Shoes-Which shoes are best for Parkour?
How to pick out the best shoes for Parkour?
Well here goes… Every one has an opinion and I do too. Keep in mind, it’s just that, an OPINION and mine.
I say pick what’s comfortable, I don’t care if it looks snazzy but these shoes kick butt right here. I’ve always loved K-Swiss and now that they have shoes that not only look cool but feel comfortable, I have to recommend these.
K-Swiss Ariake Men
Now as far as what others have to say about picking out shoes for Parkour Running.. (this is what ehow.com has to say)
Look for shoes that offer incredible grip. For the most part, the more grip a shoe’s sole has, the better. The only downside to increased grip is the quicker rate of wear (sticky rubber wears out fast).
Make sure the shoes offer supportive cushioning. A shoe that skimps on padding exposes your joints to injury. Look for a pair that can absorb the impact associated with vaults and drops.
Choose a shoe that’s low to the ground and fits your foot well. If your foot is high above the ground it will be easier for you to roll your ankle.
Buy a shoe that’s built from durable materials. Canvas is particularly good at standing up to the scrapes and abrasions of parkour.
Consider the shoe’s weight as an indicator of its durability. Shoes that are extremely lightweight probably don’t offer the cushioning or long life you can expect from bulkier products. On the flipside, avoid wearing boots or other shoes that are extremely heavy. They’ll only hinder your freedom of movement.
Again… that is there opinion but it makes a whole lotta sense so choose wisely and you want to stay away from any injury that you can. (that is why I say fuc* color and looks and care more about functionality)
So ere are just a few other nominees in my Free Running shoe options:
Five Ten makes some great pairs of shoes too. (Specially designed for Parkour)
Freerunner-by Five Ten
Savant by Five Ten
I hope you like the kicks I picked out.
Soon you’ll be taking advantage of the stealth rubber soles on these five tens, you’d wonder why you haven’t owned a pair years ago!
I’ve seen a lot of people lean towards the Nike Air Rift split toe design because of Mirror’s Edge. Any thoughts on this split-toe design?
So here’s the thing. I have been doing some parkour training and freerunning in multiple pairs of shoes and finally decided to finally put something up. Here are what I’ve come up with.
Converse Chuck Taylors - Incredibly light and meneuverable and on some surfaces very grippy. Flat footed though which are obviously bad for landings but great for touch. Good for traction on most surfaces, but not so good on smooth surfaces
Scale of 1(crap) to 10(Sick)
Look - 8
Cushioning and Comfort- 6
Breathability - 7
Grip - 6
Agility - 7
Durability - 4
I do not recommend training in these because of the whole flat footed set up and lack of durability. You’ll be running barefoot in no time flat.
ADIDAS Alegras - Which are no longer available unfortunately. The shock absorbtion and agility are great and incredibly light. Not much of a fan for the mesh though. As time goes by, the mesh on top, as well as the grip underneath easily gives away.
Look - 7
Cushioning and Comfort - 8
Breathability - 10
Grip - 8
Agility - 8
Durability - 6
If you’re new or somewhat familiar to the world of parkour I’d suggest this shoe if you can find it or if ADIDAS starts to produce these again.
5.10 Freerunner Alien Glows - Made for parkour but ironicly the layer under the insole is rock hard. These bad boys are incedible on all other areas. If you purchase these, you will be running up walls easier than any other running shoe ever. Yes, the tread will wear…but the grip actually gets better.
Look - 8
Cushioning and Comfort - 7
Breathability - 5
Grip - 10
Agility - 8
Durability - 8
If you’re really into parkour and freerunning, I highly recommend these. You may need to put some insoles in them to support the landings and be able to train longer.
All other shoes trainned in;
Sketchers All Sports - Garbage
ReBox Trailrunning Shoes- Not Suggested
All Champions - Garbage!
i would love to try these but everyone that i have seen wearing them say (and ive seen) that they rip very easily on the front where the black tapering is. what do you think? currently i have the 5 10 alien glow and i wear a pair of pumas because i like the fact that i can feel everything! (forces you to learn good technique unlike the 5 ’10’s i have
1. Grip can hinder you, good technique will compensate for lack of grip. It can almost ’stick’ you onto some surfaces or drag your feet, leading to increased chance of ankle damage.
2. Cushioning is useful for beginners, but it won’t correctly transfer the shock. Too much cushioning can damage your legs over a period of time. Conditioning is essential for absorbing shocks from larger heights, NOT an extra cm of foam. Proper conditioning will allow your bodyweight to acceleration x weight ration to decrease and prevent injuries.
4. If you find a cheap shoe (kalenji) you wont need to worry about durability.
5. Weight isn’t helping anyone. Lightweight is better for training, especially for beginners who don’t need their feet weighed down.
Basically, when starting parkour, have a shoe you feel comfortable in with a fair bit of cushioning and grip to keep yourself safe but start thinking about technique over tools. Years ago everyone went mad for merrel’s cham slams until they realised the weight was hindering progress.
go with the 5 10 my friend has them and they have really good grip and they do not wear out very fast. He has the 5 10 free runner alien glow but there are many more pairs that u can look at. Go to zappos.com and type in 5 10 parkour shoes if u want to look at them.
Ive been using Nike Rift’s for a while now, and over my six years of running and 1 year of parkour, i have to say they are the best shoes i have ever had. The balance is wonderful and compliments my technique, grip is just right. Hard to get but highly recommended!
I think you all will really enjoy this video on Parkour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIc650NSFE
I am wanting to learn how to urban run. Where do i learn these techniques? I live in a 3rd world country where single level shacks with the sheet metal roofs is more than common. What type of things do i need to avoid?
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