• Track and Field Distance

“I prefer Mizunos because I like the arch support and that the toe box allows my feet to breathe. They hug my midfoot so that my ankles stay stiffer when I’m running. There’s a lot of support in the midfoot and heel for longer distances.” Mackenzie Wilson (‘16

• Track and Field Sprinting

“I like Nike spikes because they’re really light weight and have flywire which helps the spike hug your foot so the shoe won’t move around. For trainers, I like Adidas due to the energy foam soles that last longer and are more forgiving on your legs after logging a lot of miles.” Caitlin Collier (‘18)

• Boys and Girls’ Crew

“They’re light and the soles aren’t as thick and they are comfy. Nike is very popular and trendy with the crew team. The shoes don’t really affect your performance on the erg and when you’re on the water, you have built-in shoes on the boat.” Lainey Harris (’17)

• Girls’ Basketball

“We mostly wear Nike I think because they have the widest selection. I like them because they have a lot of cushion and support. I look for the ones with the tall ankle support, so it’s more unlikely to roll my ankle.” Libby Cohen (’17)

• Boys’ Soccer

“Nike is a popular brand just because they make the nicest cleats, but Adidas is pretty good too! Nike is the best brand though because they have the dynamic fit cleats so they sort of support your ankles.” Clem Brennan (’17)

•   Girls’ Swimming

“Nike is the most popular across the swim team. I wear Nike myself because I like the way they look and because they are really comfortable and fit my feet well. Almost all the kids on the team wear them.” Josie Teat (‘17)

But here’s what the experts say:

While Bolles students have a variety of brands and types of shoes, specialists believe specific brands should be designated for each sport.

For distance runners, they recommend shoes with good  support dispersed throughout the bottom. If there isn’t enough support to run for miles, runners’ feet can get injured because no support equates to running barefoot. (http://goodrunguide.co.uk/RunningShoes.asp)

For sprinters, not as much support is needed, especially because the distance is shorter and they need a different structure to propel them to a faster speed. Holabird Sports recommend sprinters wear spikes with a full length plate stretching from the the heel to the toes. This is a little harder than the support distance runners need. Sprinters also should wear lighter shoes to increase their speed. (http://holabirdsports.com/blog.what-to-look-for-in-track-spikes-field-shoes/ )

Soccer has a variety of cleats that athletes prefer, but the basics include shoes heavier than sprinting spikes but lighter than your average tennis shoes. Some specialists recommend different cleats depending on the surface, whether it be hard, soft, artificial, or indoor.Then cleats can be categorized depending on the position of the soccer player, whether they need more speed, power, control, of a hybrid of the three.This makes it more complicated to find the ‘perfect pair’ but specialists support each player’s opinion on what feels best. (http://www.soccercleats101.com/2013/07/04/complete-guide-to-picking-the-right-pair-of-soccer-cleats/ )

Basketball shoes are unlike any other sports’ shoes out there. To start, players must have the shoes reach above the ankle to protect their ankles when jump and making quick movements on the court. The shoes must also be durable and be made of the right material for the gym floor.These shoes also need support because basketball is a contact sport, and so players need protection for their feet as well. (http://complex.com/sneakers/2013/03/10-things-to-consider0before-purchasing-your-next-pair-of-basketball-sneakers)