We asked hundreds of SELF reader-testers to put 421 pairs of women's sneakers through their paces. Four weeks, 6,035 miles, 253 workou...
Cross-Training: For the Gym
You need a stable, sturdy shoe fordumbbell workouts.
Winner: Blade-Max Endure, $100; Yahoo! Shopping.
Athlete-engineered sliced soles provide traction. And who needs Louboutins? One tester loved the style as much as the function: "They're sexy as hell."
Cross-Training: Group Classes
Winner: Puma Pumagility, starting at $70; Yahoo! Shopping.
Flex-grooved bottoms welcome lateral moves. Foam compresses and widens to keep feet stable. Testers liked them for "quick changes in direction." That means you, Zumba.
Cross-Training: Minimalist Trainers
Deconstructed sneaks force otherwise dormant foot muscles into action. Make sure your feet are ready for minimalist kicks with this 4-week strengthening plan.
Winner: Merrell Lithe Glove, starting at $63; Yahoo! Shopping.
Minor cushioning but major flexibility make these the ultimate minimalist multitaskers. Testers wore them to Zumba, on the elliptical and for a run, saying their feet "could really grab the ground."
Supportive Long-Distance Sneakers
A more substantial shoe takes the pounding out of your feet and onto the pavement.
Winner: Mizuno Wave Creation 13; starting at $140; Yahoo! Shopping.
They have a double-decker plastic midsole separated by shock absorbers, which act like a springboard. "I barely felt the road," one high-miler said. Fit tip: Go up a half size.
Minimalist Running Shoes
Light-as-a-feather minimalist shoes encourage a more natural forefoot strike, which lessens the load on your joints.
Winner: Asics GEL-Neo33, starting at $100; Yahoo! Shopping.
Designed to allow all 33 joints in your foot to move freely, these are minimalist without being too minimal, with a thicker sole. "I felt energized. My feet weren't constricted," a tester said.
Cushioned Sneakers
Neutral runners go farther and faster in pillowlike picks that ease the impact.
Winner: Reebok ZigNano Fly 2, starting at $73; Yahoo! Shopping.
The signature zigzag sole puts bounce in your step, literally. "The bottoms are like springs, easing you off the ground," a tester claimed.
Superlight Running Shoes
Superlight sneakers with a firm midsole can help you run faster.
Winner: Nike LunarEclipse+ 2, starting at $110; Yahoo! Shopping.
A sock liner with two densities of foam cradles your midfoot. Have high arches? These will fit like a glove. And even with all of the bells and whistles, testers found the shoes surprisingly "airy and flexible."
Walking Shoes
Walkers strike heel first, rolling heel to toe, so a supportive heel, flexible sole and bend in the toe box are key.
Winner: Ryka Devotion, starting at $70; Yahoo! Shopping.
Eight squishy triangles create a platform along the bottom of the shoe. One tester said, "It was like walking on marshmallows."
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