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A lot of soccer athletes ask, “are indoor soccer shoes good for running?”. It is a very common question. People who play indoor soccer know how comfortable indoor soccer shoes are while playing. That makes them wonder if they might be perfect for running too.
The thing is, indoor soccer shoes are comfortable and deliver performance when you use them on the soccer field, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to running outside. Running is a totally different mechanics from playing soccer.
Running shoes require a different structure. It has more support for your feet and especially the arch. It also has more cushioning to absorb constant shocks. Even material used in running shoes differs from indoor soccer shoes. Running shoes come with more breathable material.
These shoes come with better heel support and ankle support. They also have a slightly upward toe box to allow natural running movement without putting pressure on the toes.
There are a lot of differences between these two types of shoes. They have different purposes and functionality. Let’s try to understand in-depth by comparing various aspects of them.
Indoor soccer shoes vs Running shoes
There are many crucial factors that we need to consider. Then we can definitively answer the question if the indoor shoes are great for running outside or not. Let’s go through these factors one by one to understand them better.
1) Design
The most critical aspect of any shoe is its design. The shoe design is optimized for its intended use. That means if you want running shoes, then the design will reflect that, and if you want shoes for indoor soccer, then the shoe design will have elements that make these perfect for indoor soccer.
Running shoes have arches that help a lot during running. There are also more padding and cushioning in running shoes. The soles are also specially designed to give maximum performance.
Indoor shoes are remarkably lightweight. The material used is thin, so it doesn’t offer support as much as running shoes. The sole of these shoes is thin too, and there is not much cushioning inside. All these things are not perfect for running, which puts constant pressure on the legs.
Indoor soccer shoes have a barefoot feeling to them, so if you are someone who likes barefoot shoes or has been wearing them for a long time, then you could run with indoor shoes but even then, I would recommend buying proper barefoot running shoes.
2) Material
Indoor soccer shoes are made from high-quality natural leather. The most important thing in soccer shoes is touch rate, and that’s why lighter and thinner material is used for the upper.
Sometimes even synthetic leather is used, which reduces the quality of the shoes. All though brands have been investing a lot of money into research of synthetic materials.
Natural leather has some breathability to it, while synthetic leather has almost none. Indoor soccer shoes are also tightly wrapped around your feet so prolong use might start getting uncomfortable.
On the contrary, running shoes has a lot of breathability to them. These shoes have high-quality fabric with a mesh design. Not only this, but running shoes also have air foam or TPU foam inside to give you a plush feeling.
Many running shoes come with an inner lining that helps keep moisture away and your feet dry.
There is also a lot of tech packed into modern shoes that help with traction, stability, and durability. So using indoor shoes for running is not a good choice, especially if you are a heavy runner or professional runner.
3) Comfort
Comfort is a significant factor when it comes to running shoes. Indoor shoes are comfortable but not as good as running shoes.
Running shoes come with padding on the tongue and collar. There is also good padding around the heel part, so your Achilles tendon stays comfortable. Modern running shoes come with superior quality foam inside the shoes, which keeps your fee nicely tucked in.
Overall, Running shoes are made to give you comfort for long periods, which is just not the case with indoor soccer shoes.
Indoor soccer shoes come with a thin insole and almost no cushioning inside. They are comfortable while playing soccer, but that’s about it. Don’t expect lasting comfort if you end up wearing them for many hours.
4) Sole
Running shoes have a thick sole. The sole is made from high-quality TPU or rubber, which gives traction on any surface. Running shoes also provide excellent arch support.
The sole of running shoes is also thicker on the heel side and smaller on the toe side. It helps you with better running posture. The reason for the thicker sole on the heel side is because it has to absorb a lot of force from the ground.
Running shoes also have excellent quality mid-sole. Some brands use midsole with energy-returning tech in it. It absorbs all the shocks and then returns them as boost energy giving you effortless strides.
On the contrary indoor soccer shoes have no arch support and have a thin sole. Indoor soccer is high pace game. It requires a lot of sudden movements and turns and having a thin sole helps with that.
The sole of the indoor soccer shoes is not suitable for concrete or tar surfaces. It will start wearing out faster than usual. If you wear shoes with worn-out soles at your soccer match, you risk injuring yourself.
5) Support
Running shoes provide the best support to your feet compared to indoor soccer shoes. As we have discussed all the other factors, they all combine to determine if shoes provide good support to your feet or not.
Both running and indoor soccer shoes provide a great amount of support when it comes to their respective tasks. But if you think indoor soccer shoes can be great for running then, it’s a wrong idea. Soccer shoes also have a tighter fit compared to running shoes, which can get uncomfortable for your feet after a while.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What are indoor soccer shoes good for?
Indoor soccer shoes, as the name suggests, are great for playing indoor soccer. They provide the best performance on the indoor soccer field. And even though you can use them for other things like turf soccer or running, it's best not to do that.
- Are soccer cleats good for running?
No, Soccer cleats come with studs, and outside the soccer field, they provide no traction. You will be constantly slipping in them, which is not good and can cause severe injuries. They are also incapable of providing comfort for long hours. You will start to feel discomfort after a while.
- Are indoor soccer shoes good for walking?
I wouldn't recommend doing that. Just like indoor soccer shoes has it's purpose, there are shoes out there that are designed specifically for walking. These walking shoes will provide you the most comfort and stability while walking. Indoor soccer shoes also won't do well on any rough surface as their soles cant endure them.
- What is the difference between indoor soccer shoes and sneakers?
Lookswise, some of them look the same, but they are constructed differently. Sneakers provide all-day-long comfort, which indoor soccer shoes don't. Sneakers also come with a better insole and outsole than indoor soccer shoes. It helps you with comfort and support on hard surfaces like concrete. Thine sole on indoor soccer shoes means if you step on a stone by mistake, it's going to hurt terribly.
Conclusion
Be it running or playing soccer or any other sport for that matter and it’s always best to use appropriate footwear and gear. Brands put a lot of money into research of the products, and all their effort and energy goes into making that product best for desired results. So using it for something else completely defeats the purpose.
Indoor soccer shoes are absolutely great for playing soccer, but if you plan to use them for running outside, then they won’t give you the same output. The build quality, material, fit, comfort are all designed by keeping indoor soccer in mind.
A person who has been into barefoot running for a long time might find indoor soccer shoes more comfortable compared to running shoes, but even then, there are barefoot running shoes in the market that offer more things that help with running.
So I would suggest not interchanging the two and use them for their intended purposes. I hope all this information helps you make an informed decision. Running can be calming for your mind and good for your health, so don’t ruin it by using the wrong kind of shoes.