Here’s Why Adding a HIIT-Specific Shoe To Your Workout Wardrobe is a Good Idea

We all know that adding in a HIIT workout (or two) to our regular training program can do wonders for our physical form – and now, a new crop of sneakers has popped up to help support your intensive efforts.

Nike released its Nike Air Zoom SuperRep ($165) in early January. Part Spice Girls platform-part oversized sneaker, the shoe has been designed with impact protection in mind (for all those burpees and mountain climbers), as well as being movement-responsive thanks to a unique cushioning system. According to a release, the cushioning is paired with “a plate running from heel to forefoot [which] helps roll the foot forward and into a ready position for the majority of upright HIIT movements. And, speaking of burpees, the shoe has what the brand calls a “burpee break” – a flexible ‘gap’ in the middle of the shoe that simultaneously provides stability when in the plank position and also allows the foot to bend naturally when undertaking mountain climbers.

Claire Rankine, Nike Communications Director, said of the design (which is available in four colourways each for men and women), “The Nike SuperRep footwear family is built to serve our fitness athletes who prefer class-based exercise. The debut shoe, the Nike Air Zoom SuperRep, responds to the needs of a particular workout, be it a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout or boot camp. We know working out is its own sport, and we wanted to create a shoe designed to deliver on the performance needs of these specific activities.”

Reebok has also welcomed a HIIT-specific shoe to its lineup: the Reebok HIIT TR ($120). The shoe uses “two high performance rubbers and a pivot proto to help increase control in lateral movements,” according to a release. Plus, a mixed grip pattern delivers greater traction for added support when moving through your workout. Beth Robertson, the vice president for Reebok, told FASHION, “The Reebok HIIT TR responds to a trend in the HIIT community of consumers frequently wearing running shoes that don’t provide adequate support for the dynamic movements of high intensity interval training. The increasing popularity of HIIT style workouts has created a rapidly growing community that needs a specialized shoe to provide superior grip, stability and durability. The versatile silhouette of the Reebok HIIT TR provides everything you need for multi-directional movement on a variety of surfaces during any workout.”

Ready to put yours to the test but fighting to lace-up during the winter months? Here’s five tips to help get you moving.