Parkour shoes

One of the best things about parkour is that it can be done anywhere, without having to spend a lot of money on equipment. Shoes are the only necessity and the world is your playground.

You should not underestimate the importance of having good shoes. A great pair of shoes will enable you to move across different objects with a lot confidence. Having bad shoes hurts your game as well as your bones.

The History of Parkour Shoes

Parkour was 1st developed in France in the 1980s by David Belle, who was 15 years old the time that he came up with the activity together with his friends. David Belle was influenced by his passion for martial arts movies and his father’s military training. Military hurdle courses are based on efficiently overcoming a number of obstacles in your way. The name “parkour,” comes from the French term “parcours du combattant,” which refers to an army obstacle course.

Later the sport and its philosophy were further developed by Belle and 3 other people namely; Sebastien Foucan, Kazuma as well as Stephane Vigroux. David Belle continued to be the leader of the game and his creation came to the public’s attention when he was seen running across roofs in London in a promotional film known as “Rush Hour.” The film inspired people from all parts of the world to develop an interest in the activity. This led to the creation of parkour shoes which are widely used for training.

IMPORTANT FEATURES TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING PARKOUR SHOES

When you are looking for the best Parkour shoes there are some things that you should put into consideration , some things that you should look out for as well as the things that you should avoid. Below are some of the things that you should look out for;

Grip

This is probably the most important feature of any parkour shoe. If you go for a shoe that is slick or one that is made from certain materials, you will not be able to improve and you also be likely injure yourself.

The best grip for many parkour shoes is not the same as the cleats in football /soccer boots, their grip come from flat bottoms. If you come across a parkour shoe that has layers of depth in its rubber bottom you should avoid buying the shoe. You should also go for a shoe with a large surface area.

Sole

When looking out for a pair of parkour shoes, you should pay special attention to the structure of the sole. You should go for thinner soles as they provide greater sensitivity: vital for balance as well as rail techniques. Nevertheless, shoes with thinner soles normally provide less shock absorption.

Although Hard rubber soles are more durable they provide minimal grip as compared to the softer ones. Single piece soles tend to be more long-lasting as individual pieces have a custom of being torn off.

Lastly, you should avoid any plastic materials that are popular in arches of shoes as they are slippery and can lead to injuries easily.

Weight

The tradeoff for light shoes is typically shock absorption. It is very important that you weigh the kind of training that you do as well as your style of movement so as to be able to decide on the best option. You should always remember that the lighter the shoe the better it is.

Price

You should go for a shoe that suits your budget. If you are able to spend a little more in footwear each year, then you have plenty of choices.

BRANDS THAT ARE PRODUCING PARKOUR SHOES

When you are shopping for parkour shoes, you should understand that there are some manufacturers who produce shoes that are specifically meant for parkour, and thus they have light shoes that have a good grip as well as flexibility. Although they are quite limited, there are some footwear and sports companies that have come up with shoes that are suitable for both parkour and free running.

VIBRAM’

VIBRAM’s 5 finger line of parkour shoes is suitable as they offer you an exceptional sensibility of the ground at all times. The shoes are very light, minimalist, safe and also comfortable. VIBRAM’s best barefoot parkour shoe is the Vibram Five Fingers KSO EVO shoes. However if you have wide feet, long toes or low arches you might find them to be uncomfortable.

VIVOBAREFOOT

VIVOBAREFOOT is another brand that you should also take a closer look at. some of their best models include Stealth Shoe, EVO Pure and the 1. their models offer you outstanding flexibility for the feet with breathability. The Vivobarefoot models will surely improve your foot to ground sensation as well as enhancing the movement of your heels and toes. These are minimalist footwear that are very thin and feature light soles thus making them inappropriate for people with low arches or those with flat feet.

ASICS

ASICS can be the best brand for you If you fancy heavy impact footwear for your parkour or for your free running practice. Asics has some of the best parkour shoes model such as the Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81. The model is a classic sneaker with a nice arch support, durability, breathability. The model also has an excellent cushioning as well as great sensibility of the ground.

NIKE

Nike manufactures several models that are ideal for both parkour and steep climbing. Nike is One of the top companies that produce of sports shoes for both men and women. The Flex 2015 and the Nike Free Run shoes are ideal for parkour as they are robust, flexible and also breathable.

PUMA

Puma manufactures great shoes that are suitable for parkour. their best model is the Faas 500 V4, which is pocket friendly, well made and also has a comfy toe box in addition to adequate breathability. If you are looking out for a heavy impact parkour shoe, you should also put PUMA into consideration.