Do you like listening to music, dancing, and exercising? Zumba brings it all to you at once. It’s a popular dance-based fitness program. If you want to sign up for this work out party, you’ll need to get the best shoes for Zumba. And it’s not for fashion’s sake, but to protect you from injuries.
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The best women’s Zumba shoes on our list is Ryka Influence Cross-training Shoe
However, your choice also depends on your preferences. So, here’s the list of our top five picks to suit anybody’s needs.
- Ryka Women’s Influence Cross-training Shoe
- ASICS Women’s Gel-Fit Sana 3
- Strong iD Fly Fit
- Capezio Women’s DS24 Rockit Dance Sneaker
- Zumba Air Classic Remix High Top
Ryka Women’s Influence Cross-training Shoe
The Ryka Influence is stylish and appealing. But, it’s not the looks that made them our top choice.
These sneakers are lightweight and flexible to improve your dancing experience. Furthermore, they offer ample support and excellent comfort.
Mesh and synthetic materials provide breathability. Rubber sole with pivot points provides a perfect level of traction and freedom of twisting and turning. What else could you ask for?
Pros:
- Roomy toe box.
- Excellent balance between traction and pivoting.
- Specifically made for women’s feet.
- Great stability and balance. A large number of users with feet or knee issues wear these shoes to stay pain-free.
Cons:
- Narrow for people with wide feet.
ASICS Women’s Gel-Fit Sana 3
When it comes to weight and comfort, ASICS Women’s Gel-Fit Sana 3 is hard to beat. Weighing only six ounces they are feather-light and very breathable.
Combine that with an impressive cushioning system and flexibility and you’ll get the ultimate comfort.
There’s no real downside to this model, but the arch support could be better. Outsole performance is also decent even without pivot points.
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable.
- Very lightweight.
- Fits like a glove.
Cons:
- No pivot point.
Strong by Zumba iD Fly Fit
Strong by Zumba has designed these shoes especially for Zumba workout. And they’re up to the task. They are lightweight, comfortable, and feel very supportive (apart from arch support).
They will withstand an abundance of jumping and dancing that comes with Zumba.
These sneakers are sturdy and durable. As a trade-off, they are not as soft and flexible as some other models.
Pros:
- Great side and heel support.
- Removable high rebound insoles.
- Sturdy and durable.
Cons:
- Little arch support.
Capezio Women’s DS24 Rockit Dance Sneaker
Many dancers prefer split sole shoes for dancing. These sneakers are a perfect example of great split sole dancing shoes. But, you wouldn’t expect anything less from Capezio, a renowned dancewear manufacturer.
Somehow, they managed to make them sturdy and supportive while still being lightweight. A perforated arch for ventilation is another nice touch.
You’ll enjoy dancing in these shoes for a long time.
Pros:
- Specifically designed for dancing.
- Very breathable.
- Excellent arch support.
- Split sole provides easy turning and pivoting.
Cons:
- A little bit narrow.
Zumba Air Classic Remix High Top
If you want extra ankle support, this is the best model for you. But, they offer much more than that. These shoes are stylish and they come in many colors. They are “funky”.
Excellent support, great shock absorption, and high-rebound insole make them versatile and convenient for different activities.
I was particularly impressed with the outsoles and Z-slide pivot points. They spin and slide beautifully.
Pros:
- Ankle support.
- Z-slide pivot point works well on any surface.
- Great support and shock absorption.
Cons:
- A little bit heavy.
- Their “flash” may not appeal to everyone.
Why You Need Zumba Shoes
You need Zumba shoes because you can’t exercise barefoot! I am joking, of course, but this is a serious matter. Zumba is a high-impact, calorie-blasting fitness program.
It includes a lot of pivoting, twisting, turning, and jumping. Intensive, fast-paced workouts increase the risk of injuries. Proper shoes will reduce this risk.
Furthermore, you’ll mix dances like salsa and mambo with aerobic exercises. Imagine doing it in leather boots! Zumba shoes will not only save you from injuries but make it easier to do all that spins, slides, and twists.
So, you really need shoes with some special features. Let’s dive into it.
When Choosing the Best Shoes for Zumba
You need comfortable and supportive shoes for any kind of physical activity. However, each activity has different requirements. We’ve covered the best shoes for running and even shoes most suited for walking all day. Let’s see how it goes with Zumba.
Flexibility
You will be dancing and bending and it’s hard to do it if your shoes are rigid. You need flexible shoes that bend easily.
Breathability and Ventilation
Best Zumba shoes come with ventilation holes or/and breathable materials. You will be sweating a lot. So, it’s imperative to have a pair of breathable shoes to keep you cool throughout the session.
Perfect Fit
Make sure your shoes are snug. Tight shoes will hurt you (duh!), while too wide or too long shoes will make you unstable.
Cushioning
Zumba is a high-impact exercise so cushioning can help to absorb some of it. The latest research shows that excessive cushioning is not good for our feet. So the more is not necessarily the better. Aim for middle ground here.
Support
It’s not like climbing, but your feet still need some support. Pay attention to the heel, arch, and sole support. If you have injury-prone ankles look for high-top models to provide additional support around the ankle.
Weight
This one is simple: your Zumba shoes should be as light as possible. There’s a trade-off though between weight, cushioning, and support.
Zumba Shoes Special Features
Besides general guidelines from above, there are also a couple of special features to get the best out of your Zumba shoes.
Sole Grip
When it comes to traction, Zumba comes with specific challenges. You need shoes with a good grip to maintain stability. On the other hand, there’s plenty of spinning and pivoting in Zumba. Traction will hinder these moves. I’ve seen too many twisted ankles because of soles that stick to the surface too well.
So, you need outsoles with just enough traction to keep you steady while still allowing sliding and pivoting.
Pivot Point
If you think that outsole design patterns are random, think again! While the outsole material also plays a role, tread patterns provide traction for specific conditions and activities.
The pivot point is a part of the outsole with a circular pattern to allow spinning and turning. It’s an ingenious solution to provide both traction and spinning ability.
Frequently Asked Questions – Best Shoes for Zumba
Q: What are Zumba shoes?
A: Zumba shoes are regular trainers or exercise shoes with specific features. There are several models designed specifically for Zumba, but most of them are trainers that allow you to perform dance and dance-like moves.
These aren’t the only specialized shoe – we covered the best shoes for Tai Chi, for instance.
Q: Can I use my regular running or fitness shoes?
A: You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Typically, running shoes are great for forward movement, while fitness shoes provide a strong grip. In Zumba, you’ll move in all directions, and an extra-strong grip is the last thing you want from your Zumba shoes.
Q: Can I wear my Zumba shoes casually?
A: Of course, you can. They are often stylish and sleek. However, you’ll seriously decrease the longevity of your shoes. Outsoles of Zumba shoes are not very sturdy and the tread pattern will start to wear out pretty soon.
Q: Can I add inserts in my Zumba shoes?
A: Yes, you can. If you have foot problems you should do it.
Q: Where can I find the best shoes for Zumba reviews.
A: Yes, it’s here. 😀
Conclusion
Choosing the best shoes for Zumba can be a daunting mission. We have different feet and different preferences. There’s no best solution for all, but there is the best solution overall.
In this case, it is the Ryka Influence Cross-training Shoe. And the reason is simple – it has it all. Other models excel at some categories more than others. Ryka Influence shines in every aspect and fits all Zumba requirements. The most impressive feature of these shoes is one that you can’t see, though.
Your feet feel great after intensive workouts. Even people with pain or plantar fasciitis enjoy their workout when wearing these incredible trainers. Still, you may have some special requirements and opt for other shoes from our list.
