Zumba Sneaks

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jms1985
jms1985 Posts: 58 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all! I've been doing Zumba for over a year now, but I really really need to get some better sneakers... Do you have any suggestions on what is best? I know I shouldn't wear running shoes. But what about cross fit maybe? I'm so lost... :)
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Replies

  • iamheartmom
    iamheartmom Posts: 1
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    I'd like to know as well. I asked when I went shopping for shoes and the girl really didn't know what to recommend for Zumba. I need new ones for work and definitely need ones for Zumba and walking but I don't want 3 pair.
  • RussetBrunnette
    RussetBrunnette Posts: 107 Member
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    Took me a few classes to break them in, but now I love my ryka exertions for zumba!
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,616 Member
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    Split sole dance shoe, like bloch.
  • GoddessJuliya
    GoddessJuliya Posts: 49 Member
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    ~Hey everyone! I've been doing some research on this since I take 2 Zumba classes a week & am eventually planning on becoming a certified instructor. All I have right now that I've been doing my classes in are Skechers running sneakers which definitely aren't good for Zumba. On Zumba.com, they sell a Zumba sneaker but they are only available for ordering off the website. Two other dance sneakers that I have seen but not tried on are Nike Musique and Asics Gel Rythmic. Once I test them out I'll report back & hope this post helps. Happy Zumba -ing & feel free to add me if you'd like!

    ~Goddess J :-D
  • kaye334
    kaye334 Posts: 1 Member
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    I am an instuctor and the Nike was the first shoe I tried! Loved them! I have also used the ones from Zumba.com! I just got me a pair of Adidas air max...(I think that's the name of them) and I love these too! I have to be very careful with my shoes, because of my knees! The Adidas have a lot of cushion and after using them for two weeks on carpet over concrete, they have proven to GREAT! For people who do not want to spend alot of money on the perfect shoe, I recommend slip on dancers! You can find them on the internet. They are made for carpet and hardwood! They slip onto the toe of your shoe and allow you to slide, pivot, etc! Also, when I went for my training, I was told to wear court shoes or old shoes in which the tread has worn!
  • messyinthekitchen
    messyinthekitchen Posts: 662 Member
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    I wear my royal elastics they have very little tread on the bottom. But they are starting to get beat up so I've ordered some from zumba.com.
  • ernielaurie
    ernielaurie Posts: 80
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    My daughter teaches Zumba and she says go online to Zumba.com and you can order shoes made for Zumba.
  • jonilynn70
    jonilynn70 Posts: 145 Member
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    Amazon.com actually has shoes suggested for Zumba. They aren't the prettiest shoes but I bet they move on the floor quite well. I personally use my old running shoes that have the tread worn down and have pretty good results.
  • cjosenga
    cjosenga Posts: 37 Member
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    I am taking my Zumba instructor class this weekend. They suggest either cross trainers or dance shoes for the class.
  • Morgaine_on_the_move
    Morgaine_on_the_move Posts: 228 Member
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    It really depends on the style of the instructor. I used dance sneakers ( Ryka studio D) which were perfect for the first class I went to with lots of turning and sliding, but terrible for the one I switched to, with lots of jumping.

    I'm still trying to find the right cross trainers for my jumpier class. I've been wearing Ryka Synergy, but I'm thinking of going to something else.
  • mtaylor33557
    mtaylor33557 Posts: 542 Member
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    ~Hey everyone! I've been doing some research on this since I take 2 Zumba classes a week & am eventually planning on becoming a certified instructor. All I have right now that I've been doing my classes in are Skechers running sneakers which definitely aren't good for Zumba. On Zumba.com, they sell a Zumba sneaker but they are only available for ordering off the website. Two other dance sneakers that I have seen but not tried on are Nike Musique and Asics Gel Rythmic. Once I test them out I'll report back & hope this post helps. Happy Zumba -ing & feel free to add me if you'd like!

    ~Goddess J :-D

    I wear the Nike Musique.. and they are great for more low impact classes, or songs.. but I find that for anything more than that, I don't get the arch support I need.. I sometimes end up with cramps. There is a sketchers shoe, can't quite remember the name but it is very similar to the Zumba brand shoes and is very reasonably priced.
  • Rogiefreida
    Rogiefreida Posts: 567 Member
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    Several of the gals I zumba with, as well as myself have found that the K-Swiss Tubes shoes work really well for Zumba. My instructor loves Nike cross trainers, but Nike's don't fit my feet worth a darn, so that wasn't an option for me. Plus, the tubes were less expensive than the Zumba shoes from the Zumba website, so that was my best option for me at the time.
  • mama2mila
    mama2mila Posts: 92
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    I have 4 instructors, 2 of them wear the Reebok Zigs, and 2 wear the Saucony Kinvarra. I have the Saucony Kinvarra 2's and they are amazing :) And they come in TONS of colors!
  • okinmaine
    okinmaine Posts: 101 Member
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    I do at least 5 Zumba classes a week and have used and loved Nike Free XT cross trainers. Yesterday I bought a pair of Reebok Zigs. Tried them out last night and they are great too! Actually think I like them more than the Nike's due to the support and cushioning.
  • 77tes
    77tes Posts: 7,972 Member
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    Check out hip hop shoes at a dance wear shop. A few ladies at my Zumba class wear these, and lots of ladies in my English Country dance class swear by them. I'm too cheap to buy a designated pair, so I have some of those things that slip over my running shoes so that my shoes will slip better when doing Zumba.
  • GrammaBonnie
    GrammaBonnie Posts: 232 Member
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    Bump! I have a knee injury, and am having PT to strengthen my knee and my core. I'm looking forward to being able to try out Zumba before too long -- maybe one or two months??? I'd like to return to this thread when the time is here!
  • gambitsgal45
    gambitsgal45 Posts: 9
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    Reebok Zigs! They slide on the floor quite easily so you don't stress your knees and ankles, but they have the cushion of a running shoe for the jumping. A lot of the Zumba education specialists wear Zigs. The shoes on Zumba.com are not so hot. Not cushion or support at all.
  • Josette89
    Josette89 Posts: 244
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    Yup, you really need some good Zumba shoes. And I love doing Zumba. I have some Saucony shoes that work really well for me. Though, I have been doing Zumba for a while now and my knee pain is getting worse because of the impact. My friend was a full time Zumba instructor and she had to cut her time because she was starting to hurt in her knees and joints. It is an awesome workout, but I would suggest doing, at the most, three times a week to avoid breakdown of your joints. I'm just throwing that out there. :)
  • mamakjknows
    mamakjknows Posts: 51
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    Here's an article that highlights some of the top shoes based on feedback from Zumba instructors:

    http://www.squidoo.com/five-best-shoes-for-zumba

    I personally use the Reebok Zigs and love them!
  • jms1985
    jms1985 Posts: 58 Member
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    Thanks everyone! It's nice to have some actual shoes that I can look up!! I'm sure the shoes on Zumba.com are great, but... honestly... they're ugly! LOL

    I was looking at the Zigs myself... I think I'm gonna have to get into a store to try them on, just to see how they feel.

    My "old running sneaks" just aren't cutting it anymore... the bottoms are smooth from all the Zumba I did in them! Whoops!

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