These Shoes Were Made For…Walking, Running, Lifting

Today I am here to talk shoes. Lifting shoes, casual shoes, running shoes, boots – I’ve got a little bit of everything for you! Never in my life have I appreciated comfortable and functional shoes the way I do since becoming a mom. I think this is also in relation to getting older and caring more about my feet feeling good than fashion (or maybe that’s just me).

I know that shoes are oftentimes personal to the wearer but I hope this post can be a helpful resource if you’re in the market for shoes that feel good and perform well!

LIFTING SHOES: NIKE METCON 8

It’s been a long time since I bought shoes specifically for lifting (like since my CrossFit days!). I have always made various running shoes work for strength training. That was totally fine for general workouts and teaching group fitness strength classes but over the last year I have focused on getting back into the gym and lifting heavier and more consistently. I found myself kicking off my shoes a lot for lifts like barbell squats and deadlifts and I also didn’t feel super stable doing movements like step ups, lunges, single leg deadlifts, etc. A lot of my running shoes are just too cushioned to feel stable for lifting.

Nike Metcons are a very popular training/lifting shoe so I decided to keep it simple and go with them. They come in lots of fun colors but I chose black because I knew it would match most everything. (I do kinda like to match at the gym ;)) I wear a 7.5 in most dress shoes but do 8.5 in sneakers/athletic shoes.

Metcons definitely have a much different feel to them if you’re used to working out in running shoes. I quickly warmed to them, especially because I felt so rock solid in my lifts. They have a wide, flat heel with an inner plate that distributes weight from edge to edge. There is a tab over the laces that locks them down so they don’t get in the way or come untied.

The Metcons are designed as training shoes so technically you can do some cardio and sprints in them. So far, I have not tried running in them. I bring my running shoes if I’m going to be doing a mile warm up on the tread and then switch. I think if I were doing short treadmill intervals or turf sprints they would be fine.

ON CLOUDGO RUNNING SHOE

I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE SHOES! Truly all caps worthy. I am wearing them right now as I write this post. I was hired to do a collaboration with On and Nordstrom back in September. I put these Cloudgo shoes on and have basically lived in them since. I actually love to run in the Cloudgo (I ran my Halloween 5 mile race in them recently) but they are also crazy comfy for day-to-day stuff like walking the dogs and running errands.

I will 100% be purchasing another pair. 10/10. On is worth the hype.

Unrelated to shoes but related to running…the shorts I have on in the photo above have converted me to fitted/biker style shorts. They have tons of pockets and the side pockets are big and deep enough to fit my iPhone pro max and it doesn’t move around. I also wore these shorts for the Halloween race and could easily access my phone to snap photos.

BOWL O’ BROOKS COLLECTION

Brooks Running recently launched a “Bowl O’ Brooks” collection that features bowl of cereal-inspired shoes. I know. What will they think of next!? I chose the Adrenaline GTS 22. They remind me of fruity pebbles while also offering the perfect balance of support and softness.

The Glycerin 20 and Launch 9 are also available in the Bowl O’ Brooks collection in different designs. This is a limited release so get on it! 🙂

COBB HILL SHOES

A fashion blogger I certainly am not but I was excited partner with Cobb Hill shoes for an Instagram collaboration to bring awareness to their fall line. I was not familiar with Cobb Hill but learned that they are a division of Rockport. All of their shoes feature soft burnished leathers, flexible materials, arch support and heel stability. They’re a great choice for an on-the-go, active lifestyle when you want to get out of sneakers.

I’m going to share the three pairs of shoes that I selected – I’m super pleased with all of them! I ordered a size 8 and they fit perfectly (reminder, I typically wear 7.5 dress and 8.5 athletic). You can use code COBBFALL7 for 20% off your order through the end of November.

I have really been trying to get out of athlesiure and into real clothes more often for outings and adventures with Finn. I chose these tan booties because I loved the color and the strap detail. I find booties pretty easy to style and love pairing them with a dress. I wish I could link the dress but it’s Loft and last season.

My second selection was the Winter Chelsea Boot. They’re waterproof and have a solid, grippy sole so they seemed like a great choice for cold weather months. They are very well-made and seem like they will hold up for many winter seasons to come. I’m wearing the Spanx faux leather leggings and they are a staple item for me. I get the petite length because I have shorter legs and I size up because they run small. Lastly, this Wooden Ships sweater is my favorite sweater that I own and I wear it all the time when it’s cold out.

I haven’t been much on loafers these last few years but the Crosbie Moc Loafer is bringing me back. They don’t slip on my heel and I can stand and walk in them all day. I love this dove gray leather but they come in other colors and suede options. My jeans and sweater are old – long live skinny jeans. 😛

Oh and those fuzzy sandals from Amazon lived up to the hype. And now I have my eye on the Mini Uggs that I keep seeing everywhere. I haven’t had a new pair of Uggs in years and these look cute and cozy.

QUESTIONS

Talk to me about your current shoe preferences. Are you particular about fit/function/comfort/brand/etc? Any shoe you absolutely love? 

What are your favorite shoes for day-to-day stuff like dog walking and errand running?

Who’s with me on team skinny jeans? (I know I need to embrace the current trend but I just don’t love it on me.)

*This post contains affiliate links.