Are CrossFit Shoes Good for Walking?

Not all of us have a closet full of shoes for every occasion, which means we may get tempted to use our CrossFit shoes for other sports or activities.

If you’re already attending CrossFit classes and don’t want to add more shoes for a different activity, like walking, you may ask: “Are CrossFit shoes good for walking?”

Doubling down and using CrossFit shoes can be convenient and economical, so using them for more than one activity would be nice.

However, just because CrossFit shoes are fitness sports shoes, you may not be able to wear them for walking.

A few different factors go into walking shoes that make them suitable for the occasion.

So, before you pull out the CrossFit shoes and use them on your next walk, let’s see if they are really ideal for walks.

We can do so by verifying if CrossFit shoes have features or elements that prevent your feet from becoming sore when walking.

If the CrossFit shoes can, you’ll be able to wear them for any walking occasion.

On the other hand, you can’t use them to walk outdoors if they don’t.

Let’s get started!

What Are CrossFit Shoes?

CrossFit training shoes help support any activities you do that relate to the workout style of CrossFit.

That means they’re for high-intensity workouts that require a wide range of functional movements that can cause injury.

CrossFit shoes generally have plenty of cushioning and support to help protect your feet and joints from any health conditions.

Standard Features

To get a better idea of what CrossFit shoes provide, here is a breakdown of some of their key features:

• Cushioning

CrossFit shoes include cushioning around where the athlete’s foot hits the ground.

This consists of the heel, midfoot, and toe. It also contains extra padding under the shoe to help with high-impact jumps.

• Soles 

These shoes have thick soles that help absorb the shock, making the shoe ideal for plenty of activities during a CrossFit session.

Aside from that, the side soles are wider to help support side-to-side movement and maintain balance.

• Flexibility

CrossFit training shoes are stiff and limit the amount of movement your foot can make.

Their materials are thicker and heavier to help absorb shocks from the movement you make.

• Ankle Support

Lastly, CrossFit shoes have protection around the ankle, preventing the heel from slipping.

As you can see, CrossFit training shoes have a particular build that caters to intense sports.

You can even use some other sports CrossFit shoes for weightlifting and cardio exercises.

These two gym activities put just as much stress on the feet and thus can also benefit from CrossFit shoes.

What Are Walking Shoes?

Walking shoes protect the feet more from the outdoor environment, ensuring the wearer can run and walk safely.

They also have a firm outsole with grips that help create traction to prevent slips.

Walking shoes also allow more flexibility in terms of foot movement, and unlike sports shoes, walking shoes have less arch.

The reason is that arches put pressure on the middle of the foot, which is a good thing in sports.

These arches help the midfoot stay stable during extreme movements, which you won’t really need when walking.

Plus, they help reduce shock and protect your Achilles tendon from any injuries due to sudden bouts of movement.

Features

Let’s discuss in detail the common features of walking shoes that you need to keep in mind.

• Insoles, Outsoles, and Midsoles

Walking shoe soles are placed either on the bottom, as arc support, or on the exterior to help protect the feet from injuries.

They also help with shock absorption and prevent the shoes from getting damaged.

• Heel Collar and Toe Box

A heel collar works to protect the ankle and back of the feet from damages or sprains, while a toe box protects the tip of the toes from impact.

• Uppers 

Uppers are the top fabric of the shoe made from leather, synthetic fabric, or mesh lining.

The mesh lining is a critical factor as it allows sufficient airflow.

• Tendon Protectors 

Tendon protectors help protect the back of the heel and protect the Achilles tendon from taking any impacts.

Some other walking shoes may provide extra design features.

However, you will only need these basic ones to have a good walking experience.

So, don’t think you need any fancy walking shoes with all the bells and whistles.

CrossFit vs. Walking Shoes

After reviewing the features of CrossFit and walking shoes, we can now compare the two types.

This way, we can answer the question “Are CrossFit shoes good for walking?”

Impact Absorption

CrossFit shoes have thick outsoles that help absorb the impact of high-intensity workouts.

On the other hand, walking shoes protect from repeated impacts without scratching or blistering your feet while walking and running.

Durability and Comfort

CrossFit shoes have less cushioning and are made from thick materials that help prevent wear and tear.

On the other hand, walking shoes offer enough cushioning for comfort.

They’re also durable, but the material used is usually thinner than those found on CrossFit shoes.

Other Features

Aside from that, CrossFit shoes will be a super snug fit to help prevent the shoes from moving around or falling off during your workout.

In contrast, walking shoes provide a better range of flexibility and motion.

Are CrossFit Shoes Good for Walking?

CrossFit shoes are among the most durable types of footwear, so you can wear them for other high-intensity sports.

However, we highly recommend not to use them as walking shoes because of the significant differences in design.

Investing in shoes specifically designed for walking will ensure you don’t end up getting injured, which is costlier.

If you’re looking for walking shoes, find ones that offer excellent protection, range of motion, and comfort.

Some known walking shoe brands include Skechers, New Balance, and Nike, but you can consider other brands.

As a summary, look for the following features in a walking shoe:

• Cushioning
• Lightweight Materials
• Stable Shoes With Motion Control

Have a great and safe walk!