Some shoes are clearly designed for running. Raised heels, wide foam midsoles, and rockered soles help propel your feet forward. But where is the line between a running shoe and a general training shoe?
The best cross training shoes are pretty versatile, allowing you to do a little bit of everything, but there's no official definition of what a cross training shoe is and isn't, as it really depends on what you're hoping to do in them.
Which brings us to the Lululemon Beyondfeel running shoes. I'm not really a runner. I sometimes go out for a jog, but I prefer to go for a walk every morning and then do strength training sessions at home.
So when I had the opportunity to try the Beyondfeel running shoes, I thought it would be a good test to see if these sneakers, designed for runners, could also adapt to high-intensity workouts at home.
I spent a week wearing them for every strength and HIIT workout, and I was surprised by how well they performed. Not everything went as planned, but after the seven-day trial, I started to prefer them to my trusty New Balances.
They were incredibly comfortable
I hadn't really noticed it until I put on the Beyondfeel, but my New Balance shoes are pretty worn out. I've had them for a few years and started wearing them for gardening and various other household chores. They've definitely seen better days.
But it's not just the aesthetics that have changed. The sole has worn out, so there's little traction, and the foam isn't as soft anymore. So when I put on the Lululemon shoes, it was like walking on a cloud.
They are soft, but not spongy, which makes you sink into them. The tongue is comfortable and not too wide, which allows you to tighten the laces without compressing the top of the foot. Also, my joint hypermobility means that I usually put a lot of weight on my heels, but the back of the shoe is supportive enough for that without any discomfort.
While you might associate brands like Hoka, Saucony, and Brooks with running, Lululemon shoes have the same 10mm drop as our current best men's running shoe (the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41) and weigh just 10g more, so it's not like they're a bulky burden on your feet.
The outsole may be uncomfortable
While they were comfortable enough to work out in, these running shoes had one drawback: the outsole. Lululemon makes it clear that they are designed for running, noting that the “strategically placed outsole groove mirrors a human's natural stride for a smooth ride.”
So it's no surprise that the sole gets a little uncomfortable during high-intensity workouts. When I stood with adjustable dumbbells, they provided enough support to maintain proper posture, but that wasn't always the case, especially during fast movements like burpees and mountain climbs.
During these exercises, your feet move quickly and you often shift your weight on your foot. So, where the sole of the shoes extends slightly beyond the shell of the foot, it sometimes rubs the ground and causes some resistance.
It wasn't the worst problem, but since I was exercising outside on hard ground, it left visible scuffs on the side of the shoe. Of course, you can mitigate this by rolling out a yoga mat, but I usually don't bother (out of laziness), which is my fault, really.
But it does highlight that the side of the Beyondfeel shoes isn't as durable as the bottom of the sole, which makes sense given that, like the best running shoes, Lululemon designed them around your feet striking the ground rather than the multi-directional movement you make in non-running activities.
They are perfect for medium-load weight training.
If you're looking for a shoe to wear during intense weight training sessions with heavy loads, you need something a little flatter to distribute weight evenly and prevent ankle instability, like the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III.
But since I mostly do high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) with loads well below my one-rep max (the heaviest weight you can lift with proper form for a single rep), this wasn't really an issue for me.
Because I didn't sink into the shoe (as is the case with some running shoes with lots of foam in the midsole), my weight remained balanced and I didn't feel any lower body instability, allowing me to lift dumbbells and kettlebells with good form.
If you're looking for a versatile running shoe that you can use for light runs and cross-training sessions, I found these to be ideal, easily replacing my worn-out New Balance sneakers. Of course, it's hard to say for sure until you actually wear them on your feet.
It's worth noting that Lululemon offers a 30-day trial of the Beyondfeel if you buy them in their store. So you have a month to try them out and return them for a full refund if they don't suit your workout. Plus, you can return them in any condition, so you can test them out properly before you decide.