high top boxing shoe or boot to protect your ankles and
shins. Comfort over Looks: Leather looks good but make sure there is cushion or
padding between you and the boxing shoe. Sweaty skin against leather might very
well be the worst feeling in the world. Same for zippers- make sure the zipper
is not directly against your skin. Other than that; black, white, gold, silver,
special designs, high top vs. low top; it's totally up to you. Be safe, be
comfortable, be slipfree, be great. About Author David Toub is the owner of
Mens Fusion 6
and absolutely loves the sport. Boxing shoes which provide sufficient comfort,
breathability and traction can be found at PBP's
Jordan 11 Kids
This article is free for republishing Published at
Womens Fusion
6
Have you ever gone out shopping with your friends, or whoever, and
while you're out you find an amazing pair of shoes, the shoes that you know you
just couldn't possibly live without? The thing is, what do you do when they
don't have your size? If you say, "forget it, I don't need them anyway." You
need to turn around, go back to the store, and buy those bad boys! I'm sure this
has happened to about 95% of women. It always seems as though the perfect shoe
for you is always one-half or even one size too small. Or maybe you purchase the
perfect pair of shoes, and when you get home, you realize they don't fit. Well,
have I got news for you. There are ways around this problem. There are many
techniques in which one can actually "stretch" their shoes. You'll almost NEVER
have to worry about not finding the right size shoe again!I am going to take the
time to help all of the women, who have this problem mentioned above, to
"stretch" their shoes. I have found quite an assortment of interesting ways of
doing this. There are the at-home remedies, using a shoe stretcher, and taking
your shoes to a professional.I will list the at-home remedies that I have found,
and then I will discuss them further each individually. The at-home remedies
include wearing your shoes in, you can freeze them, you can use a damp
newspaper, you can use oats and grain, you can use rubbing alcohol spray, and
you can also use potatoes. In order to "wear your shoes in," you need to put the
shoes on, and walk around in them for a while at home for a couple days. Take
the shoes on and off, repeating this process. Within a day or two, your shoes
should be well worn-in.The process of freezing your shoes is very interesting.
This process is mostly for shoes made of leather or fake leather. You must have
two plastic baggies, free of any holes, and able to seal. Fill both baggies
one-third of the way with water, and seal them. Then, place a baggie inside of
each shoe, and make sure that they fit the inside of the shoe completely.
Following this, you place the shoes in the freezer, and wait until the ice is
frozen, or just overnight. After you remove the shoes from the freezer, you must
let the ice thaw before removing the baggies in order to avoid ruining your
shoes. The idea of this is that the water turns into ice, which expands your
shoe.The method of using damp newspaper is quite different but very easy. You
will need to scrunch up wet newspaper, and shove as many pieces into your shoe
as possible. Make sure that you do not deform the shape of your shoe. Wait for
the newspaper to dry, and then remove it. This is very simple.The next at-home
remedy involves using oats and grain. This method really only works on leather
boots; however, you need to fill the boot with oats or grain, and pour enough
water in to cover the oats or grain. The idea of this method is that the oats or
grain will inflate overnight. However, I would not recommend this method on your
favorite pair of expensive leather boots.This next option is a home-made shoe
stretching spray. This concoction is made up of fifty percent rubbing alcohol
and fifty percent water. It would be best to use a spray bottle, and spray the
inside of the shoe. Then, it is recommended to put on a pair of socks and wear
the shoe for about twenty minutes while still wet. This should stretch the shoe
out pretty well.The last at-home remedy, which is sort of weird, is using a
potato. Who would have thought? But this remedy is almost the simplest of all of
the above mentioned. All you have to do is peel the potato (one that is large
enough to create a bulge in the shoe) and let it sit over night.If you haven't
caught on yet, there is an increasingly commonality on the methods of stretching
the shoes. It is quite easy to see that all you need is something that will
expand and hold position, while being inside your shoe for a decent amount of
time. But also, besides these home remedies, there are still some other options
for stretching your shoes. These include using an actual shoe stretcher (on
leather shoes), just being patient, and last but not least, go to a professional
to have the shoe stretched.Shoe stretchers are made of wood, and are designed in
the shape of a foot. Most shoe stretches have adjustments that help with
stretching the shoes. Also, shoe stretches are able to adjust not only the
length, but also the width too.The idea of just being patient, and going slow
with stretching your shoe is pretty much the same idea as wearing your shoes in.
It is a known fact that you can't go anywhere and buy a shoe that will fit your
foot just perfectly, unless of course you're having them custom made. All shoes
need time to adjust themselves and mold themselves to the exact shape of your
foot, so be patient.Finally, the last method of shoe stretching is to just visit
a professional shoe stretcher. This is probably the easiest method of them all,
but the most costly. However, if it is an expensive shoe that you just love,
then it is well worth the cost of a professional shoe stretcher.Now that I have
given you this information on all of the different ways (I'm sure there are more
methods) to stretch your shoes, don't be so afraid to buy a pair that may be
one-half size too small. There are some great techniques mentioned above that I
have actually used myself and can assure you that they do work.